The principal straightened his shoulders and met Barry’s gaze, forcing steel into his voice. “I did,” he said boldly. “I slapped her. But understand it wasn’t out of personal hatred. She spoke out of turn. She was disrespectful, and I had to correct her.” For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then Barry’s jaw ticked, but his expression remained impassive. To anyone who knew him, this wasn't a good sign. It was the warning before a storm. Still, his voice remained calm and measured. “Before I say anything,” Barry said evenly, “I want to hear everything. From both sides.” He turned his eyes to the principal, nodding at him. “Tell me exactly what happened here.” The principal swallowed, then launched into his explanation. “It concerns a new student, Eric Crane. His father is a benefactor to this school, a very powerful figure.” Barry's eyes narrowed. Of course he recognized that name. "Go on. I'm listening," he said. The principal continued. "Your daughter took issue with Eric i

Barry didn’t raise his voice as he responded to Stephen Crane. “I’m not going to repeat myself,” Barry said into the phone. “But understand this clearly—your son will not attend the same school as my daughters. He believes he’s bigger than this institution. Well, he’s not.”Eric’s smug smile began to dim at the edges. He realized he wasn't dealing with an ordinary man.“He’s not welcome here,” Barry continued. “Take him somewhere else. Somewhere he can parade your wealth and disrespect people without consequence.”On the other end of the line, Stephen Crane gasped.“Mr. Big Man—no—please,” Stephen said hurriedly, panic bleeding into his voice. “This is a misunderstanding. I didn’t know it was you. If I had known, my son would never disrespect you.”Barry cut him off immediately.“This isn’t just about me,” Barry said coldly. “This is about the school’s integrity. It's about discipline and respect.”He paused, letting his words sink in.“When we met two weeks ago,” Barry continued, “I

Snow’s gaze remained on the runway for a few seconds longer, her mind racing with thoughts. Then she turned slowly toward Veronica.“Does Sebastian have anything to do with this?” she asked quietly.Veronica raised an eyebrow in surprise. “What makes you say that? How does Sebastian fit into this?"Snow leaned back slightly in her seat, her expression thoughtful. “Because I know Sebastian. We were very close. Closer than most people ever realized. Sometimes, he tells me stories when he’s in a good mood.""What were those stories?" Veronica asked, leaning forward.“Sebastian has served many masters over the centuries. Kings, warlords and wealthy men. But in very, very rare cases, if he is profoundly pleased with his master, he grants them a single wish.”Veronica’s breath slowed. Her fingers tightened against the armrest.“And you think,” she said carefully, “that Barry made such a wish?”“Barry might not even know,” Snow said, her mind racing. “Sebastian’s gifts aren’t always announc

The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. Veronica stared at the letter in Barry’s hand as if it were a venomous snake.Her voice broke the silence. “Who is the Draco family?” she asked quietly. “I’ve never heard of them.”Sebastian’s expression darkened almost immediately.“I have,” he said, thoughtfully. “They come from a very old lineage—older than most nations, older than most religions. They worship a dragon god. Among our kind, we call them dragon worshipers.”Snow’s brows furrowed sharply. “This doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “Why would dragon worshipers suddenly want Liberty City? This is a human city built and owned by Barry. Why challenge him?”Sebastian’s gaze slid back to Barry. “Because Master is the Big Man. The alpha.”Everyone turned to him.“In every realm,” Sebastian continued, “predators are drawn to territory ruled by a stronger predator. They challenge, they provoke and test his strength. Their goal is to dethrone the current alpha and claim his

Draven took off his shirt and slowly spread his arms.Behind him, the members of the Draco family formed a semi-circle, sinking to their knees on the asphalt.Their heads bowed, palms pressed to the ground as they began to chant in a low, ancient tongue that made the air vibrate.Draven inhaled deeply, drawing in their faith. When he turned to face Barry again, his eyes burned faintly like embers.Barry stood several meters away—well within fighting distance.He didn't assume any fighting stance. His posture was careless. His eyelids were lowered, and his expression was empty, as if his mind were elsewhere entirely.Draven sneered inwardly."This man is a madman," he thought. "Leaving himself wide open like this? I’ll roast him to a crisp and be done with it."Draven’s feet shifted, and he began to move.His body flowed into a strange, circular dance. His arms cut through the air like blades as heat gathered around him. Flames coiled up his limbs, warping the air.With a sharp thrust