Desmond Davenport's face contorted with shock as I stood before him, very much alive and completely unhard. The look of disbelief in his eyes was almost worth all the trouble I'd gone through.
"You..." he stamred, taking an involuntary step back. "This is impossible."
I smiled coldly. "Surprised to see breathing? Your hitman sends his regards."
The color drained from his face as he realized I knew everything. His eyes darted around the conference lobby, checking who might be within earshot.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he hissed, attempting to regain his composure.
Without warning, I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed through the hall, drawing gasps from nearby attendees. Desmond's hand flew to his reddening cheek, his eyes wide with shock and rage.
"That's just a small down paynt," I said quietly. "We'll settle the rest of your debt later."
Anthony Harding stepped beside , his weathered face showing both concern and admiration. "Liam, perhaps we should proceed to the conference hall."
I nodded, turning away from Desmond without another glance. "You're right. I have more important matters to attend to than waste ti on soone like him."
As we walked away, I could feel Desmond's murderous glare boring into my back. It didn't bother in the slightest.
"Was that wise?" Anthony asked when we were out of earshot. "He's still a powerful man."
"So am I," I replied simply. "And it's ti everyone knew it."
---
The mont we left, Desmond pulled out his phone and frantically dialed Killian's number. His hand shook with rage as he waited for an answer.
"What the hell happened?" he demanded when Killian finally picked up. "Knight is here, walking around like nothing happened!"
There was a long pause before Killian spoke, his voice uncharacteristically subdued. "He beat , Desmond."
"That's impossible! You're a Grandmaster!"
"He used the Saintly Body Skill. Golden light, inhuman strength... I've never seen anything like it. And those dicinal pills he used—they're beyond anything our researchers have created."
Desmond's mouth went dry. "The Saintly Body Skill? That's just a legend."
"Not anymore," Killian replied grimly. "Be careful, Desmond. This isn't so amateur we're dealing with."
---
By mid-afternoon, videos of my confrontation with Killian had spread like wildfire across Shiglance City's martial arts forums. Amateur footage showed surrounded by golden light, moving with impossible speed, defeating a renowned Grandmaster. Every comnt section exploded with speculation.
"Who is this Liam Knight?"
"Did he really use the legendary Saintly Body Skill?"
"How can soone so young possess such power?"
In the exclusive Golden Phoenix restaurant across town, Alistair Northwood nearly choked on his wine as he watched the video on his phone.
"Is this verified?" he demanded of his assistant.
"Yes, sir. Multiple witnesses confirm it happened exactly as shown. Knight defeated Killian Moreau in single combat and then walked away, refusing to kill him."
Alistair set down his glass with a trembling hand. "This changes everything."
---
Inside the Eldoria Battle Zone headquarters, William Vance reviewed the sa footage in his office, his expression grim. The Deputy Chief sat across from him, equally troubled.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," the Deputy Chief said. "We were told Knight was talented but still inexperienced."
William nodded slowly. "We've clearly underestimated him." This сhаptеr's truе sоurсе is Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (М|V|LЕМР-YR).
"What does this an for our plans concerning Isabelle Ashworth?"
William's gaze remained fixed on the screen, where my golden-lit figure moved with impossible speed. "It ans we need to reevaluate. If Knight continues to grow at this rate..."
The door opened, and Ari Steele—Declan's brother—entered without knocking. "You've seen it?" he asked without preamble.
"We have," William confird.
Ari's eyes narrowed. "My brother will still win in the end. Knight got lucky once."
"That wasn't luck," the Deputy Chief countered. "That was power we haven't accounted for."
William leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Tell honestly, Ari. If Knight and your brother fought today, who would win?"
Ari's jaw clenched, but he didn't imdiately answer.
"Exactly," William said. "I made a bet concerning Knight and Isabelle Ashworth. I'm starting to think I may have wagered on the wrong outco."
---
Back at the conference, I stood at the edge of the alchemy competition area, watching Desmond's prized disciple demonstrate his skills. The young man was technically proficient—I had to give him that—but there was no innovation in his work, no spark of true understanding.
Anthony stood beside , following my gaze. "That's Vincent Laurent, Desmond's golden boy. Everyone expects him to win the competition."
I nodded slightly. "His technique is clean but uninspired. He's following formulas without understanding the principles behind them."
"Can you beat him?" Anthony asked quietly.
I watched as Vincent completed a moderately complex pill synthesis, earning polite applause from the judges.
"One hundred percent," I replied confidently. "Not to ntion Desmond Davenport's disciple, even if Desmond Davenport himself ca, I could still win!"
Anthony's eyebrows shot up. "That's quite a claim."
"It's not a claim," I said, my eyes never leaving Vincent's workstation. "It's a fact."
The sensation of being watched prickled at the back of my neck. I turned slightly to see a small crowd had gathered nearby, whispering and pointing in my direction. News traveled fast. Just yesterday, I was relatively unknown. Today, after defeating Killian, I had beco soone worth noting.
I caught snippets of their conversation:
"That's him—Liam Knight."
"They say he defeated Killian Moreau using the Saintly Body Skill."
"Impossible! That technique hasn't been seen in generations!"
"Look at how calm he is. As if beating a Grandmaster was nothing."
I ignored them, focusing instead on the competition ahead. My reputation might be growing, but it ant nothing if I couldn't secure the Ganoderma for Anthony's research. That had been my purpose all along, and I wouldn't be distracted by sudden fa.
"Your turn is coming up soon," Anthony reminded . "Are you ready?"
I smiled, feeling truly confident for perhaps the first ti since arriving in this city. "More than ready."
Before I could move toward the competition area, my phone buzzed with a ssage from an unknown number. I opened it to find a single line:
"The Ashworth family is watching you closely. Be careful what power you reveal."
I frowned, quickly scanning the crowd but seeing no familiar faces. Soone connected to Isabelle was here, monitoring . The ssage could be a warning or a threat—either way, it complicated matters.
"Problem?" Anthony asked, noting my expression.
I deleted the ssage and slipped my phone back into my pocket. "Nothing I can't handle."
As I walked toward the registration desk, I could feel the weight of countless eyes following my movent. So curious, so admiring, so hostile. The confrontation with Killian had changed the ga entirely. I was no longer flying under the radar—I had announced my presence to the entire martial world with that golden light.
But I didn't regret it. Let them watch. Let them wonder. Let them fear.
Because the truth was, they hadn't seen anything yet.
I was just getting started, and by the ti this conference ended, the na Liam Knight would be etched into the mory of everyone in Shiglance City. Not as a nobody who got lucky against a Grandmaster, but as a force to be reckoned with—a man who could change the very landscape of power in this world.
And sowhere out there, Isabelle would hear about it too. She would know I was growing stronger, coming for her. That thought alone gave strength beyond any technique or pill.
"Mr. Knight?" the registration attendant called. "You're up next."
I stepped forward, ready to show them all exactly who I was.
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