She lunged.The blade sliced clean across Lance’s arm, the sound of tearing flesh echoing sharply in the confined room. Sarah screamed, hands flying to her mouth, horror flooding her eyes.She had imagined that would be her head soon.Blood spilled from the wound then stopped.Before their very eyes, the wound began to stitch itself shut, threads of muscle knitting back together. In seconds, the cut was gone, leaving nothing but smooth flesh.Lance froze, stunned. He himself did not realize he had such powers, the ability to regenerate, which was incredible.The mercenary staggered back a half step, her sword lowering involuntarily. Her masked eyes widened, disbelief breaking through her cold demeanor.“That… that’s not possible,” she breathed.Lance turned his head slowly, locking his gaze on her. His lips curled into a smile.“My turn.”He didn’t give her a heartbeat to recover.With a single, fluid motion, he drove his boot into her stomach with a force that shook the floor. The im

Lance's gaze softened as he turned to her.“Nothing is going to happen to you. I will die before I let any harm come to you."She looked into his eyes and could feel the fear leaving her body.Lance meant what he said. He had saved her twice, and right now, she trusted him with her life.Also, her son was being held there, and she could not continue hiding and leave him to suffer there.Minutes later, Lance slipped a handful of cash to a resident and took his jeep.Lance guided Sarah to it, his hand protective at her back. She climbed in, still trembling, casting one last glance toward the broken mercenary lying in the dirt.Then—VROOOOM!The jeep roared to life, dust spiraling in its wake as Lance slammed the gear forward. The vehicle shot down the road, leaving the inn behind them.The jeep thundered down the dusty road, rattling under Lance’s heavy grip on the wheel. The wind tore at Sarah’s cloak as she hunched low in her seat, pulling the fabric tighter over her face. Every shad

CRACK!The body went limp, blood trickling down the road.Lance stood over the fallen mercenary, his chest still heaving.He turned, and his eyes immediately fell on Sarah.She was trembling, her cloak torn, her lips quivering as if she wanted to scream but couldn’t.Lance softened, just slightly. His voice dropped, low and steady.“Are you okay?”Sarah swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Yes…”Lance reached for her gently, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder.“Let’s get out of here.”He guided her back toward the jeep. Sarah clutched at his sleeve, stumbling as she moved, but Lance didn’t let her fall. He opened the door and ushered her in.Then he climbed behind the wheel himself.Although there was no door left on his side.His hands gripped the wheel.And as if the world itself had recognized his wrath, the traffic melted away.The jam that had trapped them moments before dissolved as vehicles lurched forward, scattering. The drivers, sha

The Mafia Lord stared at Lance for a heartbeat, then burst into a dark, mocking laugh that shook the chandeliers."Release him? Just like that?" He pulled the chain hard, making the boy gasp for air. "What audacity! You stand in my home and make demands? This family owes me! For years, they refused to give me what is rightfully mine. They held onto a treasure they didn't have the blood to protect. Once I get what I want from them, I will hang them both from the gates of this mansion!""You mean... this?" Lance interrupted.With a slow, deliberate motion, Lance reached into his shirt. He pulled out the Veritanium pendant.The moment the jewel emerged, the room seemed to gasp. The ancient mineral pulsed with a faint violet light, as if it had a heartbeat of its own. It cast a ghostly glow over Lance’s face, making him look like an avenging god.The Mafia Lord’s face drained of all color. His jaw dropped, and he actually stumbled back a step, nearly tripping over his own throne. The gree

The Mafia Lord stood up slowly, his legs trembling slightly as he surveyed the devastation of his throne room.He looked Lance in the eyes, his bravado replaced by desperation."Fine!" the Lord shouted, his voice echoing over the groans of the dying. "Fine! You win this round. You can take the boy, you can take the mother, and you can get the hell out of my house!"With a flick of his wrist, he unclipped the heavy steel lock on the boy’s collar. The iron chain clattered to the floor like a dead snake.The boy didn't hesitate. He scrambled across the blood-slicked marble, his small feet sliding as he raced toward Sarah."Mom! Mom!" he sobbed.Sarah lunged forward from behind the pillar, catching him in her arms and collapsing to her knees. She buried her face in his neck, her tears washing away the dirt on his skin. "My son... oh, my sweet boy. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for everything that has happened to you," she wailed, her heart finally mending after months of agony.The Mafia Lor