Novels by Lily Monroe

At the heart of the plaza, a massive platform had been thrown together overnight, complete with a full sound rig.Reporters from Skyline City and Hinoku had claimed the best vantage points, lenses trained on the four kimono-clad challengers onstage.Wanda Plaza was the city’s most trafficked square. Even at this early hour, the foot traffic was heavy.Kudo Ono watched the curious crowd swell and, speaking into the nearest boom mic, let his voice carry far and wide.“We’re physicians from Hinoku’s Color Hall. The four of us crossed the sea to exchange techniques with Skyline City’s practitioners of traditional medicine. To our disappointment, we found your city’s twenty-seven clinics wanting. Not one of them could defeat us.“That includes your three so-called divine physicians: Vincent Wallace, William Lane, and Lorenzo Watson. You’ve let us down—your traditional medicine, most of all, has let us down.”The words drew more onlookers by the minute—anger simmering, confusion rising, com

Lorenzo Watson glanced anxiously at his two old comrades. “Do we tell Master?”The four from Hinoku were undeniably strong.What if Adrian stepped in and lost all the same? The Novaland Republic would be humiliated beyond repair. The people of Skyline City would be crushed with disappointment.That was why they had hesitated to call him at all. They knew Adrian’s skill was extraordinary—but not infallible.After a long pause, Vincent Wallace said, “Whatever happens, we have to inform Master and let him decide.”The three hurried out of the clinic and went straight to Hill Group.Adrian and the others had only just returned.Emptiness kneaded his arm and grumbled, “What a whirlwind—edge of the world and back. I’m wiped.”Iris Lloyd rolled her eyes. “Were you the one who slew the Green-Haired Turtle? Did you single-handedly topple the martial meet? Adrian hasn’t even complained, and you’re the one moaning?”Octavia chimed in, nodding vigorously. “Exactly. You’re set dressing—crispy garn

The young man took a moment to feel it out, surprise dawning across his face. “I feel… a lot looser. The fatigue is gone! I’m dead tired now—just want to go home and sleep.”A collective gasp swept the hall.Much as they hated to admit it, the Color Hall’s people were the real deal.Arrogance, it seemed, came backed by substance.Vincent Wallace gave William Lane a shove. “Why are you still standing there? When I lost, it was because I wasted time watching. Just one patient made the difference—get moving. If we lose again, our reputations are finished.”William Lane strode to an elderly patient—pulse, diagnosis, needles…He wasn’t fast, but every motion was steady and sure.Time slipped by in silence.Before Lane finished with his first patient, Kudo Ono had moved on to his third.“Old man, this is no time to dawdle!” Lorenzo Watson blurted, agitated. “I can’t take another humiliation.”Lane withdrew the needles and walked toward his second patient. “Healing can’t be rushed. Even in a

When the timer stopped, Kudo Ono called out at once, “Time. Both sides, hands off.”Vincent Wallace withdrew his needles and glanced toward Ophelia.The tally came in: within the half-hour, Ophelia had cured eight patients.Vincent Wallace had cured one fewer.Uproar followed.“What? Even Dr. Wallace lost? That girl is terrifyingly skilled!”“Dr. Wallace is our standard-bearer in Skyline City. If even he’s fallen, are we really going to be trampled by this so-called Color Hall?”Groans and laments rolled through the hall.Had the gap been wide, they might have accepted it. But a single patient—only one!“All right then, Vincent Wallace,” Kudo Ono said, smugness plain on his face. “It seems your ‘divine physician’ title is nothing but wind. You couldn’t even surpass our junior sister. I trust you understand the meaning of honoring a wager. Sign your name on the roll of the defeated.”Teeth ground on all sides; fists clenched helplessly.Vincent heaved a long sigh and nodded. “My skill

The apprentice swallowed hard and went on, “And those four even forced the defeated physicians to sign a roll of losers! It’s outrageous!”“That’s beyond the pale!” Vincent Wallace snapped. “Where are they? I’ll see to this myself.”Just then, another apprentice burst in, breathless.“Old Wallace, four people from Hinoku are outside—calling themselves miracle doctors. They’re here to challenge you!”Vincent hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly. Face stony, he strode out of the room.By now the front hall was packed—onlookers and a good number of the defeated elder physicians.At the sight of Vincent, it was as if they’d found their anchor; voices rose at once, each giving a clipped account of what had happened.Vincent’s gaze settled on four men and women in Hinoku kimonos standing off to one side. “You’ve come to challenge me?”All four smiled. The leader, a mustached middle-aged man, touched his chest. “I am Kudo Ono of the Color Hall. These are my juniors—Koji Kamiya, Kodo Hon

As it turned out, he was the real clown, while Adrian’s prowess—just as Naomi Norris and the others had said—stood unmatched in medicine, craft, and combat alike.It wasn’t that the Chamber Master lacked discernment; it was that he himself had been arrogant and shortsighted.While he was stewing in silent regret, Adrian had already finished the job.Dragging the colossal carcass of the Green-Haired Turtle, he strode back to shore with ease.When the body hit the ground, the earth seemed to quiver.“All done.”Those two simple words snapped everyone out of their trance.“Wow! Adrian, you’re incredible!” Naomi Norris cried, flinging herself into his arms.“Heh, heh—full marks from Lord Buddha on that one!”Adrian flexed his hands and feet, speaking offhandedly, “The beast wasn’t all that strong. The shell was a bit tough, that’s all.”His offhand brag made Emptiness roll his eyes.“Look at him preening.”Octavia nudged Emptiness with a grin. “If you’ve got it in you, why don’t you preen

A tidal blaze unfurled between heaven and earth, and within the flames—“Holy Emperor…”The warriors of the Solar Kingdom froze.This moment—This was the end.Their power swelled, vast and violent.From all directions the distant onlookers—those who had kept their distance—felt their hearts lurch.The Holy Emperor had fallen.The great factions witnessing it didn’t even dare show their faces.“Kill!”“Kill that brat!”The Solar Kingdom’s elites were enraged.At once they broke into furious curses.In an instant, the crowd drowned in wrath.The strong of the Solar Kingdom were terrified.No one hesitated.All of them lunged to kill Dragon-Slayer and Anthony.“You really want to die together?”The next moment—Anthony struck once.A swath of top-tier experts exploded, their bodies smashed to pieces.Squelch!Some heads spun off into the air.Dead.The Holy Emperor had been killed.But they… were powerless.They could not keep fighting. If they did, the entire Solar Kingdom might be gro

Dragon-Slayer grunted, swallowed the pain in his seams, and rose into it, the sword-edge cutting a white arc.Beside them, Thirteen Smith muttered a curse. “Stupid kid.” The Holy Emperor only sneered, eyes full of scorn.Dragon-Slayer didn’t answer, his grip biting down. “Hnh. I’ll carve you up.”He fought with everything, every stroke meant to kill. Anthony watched, his gaze shifting—he seemed to read the intent, and held his tongue.Boom—the air rolled like a tide swallowing the field. The Holy Emperor’s rampage had passed understanding; each strike was huge and ruthless.A heartbeat later, the gale rose again. His offense poured like a rain-screen, fists and palms crossing, killing intent spearing the clouds. He was a hammer overfilled with thunderfire—blow after blow grinding down.Dragon-Slayer braced in a flash—swordlight fierce—meeting edge with edge.Boom! He staggered back several steps, heart pounding, a flicker of disbelief breaking through his eyes. Why? What in hell did h

Dragon-Slayer dropped lightly to the ground; a tap of the heel, dust settled. He raised his eyes to the figure standing high above, gaze cold, voice low but heavy enough to hold the field.Though his chest still heaved, he ground out each word: “I’m not afraid of you.”“Today, I’ll defeat you—and kill you.”“The Solar Kingdom will never be a match for Ardenia.”“Your warriors are garbage.”The Holy Emperor laughed softly, a rasp like a blade dragging over stone. “You’re sure? Sure you’re not afraid? Then today, I’ll cut you to pieces.”Dragon-Slayer stepped in instead of back, a short drive of the foot, his body tipping forward, killing intent sliding free like a naked edge. He lifted his head and met the sword-hard gaze above, unflinching.The cold in his eyes cut sharper than steel. “To me, you’re—nothing.”“Today, you die.”“I will kill you.”“You think that boy can really keep you safe?” His words fell like a war banner rammed into open ground, snapping in the gale. Wind licked hi

“Y-you—why are you this strong…”Anthony’s mouth pulled into a cold curve. “It’s not that I’m strong. It’s that you’re useless.”Before the last syllable faded, he surged upward, a raptor cutting through knives of wind and sleet, and stooped.Boom!Explosions flowered across the sky, force scattering like invisible hammers pounding the void. Killing intent poured down like a tangible blaze.He raised another fist. Before it even landed, the gale at its edge flayed the dust to air.Bang!The Holy Emperor’s chest was punched straight through. Blood burst like a flower. His armor shattered; a hideous hole tore open across his front. He was blasted backward, blood running in a steady ribbon from his lips, his eyes wide with a terror that couldn’t focus—grasping at reality’s edge and finding nothing.The rim of the armor writhed, trying to stitch itself—futile against the gaping wound.He lifted his gaze in disbelief, and for the first time, true fear flooded his eyes—the primal dread of t

He pulled a breath, dragging his sight back from the dark. He looked up into the Ardenian youth’s face—indifferent, eyes like a winter lake, unruffled.“Your strength isn’t bad,” Anthony said, mild, with a flat contempt folded into it. “Unfortunately for you, you’re facing me. Which makes everything you do useless.”He tipped his chin, the cold at his eye’s corner cutting sharper. “So this is the Solar Kingdom’s best? No more than this.”Contempt, complete and entire.“In all martial ways, speed breaks all.” He sheathed in one clean motion, his pace itself a declaration. The Holy Emperor was fast—unquestionably. But he was facing Anthony. That alone sealed his tragedy.In a handful of exchanges, Anthony had hammered the Holy Emperor’s confidence to splinters. He had never imagined the man before him could be this absurdly strong. Terror—there was no other word in the minds of those watching.To Anthony, it was nothing. His gaze stayed cold; his killing will drew tighter.The Holy Empe

The heaving air over the four quarters suddenly sank. A darkened silhouette dragged itself out of the heights of the sky, like a deeper thread of night within the night, easing toward them. It had no sound, no scent; even the grain of its aura felt sanded smooth—more secret than a ghost, like a frost-sheathed dagger settling wordlessly to the throat.A heartbeat later, a figure fell from the heights. He touched down without a sound, yet his presence tore the silence around him. It was a tyranny that needed no words; with just an inch of ground underfoot, hearts clenched.“Holy Emperor!!”“The Holy Emperor is here!”“Lord Holy Emperor, a god forever…”“Lord Holy Emperor, mighty and unyielding!”“We can kill these Ardenians now…”“We must kill them…”The boiling shouts surged like oil set alight, raising the temperature of every throat at once. The Holy Emperor revealed himself—a man in his middle years, features unassuming, but a severity honed to lethal stillness. When his gaze droppe