The competition continued after that, but this time, everyone who was paired against Mattimeo immediately quit, including Tristan, who had been threatening him after their first match.The sight of Mattimeo holding Richard's still-beating heart in his hand before crushing it in front of everyone remained vividly etched into their minds. It was a terrifying image none of them could forget.They chose losing the competition and their chance to join a sect in Silveria over dying.In the end, the competition concluded with Mattimeo taking first place, Nicholas second, surprisingly Gia third, and two more participants completing the top five.Roland stepped forward and addressed the winners."You all are the pride and future of our Ravenshire Clan, and possibly the future of Ravenmoor Duchy. I'm proud of your performances today, and as a reward, I'm giving each of you the opportunity to participate in the upcoming admission test for Azure Dragon Sect in the Silveria Empire."Immediately, m

"Silly, of course I like you. How else would I be willing to give up my first time just because you're my young master?" she giggled.Warmth spread through Mattimeo's heart."I like you too, Mia. I always have," he said."Is that so? I've always imagined being with you, but I never thought it would actually be possible," she said.Mattimeo smiled and gently pinched her nose.A comfortable silence settled between them for the next few minutes."Mattimeo..." Mia finally broke the silence.He turned to look at her."What am I to you now?" she asked nervously, her fingers fidgeting in her lap as she searched his face."You are my woman now," Mattimeo replied without the slightest hesitation.Her eyes instantly lit up, and her heart fluttered wildly. A wave of warmth spread through her chest as butterflies filled her stomach. The simple way he called her his woman made her happier than she could have imagined, and she couldn't stop the smile that blossomed across her face.*******News of

For over two years now, Jokbah hadn't dared to cross the borders of Ravenmoor. They had remained within their own territory. But suddenly, they began attacking again, and they were more aggressive than ever before.Worse still, at the same time, the independent city-states in the west also launched attacks, along with the Wandering Tribes.Roland wondered what had gone wrong, but he knew this was no longer an ordinary situation.It couldn't be a coincidence that every force sharing a border with Ravenmoor had started attacking from all three sides at once.He sent most of his men to the border with Jokbah, while the rest were divided between the western front and the Wandering Tribes.There was a fort close to the Ravenshire clan mansion. For many years, it had always housed over two thousand soldiers. It existed to ensure that any internal crisis could be suppressed immediately, especially whenever most of the military was stationed at the borders.But for the first time in many year

"I don't understand. Wasn't it said that the Duke would be lying unconscious in the infirmary? Did they somehow get intel and move him?" one of the masked men asked."I don't know. Let's not waste time thinking about it. Let's go find him," he said.Without another word, they spun around and rushed out of the infirmary. The moment they stepped into the hallway, they came face to-face with several people racing toward the infirmary."Please don't kill us! Please, we're just harmless physicians! We're not members of the Ravenshire Clan!""Shut up!" one of the masked men snapped, irritation flashing through his voice as he swung his sword.A razor-sharp arc tore through the air.Before anyone could react, every physician was sliced cleanly in half at the waist. Their upper bodies struck the stone floor first, followed by the sickening collapse of their lower halves. Blood gushed across the corridor as entrails spilled onto the cold ground.The masked man lowered his sword without the sli

The poison and grievous wounds he had suffered on the battlefield had never fully healed. Forcing out that attack tore his injuries open once more, and fresh blood quickly soaked through his clothes.The masked man closest to him seized the opportunity immediately.His sword flashed toward Roland's throat.Roland twisted aside, but he was a fraction too slow.The blade sliced across his side.Blood splashed through the air.Before he could regain his footing, another masked man had already closed the distance.Bang!A heavy punch crashed into Roland's face.Instead of retreating, Roland exploded forward.He had deliberately taken the blow.A knife slipped into his hand from within his sleeve.Before the masked man could react...Thrust!The blade buried itself deep in his belly.The masked man's eyes widened in disbelief before the light within them faded completely.Roland's burst of speed was so terrifying that even the naked eye struggled to follow it.How can he still move this fa