## Liam''s Perspective


    White-hot pain surged through my body. Every nerve felt like it was being seared with molten iron. I dropped to my knees, gasping for breath as the agony tore through me.


    Julian hadn''t used his sword at all. Instead, he''d activated the pain-inducing bracelets we all wore.


    Around me, dozens of martial artists copsed, their screams filling the courtyard. Some wed at their wrists, desperately trying to remove the metal bands that bound them to Julian''s will.


    "This," Julian announced coldly, "is what happens when vermin forget their ce."


    I fought to stay conscious. The pain was almost unbearable, but I forced my head up to meet Julian''s gaze. His face showed no emotion—just cold, calcted cruelty.


    "Stop," I managed to say through gritted teeth. "They... have nothing... to do with this."


    Julian smiled. "On the contrary. They chose to stand with you. Now they share your punishment."


    I pushed myself to my feet, my legs trembling with the effort. The world spun around me, but I took one shaky step toward him.


    "You''re nothing... but a coward," I snarled.


    Julian''s eyes shed. "A coward? I could kill you with a flick of my wrist."


    "Then do it," I challenged. "Or are you... afraid of what happens... when you can''t control us... through fear anymore?"


    Julian moved so fast I barely saw it. His palm struck my chest with thunderous force, sending me flying backward. I crashed into a stone pir and crumpled to the ground, blood filling my mouth.


    "I don''t need to kill you to break you," Julian said, walking toward me. "But perhaps a demonstration is needed."


    He raised his hand, and the intensity of the pain from our bracelets doubled. Several martial artists lost consciousness immediately. Others screamed until their voices gave out.


    "I could kill every one of you," Julian continued calmly, "and the Guild would simply send recements. You are all expendable."


    "Not quite, Captain Radford."


    The voice cut through the chaos like a de. The pain from the bracelets instantly subsided, though the echoes of agony still rippled through my body.


    Daphne Grenville strode into the courtyard, her elegant robes billowing around her. Behind her walked Emmett Monroe, his massive frame blocking the sunlight.


    Julian turned to face them, tension visible in his shoulders. "This isn''t your concern."


    "When you''re about to execute half our expedition force before we''ve even begun our mission, it bes everyone''s concern," Daphne replied coolly.


    Emmett nodded. "Word travels fast, Julian. Would you like to exin to the Guild Elders why you depleted our ranks over a bruised ego?"


    Julian''s face darkened. "This is insubordination. I am well within my rights—"


    "To discipline, yes," Daphne interrupted. "To decimate our forces? That''s questionable at best." She nced around at the suffering martial artists. "Your reputation for... firmness... is well-established. There''s no need for this level of response."


    I watched the exchange with fading vision. Julian was powerful, but even he had to answer to someone. And Daphne Grenville''s family connections made her untouchable, even to him.


    Julian''s jaw clenched. "Fine." He made a gesture with his hand, and the pain from the bracelets disappearedpletely. "But this isn''t over."


    He turned and stormed away, Archer Duncan limping after him like a beaten dog.


    As consciousness threatened to leave me, I felt someone lift me up. Through blurry eyes, I saw Frederick Cohen''s concerned face.


    "You''re either the bravest or the stupidest man I''ve ever met," he said.


    "Probably both," I muttered before darkness imed me.


    ---


    I woke up in my quarters, my body aching but intact. Frederick sat nearby, his expression somber.


    "How long was I out?" I asked, my throat raw.


    "About three hours," he replied. "Julian really did a number on you."


    I sat up slowly, wincing at the pain in my ribs. "What about the others?" <em ss="ref-d685b2">Chapter provided via *.</em>


    "Everyone survived. Some are in worse shape than others, but we''ll all live." Frederick paused. "What you did back there... thank you."


    I shook my head. "You stood up first. I just followed your lead."


    Frederickughed softly. "And now we''re both on Julian''s execution list."


    "Better than living on our knees," I said.


    Frederick studied me for a moment. "You''re different from the others. Your power... it''s not just skill, is it?"


    I tensed. "What do you mean?"


    "I recognize something simr to myself," Frederick said. He held out his hand, and a faint red aura began to emanate from his skin. "They call it a ''holy body.'' My physical strength is three times that of normal cultivators."


    I stared at the red glow. "Is that how you overpowered Archer so easily?"


    Frederick nodded. "Just as you have something special. I''ve seen the golden light around you when you fight. We''re both blessed with unique constitutions."


    "Or cursed," I replied. "It''s made us targets."


    "Perhaps," Frederick agreed. "But it might also be our salvation."


    He stood up, heading toward the door. "Rest now. Tomorrow won''t be easier than today."


    ---


    Frederick''s prediction proved urate. The next morning, Julian gathered everyone at the base camp''s center. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn''t slept, and his expression promised vengeance.


    "Today," Julian announced, "we begin our true purpose here. The hunting of demonic beasts."


    A mixture of fear and excitement rippled through the crowd. Demonic beasts were powerful and dangerous—some equivalent to high-level martial artists.


    "Each beast contains a core," Julian continued. "These cores are valuable beyond measure. They can enhance cultivation or be refined into powerful tools."


    He paced before us, every step deliberate. "All cores will be collected by me personally. I will decide their distribution based on performance and... loyalty."


    His eyes found mine, a clear message in them. I would receive nothing, no matter what I contributed.


    "The strongest beasts have the most powerful cores," Julian said. "Today, I will summon one such creature for demonstration."


    Dudley Lowell stepped forward. "Captain Radford will perform the Soul Attraction Technique—a high-level ability few can master. Observe carefully."


    Julian moved to an open area. His hands formedplex patterns as he closed his eyes in concentration. The air began to vibrate with gathering power.


    "The Soul Attraction Technique draws beasts from miles around," Dudley exined quietly. "Itpels them to approach, regardless of their instincts."


    Julian''s movements elerated. Sweat beaded on his forehead as spiritual energy swirled around him, forming a blue vortex that extended skyward.


    The ground trembled beneath our feet. Birds scattered from nearby trees, sensing approaching danger.


    And then I heard it—a roar so deep and terrible it seemed to shake the mountains themselves.


    From the forest emerged a beast unlike any I''d seen before. Twenty feet tall, with midnight-ck scales and eyes like burning coals. Six limbs propelled its massive body forward, each ending in ws that could rend steel. Its head featured a crown of horns, and its jaws could easily swallow a man whole.


    "This," Julian announced proudly as he ended his technique, "is a Midnight Scale Emperor. Its core is equivalent to a Marquis''s golden core."


    My eyes widened. A Marquis''s golden core? Such a treasure could advance my cultivation by years in a single breakthrough. The path to bing a Martial Saint suddenly seemed closer than ever before.


    Julian smiled at our reactions. "Let the hunt begin."


    As the beast roared again, I felt a spark of delight ignite within me. Perhaps this nightmare assignment had unexpected opportunities after all.