The room reeked of fear and desperation. I stood over Adrian''s trembling form, my own body weakening from the prolonged battle. Each breath felt like drawing in fire.


    "Had enough?" I asked, watching as Adrian''stest wounds healed, leaving his skin unmarred but his mind fractured.


    An hour of torture had passed. I''d broken his body more times than I could count—snapped bones, crushed organs, severed limbs—only to watch them regenerate so I could start anew. My spiritual power had drained significantly with each attack.


    Adriany curled on the floor, his immortal body intact but his spirit shattered. His eyes had the vacant stare of a man pushed beyond his breaking point.


    "Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "No more."


    I knelt beside him, my golden aura flickering weaker than before. "Then end this illusion. Return us to reality."


    Adrian''s hands trembled as he formed a seal. The room wavered around us, the opulent walls dissolving like mist. The sensation of falling overtook me briefly before my feet touched solid ground.


    We stood in the dining room once more. The familiar furniture materialized around us—the long table, the ornate chairs, the crystal chandelier overhead. Adrian copsed into a nearby chair, his body physically unharmed but his mind clearly broken.


    I drew in a deep breath, assessing my condition. The battle had cost me dearly. My spiritual essence had been depleted to dangerous levels after maintaining the Chaotic Body technique for so long. Even standing took effort.


    "You''re weakened," Adrian observed, his voice steadying as he noted my condition. His eyes darted to the doorway. "Perfect timing."


    I followed his gaze and saw Conrad Thornton standing there, watching us with an unreadable expression.


    "Conrad," I acknowledged with a nod.


    Instead of returning the greeting, Conrad''s face twisted with a pain that seemed to age him ten years in an instant.


    Adrian''s lips curled into a triumphant smile. "Now, Conrad. Do it now while he''s vulnerable!"


    Conrad took a step forward, his eyes never leaving mine. The sorrow in them was unmistakable.


    "Conrad?" I questioned, sensing something terribly wrong.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Knight," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I have no choice."


    With those words, Conrad released his power. The air around him shimmered as his Grandmaster-level aura burst forth, filling the room with crushing pressure that made the furniture creak and the windows rattle.


    "What is this?" I demanded, struggling to gather my remaining energy. "Conrad, we''re allies." <em ss="story-note-vis">Thе mоst up-tо-dаtе vеrsiоn is оn М(VLЕМРY)R.</em>


    Adrianughed, the sound like broken ss. "Allies? How naive. In this world, everyone has a price."


    Conrad wouldn''t meet my eyes. His hands began to glow with Inner Strength, the power of a Grandmaster preparing to strike.


    "Why?" I asked him directly, ignoring Adrian''s taunts.


    Conrad finally looked at me, his eyes swimming with unshed tears. "He has my son."


    The words hit me like a physical blow.


    "Miles," Conrad continued, his voice cracking. "Adrian''s men took him yesterday. If I don''t..." He paused, struggling to get the words out. "If I don''t kill you, they''ll execute my boy."


    Adrian pped his hands together in delight. "Family truly is the greatest weakness, isn''t it? Even the mighty Conrad Thornton will betray his principles for his precious son."


    I watched Conrad''s internal struggle y across his face. The man looked tortured, caught between impossible choices.


    "I''ve already lost Tristin," Conrad whispered, a tear finally escaping down his weathered cheek. "I can''t lose Miles too. He''s all I have left."


    The mention of his deceased son seemed to strengthen Conrad''s resolve. I could see him gathering his power, preparing to attack despite his obvious reluctance.


    "Conrad," I said firmly, "there must be another way."


    "There isn''t," Adrian cut in. "Kill him now, Thornton, or receive your son''s head in a box!"


    Conrad flinched at the brutal imagery but didn''t stand down. His aura intensified, the pressure in the room bing almost unbearable.


    "Please understand," Conrad pleaded with me. "If there was any other choice..."


    I tried to summon my golden light, to prepare some defense, but my reserves were dangerously low. The torture session with Adrian had cost me too much energy.


    "Your son wouldn''t want this," I tried, searching for anything that might reach him. "Think about what you''re teaching him by making this choice."


    Conrad''s expression hardened. "He''ll be alive to learn whatever lessons I teach him. That''s all that matters now."


    Adrian''sughter filled the room. "How touching! The great Liam Knight, reduced to begging for his life!"


    I ignored him, keeping my focus on Conrad. "If you do this, Adrian wins. He''ll never let your son go—you know that. Men like him don''t keep their promises."


    Doubt flickered across Conrad''s face, but it was quickly reced by grim determination.


    "I have to try," he said. "For Miles."


    Conrad moved into a fighting stance, his power fully manifested now. The weight of his aura pressed down on me like a mountain. In my weakened state, I knew I couldn''t withstand a direct attack from a Grandmaster.


    "Think!" I urged him. "We can find your son together. Don''t throw away everything you stand for!"


    "He doesn''t have time to think," Adrian snapped. "My men are waiting for my signal. One word from me, and young Miles loses his head!"


    Conrad''s face went pale. His hands began to tremble, but the energy gathering in his palms only grew brighter.


    I struggled to my feet, swaying slightly as I faced him. "If you''re going to do this, look me in the eyes when you strike. I deserve that much."


    Our gazes locked. In Conrad''s eyes, I saw a man drowning in shame and desperation. A father willing to damn himself to save his child.


    "Enough talk!" Adrian shouted. "Kill him now, or your boy dies!"


    Conrad took a shuddering breath. The murderous intent in his aura shifted, bing focused and deadly. His Inner Strength glowed brilliantly in his palms as he prepared to strike.


    "Mr. Knight," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the hum of his power, "I hope you don''t me me..."


    He raised his hands, tears streaming freely down his face now. The killing intent radiating from him was unmistakable.


    I braced myself, knowing I had seconds before Conrad''s attack would hit. My mind raced through possible defenses, but my body felt leaden, my power reserves critically low.


    Conrad Thornton, the honorable Grandmaster, had be a desperate father forced to make an unbearable choice. And I was out of time.