## Liam''s Perspective


    Julian Radford stood in the center of the courtyard, his hands moving in precise, calcted gestures. The air around him shimmered with spiritual energy.


    "Today," he announced, his voice carrying to all corners of the gathered crowd, "I will demonstrate the proper method of dispatching demonic beasts."


    His gaze swept over us, lingering deliberately on me. A cold smile touched his lips.


    "I will summon beasts appropriate to each participant''s level. Who wishes to be first?"


    "I volunteer," Dominic Ashworth stepped forward, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt.


    Julian nodded. His fingers traced a pattern in the air. Blue light coalesced before him, forming a spinning vortex.


    With a sharp crack, the vortex expanded and a creature leaped through. It was a Wolf Wraith – lean, spectral, with glowing blue eyes. Dangerous, but manageable for someone of Dominic''s caliber.


    Dominic dispatched it with three swift sword strikes. The beast dissolved into blue mist, leaving behind a small, glowing core.


    "Well done," Julian said, collecting the core. "Next?"


    ise Rostova stepped forward, followed by Daphne Grenville. Each faced beasts suitable for their abilities – a Fire Drake and Shadow Panther respectively. Both emerged victorious without much difficulty.


    Julian''s eyes found mine. "Knight. You''re next."


    I stepped into the demonstration area, muscles tensed in anticipation. Julian''s expression had shifted to something darker, more vindictive. Love<i ss="node-sep"></i>this<i ss="node-sep"></i>story?<i ss="node-sep"></i>Show<i ss="node-sep"></i>support<i ss="node-sep"></i>at<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</abbr>


    His hands began weaving a much moreplex pattern. The air around him darkened as spiritual energy gathered in greater concentration than before.


    "What''s he doing?" someone whispered behind me.


    "That''s not the standard summoning technique," Dudley Lowell murmured to Dashiell ckthorne. "That''s—"


    "The Water Tortoise Calling," Dashiell finished, not bothering to lower his voice. "Earth-rank beast. Knight''s about to die."


    My heart rate quickened. An Earth-rank beast was far beyond what the others had faced. Julian was deliberately setting me up for failure – or death.


    The summoning circle expanded dramatically. The ground beneath us trembled. Water materialized from nowhere, flooding the courtyard floor to ankle depth.


    A massive, rippling portal tore open above us. Water cascaded through in torrents. The beast emerged slowly – first massive, webbed ws, then a shell the size of a small house, finally a head with ancient, hate-filled eyes.


    The Water Tortoise towered over me, at least twelve feet tall. Its shell gleamed like polished jade, spotted with ck symbols that seemed to pulse with power.


    Julian stepped back, satisfaction evident on his face. "Begin."


    The Tortoise moved with shocking speed for something so massive. Its right w swept toward me like a battering ram.


    I barely dodged, rolling to the side as water sprayed everywhere. The courtyard walls cracked where the w struck.


    "Running won''t save you," Julian called out. "Face your test like a man."


    The Tortoise''s second attack came even faster. I couldn''t evade this time. Instead, I channeled energy to my hands and met the strike head-on.


    The impact was devastating. Pain shot through my arms as I was driven backward through the shallow water. My boots carved furrows in the stone beneath.


    The Tortoise raised both front ws high, preparing to crush mepletely.


    "Such a shame," Julian said, already turning away. "Another casualty of the expedition''s dangers."


    The massive palms descended like twin mountains. In that moment, time seemed to slow.


    I had a choice – die here or reveal more of my power than I intended. Isabelle''s face shed in my mind. My promise to return to her.


    No choice at all, really.


    "Cosmic Form," I whispered.


    Golden light erupted from within me. My body expanded rapidly, growing from six feet to over seven meters tall. My muscles hardened like steel, skin taking on a golden sheen. The Water Tortoise''s attack, which would have ttened me moments before, now struck against an immovable object.


    I caught both massive ws in my hands. The impact created a shockwave that sent water surging outward in all directions.


    Julian Radford spun back around, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What—"


    I didn''t give him time to finish. With my enhanced strength, I twisted the Tortoise''s right w until I heard a sickening crack. The beast roared in pain, thrashing wildly.


    "Impossible," Dashiell ckthorne whispered. "He''s matching an Earth-rank creature with pure physical strength."


    I released the broken w and stepped forward. The Tortoise attempted to retreat, sensing a predator far more dangerous than itself.


    Toote.


    I cocked back my right arm and threw a single, devastating punch. My fist connected with the Tortoise''s head with such force that the skull shatteredpletely. Blood and brain matter exploded in all directions, sttering the stunned onlookers.


    The massive body copsed, water sloshing around its dying form. At the center of its ruined head gleamed a green core the size of my fist.


    I reached down, plucking it from the carnage. Only then did I allow my Cosmic Form to recede, shrinking back to normal size.


    The courtyard was deathly silent. Everyone stared at me with expressions ranging from awe to terror.


    I walked toward Julian Radford, whose face had drained of all color. I held up the core between us.


    "I believe this belongs to me," I said quietly.


    Julian''s jaw worked, but no words came out. His eyes darted to the dead Tortoise, then back to me. I recognized the look on his face – the same expression the Veridia City Martial Guild elders had worn when I''d first revealed this form.


    Fear.


    "This demonstration is over," Julian finally managed, his voice unsteady. "Everyone, return to your quarters and prepare for tomorrow''s expedition."


    As the crowd dispersed, I pocketed the core and walked past Julian.


    "Next time you try to kill me," I whispered so only he could hear, "don''t miss."


    His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. We both knew the stakes had just risen dramatically.


    Frederick fell into step beside me as I left the courtyard. "That was quite a show."


    "He didn''t leave me much choice."


    "No," Frederick agreed, ncing back at Julian. "But I think our captain now realizes he''s been hunting a tiger while thinking it was a house cat."


    I smiled grimly. "Good. Let him wonder what else this cat can do."


    Behind us, Julian Radford stared at the shattered remains of the Water Tortoise, his hands trembling slightly as he issued orders to clean up the mess.


    The first battle had been won. But the war was just beginning.