2025-05-06 18:58:57When Ali and Laith arrived at the headquarter of the Knights of Askalan group he was expecting a hall or luxurious fancy building. Instead they were hanging out in a normal building, it looked more like an office than a headquarter.
Laith gathered everyone to introduce them to Ali. Hazim their leader was tall, broad-shouldered, with piercing amber eyes and a mane of dark red hair—stepped forward first. His presence commanded attention, and a faint smirk played on his lips as he extended a gauntleted hand. "Welcome, Ali," Hazim said, his voice deep and steady. "I am Hazim, leader of the Knights of Askalan. I'm also known as The Red Phoenix." Ali clasped his forearm firmly. "It’s an honor." Next came Haitham, a mountain of a man with scars tracing his arms and a battle-worn face. He crossed his arms, his voice a low rumble. "I'm Haitham. The Fearless Knight as they call me" He gave a single nod. "Prove yourself, and you’ll have no fiercer ally." Ali met his gaze. "I intend to." A lean figure with sharp, calculating eyes stepped forward—Hadi. His voice was quiet but carried weight. "I'm Hadi. The Sharp Knight" He studied Ali for a moment before adding, "Strategy wins battles as much as strength. Remember that." Malik, the blue-armored knight who had saved Ali, smirked and clapped him on the shoulder. "You already know me, I'm Malik, The Blue Knight. Glad you made it" Laith, the youngest, darted forward with a flash of yellow armor. "And I’m Laith, I'm known as the Yellow Lightning Knight!" he declared, grinning. "Fastest in Askalan. Try to keep up!" Ali chuckled. "I’ll do my best." Last came Marwan, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief beneath his hood. He leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. "I'm Marwan. The Unpredictable Knight," he said. "Former thief, current headache, or so they tell me." He smirked. "But I’ve got a knack for surviving. You’ll learn a thing or two from me." Hazim raised his voice, addressing the group. "From this day forward, Ali is one of us. With his white armor and unyielding spirit, he shall be known as The White-Armored Knight!" The knights cheered, raising their fists in unison. Ali felt the weight of the moment, the beginning of a new chapter, a brotherhood forged in battle and purpose. Malik leaned in with a grin. "Ready to make history, White Knight?" Ali smiled, gripping the hilt of his sword. "More than ready." ___ After the meeting, Laith and Malik led Ali to the training grounds—a high-tech facility filled with holographic combat simulations, agility courses, and strength-testing equipment. The walls were lined with sleek monitors displaying performance metrics, and the air hummed with energy. “This is where we push our limits,” Laith said, gesturing to the expansive space. “Everyone trains here to hone their skills.” Ali’s eyes widened as he took it all in. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” Malik smirked. “You’ll get used to it. Come on, let’s see what you’ve got.” They started with basic combat drills, Malik demonstrating how to activate the holographic opponents. Ali watched closely as a digital warrior materialized in front of him, poised to strike. “Just like in a real fight,” Malik instructed. “But here, the system tracks your speed, power, and reaction time.” Ali nodded, rolling his shoulders. “Let’s do this.” The first few rounds were rough, Ali took hits, stumbled, and overextended. But with each attempt, he adjusted, his movements becoming sharper. Laith offered pointers while Malik pushed him harder, increasing the difficulty. “Good,” Laith said as Ali dodged a swift kick from the hologram. “You’re adapting fast.” “Faster than most,” Malik admitted, arms crossed. “But let’s see how you handle endurance.” They switched to a grueling obstacle course, testing Ali’s stamina. He pushed through, lungs burning, muscles protesting, but he didn’t stop. When he finally crossed the finish line, sweat-drenched and panting, the screen flashed with his updated stats. [Durability: +5] [Speed: +4 ] [Endurance: +6 ] [You've Level Up!] Ali grinned, catching his breath. “Not bad, huh?” Laith clapped him on the back. “Not bad at all. You’ve got potential.” Malik gave an approving nod. “Keep training like this, and you’ll be ready for anything.” As Ali studied his improved stats, he felt a surge of confidence. This was just the beginning.
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Chapter 348 Striking Deals
The heavy silence in the dojang’s main hall was oppressive, broken only by the distant hum of Seoul’s traffic and the soft, defeated groans from Marwan and Laith as they picked themselves up off the unforgiving wooden floor. They sat slumped against the wall, a trio of dejected would-be disciples. The grand narrative of their journey, seeking ancient wisdom at the hands of a legendary master had crumbled into the farcical reality of being effortlessly humiliated by a grumpy old man who seemed to view them as an annoying financial transaction.The minutes stretched into an hour. The initial shock of their defeat settled into a dull, gnawing frustration. It was Laith who finally broke the quiet, his voice a plaintive grumble. “I’m starving.”Marwan let out a long, weary sigh that seemed to come from the soles of his feet. He pushed himself up, his body protesting. “I saw a small supermarket a few blocks back when we were getting lost for the fifth time. I’ll go get some cheap ingredien
Chapter 347 The Face Off
The dawn in Seoul was a cold, grey affair, seeping into their sparse storage room through a single, high window. They woke to the distant sounds of a city already in motion, their bodies aching from the hard floor and the weight of disappointment. Without a word, they performed their wudu with bottled water in the tiny, icy bathroom, then laid out their prayer mats in a row on the dusty floor. The familiar, silent ritual of Fajr prayer in this strange, unwelcoming place was a small anchor, a piece of home they carried within them.After prayers, fueled by a mix of determination and a desperate need to prove their worth, they began their own warm-up. The main training hall, which they hadn't even properly seen the night before, was vast, empty, and freezing. Their breaths came out in plumes of white vapor as they started to run laps around the perimeter, the sound of their footfalls echoing in the hollow space. They moved through a rigorous regimen of dynamic stretches, push-ups, sit-u
Chapter 346 Meeting Master Kim
The transition from the familiar, sun-baked streets of their homeland to the vast, neon-drenched, orderly chaos of Seoul was a sensory shock that left all three of them reeling. Ali, Marwan, and Laith stumbled out of Incheon Airport into a world of towering glass spires, streams of immaculate traffic, and a language that sounded like rapid-fire music utterly devoid of meaning. Their confidence, built on dreams and duffel bags, began to crack at the edges within the first hour.The address for Master Kim Sung-kyu’s dojang, painstakingly written down by Hazim from a memory over a decade old, was their holy grail. It was supposed to be in the Mapo district, a place of traditional homes and old-school gyms.Navigating the efficient, yet utterly incomprehensible, Seoul subway system was their first trial. They missed stops, took trains in the wrong direction, and argued fiercely over the colorful, bewildering maps. By the time they emerged above ground in what they hoped was Mapo, they wer
Chapter 345 Training Trip To Korea
The air in the small apartment was thick with the scent of anticipation and fresh laundry. A half-packed duffel bag lay open on Laith’s bed, surrounded by neatly folded training gear, a Korean phrasebook, and a collection of well-worn martial arts manuals. Laith hummed a tuneless melody as he meticulously checked and re-checked his list, the thrill of the impending journey to Seoul a constant buzz under his skin. This was it. Training at the source. Meeting the legendary Master Kim. Finally stepping out of his brothers’ long shadows and into a forge of his own choosing.The front door opened and closed. Hazim’s familiar, solid footsteps echoed in the hallway. Laith bounded out of his room, his face alight with excitement. “Did you get it?”Hazim stood in the living room, looking slightly weary but with a softness around his eyes. He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a thick, plain white envelope. He held it out to Laith
Chapter 344 The Group Grows
The return journey from the desolate train yard to the relative safety of the city was conducted in a heavy, contemplative silence. The three armored figures in the van, white, yellow, and crimson—were like statues, the adrenaline of the fight having bled away, leaving behind the cold residue of its implications. In the back, Professor Riyad huddled under a thermal blanket, shivering more from shock than cold.Once inside the secure confines of the guild headquarters, the oppressive quiet broke. The armor was stowed, replaced by the familiar weight of concern. They gathered in a spartan briefing room, a pot of strong tea steaming in the center of the table.Hazim leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the Professor. "We need to know everything, Professor. Did you see anything? Hear anything that might identify them? Their purpose?"Professor Riyad took a slow sip of tea, his hands trembling slightly. He shook his head, a gesture of profound frustration. "They had a hood over my head from
Chapter 343 Rescue Team
The air in Ali’s new apartment-turned-workshop was thick with the acrid scent of fear and failure, a stark contrast to the smell of solder and ambition that usually filled the space. Ali paced like a caged animal, his hands clenching and unclenching. Fadi was hunched over a terminal, his face pale in the glow of multiple screens. Haneen stood by the window, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, a silent statue of worry.The door burst open, and Hazim and Laith entered, their arrival like a sudden, focused gust of wind. They didn't need to ask questions; Ali’s frantic call had painted the scene in stark, urgent colors."They took him," Ali said, the words raw. "I asked the Professor to come help me move the last of the heavy equipment from here to the new warehouse. We were loading the van, right out front. A black sedan. It just appeared. Two men jumped out, they were fast… too fast. They grabbed him, threw him in the back. I tried… I ran after them, I even threw a wrench at the re
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