Liam''s Perspective


    I pulled the mask away from my face, savoring the moment of revtion. The stunned expressions on their faces were priceless.


    "Liam Knight?" Glenn Talbot''s jaw dropped.


    "Impossible!" Sammy Ashworth scrambled backward, still clutching his throat.


    The shock in their eyes quickly turned to rage. Glenn pointed an usatory finger at me.


    "You deceived us! You stole our treasure!"


    His outburst made me chuckle. These fools still didn''t understand. I wasn''t just Liam Knight anymore. I had transcended.


    "Your treasure?" I moved with blinding speed, appearing directly in front of Glenn.


    The p was casual, almost dismissive. Yet the impact sent Glenn flying. His body crashed through a nearby tree, splintering the trunk before he tumbled to a stop.


    "Seems like you still don''t understand the situation," I said, my voice calm despite the disy of power.


    Sammy backed away, terror evident in his eyes. "Wait, Liam. We can talk about this."


    I turned slowly toward him. "Now you want to talk? After all your broken promises?"


    "Please," he begged, hands raised. "For Isabelle''s sake—"


    I froze at the mention of her name. Memories of Isabelle flooded my mind—her gentle smile, her unwavering faith in me. Even now, she remained my weakness.


    "For Isabelle," I conceded quietly, "you may leave. Now."


    Relief washed over Sammy''s face. But instead of running, he made his fatal mistake. He turned to the others.


    "What are you waiting for?" he shouted. "He''s just one man! Take him down!"


    The martial artists exchanged nervous nces. Only one stepped forward—a Peak Form Grandmaster I didn''t recognize. His aura red as he unleashed his full power.


    "You may have gained some strength, boy," he snarled, "but you''re facing true masters now."


    The man struck with impressive speed. His palm thrust aimed directly at my heart—a killing blow.


    I didn''t dodge. I didn''t block. I simply stood there, absorbing the impact.


    His eyes widened in disbelief. "What—"


    My hand shot forward, piercing straight through his chest. I withdrew it just as quickly, his blood dripping from my fingers.


    "Who''s next?" I asked as the body crumpled to the ground.


    The remaining martial artists paled. Their eyes darted between me and their fallenrade.


    "I''ll make this simple," I announced. "Kneel and swear loyalty, or join your friend."


    Saul Holt stepped forward, his face twisted with rage. "Never! I am a third-rank Grandmaster of the Veridia City Martial Guild! I will not bow to a nobody!"


    I sighed. "Wrong choice."


    Before he could even register movement, I was behind him. My fingers closed around his neck, and with a simple twist, I ended his life. His body hit the ground with a dull thud.


    Glenn Talbot had recovered enough to stagger back toward the group. His face contorted with fear and hatred.


    "You''ll pay for this," he threatened weakly. "The Guild will hunt you down!"


    "The Guild?" Iughed. "Let theme."


    I moved toward him, savoring his terror. This man had caused so much suffering. For Evelyn, for me, for countless others.


    "Please," he begged as I approached. "I have money, connections! I can help you!"


    "I don''t need your help."


    My hand plunged into his chest, but instead of simply killing him, I activated my energy absorption technique. I could feel his life force flowing into me, strengthening me further. His screams echoed through the forest as his body withered.


    When I released him, he was nothing more than a dried husk. The remaining martial artist—Mr. Noble, I recalled—backed away in horror.


    "You''re a monster," he whispered.


    "No," I corrected him. "I''m simply the consequence of your actions."


    Mr. Noble''s eyes narrowed, and I sensed a shift in his strategy. Instead of physical attack, heunched a spiritual assault—a divine sense attack aimed directly at my consciousness.


    For a moment, the world wavered around me. Most cultivators would have copsed under such an onught. But I was beyond such vulnerabilities now.


    I shaped my own divine sense into a sharp spear and thrust it back along the connection he''d established. His eyes bulged as I shattered his mental defenses and destroyed his divine sense from within.


    Blood poured from his nose, ears, and eyes as he copsed. His body twitched once, theny still. A death more merciful than he deserved.


    "Liam..." ra whispered, watching from a safe distance.


    The remaining Grandmasters, who had been observing from the periphery, finally understood the gravity of their situation. As one, they reached for their Dharma Treasures—ancient weapons of immense power.


    "All together!" one shouted. "Full strength!" Content presented by *.</abbr>


    A barrage of energy sts, elemental attacks, and mystical weapons converged on me from all directions. Thebined might of over a dozen Grandmasters—enough power to level a small city.


    I raised my bare hands and met each attack head-on. Crystal swords shattered against my palms. Fire dragons dissipated at my touch. Lightning bolts were absorbed into my skin, adding to my strength.


    The Grandmasters watched in horror as I systematically destroyed their most powerful treasures with my bare hands.


    "Impossible," one whispered. "No one can do this."


    Panic set in. They turned to flee, abandoning any pretense of courage.


    "Stop him!" one shouted desperately. "The Locking Dragon Technique! Now!"


    Five of them formed a circle around me, channeling their energy into glowing chains that wrapped around my body. The magical restraints tightened, designed to immobilize even the strongest cultivators.


    For a moment, I allowed myself to be bound, curious about their desperate measure.


    "We''ve got him!" one eximed with premature relief.


    I flexed my muscles, expanding my aura. The chains strained, creaked, and then shattered like ss. The bacsh sent the five Grandmasters flying backward.


    "You think you can stop me with this trick?" I asked, my voice carrying across the clearing.


    The terror in their eyes told me everything. They finally understood what they were facing. Not a man. Not even a Grandmaster. Something beyond theirprehension.


    And I was just getting started.