## Liam''s Perspective


    Julian Radford''s eyes narrowed. The morning light revealed nothing in his expression except mild annoyance.


    "Such vulgarnguage for someone cornered like a rat," he said, stepping closer. "I expected more from the man who''s caused our Guild so much trouble."


    I kept my stance low, energy coiled within me. The four Martial Marquises tightened their circle, their formation perfect. They''d practiced this. Hunted together before.


    "Where''s Isabelle?" I demanded.


    Julian smirked. "Still fixated on the Ashworth girl? She serves a greater purpose now. Her blood advances our work."


    Rage burned through me. My fingers tingled with gathering power.


    "You''re torturing her."


    "We''re utilizing a resource," Julian corrected, his tone matter-of-fact. "The difference between men like you and organizations like ours is vision. You see a woman. We see evolution''s key."


    I struck without warning,unching myself at Julian with every ounce of speed I possessed. My fist zed with concentrated spiritual energy as it rocketed toward his face.


    Julian didn''t dodge. Instead, his arms crossed in front of him, forming a specific pattern with his fingers.


    "ck Gold Heaven Gate."


    My fist connected with what felt like a wall of solid metal. The impact sent shockwaves up my arm. Pain exploded in my knuckles.


    Julian hadn''t moved an inch.


    "Predictable," he murmured.


    His defensive technique had negated most of my strike''s power. I''d hit with enough force to shatter concrete, yet he stood unaffected.


    I jumped back, shaking my throbbing hand. "What the hell was that?"


    "A defensive art older than your bloodline," Julian replied. "One of many techniques the Guild has preserved."


    He stepped forward, somehow covering the distance between us faster than I could track. His open palm mmed into my chest. <dfn ss="meta-ref-static">If you''re not on *, you''re viewing a copy.</dfn>


    The impact lifted me off my feet. Air exploded from my lungs as I crashed into a tree twenty feet away. Bark splintered around me.


    I struggled to breathe, ribs screaming in protest. Julian''s raw physical strength exceeded anything I''d encountered before.


    The four Marquises remained in position, watching. This wasn''t their fight. They were just insurance.


    Julian approached slowly. "Stand up. Show me this power that has the Guild so concerned."


    I forced myself upright, spitting blood. "Happy to oblige."


    The four Marquises moved in perfect synchronization, each raising a small artifact. Light erupted from the objects, forming a shimmering barrier around the clearing.


    "Insurance," Julian exined, noticing my nce. "To ensure our conversation remains private. No escape. No interference."


    I flexed my fingers, testing my injured hand. Two knuckles were definitely broken. My ribs felt cracked but not shattered.


    "Let''s continue our dialogue," Julian said, dropping into a fighting stance.


    This time, I didn''t rush in. I activated my Divine Dragon Power, letting the ancient energy flow through my meridians. My skin took on a faint golden hue as strength flooded my body.


    Julian watched with clinical interest. "Interesting technique. Ancient lineage?"


    I didn''t answer. Instead, I circled him, looking for an opening.


    Julian matched my movements precisely. "Your silence is telling. The Guild''s archives suggested your bloodline carried unusual potential."


    I struck again, this time with abination attack—three punches followed by a spinning kick. Each blow carried enough force to pulverize stone.


    Julian blocked the first punch with his forearm. The second he deflected with an open palm. The third connected with his shoulder but seemed to slide off without effect. My kick he caught, gripping my ankle with shocking strength.


    His grip tightened until bones ground together. "Is this truly all you have?"


    With a casual twist, he threw me across the clearing again. I managed to flip mid-air,nding in a crouch.


    My ankle throbbed, nearly buckling when I put weight on it. This wasn''t working. Julian''s physical capabilities exceeded mine by an unsettling margin.


    Time to escte.


    I channeled energy into my "Cosmic Form"—the technique that had overwhelmed every opponent before Julian. My body expanded, growingrger, more powerful. Eight feet tall. Then ten. My muscles bulged with cosmic energy as I towered over Julian.


    His expression remained unchanged.


    "Ah, the rumored transformation," he noted. "Impressive visual effect."


    I swung a massive fist downward, aiming to crush him where he stood. The ground shook with the impact. Dust and debris exploded outward.


    When the dust settled, Julian stood beside the crater my fist had created, having sidestepped with minimal effort.


    "Slower in this form," he observed. "Power traded for mobility."


    I roared, unleashing a barrage of strikes. Each missed or was deflected. Julian moved like water, always just beyond my reach.


    Frustration built within me. I summoned spiritual fire, coating my erged fists with ethereal mes.


    "Burn!" I shouted, unleashing a wave of fire that engulfed half the clearing.


    The mes washed over Julian. For a moment, I thought I had him.


    Then he stepped forward, entirely unharmed. His clothing smoldered slightly, but his skin showed no damage.


    "Holy Metal Stone," he exined, tapping his chest. "My body was forged with it during my initiation. Fire, even spiritual fire, cannot harm me."


    I stared in disbelief. Every advantage I''d relied on meant nothing against this man.


    Julian sighed, looking almost disappointed. "The reports of your abilities were clearly exaggerated."


    My Cosmic Form flickered as energy drained from my overtaxed system. I couldn''t maintain the transformation much longer.


    Julian noticed immediately. "Already at your limit? Unfortunate."


    He approached casually, hands sped behind his back. "I''ll make you an offer, Liam Knight. Surrender now. Share the secret of your Cosmic Form technique with the Guild. In exchange, I''ll ensure you''re treated humanely."


    My form diminished, shrinking back toward normal size as my energy reserves depleted.


    "And Isabelle?" I managed through gritted teeth.


    "Her fate is sealed," Julian said tly. "ept that."


    When I was back to normal size, Julian closed the distance between us.


    "Your answer?" he prompted.


    I spat blood at his feet. "I''d rather die."


    Julian''s expression hardened. "That can be arranged."


    He reached for me, moving to grab my throat.


    Something broke inside me—a barrier I''d never crossed before. In that moment of desperate rity, I felt energy reserves I hadn''t known existed.


    I threw myself backward, creating distance. My hands shot forward, palms facing Julian.


    Light began to gather between my palms—not the golden energy of my Divine Dragon Power, but pure white radiance. The ball of light condensed tighter and tighter, shrinking to the size of a marble while growing blindingly bright.


    Heat radiated from it like a miniature sun.


    Julian paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face for the first time.


    "What is this technique?" he demanded.


    I didn''t answer. Couldn''t answer. All my focus was on the growing point of light.


    The four Marquises shifted nervously, sensing the building power.


    Julian''s eyes narrowed. "Whatever you''re attempting, it won''t prate my defenses."


    The ball of light continued to condense, growing smaller yet impossibly brighter. The air around it warped with heat.


    Something told me I had one chance. One attack.


    Julian raised his hands, forming the ck Gold Heaven Gate defense again.


    "Your desperation is pointless," he said, but his voicecked its earlier confidence.


    The light between my palms pulsed, ready to be unleashed.


    It was all or nothing now.