“You see?You’re powerful, Aurora Halden.Very powerful.But fighting me with a sword…”He stepped closer, eyes glowing.“…is like attacking a mountain with a feather.”Aurora’s grip tightened.Her pride burned.She charged again—“HAAAAA!!!”Sword raised.Elijah moved his hand—just one hand—and caught the sword mid-strike.CLANG!!!Aurora’s eyes widened in horror.He held the blade…with his bare hand.Not a drop of blood.Everyone stood frozen.Elijah leaned in and whispered:“Is that your full strength?”Aurora froze, her breath caught in her throat—because Elijah’s fingers tightened around the blade.Just a little.Just enough.CRRRRKKKK… CRAAAAACK!!!Everyone’s eyes widened—SNAP!!!In a split second, Elijah broke the sword cleanly into two, the metal screeching as if it were cheap plastic.Pieces of the blade flew across the courtyard, clattering against the stone.Aurora stumbled back in shock, her hands trembling, staring at the broken hilt in disbelief.Elijah’s expression

Dorian and his wife stared at their daughter—unable to believe she was defending someone who had just massacred their guards.Even the other people looked confused.But the most stunned person…was Elijah.His eyes narrowed slightly, not mocking this time, but genuinely surprised.He didn’t expect Aurora, proud, fierce, never-bow-to-anyone Aurora, to speak up for him— especially not in front of her entire family… and a Grandmaster.A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.Shank Thorian raised a brow mildly, glancing at Aurora.“You want me to let him go,” he said slowly, “because he spared you?”Aurora stayed steady.“Yes.”Elder Edmund snapped immediately:“Aurora! This is not your decision. He killed our men! We cannot let him leave alive!”“But he also spared me, Grandpa!” Aurora shot back.“He’s reckless, arrogant and stupid—but he isn’t a senseless murderer. That must mean something.”Geneva exploded before anyone else could speak.“Aurora Halden!” she barked, storming tow

Elijah narrowed his eyes.He felt the pressure — real pressure.He could tell instantly:“If I go easy… I might actually die.”Not because Shank was stronger — but because 100% of a Grandmaster’s killing intent would crush any careless opponent.Elijah rolled his shoulders lightly.“So he’s really serious…” he muttered.He planted his feet more firmly, his calm aura beginning to rise quietly.Not loud. Not violent. But focused. Dense. Controlled.Elijah inhaled once. And made his decision:“Fine. I’ll use… thirty to fourty percent.”Even saying that shocked the Halden who overheard him.Forty? Fifty? To face a full-power Grandmaster?Shank didn’t hear him clearly — but he sensed Elijah’s energy shift.His pupils contracted.Elijah’s aura began to push back against the crushing pressure, creating a small clean space around him — as if the world itself adjusted to his presence.Shank suddenly vanished.The ground where he had stood cracked open, dust exploding outward.He reappeared rig

A ripple of disbelief surged through the Haldens. Edmund’s shoulders sagged in relief, Lucian exhaled shakily, and Geneva clenched her jaw, hating the fact that their survival depended on Aurora kneeling before a stranger.Elijah then looked down at her again, his eyes cool but steady.“Stand up.”The words hit the family harder than any strike Shank had taken. Elijah wasn’t just sparing them — he was acknowledging Aurora’s plea.But no one dared celebrate.Aurora lifted her head slowly, relief softening her usually sharp features as she whispered a shaky, “Thank you,” before rising to her feet. But instead of stepping back to join her family, she stayed right in front of Elijah, eyes fixed on him with a stubborn, burning determination.She took a small breath and said, “Since you agreed to spare them… then please, become my master.”Elijah blinked once, unimpressed. “No.”Aurora didn’t move. “Please. I’m serious. I want to learn from you.”“I said no,” Elijah replied, turning slightl

He shook his head gently.“I’m fine. What’s going on here?”Jessica exhaled, half relieved, half worried.“They’re having a feast. Celebrating… something. Come, come and eat a little.”Even though he was hungry, the exhaustion was sitting heavy in his chest.“I’m so tired I don’t even have the energy to eat,” he murmured. “Let me just go and sleep first.”Jessica shook her head quickly.“No, no—don’t worry, I’ll handle everything. Just come and sit. What did you do to get this tired? Did you go fight someone?”Elijah looked at her but didn’t answer.Instead, he simply let his hand fall gently around her neck, leaning on her for support.Jessica immediately guided him to the table.“Serve, please,” she said firmly.Plates and trays began arriving almost instantly—every sect member and assassin in the yard scrambling over each other to serve Elijah first, terrified of disrespecting him.Jessica helped him lean back comfortably, her hand still steadying his shoulder, before the food bega