## Liam's Perspective
Julian Radford stood in the center of the courtyard, his hands moving in precise, calculated gestures. The air around him shimred with spiritual energy.
"Today," he announced, his voice carrying to all corners of the gathered crowd, "I will demonstrate the proper thod of dispatching demonic beasts."
His gaze swept over us, lingering deliberately on . A cold smile touched his lips.
"I will summon beasts appropriate to each participant's level. Who wishes to be first?"
"I volunteer," Dominic Ashworth stepped forward, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt.
Julian nodded. His fingers traced a pattern in the air. Blue light coalesced before him, forming a spinning vortex.
With a sharp crack, the vortex expanded and a creature leaped through. It was a Wolf Wraith – lean, spectral, with glowing blue eyes. Dangerous, but manageable for soone of Dominic's caliber.
Dominic dispatched it with three swift sword strikes. The beast dissolved into blue mist, leaving behind a small, glowing core.
"Well done," Julian said, collecting the core. "Next?"
Blaise Rostova stepped forward, followed by Daphne Grenville. Each faced beasts suitable for their abilities – a Fire Drake and Shadow Panther respectively. Both erged victorious without much difficulty.
Julian's eyes found mine. "Knight. You're next."
I stepped into the demonstration area, muscles tensed in anticipation. Julian's expression had shifted to sothing darker, more vindictive. Lovethisstory?Showsupportat*.
His hands began weaving a much more complex pattern. The air around him darkened as spiritual energy gathered in greater concentration than before.
"What's he doing?" soone whispered behind .
"That's not the standard summoning technique," Dudley Lowell murmured to Dashiell Blackthorne. "That's—"
"The Water Tortoise Calling," Dashiell finished, not bothering to lower his voice. "Earth-rank beast. Knight's about to die."
My heart rate quickened. An Earth-rank beast was far beyond what the others had faced. Julian was deliberately setting up for failure – or death.
The summoning circle expanded dramatically. The ground beneath us trembled. Water materialized from nowhere, flooding the courtyard floor to ankle depth.
A massive, rippling portal tore open above us. Water cascaded through in torrents. The beast erged slowly – first massive, webbed claws, then a shell the size of a small house, finally a head with ancient, hate-filled eyes.
The Water Tortoise towered over , at least twelve feet tall. Its shell glead like polished jade, spotted with black symbols that seed to pulse with power.
Julian stepped back, satisfaction evident on his face. "Begin."
The Tortoise moved with shocking speed for sothing so massive. Its right claw swept toward like a battering ram.
I barely dodged, rolling to the side as water sprayed everywhere. The courtyard walls cracked where the claw struck.
"Running won't save you," Julian called out. "Face your test like a man."
The Tortoise's second attack ca even faster. I couldn't evade this ti. Instead, I channeled energy to my hands and t the strike head-on.
The impact was devastating. Pain shot through my arms as I was driven backward through the shallow water. My boots carved furrows in the stone beneath.
The Tortoise raised both front claws high, preparing to crush completely.
"Such a sha," Julian said, already turning away. "Another casualty of the expedition's dangers."
The massive palms descended like twin mountains. In that mont, ti seed to slow.
I had a choice – die here or reveal more of my power than I intended. Isabelle's face flashed in my mind. My promise to return to her.
No choice at all, really.
"Cosmic Form," I whispered.
Golden light erupted from within . My body expanded rapidly, growing from six feet to over seven ters tall. My muscles hardened like steel, skin taking on a golden sheen. The Water Tortoise's attack, which would have flattened monts before, now struck against an immovable object.
I caught both massive claws in my hands. The impact created a shockwave that sent water surging outward in all directions.
Julian Radford spun back around, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What—"
I didn't give him ti to finish. With my enhanced strength, I twisted the Tortoise's right claw until I heard a sickening crack. The beast roared in pain, thrashing wildly.
"Impossible," Dashiell Blackthorne whispered. "He's matching an Earth-rank creature with pure physical strength."
I released the broken claw and stepped forward. The Tortoise attempted to retreat, sensing a predator far more dangerous than itself.
Too late.
I cocked back my right arm and threw a single, devastating punch. My fist connected with the Tortoise's head with such force that the skull shattered completely. Blood and brain matter exploded in all directions, splattering the stunned onlookers.
The massive body collapsed, water sloshing around its dying form. At the center of its ruined head glead a green core the size of my fist.
I reached down, plucking it from the carnage. Only then did I allow my Cosmic Form to recede, shrinking back to normal size.
The courtyard was deathly silent. Everyone stared at with expressions ranging from awe to terror.
I walked toward Julian Radford, whose face had drained of all color. I held up the core between us.
"I believe this belongs to ," I said quietly.
Julian's jaw worked, but no words ca out. His eyes darted to the dead Tortoise, then back to . I recognized the look on his face – the sa expression the Veridia City Martial Guild elders had worn when I'd first revealed this form.
Fear.
"This demonstration is over," Julian finally managed, his voice unsteady. "Everyone, return to your quarters and prepare for tomorrow's expedition."
As the crowd dispersed, I pocketed the core and walked past Julian.
"Next ti you try to kill ," I whispered so only he could hear, "don't miss."
His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. We both knew the stakes had just risen dramatically.
Frederick fell into step beside as I left the courtyard. "That was quite a show."
"He didn't leave much choice."
"No," Frederick agreed, glancing back at Julian. "But I think our captain now realizes he's been hunting a tiger while thinking it was a house cat."
I smiled grimly. "Good. Let him wonder what else this cat can do."
Behind us, Julian Radford stared at the shattered remains of the Water Tortoise, his hands trembling slightly as he issued orders to clean up the ss.
The first battle had been won. But the war was just beginning.
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