Liam''s Perspective


    The golden light pulsating from my skin illuminated the shocked faces before me. Debris and dust settled around my feet as I stood unshaken in the crater Kael had created.


    Kael''s jaw ckened. "Impossible... How did you—"


    "Saintly Body Skill," I said simply. The technique''s power coursed through me like liquid fire, hardening my flesh against attacks that would kill ordinary men. "You''re not the only one with protective arts."


    Kael''s stunned expression hardened into determination. He reactivated his Vajra technique, golden light once again enveloping his massive form.


    "Don''t get cocky," he growled. "I was holding back."


    He lunged forward with renewed fury, his fist aimed directly at my face. I caught it mid-air. The impact created a shockwave that shook the trees around us, but I remained unmoved.


    His eyes widened in disbelief.


    "So was I," I replied.


    With a quick twist of my wrist, I redirected his momentum and sent him flying. He crashed through several trees before regaining his footing. Fury distorted his golden features as he charged back toward me.


    Our exchange became a blur of golden light. Each impact echoed like thunder across the clearing. Trees shattered from the aftershocks of our blows. The ground beneath us cracked and splintered.


    I matched him strike for strike, my Saintly Body absorbing punishment that would have killed lesser cultivators instantly. With each exchange, Kael''s confidence visibly eroded. <em ss="story-note-vis">This соntеnt wаs first rеlеаsеd оn МV_LЕМРYR.</em>


    "What... are you?" he panted, creating distance between us.


    Instead of answering, I went on the offensive. My fist connected with his golden chest, denting the supposedly invincible defense. He staggered backward, genuine fear shing in his eyes.


    I pressed forward relentlessly. Each of my strikes now left visible damage on his golden form. Cracks appeared in his protective technique, spider-webbing across his chest and arms.


    Desperation fueled Kael''s next attack. He gathered his energy into one devastating punch that carried enough force to level a small building. I didn''t dodge. I met it head-on with my own attack.


    Our fists collided at the exact center point between us. The resulting explosion sent everyone nearby tumbling to the ground. When the dust cleared, we stood facing each other, unmoving.


    Then, slowly, Kael''s golden protection began to crumble. Pieces of his technique ked away like golden ash, revealing his normal skin beneath. Pain contorted his features as he clutched his hand to his chest. Every knuckle was broken, the hand itself bent at an unnatural angle.


    My own hand remained perfectly intact, still glowing with saintly power.


    "My technique..." Kael whispered in disbelief. "Twenty years of cultivation..."


    "Is meaningless," I finished for him, "against true power."


    The fight had ended as decisively as it began. Kael Westwood, the supposed Golden Titan, staggered backward in defeat. His reputation as unbeatable had been shattered along with his technique.


    "Retreat," he managed through clenched teeth, addressing Orion without looking at him. "This man... is beyond us."


    Without waiting for a response, Kael turned and limped away, his hulking form diminished by defeat. The legendary Golden Titan had fallen, and everyone present knew it.


    I shifted my attention to Orion Valois and his remaining fighters. Their confident expressions had vanished, reced by barely concealed fear.


    "Anyone else?" I asked calmly.


    Orion''s face darkened. He stepped forward, motioning for his fighters to spread out around me.


    "Kael may have failed," he said coldly, "but numbers have their own advantage."


    Five cultivators surrounded me, each adopting their battle stance. I remained rxed, my golden aura pulsing steadily around my body.


    They attacked simultaneously. des of energy, fists enhanced with elemental power, and various martial techniques converged on me from all directions. I didn''t bother dodging.


    Each attack connected with my golden form and dissipated like water striking hot steel. The attackers recoiled in shock as their techniques proved utterly ineffective.


    One fighterunched a spear of pure me toward my chest. I caught it barehanded, the fire swirling harmlessly around my fingers before extinguishing.


    Another sent three consecutive waves of cutting wind. They washed over me without leaving a mark.


    "My turn," I said quietly.


    Before any of them could retreat, I moved. To their eyes, I simply vanished, reappearing behind one unfortunate fighter. A single strike to his spine dropped him instantly. He wouldn''t walk again.


    The remaining four scattered in panic. Orion remained rooted in ce, his calcting eyes watching my every move.


    "Heavenly Thunder!" he suddenly shouted, his hands formingplex patterns.


    Blue-white lightning erupted from his palms, striking me directly in the chest. For a moment, electricity engulfed my entire body, crackling across my golden skin.


    Orion''s triumphant smile froze when he saw me stand unmoved. I raised my hand to my mouth and appeared to inhale. The lightning redirected itself, flowing from my skin directly into my lungs as I literally swallowed his attack.


    Disbelief painted Orion''s face. "That''s... impossible!"


    I said nothing, merely tapped my chest where the lightning had struck. Not even a scorch mark remained.


    One of the remaining fighters charged me from behind, desperation fueling his attack. Without looking, I backhanded him with casual force. The impact shattered his ribcage and sent him flying into a nearby boulder. He didn''t get back up.


    Orion''s remaining men looked to him for guidance, their confidence thoroughly shaken.


    "Together!" Orionmanded. "Soul Binding Lock and Great Divine shbination!"


    Two fighters immediately moved into position. The first began an intricate finger pattern, his eyes locked on mine. The air between us shimmered with strange energy.


    "Soul Binding Lock!" he shouted.


    An invisible force struck my consciousness. For a fraction of a second, my vision blurred and my muscles locked in ce. It was momentary, but just long enough.


    Orion seized the opening, his de drawing a perfect arc through the air as he closed the distance between us.


    "Great Divine sh!"


    The attack connected before my body could fully respond. Orion''s de cut across my chest, drawing a line of crimson through my golden defense.


    Pain red across my torso. I looked down in surprise as blood slowly seeped from the wound. It wasn''t deep, but it had prated my Saintly Body protection—something I''d thought impossible.


    The fighters froze, watching tensely. Would I copse? Was the invincible defense just a fa?ade?


    I touched the wound, examining the blood on my fingertips with curiosity. Then I looked up, meeting Orion''s gaze. The temperature around us seemed to drop several degrees as cold fury reced my previous calm.


    "Interesting," I said softly. "You actually managed to draw blood."


    Orion stepped back, recognizing the dangerous shift in my demeanor. The slight wound hadn''t weakened me—it had only focused my wrath.


    "Capture the thief first, then the king," I said coldly, my eyes locked on Orion Valois. "I guess I''ll kill you first."