The world around me faded as I sank deeper into my meditation. Hours had passed since I''d isted myself in the rearpartment of the aircraft, pushing my cultivation to its limits. The breakthrough was close—I could feel it. Power surged through my meridians, golden light mixing with darkness as I bnced the opposing energies within my body.


    Something tugged at the edge of my consciousness. Voices? Distant shouting? I ignored the distractions, focusing on the critical juncture I''d reached. One wrong move could destroy months of progress.


    Then I heard it—a woman''s terrified plea cutting through my concentration.


    "Please, don''t make me do this!"


    My eyes snapped open. The golden energy I''d been cultivating surged uncontrobly, responding to my sudden shift in awareness. Light erupted from my skin, bathing the smallpartment in a brilliant glow.


    I rose to my feet, power thrumming through my veins. The door slid open easily under my hand, revealing a scene that made my blood boil.


    Kathleen Hansen stood trembling, fingers fumbling with the buttons of her blouse while a masked man pointed a gun at her. Terrified passengers huddled in their seats, expressions ranging from fear to shame as they averted their eyes.


    "Just hurry up and do it!" one passenger hissed at Kathleen. "Before he kills us all!"


    The hijacker hadn''t noticed me yet. "That''s right, listen to your fans. They know what''s good for them."


    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you," I said, my voice deadly calm.


    The man whirled around, his gun swinging toward me. He froze when he saw the golden light emanating from my body—a side effect of my near-breakthrough that I couldn''t yet control.


    "What the fuck?" he gasped.


    His partner, standing near the cockpit, gaped at me. "What is that? Some kind of special effect?"


    I stepped forward, the light around me pulsing with each heartbeat. "Put down your weapons. Now."


    Instead, the first hijacker fired. The bullet struck my chest and simply... stopped. It hung in the air for a moment, suspended in the golden light surrounding me, before dropping harmlessly to the floor.


    My Saintly Body Skill—a technique I''d only recently mastered—had activated instinctively, creating an imprable barrier around my flesh. I hadn''t expected to test its limits quite so dramatically.


    "My turn," I said, moving with speed that made me little more than a blur to normal eyes.


    I crossed the cabin in an instant, driving my fist into the gunman''s stomach. He folded like paper, weapon ttering to the floor as he copsed. His partner had barely registered what happened before I was on him too, knocking him unconscious with a precise strike to the temple.


    The entire confrontationsted less than five seconds.


    Kathleen stared at me, hands still clutching her partially unbuttoned blouse. "Mr. Knight... how did you...?"


    I ignored her question, kneeling to secure the hijackers with their own belts. "Are you hurt?"


    She shook her head, seemingly unable to form words.


    "Good." I stood, facing the rest of the passengers. "Is everyone else alright?"


    Instead of gratitude, I was met with using stares.


    "You could have gotten us all killed!" A middle-aged businessman pointed at me. "What were you thinking, provoking armed hijackers?" <strong ss="in-imprint-b">Your support at * keeps the series going.</strong>


    A woman nodded vigorously. "They just wanted our valuables. Now who knows what will happen?"


    I blinked, momentarily stunned by their reaction. "They were about to assault Ms. Hansen. Would you have preferred I let that happen?"


    "Better her than all of us dead!" the businessman shot back, not even bothering to lower his voice.


    Kathleen flinched as if pped.


    "Check their pockets," I ordered coldly, gesturing to the unconscious hijackers. "You''ll find all your precious valuables."


    As the flight attendant hesitantly recovered watches, wallets, and jewelry, I returned my attention to Kathleen. She looked shell-shocked, her celebrity confidence shattered.


    "Fame is a fickle friend," I said quietly. "Your adoring public would sacrifice you in a heartbeat to save themselves."


    "I can''t believe they..." She trailed off, ncing at the passengers who now avoided meeting her eyes.


    "People reveal their true nature in moments of crisis," I replied. "Remember that lesson. It may save your life someday."


    Amotion at the front of the cabin drew my attention. The cockpit door opened, and the pilot emerged, looking pale.


    "There are more of them," he whispered urgently. "At least two in the baggagepartment. They''ve beenmunicating with these two by radio."


    I nodded, already moving toward the rear of the ne. "Keep everyone here. I''ll handle it."


    "Wait!" Kathleen grabbed my arm. "What if they have guns too?"


    The golden light still flickered across my skin, though fainter now as my control improved. "Let them shoot."


    I descended into the lower level of the aircraft where the cargo was stored. The space was dimly lit and cramped, filled with luggage including Kathleen''s excessive collection.


    Two figures were rifling through the bags, tossing aside clothing and personal items as they searched for valuables. They hadn''t heard me approach.


    "Looking for something?" I asked.


    They spun around, and I saw immediately these weren''t the same caliber as their partners upstairs. These men looked harder, more professional. Criminal muscle rather than opportunistic thieves.


    "Who the fuck are you?" therger one demanded, drawing a pistol from his waistband.


    "The man who''s about to ruin your day." I stepped forward, allowing the golden light to re around me again.


    The smaller man''s eyes widened. "Holy shit, what is that?"


    "Body armor," his partner said dismissively. "Some fancy tech shit. It won''t stop a bullet to the head."


    He raised his gun and aimed at my face.


    I could have disarmed him easily—my speed was far beyond normal human capacity now—but curiosity about my new abilities got the better of me. How far did this protection extend?


    "Try shooting and see if it''s special effects," I taunted him, deliberately channeling more energy into my Saintly Body Skill until the golden light enveloped mepletely.


    The passenger cabin above had fallen silent. I could sense Kathleen and the others listening, waiting to hear if gunshots would spell their doom. Meanwhile, these two criminals were about to discover exactly what happens when you threaten someone who''s no longer entirely human.


    Therger bandit''s finger tightened on the trigger, his face contorted with rage and fear. Any second now, he''d fire—and I''d finally discover just how invulnerable I''d be.