The morning air carried a distinct chill as I stepped onto the barren terrain of Mount Qinvor. This desolate mountain, rumored to have been split in half by a duel between two ancient martial saints centuries ago, seed fitting for today's confrontation.
Behind , the Man with the Mustache fidgeted nervously. "Are you absolutely certain about this, Liam? That beast-man Broderick isn't soone to be trifled with."
I touched the jade pendant at my chest, feeling the familiar surge of power coursing through my veins. After yesterday's complete ransacking of Heaven Gate's hall, my confidence had never been higher.
"I've never been more ready," I replied, scanning the gradually filling arena. "This isn't just about Broderick. Every step I take brings closer to Isabelle."
The thought of her captivity at the hands of the Veridia City Martial Guild made my blood boil. Ti was my enemy now. The temporary Power of Martial Saint I'd acquired would eventually fade, and I needed to strike while I still possessed this advantage.
Several figures were already gathering at the designated battleground. I recognized the arrogant stance of Ricardo Beaumont and the calculating gaze of Darnell Bradford. Both were rising stars in Veridia City's elite circles, no doubt eager to witness my downfall.
Blaise Rostova stood slightly apart, her crimson robes fluttering in the morning breeze. Our eyes t briefly, and I detected a flicker of grudging respect beneath her usual disdain. Our paths had crossed enough tis for her to know I wasn't to be underestimated.
"Quite the audience you've drawn," remarked the Man with the Mustache. "Half of Veridia City's young elites seem eager to watch you fight."
I nodded. "They're vultures circling what they hope will be a corpse."
My attention shifted to Dominic Ashworth, who had positioned himself on a higher vantage point. Isabelle's cousin maintained his typical air of superiority, but I noticed the tension in his posture. He had his own plans for , no doubt, but today's outco would determine whether he'd need to revise them.
"Liam Knight." Ms. Hayward's voice cut through the murmuring crowd as she approached. "I see you didn't flee as many expected."
Her usual smirk was firmly in place, but I detected an undercurrent of nervousness. Yesterday's display at Heaven Gate had shaken her more than she cared to admit.
"I never run from my promises," I replied coldly. "Where's Broderick?"
"He'll arrive shortly," she said. "He's been eager for this confrontation since you humiliated him."
I laughed. "Is that what he told you? That I humiliated him? I simply showed him the difference between true power and borrowed strength."
Her eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, a commotion rippled through the crowd. A man in a crisp military uniform had arrived, flanked by two expressionless guards. Even from a distance, I could sense the formidable power radiating from him.
"Commander Ignazio Bellweather," whispered the Man with the Mustache, his face paling. "What's the commander of the eastern battle zone doing here?"
I watched as Ms. Hayward hurried over to Bellweather. Their conversation appeared tense, with Ms. Hayward's normally composed deanor showing signs of strain. The most up-to-date version is on *.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Commander," she said, just loudly enough for to catch. "This is a private matter between Heaven Gate and a troublemaker."
Bellweather's expression remained impassive. "Nothing in Veridia City is truly private, Ms. Hayward. Especially not when it involves soone who single-handedly decimated Heaven Gate's guards."
Ms. Hayward's face tightened. "We have the situation under control."
"Do you?" Bellweather's voice carried a dangerous edge. "From what I've heard, this 'troublemaker' walked into your headquarters and walked out with every valuable artifact you possessed."
"That will be rectified today," she insisted.
"Perhaps." Bellweather's gaze drifted toward , assessing. "Or perhaps not. I'm rely here to observe. The Martial Guild has taken an interest in this Liam Knight."
Ms. Hayward stiffened. "This is Heaven Gate's jurisdiction. We don't need—"
"Also, I suggest you mind your tone when speaking to ," Bellweather cut in, his voice dropping to a nacing whisper. "Otherwise, I can't guarantee what might happen."
The threat hung in the air between them. Ms. Hayward took a step back, her face ashen.
The Man with the Mustache tugged at my sleeve. "This is bad, Liam. If the Martial Guild is officially monitoring you now..."
"It changes nothing," I said firmly. "They already have Isabelle. They already know I'm coming for her. If anything, Bellweather's presence confirms I'm on the right path."
A sudden hush fell over the crowd as a massive figure erged from the tree line. Broderick had arrived, and the transformation was startling. No longer trapped in his half-beast form, he appeared fully human—tall, muscular, with a face that might have been handso if not for the savage gleam in his eyes.
"Knight!" he bellowed, his voice carrying across the mountain. "I've waited for this mont!"
I stepped forward, allowing my spiritual energy to rise visibly around . The golden light of my Chaotic Body technique swirled with tendrils of darkness—a display of the dual energies I could now control.
"I'm here, Broderick," I called back. "Though I'm surprised you chose to face again after our last encounter."
The crowd parted as I walked toward the center of the makeshift arena. Broderick did the sa, his massive fra moving with surprising grace.
"Last ti, you caught off guard," he growled. "This ti, I'll tear you apart limb by limb."
We stood ten paces apart now. Close enough to see the hatred burning in his eyes.
"Before we begin," I said calmly, "I want to be clear about the stakes. When I win, you'll tell everything you know about the Martial Guild's operations—particularly their plans for Isabelle Ashworth."
Broderick laughed, a harsh sound that echoed across the mountain. "When I win, there won't be enough of you left to question anything. But sure, I'll humor you."
Ms. Hayward stepped forward. "The rules are simple. This duel continues until one party surrenders or can no longer fight. No outside interference will be tolerated."
Her gaze swept over the assembled crowd, lingering on Commander Bellweather, who nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Begin!" she shouted, quickly retreating to a safe distance.
Broderick wasted no ti. His body blurred as he charged, covering the distance between us in an instant. His fist, wreathed in swirling blue energy, crashed toward my face with enough force to shatter stone.
I didn't dodge. Instead, I caught his fist in my palm, the impact sending shockwaves across the arena. Gasps erupted from the onlookers.
"Impossible," Broderick hissed, his eyes widening. "Your strength—"
"Has grown considerably since our last eting," I finished for him, tightening my grip until I heard the bones in his hand crack. "As you're about to discover."
With a sharp twist, I redirected his montum, sending him flying backward. He recovered midair, landing in a crouch, his face contorted with rage and disbelief.
"You'll need to do better than that," I said, settling into a fighting stance.
Around us, the atmosphere crackled with tension. The spectators had co expecting entertainnt—perhaps even my defeat. What they were witnessing instead was the beginning of a storm that would soon engulf all of Veridia City.
From his vantage point, Commander Bellweather watched with calculating eyes. Dominic Ashworth's face had darkened with concern. And sowhere in the crowd, I caught sight of a hooded figure observing with unusual intensity.
The battle for Isabelle had truly begun, and Mount Qinvor would be just the first of many battlegrounds.
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