The tension in the chamber was palpable as I stood face-to-face with Julian Radford. The ck Gold Stone in his hand pulsed with sinister energy, confirming my worst suspicions about this so-called "trial."


    "Let''s drop the pretenses," I said, my voice steady despite the danger. "This was never about testing my abilities, was it?"


    Julian''s lips curled into a cold smile. "Perceptive as always, Knight. No, this was about eliminating a threat—you."


    Behind him, Dominic Ashworth, Dashiell ckthorne, and ise Rostova formed a formidable wall of opposition. The four of them together would be nearly impossible to defeat, especially with Julian wielding that ck Gold Stone.


    "You''re here on Darian Bancroft''s orders," I stated rather than asked. "To make sure I never leave this chamber alive."


    Julian nodded, not bothering to deny it. "The Guild Master''s orders were quite clear. Your existence has be... inconvenient."


    "My only crime was refusing to bow to tyrants like you," I shot back.


    To my surprise, murmurs of agreement rose from the other martial artists in the chamber. Frederick Cohen''s earlier words about the Guild''s corruption had struck a chord with many of them.


    Julian noticed it too, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the room. "Anyone who sides with this traitor shares his fate," he announced, his voice ringing with authority.


    I expected fear to silence the murmurs. Instead, a young martial artist stepped forward.


    "I''m tired of the Guild treating us like pawns," he dered. "Knight is the only one who''s stood up to them."


    Another joined him, then another. Within moments, nearly half the martial artists had moved to stand beside me. The rest looked uncertain, torn between self-preservation and the truth they could no longer ignore.


    Dashiell ckthorneughed derisively. "How touching. The rabble has found their champion."


    "They''ve found their backbone," I corrected. "Something you lost when you started licking Bancroft''s boots."


    Fury shed in Dashiell''s eyes, but Julian held up a hand to restrain him.


    "This changes nothing," Julian said coldly. "In fact, it makes our job easier. Now we can eliminate all potential threats to the Guild in one stroke."


    He raised the ck Gold Stone, which began to glow with increased intensity. "None of you will leave to join Jade Moon Vi. None of you will be thorns in our sideter."


    The martial artists beside me tensed, some visibly reconsidering their decision. I couldn''t me them. They were facing death for standing with me, a man most had just met.


    "You can still walk away," I told them quietly. "This is my fight, not yours."


    The young man who had first stepped forward shook his head. "If we don''t stand together now, we''ll fall separatelyter."


    His words strengthened the resolve of the others. They formed a line beside me, preparing for theing battle.


    Julian watched this disy with cold calction. Then, without warning, he mmed the ck Gold Stone against his chest.


    The stone liquefied, spreading across his body like molten metal, hardening into gleaming ck armor with gold veins running through it. Within seconds, he was fully encased, only his face remaining uncovered.


    "Impressive," I said, trying not to show my concern. "But fancy armor won''t save you."


    Julian smiled coldly. "This isn''t mere armor, Knight. The ck Gold Stone is one of the rarest treasures in our world. It amplifies power and provides near-perfect defense."


    To demonstrate, he flicked his wrist. Deadly spikes erupted from the armor''s surface, then retracted just as quickly.


    "Shall we begin?" he asked, his tone casual, as if inviting me to a friendly spar rather than a fight to the death.


    I knew I needed to strike first. Julian in that armor would only grow stronger the longer the battlested.


    "Everyone, spread out!" I shouted to my allies. "Don''t let them corner us!"


    I charged directly at Julian, channeling Divine Dragon Power into my fist. Golden light erupted around me as Iunched my attack.


    Julian didn''t even try to dodge. My fist connected with his armored chest—and pain shot up my arm. It felt like punching solid steel. The armor had barely dented, while my knuckles were bruised and bleeding.


    Julianughed. "Is that all you have?"


    He countered with blinding speed, his armored fist mming into my chest. The impact sent me flying backward, crashing into the wall with enough force to crack the stone.


    Pain exploded through my body as I slumped to the ground. Around me, chaos had erupted. My allies were engaged with Dominic, Dashiell, and ise, while Julian stalked toward me with predatory confidence.


    I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the taste of blood in my mouth. "Not bad. My turn."


    This time, I channeled more power, drawing on my Dragon Veins technique. Golden scales flickered across my skin as I unleashed a barrage of strikes, each faster than thest.


    Julian blocked most, but a few connected with enough force to push him back. His armor absorbed the damage, but I could tell he was surprised by my strength.


    "You''ve improved since ourst encounter," he acknowledged. "But it won''t be enough."


    He thrust both hands forward. ck spikes erupted from his armor, shooting toward me like deadly projectiles.


    I dodged most, but one pierced my shoulder, another my thigh. White-hot painnced through me as I stumbled backward.


    "Liam!" one of my allies shouted, trying to reach me, only to be intercepted by ise.


    Julian advanced, the spikes retracting back into his armor. "You see the futility now? The ck Gold Armor makes me invincible."


    I gritted my teeth against the pain. "Nothing is invincible."


    I lunged forward again, this time aiming for his unprotected face. Julian blocked easily, catching my wrist in an iron grip.


    "Too predictable," he sneered.


    Before I could react, spikes erupted from his gauntlet, piercing through my hand. I couldn''t suppress a cry of pain as blood poured from the wounds.


    Julian''s grip tightened, crushing my bones. "I expected more from the man who''s caused the Guild so much trouble."


    Despite the excruciating pain, I managed a smile. "Then let me not disappoint."


    With my free hand, I grabbed his armored wrist and channeled every ounce of strength I possessed. The Divine Dragon Power surged through me, golden light zing around us.


    Julian''s eyes widened as I began to push him back, my hand still impaled on his spikes. "Impossible!"


    "I''ve learned a few tricks since west met," I grunted through the pain.


    With a roar of effort, I ripped my bleeding hand free and mmed my palm against his chest. The impact sent Julian stumbling backward, genuine shock registering on his face.


    "You actually... moved me," he said, disbelief in his voice.


    I flexed my injured hand, ignoring the blood dripping from my fingers. "And I''m just getting started."


    Around us, the battle raged. Several of my allies had fallen, but they had managed to wound ise and were keeping Dominic and Dashiell upied.


    Julian''s expression hardened. "Enough games."


    He raised both hands, and his armor began to pulse with dark energy. ck mes erupted around his fists as he prepared what was clearly a devastating attack.


    I had seconds to respond. Physical attacks weren''t working against that armor, so I needed a different approach.


    As Julianunched his attack, I closed my eyes and summoned my Divine Sense. Instead of trying to block the physical assault, I directed my attack straight at his mind.


    "Divine Judgment!" I shouted.


    My Divine Sense mmed into Julian''s consciousness like a battering ram, bypassing his physical defenses entirely. The ck Gold Armor might protect his body, but it did nothing for his mind.


    Julian''s attack faltered midway, the ck mes dissipating. He staggered, hands clutching his head as my Divine Sense tore through his mental barriers.


    "What... what is this?" he gasped, hisposed facade crumbling.


    I pressed the advantage, intensifying my mental assault. "Something your precious armor can''t stop."


    Julian fell to one knee, his face contorted in pain. The other Guild elites paused their own battles, shocked by the sight of their leader brought low.


    "Impossible!" Dominic shouted. "Julian''s mental defenses are legendary!"


    I maintained the pressure, though I could feel my own strength beginning to wane. The Divine Sense attack was taxing, especially after my physical exertions.


    "Your armor makes you strong," I told Julian, who was still struggling against my mental assault. "But it''s made you forget that true battle involves more than just physical strength."


    Julian''s eyes zed with hatred. "This... changes... nothing!" <var ss="in-imprint-a">This is part of a series from My Virtual Library Empire (*).</var>


    With visible effort, he began to push back against my mental attack. I could feel his formidable willpower rallying, trying to expel me from his mind.


    I knew I couldn''t maintain the assault much longer. But I didn''t need to. The momentary advantage was all I required.


    While Julian was distracted, fighting my mental invasion, I began to form a new technique. Purple energy swirled in my palm, coalescing into what looked like a lotus flower of dark light.


    This technique wasn''t one I had used before—it hade to me during my training with Jackson, a dangerous, potentially lethal application of my unique Chaotic Body.


    The purple lotus grew in my hand, its petals unfurling with ominous beauty. Those closest to me backed away, instinctively sensing its destructive potential.


    Julian finally managed to throw off my mental attack, his eyes refocusing just in time to see the technique forming in my palm.


    "What is that?" he demanded, a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice for the first time.


    I didn''t answer. The purple lotus was nearlyplete, its dark energy pulsating with deadly promise. The pressure it emanated spread throughout the hall, causing even Dominic and Dashiell to pause their attacks.


    Julian rose to his feet, his ck Gold Armor gleaming as he prepared to defend against this new threat. But I could see fear in his eyes—fear of the unknown power growing in my hand.


    The lotus reached full bloom, its petals spreading wide, ready to unleash devastation. This was my chance—perhaps my only chance—to ovee Julian''s seemingly imprable defense.


    The entire chamber held its breath, waiting to see what would happen when I unleashed this mysterious, menacing technique against the ck Gold Armor that no conventional attack could prate.