A full week after the Moonjade Street battle, Alaric Vale finally moved again.His injuries had not completely faded, but his ambition never slowed. Windshadow Hall marched straight toward Ironcrest Street, a district already soaked in conflict.Goldfang Martial Hall and Rongbin Merchant House had been locked in a vicious struggle, bleeding manpower every day. Neither side was willing to retreat, and both believed the other would collapse first.Alaric saw only an opening.He did not negotiate. He did not wait.Windshadow Hall struck with speed and precision, moving like a shadow blade cutting through weakened prey.Three days.That was all it took.Ironcrest Street fell.Goldfang’s men were swept out. Rongbin’s guards were broken and driven away. Shops, warehouses, and workshops were seized and reorganized under Windshadow Hall’s control. The street changed hands so fast that most people could barely understand what had happened.But the real shock was what followed.Goldfang Martial

KRRK! KRRK!!Alaric Vale’s fingers tightened.The dagger embedded in his palm scraped against bone, tearing deeper with every movement. Blood streamed down his wrist and splattered onto the floor.But he didn’t even blink.A crooked smile stayed on his lips.Blu stared at him, breath uneven. The expression in Alaric’s eyes wasn’t just hatred for his enemies.It was something worse.It was ruthless contempt for pain itself.The next second, Alaric’s bloodforce surged violently.His arm expanded, swelling like a beast’s limb. The muscle shifted, almost unnatural, soft for a heartbeat, then snapping into hardened density.Like iron forged in an instant.Blu’s body was yanked off the ground.And then Alaric swung him.Fast rushed in from the side, twin blades flashing.But the moment he realized Blu was being used like a living shield, the madness in his eyes faltered.He halted.He twisted away.SHRRRRAAAK!!A blade of wind tore past his head.KABOOOM!!Blu slammed into the floor with br

Stormpine Martial Hall, rear courtyard.A redwood tea table sat beneath the fading afternoon sun. Steam curled from the teapot in Master Rowan Whitestone’s hands as he poured three cups with practiced calm.Lucian Stormwind, Morrin Loxvale, and Alaric Vale sat with him, the air thick with quiet tension.“The Lunarglow Martial Summit is about to begin,” Master Rowan said after finishing his tea in one swallow. “It is held once every three years. Though it is called an exchange meeting, every major force in the southern region watches it closely. Each summit produces Ten Elites who rise to fame overnight.”His gaze drifted briefly to the empty seat beside him, as if remembering someone no longer here.“Two summits ago, your Senior Disciple went with me. His performance paved the way for his future in the Titan Vanguard Legion. At the last summit, Lucian accompanied me. This time, I will bring Alaric.”He looked at them in turn.“By tradition, the Senior Disciples must evaluate the one w

Mira Voss moved like a blade thrown through the air.Her body cut sideways, then forward, then around Alaric’s flank. Her footwork was fast enough to blur, unpredictable enough to make the platform feel too small to contain her.She struck again.Five fingers pressed tight, her nails hardened into something closer to steel than bone.The thrust came from a twisted angle, aimed at Alaric’s ribs, sharp enough to pierce straight through muscle.A direct hit would have been fatal.But Alaric didn’t flinch.His body reacted before thought could catch up. The instincts carved into him through relentless training woke instantly, locking onto her movement like a predator tracking prey.He turned.His arm surged with force.His fingers curled like a claw.And he caught her wrist mid-thrust.The entire platform seemed to freeze.Mira’s eyes widened.She tried to yank back, but her arm refused to move. It felt like her wrist had been trapped inside a steel clamp.The spectators stared, stunned.