William Cross stood in the abandoned room, staring at Walter Hayes's broken body on the floor.He'd beaten an innocent man and tortured him based on nothing but blind rage and faulty logic.Thomas Caldwell watched William carefully, waiting to see what would happen next.The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.Finally, William spoke."I apologize."The worThomas's eyes narrowed. He could hear the insincerity dripping from every syllable.William wasn't actually sorry. He was just saying the words because the situation required it.After all, both of them were among the three great masters of Newton City. Their positions were equal. Their power was matched.And their families frequently clashed over business deals, territory, and influence.There was no real friendship between them. No trust. Only grudging respect born from years of rivalry.Not to mention, Thomas was the only one of the three great masters who hadn't become a family patriarch.George Caldwell ha

He knelt down closer to Walter, bringing his face level with his disciple's."The bone-deep terror I felt upon seeing Navine Garrett was not something any psychoactive drug could induce."His eyes blazed with intensity."I have been a martial artist for over forty years. I have fought in countless battles. I have faced death more times than I can count."Thomas's voice grew harder."I know real danger when I see it. I know genuine killing intent when I feel it. And I know the difference between drug-induced hallucinations and actual threat."He grabbed Walter's shoulder, not hard enough to hurt but firm enough to demand attention."What I felt when I looked into Navine's eyes was real. The aura of death surrounding him was real. The sense that he could kill me as easily as breathing was real."Thomas's hand tightened slightly."No drug in the world could create that feeling. No hallucinogen could manufacture that level of authentic danger."Walter opened his mouth to protest, but Thom

Thomas Caldwell stared at Navine Garrett standing in the doorway.His face went white as a sheet.All the confidence he'd had moments ago, all the careful logic about being safe, evaporated like mist in sunlight."You—" Thomas's voice came out as a hoarse whisper. "Why have you suddenly shown up?"Navine stepped further into the room, his boots crunching on the splintered wood."You failed your mission to protect Elena and my sister," Navine said calmly. "I naturally came to settle the score."Thomas took an involuntary step backward.His mind raced. He'd been so certain that Navine would be too busy dealing with Francine Hale to bother with him.But here Navine stood, perfectly calm, completely unbothered, clearly having made time specifically to track him down."How did you find me?" Thomas asked, his voice shaking slightly. "How did you know I was here?"It was a valid question.This abandoned building was in a forgotten corner of Newton City. No one came here. No one knew Walter w

Thomas knelt on the floor, sweat pouring down his face.His mind raced with conflicting thoughts.On one side was absolute terror. The knowledge that Navine Garrett was the King of the North. The understanding that the Shadowstorm Legion backed him.On the other side was Walter's voice, still echoing in his ears.Just attack. He's nothing. You can kill him with one strike.Thomas looked at Navine standing there, calm and unbothered.What if Walter was right?The thought crept into Thomas's mind like poison.What if this was all an elaborate bluff? What if the token was fake? What if Navine had somehow tricked him into believing something that wasn't true?Thomas had been one of the three great masters for decades. He'd trained his entire life. He'd defeated countless opponents.And he was just going to kneel here without even trying?Driven to absolute desperation, for a split second, Thomas actually believed Walter's words.He decided to fight back.Thomas exploded upward from his kn

At the Morrison Family residence, Elena's parents paced anxiously in the main hall.Her father walked back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back, his face tight with worry.Her mother sat on the edge of a chair, unable to stay still, her fingers twisting together in her lap.One of Navine's soldiers stood nearby, trying to offer reassurance."Elena will be fine," he said calmly. "Commander Garrett has everything under control."But his words did little to ease their anxiety.Elena's father stopped pacing and looked at the soldier."You don't understand," he said, his voice strained. "Our daughter has been kidnapped. Taken by dangerous people. How can we not worry?"Elena's mother nodded, tears forming in her eyes."We saw one of the three great masters kneel before Navine in fear. We know he's powerful. We know he can fight."She looked up at the soldier with desperate eyes."But this is different. Our daughter being kidnapped is an entirely different matter."Her voice cracke