Warrior God With A System

Chapter 14

The room was silent for a second. Only the sound of Lia’s faint breathing broke the heavy air. 

She hung limp between two masked men, her head tilted to the side, the strange glowing mark still burning on her arm.

Xayn’s chest tightened. His hands curled into fists. “What did you do to her?” he demanded.

Sean Veron’s smirk didn’t fade. He walked forward slowly, his boots clicking on the polished floor. 

The other attackers stepped aside as if making way for a king. “I told you,” Sean said, his voice calm but cold, “this isn’t about her.”

Xayn took a step forward, his voice sharper. “Then let her go.”

Sean’s eyes narrowed. “You think you can give me orders?”

The room felt smaller now. Every pair of masked eyes was on Xayn. Every heartbeat felt louder in his ears.

Sean stopped only a few feet away. He didn’t raise a weapon. He didn’t even lift a finger. But the pressure that rolled off him was suffocating, heavy like a storm about to break. “You’ve been busy,” Sean said. “Too busy for someone the guild records call an E-rank.”

“I don’t care what your records say,” Xayn replied, his voice steady.

“That’s obvious.” Sean’s gaze flicked to the masked men holding Lia. “Take her to the carriage.”

They began to move toward the side door. Xayn’s body tensed.

System Alert: Threat Level: Critical. Engaging combat with Sean Veron in current state is not advised.

“System,” Xayn muttered under his breath, “I didn’t ask for advice.”

He moved before anyone expected it. His speed ability flared, blurring his form as he closed the distance to the masked men holding Lia.

The first man didn’t have time to react before Xayn’s elbow slammed into his chest, sending him stumbling back. 

The second swung a dagger, but Xayn caught his wrist and twisted hard, forcing him to drop it.

He grabbed Lia, pulling her into his arms, but a sudden blast of air hit him from the side like a hammer.

He crashed into the wall, the breath knocked out of him. Lia slipped from his grasp, landing in the arms of another masked man.

Sean stood where he was, his hand raised slightly. The air around him shimmered with faint arcs of power. “You move fast,” Sean said, “but you’re not the only one with tricks.”

System Scan: Multiple hostiles inbound from the west wing. Exit routes blocked.

Xayn’s eyes darted to the broken window behind him. He could smash through it and try to run with Lia, but Sean would be on him in seconds.

The masked men were closing in again, their blades catching the moonlight.

Sean began to circle slowly, like a predator toying with prey. “Tell me, Xayn Min, has the system told you what you really are?”

Xayn kept his voice low. “I don’t need it to tell me I’m not your dog.”

Sean chuckled. “Not yet. But everyone bends eventually.”

The first masked man lunged. Xayn sidestepped and slammed his knee into the man’s ribs, hearing the sharp crack of bone. 

Another came from behind, forcing him to drop low and sweep the attacker’s legs out from under him.

But for every one he knocked down, two more stepped in. The hall was filling with movement, boots scraping, blades flashing, breath hissing through masks.

Lia stirred faintly in the arms of her captor. “Xayn,” she whispered, but her voice was weak. Hearing her name from her lips sent a surge of fire through him.

Sean’s voice cut through the noise. “Enough.”

The masked men stopped instantly, stepping back. Sean lifted his hand again, and the air in the room seemed to thicken. 

Xayn felt it press against his skin, trying to hold him in place. His muscles strained against it.

System Alert: Unknown energy manipulation detected. Strength required: Level 15.

“Increase strength,” Xayn ordered.

Strength: Level 15 Activated.

The invisible grip loosened, and Xayn broke free with a sharp exhale. Sean’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Interesting.”

“You’ve got potential,” Sean said. “You could have everything, wealth, rank, power. All I’d ask is loyalty.”

Xayn’s jaw tightened. “To you? Never.”

Sean’s smile faded. “Shame.”

He glanced toward the masked men. “Take her.”

Lia’s eyes widened as the men began to move toward the door again. “Xayn.”

He lunged forward, but Sean’s form blurred, and suddenly he was in front of Xayn, blocking the way.

Xayn knew he couldn’t beat Sean head-on. Not yet. But he could still play dirty. He feinted left, drawing Sean’s attention for half a second, then used his speed to dash to the right, slipping past him by inches.

The masked man closest to the door turned just in time to see Xayn coming, and then felt the full force of Xayn’s shoulder slam into him, sending him flying into the wall.

Lia dropped to the floor. Xayn grabbed her and turned toward the nearest exit. The main door loomed ahead, open to the moonlit garden.

But Sean’s voice followed, low and calm: “You think you can run?”

The garden path seemed longer than it should. Gravel crunched underfoot as Xayn sprinted, Lia’s weight slowing him slightly. 

Behind them, the sound of pursuit grew louder, multiple footsteps, fast and closing in.

System Alert: Pursuers gaining. Speed required: Level 12.

“Do it,” Xayn ordered.

His pace surged, the garden blurring around them. He could see the estate gates now, tall, black iron, slightly ajar.

They reached the gates just as two more masked men appeared from the shadows outside. No time to dodge.

Xayn lowered his shoulder and plowed into the first man, knocking him to the ground. The second swung a blade, but Xayn kicked it aside and kept moving. They were out on the street now.

A sharp crack split the air. Xayn turned his head just enough to see Sean standing at the garden’s edge, his hand raised.

The ground under Xayn’s feet trembled, and then a wall of air slammed into him from behind, sending him and Lia crashing into the cobblestone.

Pain shot through his side. His vision blurred. Sean’s voice drifted over the distance. “Run as far as you like. She’s marked. I can find her anytime.” And then he was gone.

Xayn pushed himself up slowly, ignoring the throbbing in his ribs. Lia was still unconscious beside him, but her breathing was steady.

He touched the glowing mark on her arm. It pulsed faintly, warm to the touch.

System Analysis: Unknown tracking seal. Removal possible, but requires rare material: Shadowglass.

“Where do I find it?” Xayn demanded.

Nearest source: Eastern Black Market. Warning, high danger zone.

Xayn lifted Lia into his arms again, his mind already turning. If Sean could track her at will, she’d never be safe.

He looked toward the dark streets leading east. He would have to go there. He would have to face whatever waited in the Black Market.

But as he turned to move, a voice spoke from the shadows beside the gate.

It was the cloaked man with the red eyes. “I told you,” the man said quietly. “Too late.” And then, with a faint smile, “But maybe, not too late to trade.”