“The place we’re heading to is our university’s West Mountain training base. It’s tucked away in the middle of nowhere—one of our secret facilities.”“You probably know this already: our student body isn’t made up solely of kids from civilian life. We enroll a good number of former officers and soldiers as well.”“So, our academy is entrusted with quite a few secrets. For instance, the location of this West Mountain base. I must ask you, Mr. Wilson, not to disclose it to anyone.”Neil Foster offered a brief explanation, then made his request.“Rest assured, Dean Foster. I don’t gossip about things like this,” Joseph replied at once.“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Mr. Wilson—just a friendly reminder,” Neil said, giving Joseph’s shoulder a light pat and a warm smile.“I understand,” Joseph nodded.“Then let’s be off. I’ll wait for you at the campus gate.”With that, Neil climbed into his car, and Joseph turned back toward where he had parked.When Joseph pulled up to the gate, he spo

Yes—what blazed in his eyes was fervor. An ordinary person, even a professional fighter, wouldn’t react like that. In a moment like this, the natural response should be caution, even fear. Yet after being knocked down, something inside the student seemed to ignite. His gaze turned fearless, almost homicidally bold.While Joseph was still exchanging blows with the other two, he noticed it as well.The student pushed himself to his feet, clearly intent on rejoining the fight.“Hold it. You’ve been taken down. Your chance is gone,” Brian Adams called out, stopping him.“Coach, I… I want another go. He’s… strong,” the student said, glancing at Adams with a hint of pleading.“I said your chance is gone. In a real fight, you’d already be dead. Fall back into formation,” Adams snapped, displeasure flickering across his face.“Yes, sir.” The student swallowed it down and returned to the line.In the same breath, another of the pair still grappling with Joseph went down hard, and he wasn’t get

The red dot centered over his heart made Joseph’s pulse jolt. He slipped aside on instinct.A dull report—bang—followed a beat later. He’d already moved. If he’d waited for the shot to react, he’d be a corpse. Bullets outrun sound—sniper rounds most of all.He rolled behind cover, breath harsh and fast. If not for the shadows masking him, if not for that fleeting glimpse of the laser sight, he would have died with a hole through his chest.They weren’t pulling punches. They wanted him dead.His jaw tightened. Heat surged in his veins—familiar, ravenous. A bloodthirst he hadn’t felt in a long time pressed against his ribs like something waking.Anyone who comes for my life should lose theirs. The thought struck like a spark—wild, reckless.He wanted to kill the sniper hidden in the trees. A whisper—dark and insistent—uncoiled in his mind, urging him to finish it.But reason tugged the other way. He hovered at the edge between impulse and restraint.That near-fatal shot had shaken somet

“That’s just how ordinary people think. The ones who make it here accept that death could come at any moment.”“Even if they die, no one will ever know how it happened. It’s as if someone simply vanished from the face of the earth.”Brian Adams spoke with complete indifference.“I’ve passed your trial. Now you should be able to tell me everything, right?”Joseph drew a deep breath.He’d said “you all,” not “you.” With Neil Foster standing here, Joseph was now certain that Neil and Brian shared an unusual bond.“You brought me three golden seals that day. Do you still have them on you?”Brian Adams asked in a calm, even tone.“Of course.”Joseph replied as he took out the three golden seals.“Hand them to me.”Brian Adams said to Joseph.Hearing this, Joseph didn’t hesitate. He passed all three seals to Brian Adams.Brian weighed the seals in his palm, studying them in a thoughtful silence.“Dragon Seal, Tiger Seal, Golden Horse Seal—each belongs to a different person.”“The Dragon Sea

“Oh, please—don’t pin it all on me. You act proper, but who knows what’s going on in that head of yours.”Mason Alvarez shot back, a little defiant.Alice was in too good a mood to spar with her.After so much time with Joseph, Alice’s cooking had improved dramatically.She still couldn’t quite match him, but she was close.The whole house was filled with the rich fragrance of dinner.When the last bit of prep was done, Alice took her seat at the table.It was laden with dishes—an abundant spread.Vrrrm.Just then, the sound of a car drifted in from outside.“Joseph’s back.”Alice hurried out at once.Mason followed quickly behind.After parking, Joseph stepped inside.But when Alice and Mason saw him, they froze.He was bruised and scuffed, his white shirt smeared with dirt and blood.He looked utterly spent—worn thin.“What’s with the staring?”Joseph asked, seeing them stand there, stunned.“Joseph… is that blood? Are you hurt? What happened to you? How did you end up like this?”“