"Niamh, why is he still here?" Finn demanded, ring at me with thinly veiled contempt. "I need to discuss sensitive marketing strategies with you."


    I remained seated, observing his arrogance with quiet amusement. The years had certainly changed him—and not for the better.


    Niamh cleared her throat nervously. "Director Langley, there''s something you should know about Mr. Knight."


    "What? That he''s my childhood friend who''s overstayed his wee?" Finn scoffed, his expensive watch glinting as he gestured dismissively toward me.


    "Actually," Niamh said, her voice gaining strength, "Mr. Knight is here representing the Thornton family''s interests."


    Finn froze, his expression shifting rapidly from annoyance to confusion.


    "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice suddenly uncertain.


    I finally spoke. "The Thorntons have acquired a controlling interest in this resort, Finn. As of yesterday, I''m overseeing their investment."


    The color drained from his face. "That''s impossible. There was no announcement—"


    "Not publicly," I confirmed. "But the paperwork is quite final."


    Niamh slid a folder across her desk. "These are the ownership documents, Director Langley. Mr. Knight has full authority over all operations and personnel decisions."


    Finn snatched the folder, flipping through the pages with trembling hands. I watched his eyes dart across the legal documents, his breath quickening as reality sank in.


    "This can''t be happening," he muttered.


    "It already has," I replied simply.


    His head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "So this was your n all along? To humiliate me?"


    I shook my head. "I had no idea you worked here, Finn. Life has a strange way of bringing things full circle."


    He mmed the folder down on the desk. "So what now? You''re going to fire me because of our little disagreement earlier?"


    "Your handling of that situation made one thing clear," I said, standing slowly. "Your values no longer align with mine—or with what this resort will represent moving forward."


    "You can''t be serious," he sputtered. "Over some construction worker and an influencer?"


    "Over basic human dignity," I corrected him. "The Finn I knew would never have thrown an innocent man under the bus to appease someone like Yoyo."


    His face hardened. "The Finn you knew couldn''t afford a decent meal. The real world doesn''t run on your self-righteous principles, Liam."


    "Maybe that''s exactly what''s wrong with it," I replied.


    Finn''s expression shifted, calction recing anger. "Look, we''ve known each other forever. Whatever happened earlier—I was just doing my job. We can work together on this. I know this business inside and out."


    I studied him, remembering the boy who once shared hisst piece of bread with me when I had nothing. Somewhere along the way, that boy had disappeared.


    Catch the formatted version at *.


    "You''re relieved of your duties, effective immediately," I said quietly. "Niamh will handle your severance."


    "You can''t do this!" he shouted, mask of civility crumbling. "Do you know how hard I''ve worked to get here?"


    "I do," I acknowledged. "That''s what makes this so disappointing."


    His face contorted with rage. "We were friends, Liam! Doesn''t that count for anything?"


    "It did," I said. "That''s why I expected better from you."


    Finn looked desperately at Niamh, who averted her eyes. Realizing he had no recourse, his shoulders slumped in defeat.


    "You''ll regret this," he muttered, straightening his tie in a futile attempt to recover his dignity. "I have connections. People know me in this industry."


    "Then I wish you luck with those connections," I replied evenly. "Niamh, please escort Mr. Langley to collect his personal belongings."


    As Niamh rose, Finn made one final appeal. "Liam, please. Remember when we were kids? When you broke your arm falling from that tree, and I carried you three miles to get help? I''ve always had your back."


    For a moment, nostalgia tugged at my heart. But the memory of how quickly he''d been willing to sacrifice an innocent man remained fresher.


    "Goodbye, Finn," I said firmly.


    His face hardened, all pretense of friendship vanishing. "You haven''t changed at all, have you? Still the same self-righteous bastard, just with money now. You think you''re better than everyone else."


    "No," I said softly. "Just better than who you''ve be."


    With a final re, he stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Niamh exhaled shakily. "That was... intense. Should I follow him?"


    I nodded. "Make sure he leaves without causing trouble. And please expedite the barrier instation around Vi Seven. I need itpleted by nightfall."


    After she left, Eamon stepped forward from his position by the window. "Was that necessary, sir? He seemed genuinely distraught."


    I sighed, feeling the weight of the confrontation. "Power reveals character, Eamon. It doesn''t create it. What happened today showed me who Finn really is now."


    "And the barrier? Are you certain there''s enough time to prepare properly?"


    "Time is the one luxury we don''t have," I replied. "Alistair''s condition is worsening. I need to finish refining that pill tonight."


    ---


    Hourster, in the secluded Vi Seven, I arranged my alchemical equipment on a sturdy table. The sunset cast long shadows through the windows as Eamon secured the perimeter.


    "The barrier is active," he reported, stepping inside. "No one can approach without our knowledge."


    I nodded, focusing on the delicate work before me. The ingredients for Alistair''s pill were rare and vtile, requiring perfect concentration.


    "Will you need assistance?" Eamon asked.


    "Not for this part," I replied, carefully measuring a luminescent powder. "But stay alert. Something feels... off tonight."


    Miles away, in a hidden training facility, a young martial artist named Aidan Ortega pushed his body to its limits. Sweat poured down his muscr frame as he executed aplex sequence of movements, his fists blurring with inhuman speed.


    Suddenly, he froze mid-strike, his eyes widening as an invisible force wrapped around him like a serpent.


    "What''s happening?" he gasped, dropping to his knees.


    No one was there to answer. The training room was empty except for him—and the malevolent presence now invading his consciousness.


    "Such power," a voice whispered inside his mind. "Such a perfect vessel."


    Aidan clutched his head, struggling against the intrusion. "Get out! Who are you?"


    "I am what you might be," the voice replied silkily. "I am your potential unleashed. I am Adrian Bauer."


    Recognition shed through Aidan''s mind. The notorious Magus who had terrorized cultivators—who was thought to have perished when hisst host body, Alvin Ward, was destroyed.


    "No!" Aidan fought desperately, his formidable will battling the invasion. "You''re dead!"


    Spectralughter echoed through his consciousness. "Death is merely an inconvenience for one such as I. And your body—so young, so powerful—will serve me far better than myst host."


    Aidan''s resistance began to crumble as Adrian''s essence overrode his defenses. His eyes flickered, changing from brown to a sickly yellow, then back again as he fought.


    "Your struggle honors you," Adrian''s voice purred. "But it''s futile."


    With a final scream, Aidan''s consciousness was subsumed. His body convulsed violently, then grew still. When his eyes opened again, they gleamed with malevolent yellow light.


    Adrian flexed his new hands, admiring the strength flowing through his stolen form. "Perfect," he murmured. "Simply perfect."


    He rose gracefully, adjusting to the unfamiliar body. "So much raw power," he mused. "But still not enough."


    Sensing another presence approaching, Adrian smiled coldly. The door opened, and a training partner entered.


    "Aidan? You okay, man? I heard screaming," the neer said.


    "Never better," Adrian replied, studying the man with predatory interest. "Would you mind sparring with me? I''m trying a new technique."


    Before the man could respond, Adrian moved with blinding speed, his hand mping over the man''s mouth. With his other hand, he pressed against the man''s chest, extracting his life force and martial energy in a brutal disy of forbidden cultivation.


    As the body crumpled to the floor, Adrian absorbed the stolen power, feeling it integrate with his new form.


    "Now," he whispered to himself, "to find Liam Knight and reim what''s mine. The statue calls to me."


    ---


    Back at Vi Seven, I carefully added the final ingredient to the bubbling concoction. The mixture turned from crimson to gold, emitting a gentle luminescence that signaled sess.


    "It''s ready," I announced, carefully transferring the refined essence into a jade container. "This should stabilize Alistair''s condition until I can develop a permanent solution."


    Eamon nodded approvingly. "You''ve aplished in hours what would take most alchemists days."


    "Time doesn''t favor us," I replied, securing the container. "We''ll deliver this tomorrow morning."


    With the immediate taskplete, I retrieved the stone statue from my secure case. The ancient artifact was small enough to fit in my palm, yet it radiated an unmistakable power.


    "Are you certain about this, sir?" Eamon asked, eyeing the statue warily. "Cultivation using such an unknown artifact carries significant risks."


    "Calcted risks," I corrected him. "This statue contains concentrated dark energy—exactly what I need to bnce my Chaotic Body." I positioned myself cross-legged on the floor. "Stand watch. This shouldn''t take long."


    Holding the statue between my palms, I closed my eyes and began to channel my divine sense into it, attempting to draw out the dark energy within. For several minutes, nothing happened.


    Then suddenly, the statue grew warm. A faint humming vibrated through my fingers as dark tendrils of energy began to seep out.


    "It''s working," I murmured, carefully guiding the energy into my meridians.


    Without warning, the statue zed with blinding light—not darkness. My eyes snapped open in rm as my right hand became fused to the stone surface.


    "Eamon!" I called out, trying to pull away. "Something''s wrong!"


    The statue''s light intensified, and I felt a terrifying sensation—my divine sense wasn''t absorbing the statue''s energy. The statue was absorbing mine.


    "I can''t let go," I gasped, fighting against the draining sensation. "It''s pulling my divine sense into it!"


    Eamon rushed forward, attempting to pry the statue from my grip, but recoiled as energy sparked violently between us.


    "What''s happening?" he demanded, searching frantically for a solution.


    The statue''s pull strengthened, my consciousness beginning to fragment as it was drawn inexorably into the ancient artifact. Darkness edged my vision as I struggled to maintain control.


    "It''s not just a vessel," I realized with growing horror. "It''s a trap."