## Liam''s Perspective


    I stood at the edge of the forest overlooking the ckthorne estate. Dawn''s first light revealed the massive preparations for today''s wedding. gs bearing thebined Ashworth-ckthorne crest fluttered in the breeze. Guards patrolled the perimeter in tight formations.


    "Quite the spectacle," Michael said beside me. His face was grim, aged lines deepened by worry.


    "All this pomp for a forced marriage," I muttered.


    After rescuing Michael from Corbin''s murderous plot, we''d been nning our next move. The old man had risked everythinging to Veridia City. For Isabelle.


    "I had to see her onest time," Michael confessed, his voice breaking slightly. "Even if it meant Corbin finding me."


    I ced a hand on his shoulder. "You won''t be seeing a wedding today. I promise you that."


    Michael nodded, but doubt clouded his eyes. "Corbin has gathered significant forces. My sources tell me he''s hired eight Military Marquis."


    "Eight?" The Man with the Mustache gulped behind us. "That''s... excessive."


    It was. Military Marquis were elite fighters, eachmanding astronomical fees. Hiring eight meant Corbin was expecting serious resistance.


    "He''s also contracted gunmen," Michael added. "Stationed on the rooftops."


    I scanned the distant estate. Indeed, I could spot the glint of rifle barrels on the highest points of the mansion.


    "All this security for a wedding?" The Mustached Manughed nervously. "Your family really knows how to celebrate, old man."


    "It''s not for the wedding," I said coldly. "It''s for me."


    News of my arrival in Veridia City had spread quickly. No doubt Corbin had been preparing for this confrontation since ourst encounter.


    "Are you certain you want to go through with this?" Michael asked. "The odds are... unfavorable."


    I watched as more guests arrived, their luxury vehicles forming a long line at the estate entrance.


    "Odds don''t matter," I replied. "Only Isabelle does."


    Inside the ckthorne mansion, preparations for the ceremony were reaching their climax. Servants rushed about with floral arrangements and champagne bottles. In the grand ballroom, hundreds of Veridia City''s elite mingled, all dressed in their finest.


    Roderick ckthorne and Corbin Ashworth stood on a balcony overlooking the festivities, satisfaction evident on both their faces.


    "Quite the turnout," Roderick remarked, swirling brandy in a crystal ss. "The Governor himself has arrived."


    Corbin''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd. "Any sign of trouble?"


    "Rx," Roderick said. "Your security measures are impressive, even by my standards."


    "That bastard Knight is in the city," Corbin growled. "He made it clear he ns to interfere."


    Roderick chuckled. "Let him try. Between your hired muscle and our family guards, he wouldn''t get within a hundred yards of this ce."


    "You don''t know him like I do," Corbin muttered darkly, unconsciously touching his still-bruised face. "He''s... unnatural."


    "My son seems unconcerned," Roderick observed, gesturing toward Dashiell, who was holding court among admirers below.


    Dashiell ckthorne stood tall in his formal wedding attire, epting congrattions with practiced grace. His confident smile never wavered as he boasted to his friends.


    "Knight? That country doctor?" Dashiell scoffed. "He''s nothing but a momentary distraction. By sunset today, Isabelle will be my wife, and all of Veridia City will bow to ourbined families."


    Hispanionsughed appreciatively, raising sses in toasts.


    "And what about the bride?" one guest inquired. "I heard she''s been... reluctant."


    Dashiell''s smile tightened. "Women often mistake nerves for reluctance. Once she understands the power she''ll wield as my wife, she''ll forget whatever childish infatuation she harbored for that nobody."


    As if summoned by his words, the massive doors at the end of the ballroom swung open. Conversation halted as all eyes turned to witness the bride''s entrance.


    But it wasn''t Isabelle.


    Instead, a servant rushed in, his face pale with panic. He whispered urgently to a security captain, who immediately gestured to his men. A dozen guards quietly but quickly exited the ballroom.


    "What the hell is happening?" Corbin hissed, noticing themotion.


    Roderick frowned. "I''ll find out."


    Before he could move, the ceremony officials entered, signaling that the wedding would soon begin. Guests started moving toward their seats in the garden where vows would be exchanged.


    Dashiell took his position at the altar, standing proud beneath an archway of exotic flowers. The officiator, a high-ranking member of the Veridia City Council, stood ready with sacred texts.


    "Friends, families, honored guests," the officiator began, his voice carrying across the now-packed garden. "We gather to witness the union of Dashiell ckthorne and Isabelle Ashworth, a merger of bloodlines that will shape the future of our great city."


    Corbin beamed with pride from his front-row seat. His eyes darted asionally to the security positions, but everything seemed in order.


    "Today, Dashiell ckthorne is formally epted as son-inw to the illustrious Ashworth family," the officiator continued. "May this union bring prosperity to all—"


    A thunderous explosion cut him off mid-sentence.


    The massive wooden signboard at the entrance to the garden—bearing the names of bride and groom in golden calligraphy—shattered into pieces. Golden energy crackled around the destruction.


    Screams erupted as guests scrambled from their seats. Security guards rushed forward, weapons drawn.


    Through the smoke and chaos, a single figure emerged.


    Me.


    I walked slowly up the central aisle, holding the two broken halves of the signboard. My body pulsed with golden light, the power of the Chaotic Body barely contained.


    "Sorry I''mte," I called out, my voice carrying over the panicked crowd. "I believe there''s been a mistake with this wedding."


    Dashiell''s face contorted with rage. "Knight! You dare interrupt my ceremony?"


    I tossed the broken pieces of the signboard at his feet. "This isn''t a ceremony. It''s a farce."


    Corbin leapt to his feet, face purple with fury. "Kill him! Kill him now!"


    Armed men surrounded me instantly, their weapons trained on my heart. I counted silently. Twelve guards. Four visible Military Marquis. And undoubtedly more hiding among the guests.


    "I''vee for Isabelle," I announced, addressing the crowd rather than the guards. "And I won''t leave without her."


    "She belongs to me now," Dashiell snarled, descending from the altar. "As does everything that was once yours."


    I smiled coldly. "Nothing that matters has ever belonged to you, Dashiell. Especially not Isabelle''s heart."


    "Her heart?" Heughed cruelly. "I don''t need her heart. Just her name and her body."


    Something snapped inside me. The golden light surrounding my body intensified, causing several guards to step back involuntarily.


    "Those are myst words to you as a whole man," I said softly.


    Dashiell''s face paled slightly, but he recovered quickly. "Guards! Remove this trash from my wedding! Bring me his head!"


    The armed men tensed, ready to attack. The guests retreated further, creating arge empty circle with me at its center. I stood calmly, hands at my sides, golden energy swirling around me like a storm.


    "Last chance," I offered. "Where is Isabelle?"


    "Being dressed for me," Dashiell sneered. "You''ll never see her again."


    I nodded slowly, as if considering his words. Then I smiled—a smile that made even Dashiell take an involuntary step back.


    "Then let''s dance."


    The first guard charged. I didn''t move. Not until he was within arm''s reach. Then I was simply... elsewhere. The guard stumbled forward, finding nothing but air where I had stood.


    I reappeared behind him, my movement too fast for ordinary eyes to track. One touch to his neck, and he crumpled.


    The others attacked in unison. A coordinated assault that would have overwhelmed an ordinary fighter.


    I was anything but ordinary.


    I moved like water between raindrops, golden energy trailing behind me. Each movement precise. Each strike devastating. Guards fell one after another, none understanding how they had been defeated.


    Dashiell backed away, eyes wide with disbelief. "Impossible..."


    "No," I replied calmly, dropping another unconscious guard. "Just inevitable."


    The Military Marquis stepped forward now, their faces grim with determination. These were no ordinary fighters. Each had mastered their body''s energy flows, making them truly dangerous opponents.


    First seen on *.


    The firstunched at me, his fist glowing with concentrated power. I met it with my own palm, golden energy against his crimson force. The collision sent shockwaves across the garden, shattering sses and toppling decorations.


    "You''ve improved," the Marquis growled, recognizing me from a previous encounter.


    "You haven''t," I replied, before driving my other hand into his chest.


    He flew backward, crashing through three rows of chairs beforeing to a stop, unconscious but alive.


    The other three attacked simultaneously, surrounding me in a triangle formation. Their coordinated assault was impressive—a dance of deadly precision.


    But I had danced with death too many times to fear these steps.


    I countered each strike, my body flowing between their attacks like smoke. Golden energy erupted from my hands, my feet, my very pores. The garden zed with light as I fought, the ground cracking beneath the force of our exchange.


    One by one, the Marquis fell. Not dead—I wasn''t here to kill—but thoroughly defeated.


    Silence fell across the garden. Guests stared in stunned disbelief. Dashiell had retreated to the altar, his confident fa?ade shattered. Corbin stood frozen, his worst fears realized.


    I turned slowly, surveying the destruction. "Now," I said calmly, "I''ll ask again. Where is Isabelle?"


    A slow p echoed from the mansion entrance. All heads turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows.


    "Bravo, Mr. Knight," a cold voice announced. "Quite the performance."


    The crowd parted as Marcus Thorne, head of the Veridia City Martial Guild, walked forward. His presence sent ripples of fear through the guests. Even Corbin and Dashiell straightened in respect.


    "The Guild Master honors us," Roderick said quickly, trying to salvage the situation.


    Marcus ignored him, his eyes fixed on me. "We''ve heard stories about you, Mr. Knight. I see they weren''t exaggerated."


    I met his gaze steadily. "I''m not here for you or your Guild. Just for Isabelle."


    "Interesting," Marcus replied. "Because she''s very much our concern now."


    My blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"


    Marcus smiled thinly. "Did you really think we would allow someone with her... unique qualities... to be wasted on a simple marriage alliance?"


    Realization dawned, horrifying in its implications. This wedding was never the end goal. It was a distraction.


    "Where is she?" I demanded, golden energy ring dangerously around me.


    "Somewhere you''ll never reach her," Marcus replied calmly. "The Veridia City Martial Guild has imed her for higher purposes."


    I took a step forward, only to find my path suddenly blocked by a dozen new figures—Guild Elders, each more powerful than any Military Marquis.


    "This is bigger than your petty romance," Marcus continued. "Her bloodline is too valuable to waste."


    The world seemed to slow around me as understanding crystallized. The Guild hadn''te to protect the wedding. They''de to ensure I was upied while Isabelle was taken elsewhere.


    I''d walked right into their trap.