As he approached the library, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, he stepped inside, immediately greeted by the familiar scent of old books and parchment.Marvin was seated at a large oak desk near the back, his attention fully absorbed by a stack of documents spread out before him. Danial hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and bowing respectfully. "Master, I have some questions."Marvin didn’t look up from the documents, his voice clipped and distant as he responded, "Speak."Danial could sense the tension in Marvin’s tone. Something was clearly bothering him, and Danial wasn’t sure if it was his place to probe. Nonetheless, he pressed on, hoping to gain some insight. "Master, what does the fifth level of Titan's Endurance represent?"Marvin remained silent for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the papers in front of him. When he finally spoke, his words were curt and final. "You will find out when you reach that lev
Leo’s voice dripped with condescension as he casually surveyed the scene. "Surprised to see me, Danial? I must say, you picked a rather humble spot for our little chat." His eyes wandered over to Sophie and Natasha, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Wow, Danial, I didn’t know you were a playboy. Maybe you should hand over the girls to us and kneel for now."Danial’s frown deepened as his anger began to simmer just beneath the surface. “And why do you think I would do that?”Leo, oblivious to the true identity of the women, chuckled as he stepped closer, his confidence growing with every word. “Because you’re surrounded. Did you think I came to Somerland without any protection or didn’t bring anyone with me? Did you think I’m that dumb?” His voice was dripping with mockery, and he glanced around at the group of ten suited men who were now closing in around Danial, Sophie, and Natasha.Danial’s frown turned into a scowl as he quickly assessed the situation. Leo had caught him off g
As they made their way back to the hotel, Danial couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that the immediate danger had passed. Sophie and Natasha were in high spirits, chatting animatedly about their day. But Danial’s moment of peace was short-lived.“Danial,” Sophie said suddenly, her tone turning serious, “Just so I remind you, I will be accompanying you to your workplace tomorrow, so be ready.”Danial’s smile faltered, and his eyes widened in panic. “Mom, you really shouldn’t come. There’s nothing to be worried about. It’s just a normal day at work.”Sophie’s expression remained unwavering. “I do not care. I will be coming with you whether you like it or not.”Danial’s mind raced. He was already juggling enough without adding his mother’s presence to the mix. He tried to think of a way to dissuade her, but Sophie was as determined as ever.“Mom,” Danial said, trying to sound convincing but failing to hide his desperation, “It’s going to be a boring day. You’ll be so bored you migh
As the sleek black Mercedes glided to a stop in front of the towering, glass-covered building, Danial took a deep breath, trying to mask his growing unease. The building was at least ten stories tall, a corporate giant that seemed far too grand for the charade he was about to pull off. Sophie, blissfully unaware of the tangled web her son was weaving, stepped out of the car with a sense of pride, marveling at the impressive structure.Danial forced a confident smile as he followed suit, pretending that this was his daily routine. The driver, still in his sharp suit, gave a polite nod before driving off, leaving Danial and Sophie at the entrance. As they approached the large glass doors, Danial mentally rehearsed his plan, hoping everything would go smoothly.But as he reached for the door handle, his path was blocked by the burly watchman stationed at the entrance. The man, a stone-faced figure with arms crossed, didn’t even blink as he asked, “ID card?”Danial’s heart skipped a beat.
Danial settled into the plush leather chair, trying to ignore the rising tension in his chest. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the computer as it powered up. He grabbed a stack of documents that had been neatly arranged on the desk, flipping through them quickly. At first, it was just an act to keep Sophie from asking too many questions, but as he skimmed the papers, he realized that understanding the company's operations might actually be necessary.After all, this was his company, even if the situation was far from ordinary. He might as well see what kind of business he was supposed to be running.He opened the laptop on the desk and began typing, accessing the company’s internal systems. The screen lit up with a sophisticated dashboard displaying real-time data: sales figures, project timelines, employee performance metrics, and more. Danial clicked through the tabs, noting the company’s strong market presence and the successful completion of several high-profile contr
Luna scratched her head and groaned in irritation, "Why are you all staring at me? And why the hell am I on the floor?"The bodyguards, usually quick with a response, found themselves at a loss for words. They exchanged awkward glances, unsure how to explain the bizarre sequence of events that had just unfolded. The assistant, sensing the growing tension, hurriedly pushed through the cluster of bodyguards and knelt beside Luna, her face etched with concern."Miss Luna, are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.Luna pushed herself up, still wiping the water from her face. She stood, a picture of annoyed dignity despite the situation, and glared at the assistant. "First of all, what the hell happened? Why was I on the floor, and why am I soaked like I just got caught in a rainstorm?"The assistant hesitated, her mind scrambling to piece together an explanation that wouldn't make her sound insane. She finally managed, "Miss Luna, a decorative panel
Danial leaned back in his chair, listening intently as Liam, now more composed after realizing Danial’s true identity, began to explain."Sir… Chairman," Liam started, still trying to get used to the idea of addressing Danial with such reverence, "Luna Hale is from the Hale Family, one of the Greatest Families in the Capital. They're known for their large-scale manufacturing empire, which includes the biggest and most advanced facilities in the region. We’ve been developing cutting-edge drone technology here at Sterling, and the demand for it has been overwhelming—everyone from corporations to the military has been lining up. Our current manufacturing capacities simply can’t keep up with the scale required. That's why we reached out to the Hales. They have the infrastructure and expertise to handle production at the scale we need, which is why Luna Hale was here today to finalize the deal.”Danial nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. “You mentioned the Greatest Families. Ca
Danial stood up from his chair, adjusting his suit jacket as he looked at Liam and Letty, who were still standing by the desk. "Alright, I’ll be heading back to my office now. Don’t worry about any formalities. My mother’s in there, and she’s got a sharp eye. If you both come down looking too serious, she’ll get suspicious for sure.Liam nodded quickly. "Of course, sir."Letty gave him a nervous smile, her eyes still wide from earlier. “Yes, Chairman. Understood.”Danial smirked slightly at how different their attitudes were compared to the beginning of the day. He turned and left the chairman’s office, walking through the long corridors with the air of someone who belonged. His confidence had grown, especially after all the information he’d just learned about the Greatest Families. But all of that would need to wait for later.When he reached his office, he opened the door and immediately spotted his mother sitting in his chair, scrolling through her phone lazily. She looked up the m
Danial and Crystal returned to the arena, their footsteps brisk as they hurried toward the edge of the spectator stands. The air was buzzing with anticipation, and as they settled in, a clear voice rang out across the arena."Next round—Pavan from Somerland versus Zain from Somerland!"Danial and Crystal exchanged glances. Without a word, they moved closer, their attention sharpening as they peered down at the battlefield.Emerging from the preparation area, Zain strode onto the stage with an air of absolute confidence. In her hand, she carried a black whip, its length coiling and uncoiling like a living serpent. With a casual flick of her wrist, she lashed it through the air, the sharp crack echoing through the silent arena.Danial furrowed his brows at the sight. "A whip? Is that even considered a proper weapon?"Crystal, arms crossed, responded without looking at him. "It is—if she belongs to the Devil’s Associates faction."Danial turned to her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"Crysta
Egbert stood up while clenching his blade, his entire body trembling. His eyes, wide with disbelief, locked onto Danial as his voice cracked with confusion."How can this be? How could this ever be possible?" he muttered, his face twisted in shock. He staggered back, gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "How could your basic technique be so powerful? How could your technique overpower my divine Crimson Reaper Arts? That is not possible. You must have cheated!"Egbert could not accept reality. His technique was not just some ordinary martial skill; it was crafted by Norman Ray, a war deity of immense power and wisdom. The Crimson Reaper Arts were revered as one of the strongest sword techniques, refined through generations, yet Danial’s seemingly simple Sword Drawing Technique had shattered it, breaking through his proudest ability as if it were nothing. It defied all logic. It was unacceptable.Egbert's voice echoed through the now-silent hall, but no one came
The battle hall was filled with murmurs and hushed voices as Danial and Egbert stepped onto the duel arena. The place still carried traces of previous battles, the floor marked with faint scars from past clashes, including Danial’s fight with Sara. But today, the tension in the air was different—more electric, more charged.Egbert’s arrogance was on full display as he sneered, his voice laced with mockery. “Kid, I’m taking pity on you for what’s about to happen. Maybe if you kneel and crawl, I’ll let you live.”Danial met his gaze calmly and replied, “No.”The single word was enough to darken Egbert’s face. His jaw clenched as his pride took a hit. “Danial, I’m giving you a way out. Once in the duel arena, I won’t let you off even if you kneel and beg for mercy.”Danial tilted his head slightly, unfazed. “Are we going to fight or not?”Egbert’s eyes twitched in annoyance before he shrugged as if he had already won. “Alright, I hope you remember what I said.”Both climbed onto the duel
Danial sat in the audience, watching the ongoing matches with mild interest. At first, he paid attention, analyzing the techniques used by different fighters, but after a while, he grew bored. The matches were too predictable, lacking the intensity of the battles he had been in. He tapped his fingers on the armrest, wondering when his final match would come.Crystal, who had been sitting beside him, noticed his bored expression. She smirked and leaned closer. “Danial, let’s go walk around the academy.”Danial glanced at her and considered it for a moment. Sitting here and watching these mundane fights wasn’t going to help him. He nodded. “Alright, might as well.”As they stood up and left the arena, they remained unaware of the shadow lurking in the distance, silently watching their every move.The academy grounds had transformed into a lively hub. Stalls lined the pathways, selling everything from cultivation manuals to exotic snacks. There were booths set up for visitors and student
Crystal descended into the rocky arena, her icy-blue eyes scanning the terrain. The environment was filled with jagged hills, uneven terrain, and rocky outcroppings—an arena that would test movement and adaptability. Danial leaned against the railing, watching her with a small smile, fully confident in her victory.Just as the match was about to begin, Leonard approached from behind, patting Danial’s shoulder with a smug grin."Danial, did you see my match just now? The tricks I used had him completely baffled—haha!"Danial turned to look at him, blinking. "That was your match?"Leonard’s face fell. The excitement in his eyes flickered. "Yeah… you didn’t see it?"Danial quickly realized his mistake and tried to salvage the situation. "Leonard, I didn’t know your match was happening. I’m sorry."Leonard forced a smile, waving it off. "Alright, no worries." He turned and walked away, but as he did, the forced smile gradually faded.Danial sighed, feeling a little guilty, but his attenti
As the tournament progressed, the excitement in the air reached its peak. The crowd roared in anticipation as each match brought forth new surprises, showcasing the sheer talent and determination of the academy's young warriors. Danial sat with Crystal, both observing the ongoing battles with quiet interest.Crystal turned to him and asked, "You already won two matches. This guarantees your spot in the Final Stage tomorrow. Who do you think your final opponent will be?"Danial shrugged, his expression calm. "I don't know," he replied simply.Just as he finished speaking, movement from the side caught his attention. Pavan had returned from the infirmary, his head and shoulders wrapped in fresh bandages. His steps were steady, but the slight wince as he moved revealed that his injuries hadn’t fully healed.Danial immediately got up and walked over to him, his brows furrowed in concern. "Why are you out of the infirmary? Your body needs rest."Pavan groaned, waving his hand dismissively.
Tyler staggered slightly as he stepped down from the arena, his legs trembling, his face pale. The match had been brief—too brief—but the experience had left a lasting impression on him. No, it wasn’t just the match itself; it was the gaze. That chilling, soul-crushing gaze that had locked onto him as if stripping away every ounce of his being. It was unlike anything he had ever faced before.His master approached, his eyes filled with concern as he placed a firm hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”Tyler did not answer immediately. He walked in silence, each step feeling heavier than the last. His master was about to repeat the question when Tyler finally spoke, his voice hollow.“I want to withdraw from the tournament.”The words were so unexpected that his master was momentarily stunned. Tyler was not one to give up easily. He had trained relentlessly, fought fiercely, and had dreams of proving himself. Yet now, standing before him, was not the same student who had entered thi
As Kyle Drakon stepped into the light, an almost ethereal presence seemed to radiate from him. For someone so young, he was nothing short of stunning—majestic in a way that defied mere good looks. His face, strikingly symmetrical with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline, carried an air of effortless majesty. His nose was straight and refined, giving him a noble appearance, while his lips, neither too thin nor too full, were naturally set in a calm, unreadable expression. His skin was smooth, almost flawless, as if sculpted by the finest artisan, carrying a faint glow under the arena’s illumination.His jet-black hair, slightly messy yet undeniably stylish, fell in layered waves around his forehead and temples, enhancing the intensity of his features. Each step he took exuded confidence, his strides measured, unhurried—he moved like a sovereign who did not need to prove himself, yet commanded attention wherever he went.But it was his eyes that truly held everyone captive.A deep crims
The air inside the arena buzzed with excitement as the next match was announced. The announcer’s voice boomed across the coliseum.“Next match! Crystal Kirk of Somerland versus Zaria Dvornik of Krolea! The battle conditions—desert environment, no elemental abilities allowed!”Danial's expression hardened. He understood the gravity of this situation. Crystal’s greatest strength lay in her ice element, and now, she was being forced to fight in the most unfavourable terrain possible. A desert battlefield? There was no moisture in the air, no chance of manipulating frost, and worst of all—sweltering heat sapping her stamina.As Crystal stepped forward, she caught Danial’s expression and smirked. “Worried about me?”Danial folded his arms. “Just assessing the conditions. This isn’t exactly in your favour.”Crystal chuckled. “It never is.” With that, she strode toward the arena entrance, her icy confidence unwavering.Danial exhaled sharply, watching as she disappeared into the tunnel leadi