Liam''s Perspective


    The morning sun broke through the clouds as I watched Kendrick Langley walk through Oceana City Airport. My sources had been right. The Ascendant Saints Order was making moves, and I wasn''t their only target.


    "Five Grandmasters," Kendrick barked at his subordinates, his thin face pinched with tension. "Corbin Ashworth wants five Grandmasters dispatched to capture a single man. Do you understand what that means?"


    His men nodded nervously.


    "It means failure is not an option." Kendrick adjusted his sses with a cold precision. "Follow every directive to the letter. We cannot afford mistakes."


    I slipped away before anyone noticed me. Five Grandmasters for one man. That man was me. The knowledge should have terrified me, but instead, I felt strangely calm. Let theme.


    Back at my temporary residence, I packed light. Oceana City was just a stopover. My real destinationy beyond.


    A frantic knock interrupted me. When I opened the door, ra Vance burst in, her father William close behind.


    "Liam!" ra''s eyes were wide with panic. "You need to leave now!"


    "ra, slow down," I ced my hands on her shoulders. "What''s happening?"


    William Vance closed the door quickly. "They''reing for you. The Ascendant Saints Order has mobilized."


    I nodded calmly. "I know."


    "You know?" ra''s voice rose. "Then why are you still here? You need to go to the Eldoria Battle Zone! It''s the only ce they won''t follow!"


    "That would just dy the inevitable," I said.


    William stepped forward. "Listen to her, Liam. The Eldoria Battle Zone is dangerous, but it''s safer than facing what''sing."


    I studied them both. William looked genuinely concerned. ra seemed on the verge of tears. Their worry touched me, but I couldn''t take their advice.


    "I appreciate your concern, but I have arrangements in ce."


    ra grabbed my arm. "You don''t understand! They''ve sent—"


    "Five Grandmasters," I finished. "I know, ra."


    Her mouth fell open. "How did you...?"


    I smiled. "I have my ways."


    Something strange caught my attention. A faint, ancient aura seemed to emanate from ra. It wasn''t her natural energy signature. It felt older, darker, almost primordial.


    "ra, what''s that energy I sense from you?"


    She blinked, then smiled sheepishly. "Oh, it''s probably the mask. I''ve been carrying it around."


    "Mask?"


    "The one we found in that tomb. Remember? You told me to keep it."


    I did remember. The strange artifact had seemed drawn to ra somehow. I made a mental note to examine it more closely when time permitted.


    William cleared his throat. "Liam, please reconsider. The Eldoria Battle Zone—"


    "Would make me a fugitive," I cut in. "I''m not running."


    ra''s eyes welled with tears. "But they''ll kill you!"


    I took her hands in mine. "ra, trust me. I have a n." A half-truth, but better than nothing.


    She searched my face. "Promise me you won''t die."


    "I promise."


    William sighed heavily. "Your stubbornness will be the death of you."


    Iughed. "It hasn''t been so far."


    ra hesitated. "At least tell us your n."


    I tapped the side of my nose. "It''s a secret for now. But when the timees, you''ll see."


    This seemed to calm her somewhat, though I could tell she wasn''t entirely convinced. After a few more minutes of reassurances, they finally left. I felt a pang of guilt for my vagueness, but involving them further would only put them at risk.


    Three hourster, I arrived at Oceana City''s harbor district. The First Restaurant stood proudly among the luxurious establishments lining the waterfront. Its reputation as a gathering ce for the elite was well-deserved.


    Evelyn Norton was already seated at a private table overlooking the sea when I arrived. She looked different from ourst meeting – more refined, more powerful.


    "You''ve advanced," I said, taking my seat.


    She smiled, her eyes shing with pride. "Grandmaster rank now. It was overdue."


    "Congrattions."


    "You don''t seem surprised."


    "I sensed it the moment I walked in." I studied her. "Your mental barriers have improved too."


    "Had to," she replied. "Too many nosy cultivators trying to read my thoughts these days."


    A waiter brought us tea. I waited until he left before asking, "What brings you to Oceana City? I doubt it''s the seafood."


    Evelyn took a sip from her cup. "I''m going on a little cruise."


    "A cruise?"


    "To Brightheart Ind." Her eyes fixed on mine, gauging my reaction.


    I kept my face neutral, though my heart rate quickened. Brightheart Ind – where the inner core I consumed had originally been found. The ce was legendary, said to contain remnants of ancient power.


    "Interesting destination," I said casually. "Tourist attraction?"


    Evelynughed. "Hardly. It''s by invitation only. The ind opens to visitors once every three years."


    "And you just happened to get an invitation?"


    She reached into her purse and produced two golden cards. "I have connections."


    I studied the ornate invitations. They looked authentic, embossed with the symbol of Brightheart Ind – an etched me surrounded by waves.


    "Two invitations," I noted.


    "Yes." She slid one toward me. Then, just as my fingers were about to touch it, she pulled it back.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked.


    Her expression turned apologetic, though not entirely sincere. "I''m afraid I''ve already given the second invitation away."


    I raised an eyebrow. "To whom?"


    "Dudley Lowell."


    The name hit me like a bucket of cold water. Dudley Lowell – a rising star among the younger generation of cultivators. And my rival in more ways than one.


    "Dudley," I repeated tly. "I see."


    "You understand, don''t you?" Evelyn''s voice was smooth. "Business is business. Dudley has ess to certain rare materials that I need."


    "And I don''t?"


    "He offered them first." She shrugged elegantly. "Nothing personal."


    I leaned back in my chair, reassessing the situation. And Evelyn herself. "I can see that Miss Norton joined forces not only with me." Thanks for reading—brought to you by *.


    Evelyn''s smile never wavered. "Alliances are fluid in our world, Liam. You know that better than most."


    I did know it. But understanding didn''t make the revtion any less frustrating. Brightheart Ind was an opportunity I couldn''t afford to miss. And now I''d have to contend with Dudley Lowell''s presence there.


    "How does one get an invitation?" I asked directly.


    "They don''t," she replied. "Unless they''re invited by someone who already has ess."


    "Like you."


    Her smile widened. "Like me."


    The message was clear. If I wanted ess to Brightheart Ind, I would need to negotiate with Evelyn. And she knew exactly how valuable her position was.


    "What would it take?" I asked.


    Evelyn set down her teacup. "That''s a conversation for another time. I have a prior engagement to attend."


    She stood, smoothing her dress. "Think about what you can offer that Dudley Lowell can''t. Then we''ll talk."


    I watched her walk away, her confidence evident in every step. The revtion that she''d aligned herself with Dudleyplicated my ns significantly. While I pondered my next move, one thing became abundantly clear – Brightheart Ind held secrets I needed to uncover, with or without Evelyn Norton''s assistance.


    And if that meant dealing with Dudley Lowell, so be it. Some rivalries were worth rekindling, especially when ancient power was at stake.