Location: The Grand Banquet Hall of the Vance Family Villa."Trash! Get out of the way! You’re blocking the air!"A sharp voice cut through the lively atmosphere of the birthday banquet.Drake sat in a rusty wheelchair in the corner, his expression indifferent. He wore a cheap, washed-out grey t-shirt that looked like a rag compared to the tuxedos and evening gowns around him.The man shouting at him was Charles Vance, the eldest grandson of the Vance family. Charles looked down at Drake with eyes full of disgust, like he was looking at a pile of dog poop on the road."Grandmother is celebrating her 80th birthday today," Charles sneered, raising his voice so everyone could hear. "Everyone brought gifts worth hundreds of thousands. The Mayor sent a Jade Buddha. The CEO of Star Corp sent a gold watch. And what did you bring? Did you bring your wheelchair to beg for food?"The guests erupted in laughter."He really is the shame of the Vance family." "I don't know why Elena hasn't divorce

The banquet hall was a scene of absolute chaos, but for Drake, the world had slowed to a crawl.Thomas Silva and his thugs were being dragged out like dead dogs by the Black Legion soldiers. The Vance family members were huddled in the corner, trembling, not daring to breathe. They looked at Drake—the man they had called "trash" for three years—with eyes full of primal terror.But Drake wasn’t looking at them. His gaze was fixed on the shadows dancing in the rafters of the high ceiling."Marshal?" the Blood General whispered, noticing Drake’s change in posture. "Is something wrong?""Take Elena and get out of here. Now," Drake commanded. His voice was no longer just cold; it was lethal."But Marshal, your safety—""You think these rats can hurt me?" Drake’s eyes flashed with a hint of red light. "The Shadow Saints are here. You and the soldiers are just target practice for them. Move!"The Blood General gasped. The Shadow Saints! They were the High Council’s ultimate cleanup crew—warr

The Grand Aurora Hotel was the tallest building in the city, a playground for the 1%. Tonight, it hosted the "Blue Blood Gala," an event where the city’s Mayor, the Chief of Police, and the heads of the Four Great Families gathered to discuss the "Drake Situation."They didn't know that the "situation" was currently walking through the front doors.Drake wore a tailored black suit that cost more than the Vance family’s entire villa. Beside him, Elena walked in a shimmering midnight-blue gown. She looked like a goddess, but her hands were trembling as she gripped Drake’s arm."Drake, we shouldn't be here," she whispered. "The Mayor has issued an arrest warrant for you after what happened to the Silvas.""An arrest warrant?" Drake let out a cold, dry chuckle. "A lion does not worry about the laws of sheep."As they entered the ballroom, the music stopped. Hundreds of pairs of eyes landed on them."Is that... the Vance family's trash son-in-law?" "I heard he went crazy and attacked Young

The city harbor was no longer silent. The air was thick with the smell of salt and impending death.Leo, the Mercenary King, stood before the "statue" of his First Apostle. His golden eye was bloodshot. With a single punch, he shattered the stone-transformed corpse of his subordinate into dust."Asura... you dare humiliate me?!" Leo roared.Behind him, the remaining eleven Apostles knelt, their killing intent rising like a dark cloud. "King! Let us go together! We will wash the Vance Villa in blood!""No," Leo hissed, his muscles swelling until his shirt tore. "He has insulted the Golden Eye Mercenaries. I will personally pull out his spine."Suddenly, a calm voice drifted across the water, seemingly coming from the fog itself."You want my spine? You'll have to reach my feet first."The mercenaries spun around.Drake was walking across the surface of the ocean. Each step he took didn't sink; instead, a ripple of golden light spread out from his feet, freezing the water into solid ice

The Grand Martial Hall was decorated with red lanterns and golden banners. Tonight, the "Martial Alliance" of the province—a collection of dojo masters and hidden clan elders—was celebrating.At the center of the hall stood a man in a white silk kung fu suit. This was Master Tyrone, the leader of the Alliance. He held a glass of wine high, his face flush with unearned pride."To the Martial Alliance!" Tyrone shouted. "The Mercenary King thought he could invade our shores, but he didn't count on our strength! The moment my 'Cloud-Stepping' scouts arrived at the harbor, the coward's ships exploded in fear!"The crowd cheered. "Master Tyrone is invincible!" "The Alliance is the true shield of the city!"In the corner, the Heart of the Frost Lotus sat in a glass display case, glowing with a faint, blue mist. It was the prize of the night, a treasure that could heal any internal injury.Creak—The heavy iron-studded doors of the hall were pushed open.A man and a woman walked in. The man w