"Who gave you permission to enter Pyro''s territory?"


    The force binding me loosened just enough that I could turn my head. My eyes widened at the sight of the neer standing in my doorway.


    Caspian Kane.


    Isabelle''s bodyguard''s presence here shocked me more than the three assassins who had invaded my home. This was the first time I''d seen him since my confrontation with the Ashworth family.


    The three Umbral Covenant members exchanged nces. Their formation wavered slightly, allowing me to breathe easier.


    "Who are you?" the leader demanded, his voice hardening. "This is Covenant business. Leave now, and we might let you live."


    Caspian didn''t even blink. His face remained an emotionless mask as he stepped fully into the room. He wore a simple ck suit, somehow making even this formal attire look lethal.


    "I''m only going to say this once," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "Release him and leave. Or die."


    I managed to push myself up against the wall. "I can handle this," I called to Caspian, though even I didn''t believe my own words. "You don''t need to get involved."


    Caspian shot me a look so cold it could have frozen fire. "Quiet."


    The female assassinughed, a sound like breaking ss. "Look at this. Another fool rushing to die." She turned to herpanions. "I''ll handle this one. You two finish with Knight."


    She stepped forward, her hands formingplex patterns as she gathered her Inner Strength. The air around her darkened, forming shadow-like tentacles that whipped toward Caspian.


    What happened next left me speechless.


    Caspian moved. Not just quickly—he seemed to flicker, as though reality itself couldn''t track his movements. One moment he stood in the doorway; the next, he was behind the woman.


    A single touch. That''s all it took.


    His finger pressed against the base of her skull, and her body went rigid. No dramatic explosion of power, no shouted technique name. Just clinical, ruthless efficiency.


    "Shadow Binding Formation," he said quietly as the woman copsed. "Useless against someone who can see through its pattern."


    The two remaining assassins abandoned their hold on mepletely, turning to face this unexpected threat. I fell to my knees, gasping for breath, watching the scene unfold.


    "Form up!" the leader barked. The two men moved in perfect synchronization, their movements creating aplex dance of energy. "Twin Phoenix Formation!"


    The air between them warped, creating the ghostly image of two massive birds of prey, their wings spread wide. Power crackled between them, far stronger than anything I could generate.


    Caspian sighed, as though disappointed. "How predictable."


    He raised his palm. Inner Strength erupted from him—not in a wild explosion but as a perfectly controlled column. The energy condensed, growing denser until it resembled a mountain hovering above his hand.


    "Mountain Crushing Palm," he stated calmly.


    The mountain of energy crashed down. The Twin Phoenix Formation shattered like ss. Both men were thrown back, blood erupting from their mouths. One mmed into my wall hard enough to crack the reinforced structure. The other crashed through my window,nding outside with a sickening thud.


    The leader struggled to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You... you''re not just any cultivator. Who are you?" <i ss="story-note-vis">Chесk Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (МV1LЕМР1YR) fоr thе lаtеst updаtеs.</i>


    Caspian stepped forward. "Your executioner."


    He moved again with that impossible speed. His hand plunged straight into the man''s chest. No blood spilled—his fingers somehow phased through flesh and bone to grasp something essential within.


    The leader''s scream died in his throat as Caspian withdrew his hand, holding a pulsing orb of energy.


    "Your divine core," Caspian said, examining it. "Barely worth taking."


    He crushed it between his fingers. The leader''s body copsed, empty and lifeless.


    I stared in shock. I''d never seen someone extract a divine core directly. It should have been impossible.


    Caspian turned to the remaining assassin, who was trying to crawl away. "Running won''t help you."


    The man began babbling, "Please! I was just following orders! The Covenant will pay—"


    "The Covenant should know better than to send such weak representatives," Caspian cut him off. He flicked his finger, and a thin de of energy sliced through the air, severing the man''s head from his body.


    The female assassin was still alive, paralyzed but conscious. Her eyes followed Caspian with naked terror as he approached her.


    "You''ll deliver a message for me," he told her. "Tell your masters that this territory is under my protection. The next invasion will be met with theplete destruction of your nearest base. Do you understand?"


    She managed a small nod.


    Caspian touched her forehead. "You have one hour before my binding releases. Use it wisely."


    Then he turned to me, as though just remembering I was there. His gaze assessed me coldly.


    "You''ve improved," he said, though his tone suggested this was hardly impressive. "But clearly not enough."


    I pushed myself to my feet, still reeling from what I''d witnessed. "How did you do that? The speed, the core extraction—"


    "Elementary techniques," he dismissed my question. "Anypetent bodyguard in the Ashworth family can perform them."


    The casual way he said it struck me like a physical blow. If this was "elementary" for the Ashworth family''s servants, how vast was the gulf between Isabelle''s world and my own?


    "Why are you here?" I finally managed to ask. "Did Isabelle send you?"


    Something flickered across his face—so brief I almost missed it. "No. Miss Ashworth doesn''t know I''m here."


    He reached into his jacket and removed a small cube, norger than my palm. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it at the leader''s corpse. The cube expanded, engulfing the body before contracting again, taking the remains with it.


    He repeated the process with the second corpse outside my window.


    "Spatial Magic Artifact," he exined, pocketing the cube. "Useful for cleanup."


    I couldn''t believe what I was seeing. Such artifacts were priceless treasures, yet he used one like it was nothing more than a garbage bag.


    "Would you like it?" he asked suddenly, offering me the cube. "Consider it payment for the inconvenience."


    I shook my head, stunned by the offer. "I... no. Thank you."


    Caspian shrugged, putting the cube away. "Your choice." He nced around my damaged home. "This ce ispromised. You should relocate."


    "What about her?" I gestured to the paralyzed woman.


    "She''ll deliver my message, then likely suicide to avoid punishment for failure." His voice was matter-of-fact, devoid of concern.


    I stared at him, trying to reconcile this lethal efficiency with the silent shadow I''d always seen standing behind Isabelle. "I never realized... what you were capable of."


    Caspian''s expression remained nk. "Few do. That''s the point."


    An awkward silence fell between us. I had so many questions, but his imposing presence made it difficult to voice them.


    To my surprise, he broke the silence first. "Would you like a drink? There''s a ce nearby that serves eptable whiskey."


    I blinked, certain I''d misheard. "You want to... have a drink? With me?"


    "Don''t make me reconsider the offer," he said, already turning toward the door.


    I grabbed my jacket and followed, still trying to process this surreal turn of events. We walked in silence to a small, upscale bar several blocks away. The bartender seemed to recognize Caspian, immediately bringing out an expensive bottle without being asked.


    After our sses were filled, Caspian finally spoke. "You''re wondering why I''m here."


    "Among other things," I admitted, taking a sip. The whiskey burned pleasantly down my throat.


    "I''ve been watching you," he said. "Your growth is... interesting. Unexpected."


    I set down my ss. "Why would my growth interest the Ashworth family''s bodyguard?"


    "It doesn''t," he replied bluntly. "What interests me is why it interests Miss Ashworth."


    My heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name. "Is she—is she okay?"


    Caspian studied me for a long moment. "She asks about you. Frequently."


    That simple statement filled me with both joy and pain. She hadn''t forgotten me.


    "Her family is moving forward with marriage arrangements," he continued, watching my reaction carefully. "Several candidates have been presented."


    My fingers tightened around my ss. "And what does Isabelle think about that?"


    "She refuses them all." A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Rather forcefully, in fact."


    Relief washed over me. She was fighting for us, in her own way.


    Caspian finished his whiskey in one smooth motion. "I''ve been ordered to apany you to Veridia City when you''re ready to go."


    I nearly choked on my drink. "Ordered? By whom?"


    "Miss Ashworth, of course." He refilled his ss. "Though I would have done it anyway."


    "Why?" I asked, genuinely curious.


    He met my gaze directly. "Because I''ve seen enough to know you might actually be worthy of her. And that''s rare."


    Coming from him, after witnessing his power, this felt like the highest possible praise.


    "Ask me," he said suddenly.


    "Ask you what?"


    "Whatever you want to know about the Ashworth family." He leaned forward slightly. "If you have any questions, ask them now. Today is your only chance."


    I froze, my mind racing with possibilities. This was an unprecedented opportunity—a window into Isabelle''s world from someone who knew its deepest secrets. Whatever I asked now could shape my entire approach when I finally reached Veridia City.


    "Tell me everything I need to know," I said, my voice firm with determination. "Tell me how to win."