Liam's Perspective
I pulled the mask away from my face, savoring the mont of revelation. The stunned expressions on their faces were priceless.
"Liam Knight?" Glenn Talbot's jaw dropped.
"Impossible!" Sammy Ashworth scrambled backward, still clutching his throat.
The shock in their eyes quickly turned to rage. Glenn pointed an accusatory finger at .
"You deceived us! You stole our treasure!"
His outburst made chuckle. These fools still didn't understand. I wasn't just Liam Knight anymore. I had transcended.
"Your treasure?" I moved with blinding speed, appearing directly in front of Glenn.
The slap was casual, almost dismissive. Yet the impact sent Glenn flying. His body crashed through a nearby tree, splintering the trunk before he tumbled to a stop.
"Seems like you still don't understand the situation," I said, my voice calm despite the display of power.
Sammy backed away, terror evident in his eyes. "Wait, Liam. We can talk about this."
I turned slowly toward him. "Now you want to talk? After all your broken promises?"
"Please," he begged, hands raised. "For Isabelle's sake—"
I froze at the ntion of her na. mories of Isabelle flooded my mind—her gentle smile, her unwavering faith in . Even now, she remained my weakness.
"For Isabelle," I conceded quietly, "you may leave. Now."
Relief washed over Sammy's face. But instead of running, he made his fatal mistake. He turned to the others.
"What are you waiting for?" he shouted. "He's just one man! Take him down!"
The martial artists exchanged nervous glances. Only one stepped forward—a Peak Form Grandmaster I didn't recognize. His aura flared as he unleashed his full power.
"You may have gained so strength, boy," he snarled, "but you're facing true masters now."
The man struck with impressive speed. His palm thrust aid directly at my heart—a killing blow.
I didn't dodge. I didn't block. I simply stood there, absorbing the impact.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "What—"
My hand shot forward, piercing straight through his chest. I withdrew it just as quickly, his blood dripping from my fingers.
"Who's next?" I asked as the body crumpled to the ground.
The remaining martial artists paled. Their eyes darted between and their fallen comrade.
"I'll make this simple," I announced. "Kneel and swear loyalty, or join your friend."
Saul Holt stepped forward, his face twisted with rage. "Never! I am a third-rank Grandmaster of the Veridia City Martial Guild! I will not bow to a nobody!"
I sighed. "Wrong choice."
Before he could even register movent, I was behind him. My fingers closed around his neck, and with a simple twist, I ended his life. His body hit the ground with a dull thud.
Glenn Talbot had recovered enough to stagger back toward the group. His face contorted with fear and hatred.
"You'll pay for this," he threatened weakly. "The Guild will hunt you down!"
"The Guild?" I laughed. "Let them co."
I moved toward him, savoring his terror. This man had caused so much suffering. For Evelyn, for , for countless others.
"Please," he begged as I approached. "I have money, connections! I can help you!"
"I don't need your help."
My hand plunged into his chest, but instead of simply killing him, I activated my energy absorption technique. I could feel his life force flowing into , strengthening further. His screams echoed through the forest as his body withered.
When I released him, he was nothing more than a dried husk. The remaining martial artist—Mr. Noble, I recalled—backed away in horror.
"You're a monster," he whispered.
"No," I corrected him. "I'm simply the consequence of your actions."
Mr. Noble's eyes narrowed, and I sensed a shift in his strategy. Instead of physical attack, he launched a spiritual assault—a divine sense attack aid directly at my consciousness.
For a mont, the world wavered around . Most cultivators would have collapsed under such an onslaught. But I was beyond such vulnerabilities now.
I shaped my own divine sense into a sharp spear and thrust it back along the connection he'd established. His eyes bulged as I shattered his ntal defenses and destroyed his divine sense from within.
Blood poured from his nose, ears, and eyes as he collapsed. His body twitched once, then lay still. A death more rciful than he deserved.
"Liam..." Clara whispered, watching from a safe distance.
The remaining Grandmasters, who had been observing from the periphery, finally understood the gravity of their situation. As one, they reached for their Dharma Treasures—ancient weapons of imnse power.
"All together!" one shouted. "Full strength!" Content presented by *.
A barrage of energy blasts, elental attacks, and mystical weapons converged on from all directions. The combined might of over a dozen Grandmasters—enough power to level a small city.
I raised my bare hands and t each attack head-on. Crystal swords shattered against my palms. Fire dragons dissipated at my touch. Lightning bolts were absorbed into my skin, adding to my strength.
The Grandmasters watched in horror as I systematically destroyed their most powerful treasures with my bare hands.
"Impossible," one whispered. "No one can do this."
Panic set in. They turned to flee, abandoning any pretense of courage.
"Stop him!" one shouted desperately. "The Locking Dragon Technique! Now!"
Five of them ford a circle around , channeling their energy into glowing chains that wrapped around my body. The magical restraints tightened, designed to immobilize even the strongest cultivators.
For a mont, I allowed myself to be bound, curious about their desperate asure.
"We've got him!" one exclaid with premature relief.
I flexed my muscles, expanding my aura. The chains strained, creaked, and then shattered like glass. The backlash sent the five Grandmasters flying backward.
"You think you can stop with this trick?" I asked, my voice carrying across the clearing.
The terror in their eyes told everything. They finally understood what they were facing. Not a man. Not even a Grandmaster. Sothing beyond their comprehension.
And I was just getting started.
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