A sudden chill raced down my spine, halting my movements mid-step. The sensation was unlike anything I''d ever felt—like ice water flooding my veins while something whispered warnings directly into my soul.


    "Liam? Is everything alright?" Kathleen asked, her voice sounding distant despite her standing right beside me.


    I''d just administered the final pill to Nikhil Harding, watching as the medicine dissolved on his tongue. His color was already improving, vitality returning to his once-pallid face. Under normal circumstances, I''d have stayed to monitor his response, but this premonition was too powerful to ignore.


    "I need to check something," I managed to say, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.


    I stepped into the hallway and pulled out my phone, which I''d kept turned off during the delicate pill refinement process. As soon as it powered on, a cascade of notifications flooded the screen. Dozens of missed calls, even more messages—all bearing the unmistakable urgency of disaster.


    I opened the first message from William Vance:


    *EMERGENCY. Conrad Thornton has broken through to Grandmaster level. He''s targeting everyone connected to you. Call immediately.*


    My fingers trembled as I scrolled through more messages:


    *Alistair Northwood critically injured during interrogation.*


    *Leopold Shepherd confirmed dead. Body disyed as warning.*


    *Conrad systematically hunting down all allies.*


    *He''s dered open season on anyone who helped you.*


    The final message from William sent ice through my veins:


    *Conrad headed to Havenwood City. Says he''ll kill one person each day until you appear.*


    "No, no, no," I muttered, my mind racing through the list of people still in Havenwood who could be targeted.


    I rushed back to Kathleen, who startled at my sudden reappearance. "I need to leave. Now. Is there any way I can get ess to a private jet, or the fastestmercial flight back?"


    "What''s happened?" she asked, immediately sensing the gravity of the situation.


    "Conrad Thornton has be a Grandmaster," I exined, already gathering my belongings. "He''s going after everyone I care about, starting with Havenwood City."


    The color drained from Kathleen''s face. "I''ll arrange our family jet immediately. You''ve saved my father—this is the least I can do."


    As she made the necessary calls, I dialed William Vance''s number, pacing anxiously as I waited for him to pick up.


    "Liam!" William''s voice came through, tight with tension. "Thank god you called back."


    "Tell me everything," I demanded.


    "It''s worse than my messages indicated," William replied grimly. "Conrad emerged three days ago with a breakthrough that shocked everyone. Since then, he''s been systematically dismantling your supportwork in Eldoria. The Northwoods were just the beginning. He''s interrogated or executed at least seven major allies."


    My free hand clenched into a fist. "And Havenwood?"


    "He left for Havenwood City twelve hours ago," William confirmed. "We''ve warned everyone we could reach, but Conrad is moving with a speed and ruthlessness that''s unprecedented. His power as a Grandmaster is... terrifying."


    "What about Roman? Beatrice? Simon?" I asked, naming the people who might be in immediate danger.


    "Roman received our warning. He''s scared but refuses to leave the city. Says he won''t abandon you," William paused. "As for your birth family... we haven''t been able to reach them. They''re not answering calls."


    Cold dread settled in my stomach. "William, I need you to tell Conrad something. Tell him I''m returning to Havenwood within a day. Tell him if he harms anyone else, I''ll ensure he regrets ever achieving Grandmaster status."


    "Liam," William''s voice dropped, "you need to understand what you''re facing. Conrad isn''t just powerful now—he''s entered a realm few can challenge. The difference between a Master and a Grandmaster is likeparing a candle to the sun."


    "I don''t care," I replied, my voice hardening with resolve. "Just deliver my message. I''ll handle the rest."


    After ending the call, I turned to see Kathleen standing in the doorway, her expression grim.


    "The jet is being prepared," she said. "It''ll be ready in twenty minutes."


    "Thank you," I replied, gathering thest of my medicinal ingredients.


    "Liam," she hesitated, "my father would offer his support if he were able. Is there anything else I can do?"


    I shook my head. "This is my battle. I''ve already endangered too many people by involving them in my affairs."


    "Sometimes battles are too big to fight alone," she observed quietly.


    "Maybe," I conceded. "But I won''t hide while others suffer for my actions."


    As I followed Kathleen to the waiting car that would take me to the private airfield, my mind raced through contingency ns. Conrad Thornton as a Master had been dangerous enough. Conrad as a Grandmaster meant I would need every advantage, every trick, every ounce of power I could muster.


    Most importantly, I needed time—time I wasn''t sure my loved ones in Havenwood had.


    ---


    Roman Volkov paced the length of his office, phone clutched in his sweating palm. The shades were drawn, and he''d sent his staff home hours ago after receiving the warning about Conrad Thornton.


    "You should leave town," his security chief had advised before departing. "Let this blow over."


    But Roman knew better. This wasn''t something that would "blow over." Conrad Thornton wasn''ting to make threats or negotiate—he wasing to destroy.


    A part of Roman—arge part—wanted desperately to flee. To pack a bag, drain his ounts, and disappear into anonymity. But another part remembered the day Liam had saved his family''s business, asking nothing in return. The day Liam had healed his daughter when specialists across the country had failed.


    Roman stopped pacing and stared at the family photo on his desk. If he ran now, what example would he be setting? What man would he see in the mirror?


    "Damn it all," he muttered, reaching for his phone. He dialed a number few people possessed—the direct line to his most trusted security team.


    "It''s Volkov," he said when someone answered. "I need a full detail, armed and ready. And contact our friends inw enforcement. We''re going to need all the help we can get." <kbd ss="story-note-vis">Uplоаdеd by thе М|V|L(ЕМРYR) tеаm.</kbd>


    He knew it might not be enough against a Grandmaster. But he would stand his ground. He owed Liam that much.


    ---


    The Johnson house sat on a quiet street in one of Havenwood''s middle-ss neighborhoods. A modest two-story building with well-tended gardens, it reflected the steadfast, practical nature of Simon Johnson and his wife, Beatrice Sterling—Liam''s birth mother who had abandoned him as a child.


    The peaceful evening was shattered by the arrival of a sleek ck car that pulled up to the curb. Neighbors peered curiously through windows as two men stepped out—one elderly with a severe expression, the other exuding an aura of such menace that even from a distance, people instinctively drew back.


    Conrad Thornton surveyed the unremarkable house with cold disdain. "This is where he came from? How fitting."


    Uncle Shane, standing at his side, nodded. "ording to our information, this is the residence of Simon Johnson and his wife Beatrice Sterling—Liam Knight''s birth mother."


    "And they abandoned him as a child," Conrad mused, a cruel smile ying at his lips. "How convenient for my purposes."


    They approached the front door, Conrad''s footsteps leaving small cracks in the concrete walkway—physical manifestations of the overwhelming power he nowmanded.


    Uncle Shane rang the doorbell, standing slightly behind Conrad.


    After a moment, the door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman with fading blonde hair and tired eyes that widened with surprise at the unexpected visitors.


    "Can I help you?" Beatrice Sterling asked cautiously.


    Conrad Thornton''s smile was like a predator sizing up its prey. "I certainly hope so. This would be the residence of Liam Knight''s family, correct?"


    Beatrice''s expression immediately hardened, her momentary wariness transforming into outright hostility. She gripped the door frame tightly, jaw set in a familiar stubborn angle that Conrad had seen before—on Liam''s face.


    "You must be friends with Liam Knight, right?" she snapped, her voice rising with anger. "I''m telling you, get out of here right now!"