God of Mist

Chapter 5: Primary Realm

Garrick looked at the empty space before him his face a mixture of wonder and caution. He seemed to realize that Lucas the person he once knew as inconspicuous had changed. Now Lucas radiated a vibrant and bold energy.

"Lucas what have you been eating?" Garrick taunted his tone dripping with sarcasm. But beneath this facade Garrick was calculating. He subtly signaled his two companions to flank Lucas his intentions clear: he wanted to quickly overpower and eliminate Lucas.

"What have I been eating? Definitely not your mother's cooking" Lucas replied his words laced with brazen confidence. Garrick's anger was palpable a vein throbbing visibly on his forehead.

Garrick's men now positioned on either side launched a swift ambush. But Lucas ever alert had anticipated the ruse. With a flick of his wrist he effortlessly knocked down the two attackers leaving Garrick in stunned disbelief.

Garrick felt as if he were caught in a maelstrom of chaos. In his mind Lucas had always been insignificant the lowest of the low. Yet there stood Lucas having easily dispatched two of Garrick's men with a simple graceful movement. How had the once insignificant Lucas become so formidable?

Event after event unfolded rapidly overwhelming Garrick's mind. He had always prided himself on his ability to handle any situation but now he found himself uncharacteristically insecure. As the young master of the Ironfist family he was used to being in control and having everything at his command. But to see Lucas a man whose family he had believed to be destroyed display such remarkable strength unsettled him deeply.

Trying to regain his composure Garrick shook his head vigorously an attempt to clear the turmoil of emotions swirling within him.

His gaze fixed intently on Lucas Garrick lowered the waniat from his shoulder his expression changing. The contempt that had once marked his features was gone replaced by a look of serious consideration as if he sensed something extraordinary about Lucas.

"Lucas have you repaired your qi core?" Garrick asked his voice tinged with disbelief as he blinked several times trying to adjust to this new reality.

The Lucas standing before him was transformed radiating Qi energy. Garrick realized that Lucas must have reached at least the early stages of the Primary Realm also known as the Initial Stage.

"Haha you're feeling confident because you've reached the initial stage of the Primary Realm?" Garrick taunted his face contorting in mockery. However Lucas remained undeterred calmly awaiting Garrick's next move.

Seizing the moment Garrick lunged forward with a sudden burst of speed his fist aimed squarely at Lucas' chest intent on proving his dominance.

Anyone familiar with the Ironfist family knew of their reputation for immense physical strength. Thus a direct hit from Garrick a prominent member of the family was widely considered a death wish.

But what happened next defied all expectations. It was a scene that would have stunned any onlooker even though there were only two others present - the shop owner and his daughter.

Lucas with an air of casual confidence effortlessly caught Garrick's punch with only one arm as if to downplay the threat. This result was perplexing; how could someone in the early stages of the realm withstand a blow from Garrick who was already at the advanced stage?

This anomaly would have baffled even the wisest sages of antiquity. Despite the apparent absurdity Lucas made it all seem plausible.

Garrick his face etched with shock withdrew his hand. He couldn't comprehend how his superior martial arts skills could be so easily matched by Lucas catching his punch with one hand.

"Lucas... you must have found a treasure right?" Garrick speculated jumping to the most logical conclusion in his mind. It seemed impossible for someone to gain such strength so quickly without some extraordinary means.

Lucas didn't say a word. Instead he lunged at Garrick with a swift movement. As Lucas moved his arms swung through the air and a mysterious green mist began to form around him signaling the beginning of an even more unexpected turn in their confrontation.

"Poison?" Garrick sneezed instinctively associating the green mist with poison. When he inhaled however he detected no trace of poison leaving him puzzled.

"What kind of technique is this?" Garrick muttered to himself perplexed. In all his years of martial arts experience he had never come across a technique that manifested as a green mist.

Before he could think further Lucas was on him. Caught off guard Garrick failed to dodge in time. Lucas struck him amidst the swirling green mist. The impact sent Garrick reeling backward his metal bracelet shattering as it absorbed part of the blow.

"Hey! I'm not done with you yet," Lucas shouted assertively.

With another gesture from Lucas the green mist began to dissipate. Garrick now slumped against a wall that bore the marks of the altercation looked up at Lucas with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Meanwhile Garrick's instincts were screaming warning telling him that he was about to face the most terrifying experience of his life. That feeling intensified as Lucas approached his fingers outstretched menacingly. He resembled a bully ready to extract his victim's teeth with relentless punishing blows.