Reborn Through Fire

Chapter 1580
"Fantastic!"
Hayes declared, his eyes lighting up with anticipation as he sat up straight.He addressed the young men and women gathered in
the courtyard.
"Give it everything you've got.If you lose, there's no point in continuing your training.Coincidentally, some friends of mine have
been experimenting with intriguing games lately, and they're in need of a few test subjects."
As Hayes spoke, a chill ran down the spines of the young men and women in the courtyard.
Despite Jensen's seemingly fragile appearance, his icy demeanor was imposing.
As he stepped into the courtyard, dagger in hand, not a single person dared to confront him.
Hayes smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"So, fear has gripped you all now? I expected better after all the training I have put you through."
"Mia."He suddenly shifted his gaze to her.You've always been my star student.It's time for you to prove your worth against him."
Mia could not help but clench her dagger tightly.
She had never been a compassionate person, and to survive, she had often resorted to ruthless and even dishonorable tactics.
Her enchanting face had been a weapon, frequently employed to seduce adversaries.
But now, she hesitated to fight the young man before her, knowing that he stood no chance against her.
If she wanted him to stay, she would have to lose.
But losing was not an option.
If she lost, she might perish in the twisted games orchestrated by those lunatics.
Even if she survived, the consequences would be devastating.Hayes eyed her with a mix of amusement and impatience, his
voice taunting.

"What's the matter? Are you scared or simply unwilling?" Mia averted her eyes, her slender frame quivering ever so slightly.
"I...I'm injured," she murmured.
"Please, choose someone else."
"Hah!" Hayes scoffed, his voice cold and dismissive.
"An injury is irrelevant.He obviously lacks training.I have faith in you, Mia.You won't lose."
"Mr.Hayes..."
Hayes's expression turned icy, his voice unwavering.
"You have two options: either face him in combat or accompany me tonight to the Velvet Vagabonds."
The mere mention of the Velvet Vagabonds sent a collective shiver down the spines of the young men and women in the
courtyard.
They knew all too well that the Velvet Vagabonds was a hedonistic haven for the affluent and reckless.
This group of people, akin to raving lunatics, indulged in all manner of dangerous and thrilling games.
A young woman once attempted to seduce Hayes, only to be dragged to the Velvet Vagabonds.
When she emerged, she was drenched in blood and teetering on the brink of death.
Hayes cruelly discarded her, leaving her to her fate.
These thrill-seekers used living people as guinea pigs or playthings for their twisted amusement and forced them to fight
ferocious dogs in cages.
Within the confines of the Velvet Vagabonds, they were stripped of dignity, left to rely solely on their wits to survive.
Driven by desperation, they had no choice but to relentlessly hone their skills, dreaming of the day they might stand out and
become a personal bodyguard or assistant to a member of the powerful McCray family.
Such a position would not only ensure a life free from worries, but also the promise of wealth and luxury.

Before Hayes took them under his wing, they were all starving, ragged orphans.
Despite the ruthless training and the grim consequences of failure, escape had never crossed their minds.
Becoming a bodyguard or assistant to the McCray family was their ultimate ambition.
Mia's grip on the dagger turned her knuckles white.
She fixed her gaze on the resolute young man before her, his eyes deep and filled with determination.
In his stare, she recognized an unyielding will to live and a spirit that refused to be conquered.
For the first time, her heart raced, gripped by an unfamiliar emotion.
Hayes, a sinister grin curling his lips, stared icily at Mia.
"If you don't want to go to the Velvet Vagabonds, then let the duel commence."
Kohen furrowed his brow as he observed his older brother, finding his brother's behavior toward that captivating girl was
different.