Rage consumed me as I paced across Mariana''s hidden chamber. Three days had passed since our initial conversation, and I''d spent every waking moment here at the Celestial Apothecary Guild, trying to advance my cultivation.


    "She''s suffering every day while I''m stuck here!" I mmed my fist against the stone wall, barely feeling the pain as my knuckles split open. "Do you understand what they''re doing to her, Mariana? They''re draining her blood like she''s nothing but a resource!"


    Mariana''s face remainedposed, though I caught a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. "I understand your frustration, Liam, but rushing in unprepared will only get you killed. The herbs from the auction—"


    "The herbs aren''t enough!" I cut her off, gesturing to the scattered remnants of rare nts I''d consumed over the past three days. "I''ve barely advanced my cultivation despite everything I stole."


    The auction heist had yielded powerful treasures—Blood-Cleansing Grass, Nine-Petal Starflowers, and even a single Devil''s Whisper Root. All gone now, absorbed into my body with minimal results.


    "The human body has limits," Mariana exined, her tone measured and patient. "Even with your unique constitution, there''s only so much spiritual energy you can absorb at once."


    I ran a hand through my disheveled hair. "I don''t have time for limits. Not when Isabelle is suffering."


    Mariana approached me, examining my bloodied knuckles with a healer''s practiced eye. "Your body is showing signs of spiritual poisoning. You''ve pushed too hard, too fast."


    "It doesn''t matter."


    "It matters if you''re dead before you can save her."


    I pulled my hand away, turning toward the chamber''s small window. Outside, Riverbend Town continued its daily bustle, oblivious to my internal turmoil.


    "I need information," I said finally. "Real information about what''s happening to Isabelle right now."


    Mariana sighed, retrieving a folded newspaper from her desk. "This arrived this morning. You should see it."


    I recognized The Warrior''s Scroll immediately. The prominent newspaper was the voice of Veridia City''s elite—and frequently a mouthpiece for the Martial Guild. My eyes were drawn to the headline: "MARTIAL GUILD ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF THE AEGIS ACADEMY."


    Blood pounding in my ears, I devoured the article. With each word, my fury intensified.


    "They''re creating an entire academy?" My voice was barely above a whisper. "Using her blood to enhance students?"


    "It appears so." Mariana''s tone was grave. "The Martial Guild is inviting the sons and daughters of every prominent family to join. Those selected will undergo ''special enhancement procedures'' to elevate their cultivation potential."


    I crushed the paper in my fist. "They''re expanding their operation. Not content with just draining her themselves, they''re going to sell her power to the highest bidders."


    "The political implications are significant," Mariana noted. "By tying all the aristocratic families to this ''enhancement'' program, they ensure united opposition against anyone who might interfere with their ns."


    "Anyone like me."


    "Precisely." She took the crumpled paper from my hand, smoothing it against the table. "The Academy opens in two days. After that, you won''t be fighting just the Martial Guild—you''ll be facing thebined might of every powerful family in the nation."


    I closed my eyes, trying to control the storm raging inside me. "Where is this Academy located?"


    "Liam—"


    "Where is it?" I demanded, my eyes snapping open.


    Mariana held my gaze for a long moment before answering. "The old Imperialplex in eastern Veridia City. But you can''t possibly be thinking—"


    "I''m done hiding," I dered, heading toward the door. "I''m going to Veridia City."


    "That''s exactly what they want!" Mariana moved swiftly, blocking my path. "Can''t you see? The very public announcement, the tight timeline—it''s all designed to draw you out."


    "I don''t care if it''s a trap."


    "You should. Your death won''t save Isabelle."


    I felt my jaw clench. "I''m not going to attack the Academy—not yet. But I need to see it with my own eyes. Understand what we''re facing."


    "We?" One of her eyebrows arched upward.


    "Yes, we." I met her gaze unflinchingly. "You''ve helped me this far. Are you backing out now?"


    A small smile yed at her lips. "No, Liam Knight. I''ve chosen my side in this conflict." She stepped aside, no longer blocking my exit. "But at least wait until nightfall. And take this."


    She pressed a small jade vial into my palm. "Mist Veil Essence. It won''t mask youpletely from powerful spiritual sense, but it will make detection more difficult."


    I tucked the vial into my robes. "Thank you."


    "Don''t thank me yet. You''re still likely walking to your death." Her expression softened slightly. "But if anyone can defy those odds, I suspect it''s you."


    Hourster, disguised once more, I approached Emerson Holmes''s residence in Veridia City. Night had fallen, shrouding the city in shadows that worked to my advantage. The Mist Veil Essence coated my skin in an invisibleyer, dampening my spiritual signature.


    I knew it was reckless toe here rather than going directly to scout the Academy site. But something drove me to confront the man ultimately responsible for Isabelle''s suffering.


    Security around his mansion had doubled since myst visit. Guards patrolled the perimeter, and I detected multiple spiritual barriersyered throughout the grounds.


    None of it mattered. I scaled the eastern wall where the shadows were deepest, avoiding the patrol routes I''d memorized during previous observations. <code ss="frag-8070fb">The<i ss="node-sep"></i>genuine<i ss="node-sep"></i>article<i ss="node-sep"></i>resides<i ss="node-sep"></i>on<i ss="node-sep"></i>M|V|L&EMPYR.</code>


    Finding Emerson was simple—his ostentatious private study zed with lights despite thete hour. Through the window, I could see him hunched over documents, likely nning more atrocities under the guise of progress.


    I slipped through an unwatched servant''s entrance, navigating the corridors silently. Two guards stood outside his study door, but a well-ced pressure point strike rendered them unconscious before they could raise the rm.


    When I pushed open the heavy wooden door, Emerson didn''t immediately look up from his work.


    "I told you I wasn''t to be disturbed," he snapped, irritation clear in his voice.


    "Hello, Emerson."


    His head jerked up, eyes widening as he recognized me despite my disguise. To his credit, he didn''t cry out or reach for an rm. Instead, his expression shifted from shock to a practiced calmness.


    "Liam Knight." He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "You must be truly desperate toe here."


    "I wanted to look into the eyes of a monster." I closed the door behind me, advancing into the room. "A man who preaches about the value of human life while draining a young woman of her blood."


    A flicker of something—perhaps guilt?—crossed his face before vanishing. "You don''t understand theplexities of what we''re doing."


    "I understand perfectly. You''re sacrificing Isabelle to increase your own power and influence."


    "We''re advancing cultivation for all of mankind," he countered, rising from his chair. "One person''s sacrifice for the benefit of thousands—perhaps millions eventually. The math is simple."


    "Simple?" My voice was dangerously soft. "Then let me offer you an equally simple equation: your life for hers. Would you make that trade, Emerson? Would you allow your blood to be harvested day after day until nothing remained of you but an empty husk?"


    His silence was answer enough.


    "I thought not." I moved closer, and he instinctively stepped back. "Your new Academy is an abomination."


    His eyes narrowed. "So you''ve heard about that. Then you should know it''s already toote to stop what''sing. The families havemitted their heirs. The process has begun."


    "Nothing is irreversible while I still draw breath."


    A cold smile spread across his face. "That particr condition can be remedied."


    We stood facing each other, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a de.


    "I''ll give you one chance, Emerson. Release Isabelle, and I''ll allow your precious Academy to continue—without her blood as its foundation."


    He actuallyughed at that, a sharp, humorless sound. "You''ll ''allow'' it? Do you have any idea who you''re threatening? Thebined might of every powerful family in this nation stands behind the Aegis Academy now."


    "I don''t care if the Heavenly Emperor himself stands behind it," I replied, my voice steady. "I''m going to tear it all down if that''s what it takes to free her."


    Something in my tone must have reached him because a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. "You can''t win this fight, Liam."


    "We''ll see." I turned to leave, having said what I came to say. At the door, I paused without looking back. "Remember this moment, Emerson. When everything you''ve built lies in ruins around you, remember that I gave you a choice."


    I slipped out of the mansion as silently as I''d entered, melting into the night. As I made my way through the darkened streets toward the eastern district, I knew I should be scouting the Academy site as nned.


    Instead, I found myself heading back toward the city limits. I''d seen enough—confirmed enough—to know what needed to be done. Now I needed to prepare.


    Behind me, in his study, Emerson Holmes stood at his window, watching the darkness where I had disappeared. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he whispered to himself, "He''s finally taken the bait. Liam Knight, this time you''re as good as dead!"