Desmond Davenport''s face contorted with shock as I stood before him, very much alive andpletely unharmed. The look of disbelief in his eyes was almost worth all the trouble I''d gone through.
"You..." he stammered, taking an involuntary step back. "This is impossible."
I smiled coldly. "Surprised to see me 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 hisposure.
Without warning, I stepped forward and pped 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 payment," I said quietly. "We''ll settle the rest of your debtter."
Anthony Harding stepped beside me, 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 nce. "You''re right. I have more important matters to attend to than waste time on someone like him."
As we walked away, I could feel Desmond''s murderous re boring into my back. It didn''t bother me 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 time everyone knew it."
---
The moment 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 me, 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 medicinal 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 some amateur we''re dealing with."
---
By mid-afternoon, videos of my confrontation with Killian had spread like wildfire across Shince City''s martial arts forums. Amateur footage showed me surrounded by golden light, moving with impossible speed, defeating a renowned Grandmaster. Everyment section exploded with spection.
"Who is this Liam Knight?"
"Did he really use the legendary Saintly Body Skill?"
"How can someone 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 singlebat and then walked away, refusing to kill him."
Alistair set down his ss with a trembling hand. "This changes everything."
---
Inside the Eldoria Battle Zone headquarters, William Vance reviewed the same 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 mean for our ns concerning Isabelle Ashworth?"
William''s gaze remained fixed on the screen, where my golden-lit figure moved with impossible speed. "It means we need to reevaluate. If Knight continues to grow at this rate..."
The door opened, and Ari Steele—Den''s brother—entered without knocking. "You''ve seen it?" he asked without preamble.
"We have," William confirmed.
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 ounted for."
William leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Tell me honestly, Ari. If Knight and your brother fought today, who would win?"
Ari''s jaw clenched, but he didn''t immediately 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 oue."
---
Back at the conference, I stood at the edge of the alchemypetition 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 me, following my gaze. "That''s Vincent Laurent, Desmond''s golden boy. Everyone expects him to win thepetition."
I nodded slightly. "His technique is clean but uninspired. He''s following forms without understanding the principles behind them."
"Can you beat him?" Anthony asked quietly.
I watched as Vincentpleted a moderatelyplex pill synthesis, earning polite apuse from the judges.
"One hundred percent," I replied confidently. "Not to mention Desmond Davenport''s disciple, even if Desmond Davenport himself came, I could still win!"
Anthony''s eyebrows shot up. "That''s quite a im."
"It''s not a im," 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 rtively unknown. Today, after defeating Killian, I had be someone 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 thepetition ahead. My reputation might be growing, but it meant 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 fame.
"Your turn ising up soon," Anthony reminded me. "Are you ready?"
I smiled, feeling truly confident for perhaps the first time since arriving in this city. "More than ready."
Before I could move toward thepetition area, my phone buzzed with a message 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. Someone connected to Isabelle was here, monitoring me. The message could be a warning or a threat—either way, itplicated matters.
"Problem?" Anthony asked, noting my expression.
I deleted the message 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 movement. Some curious, some admiring, some hostile. The confrontation with Killian had changed the game 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 time this conference ended, the name Liam Knight would be etched into the memory of everyone in Shince 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 veryndscape of power in this world.
And somewhere out there, Isabelle would hear about it too. She would know I was growing stronger,ing for her. That thought alone gave me 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.