## Liam''s Perspective


    Jim Cobb''s face twisted with rage as he red at me. His eyes darted nervously between me and the exit.


    "Who sent you?" I demanded. "The ckthornes aren''t the only ones who want me dead."


    "Wouldn''t you like to know?" Cobb sneered.


    He lunged forward, fist glowing with concentrated light energy. The attack came fast—faster than most could track. But to me, it looked almost sluggish.


    I caught his fist mid-strike. The impact sent ripples through the temple air.


    Cobb''s eyes widened. "Impossible!"


    I squeezed. The bones in his hand crunched under my grip.


    "Tell me who else wants me dead," I said calmly.


    Instead of answering, Cobb howled in pain. I released his mangled hand and delivered a swift palm strike to his chest. The forceunched him across the temple. His body crashed into a stone pir, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the ancient structure.


    "His physical strength is monstrous," the Man with the Mustache muttered from his corner. "Like hitting a mountain."


    Cobb staggered to his feet, spitting blood. "You''ve gotten stronger, Knight. But let''s see how you handle this!"


    He thrust both hands forward. Beams of searing light shot toward me like spears. Three, six, twelve—too many to count. Each capable of piercing iron.


    I didn''t dodge. I stood my ground and let them hit.


    The light spears mmed into my body. Some bounced offpletely. Others prated a few inches before stopping. None reached anything vital.


    "What... what are you?" Cobb stammered.


    I looked down at the minor wounds on my chest. Already, they were closing up.


    "Chaotic body," the Man with the Mustache whispered in awe. "The rumors were true."


    Cobb''s face paled. He took a trembling step backward. "No. That''s just a myth."


    I advanced slowly. "Who sent you?"


    Instead of answering, Cobb gathered energy between his palms. The light grew brighter until it formed a pulsing orb the size of my head.


    "Die!" he screamed, hurling it at me.


    The orb moved too fast to dodge. I raised my hand and caught it like a ball.


    Cobb''s jaw dropped. "That''s impossible! That should have vaporized your arm!"


    I squeezed. The orb shattered in my grip, fragments of light dispersing harmlessly.


    "Is that all?" I asked.


    Real fear shed across Cobb''s face. He backed away, but I closed the distance in an instant. My hand shot out and gripped his face.


    "Last chance. Who else wants me dead?"


    Cobb''s only response was a muffled grunt. I tightened my grip slightly. The bones in his face began to crack.


    "Wait!" he screamed through my fingers. "I''ll talk!"


    I loosened my hold but didn''t let go.


    "The ckthornes hired me directly," he gasped. "But there''s a list circting... a bounty list. You''re on it."


    "Who created the list?"


    "I don''t know! It came through the undergroundworks! Please!"


    I could tell he was hiding something. I pped him once, casually. The impact shattered his cheekbone. He screamed.


    "Knight!" Sofia called out from where she was helping Eamon. "We need to leave before moree!"


    I nodded but kept my focus on Cobb. "The list. Who created it?"


    "It has the Martial Guild''s seal!" Cobb finally confessed. "That''s all I know!"


    I released him. He copsed to his knees, clutching his broken face.


    "You''re finished, Knight," he hissed through bloody teeth. "Every assassin in the territory wille for you now."


    I turned to help my friends.


    "Don''t turn your back on me!" Cobb roared.


    A surge of energy made me spin around. Cobb had pulled out a wicked ck de. It hummed with deadly power.


    "The ck Iron Sword!" the Man with the Mustache shouted. "Be careful! That thing cuts iron like mud!"


    Cobb charged, swinging the legendary de in a deadly arc toward my neck. His speed had doubled.


    I didn''t try to dodge. Instead, I reached up and caught the de with my bare hand.


    Metal met flesh. The edge bit into my palm about half an inch deep and stopped.


    Blood trickled down my wrist, but the wound was minimal.


    "What?" Cobb''s voice was barely a whisper now. His eyes bulged with disbelief.


    I pulled the sword from his grip and tossed it aside.


    Cobb scrambled backward, true terror on his face. "This isn''t possible! No one can stop the ck Iron Sword bare-handed!"


    "Leave," Imanded. "Tell whoever sent you thating after my friends was yourst mistake."


    For a moment, I thought Cobb would surrender. Then his expression changed. Calction reced fear.


    He leapt backward, putting distance between us. "You''re strong up close, Knight. Unnaturally strong. But let''s see how you handle attacks you can''t reach!"


    He floated upward, hovering near the temple ceiling. His hands shed throughplex patterns.


    "You think I need to be close to kill you?" I asked.


    Cobbughed. "Your Shrinking Ground Into An Inch technique has limits! I''ve studied you, Knight! You can move fast in bursts, but sustained speed isn''t your strength!"


    He wasn''t wrong. My movement technique had limitations. <strong ss="story-note-vis">This соntеnt is hоstеd аt М|V|LЕ^МРYR.</strong>


    "My body may be hurt, but my techniques are endless!" Cobb shouted. His movements blurred as he circled the temple''s perimeter.


    Suddenly, attacks came from all directions. Needles of light, invisible force waves, concentrated energy bolts. I blocked what I could, but some found their mark. Small wounds opened across my body.


    "See?" Cobb called out, his confidence returning. "Even the legendary chaotic body has limits!"


    He was right. I was taking damage—minor, but real. And he was moving too quickly for me to catch him now.


    "Knight!" the Man with the Mustache shouted. "He''s using the Heaven''s Swift Steps technique! It drains energy but makes him faster than your movement skill!"


    Cobb cackled. "Smart man! Yes, I can keep this up for hours! You''ll be death by a thousand cuts!"


    Another barrage hit me. Small cuts appeared on my face and arms. Nothing serious, but they were adding up.


    Cobb''s speed increased further. He became nearly invisible, just a blur shooting around the temple''s periphery. Attacks came from every angle.


    "Liam Knight," Cobb called out, his voice echoing from all directions. "To tell you the truth, I''ve never lost in the Marquis disposition. Unless you are a Martial Saint, don''t think about defeating me!"