With a swish, the room fell silent as Loran's declaration hung in the air. The key supporters of Alice in the family council chamber paled, and Vandalf's face twisted with fury.The nerve!Vandalf had not even relinquished his role as the head of the family, and Alice was already the heir apparent.
In the conference hall of Ayr Castle, Alice trembled as Loran, with a vile smirk, closed in on her. Her eyes were wide with a terror so profound that it seemed to cut to the bone.Had he lost his mind?Though Loran and Alice were not siblings by blood, their fathers, Tihomir and the recently passed
Alice, once the pampered heiress of the Ayr family, never needed to learn to fight. Loran, a contender for the family's throne, was not just a businessman; he had dabbled in martial arts enough to harness a bit of vital energy. Against Alice, who was as defenseless as they come, he was confident of
Deep into the night at the Ayr clan's ancient stone fortress.At the top of the steep stone staircase, the massive doors of the castle were shut tight. Loran, cloaked in his overcoat, hunched over and trembled at the entrance.Desperate for his clan's aid, he had not stopped once since leaving Phoen
With the Black Maple Master's entrance, Lennox stood up slowly from her spot by the fireplace, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light. Next to her, the young girl in the masked gown was just as ready for a fight, her hand flicking subtly to reveal a small, shining dagger."You're no match for me."
The Black Maple Master then knelt beside Lennox's body, rummaging with purpose.What was he looking for?The underlings exchanged puzzled glances. What could be so important on the body of an old woman? Did the Master have some peculiar fascination?They hesitated, uncertain whether to make themselv
However, Alice, in her current state, could not possibly understand the nurse's command."Eat!" The nurse, clearly irritated and lacking patience, shoveled the oatmeal toward Alice's mouth with such force that it cut her gums, leaving a streak of red to flow from the corner of her delicate, cherry-l
At the Ol' Mare dock, aboard the New Chesire Group's opulent cruise ship."Can somebody clue me in on where we are?""Holy smokes, all the branch heads of the Ayr family have been rounded up here. Who's got the guts to pull this off?""What's the big idea? Someone step up and fill us in."They had a
"Kill!" As Alexander stepped onto the Empyrean Slope, a monstrous wave of killing intent crashed into his mind."Hmph, you think you're the only one fierce?" he muttered coldly, unleashing his own killing intent to counter the assault.He was the Temple Lord Kane, a man who had tread through mountai
At Battleforge Summit, a place where peril lurked at every turn.As the group continued their ascent, they lost a few more members. The ancient battlefield was riddled with deadly traps and poisonous remnants. The pools along the way harbored creatures so aggressive, it was clear they were not of mo
"Ah…" Alexander yawned, waiting patiently. Without a proper map, he would probably take half a day searching for directions. Battleforge Summit, though seemingly small, had a complex terrain.Time was slipping away, and Maxwell and Crimson Wyrm Master finally reached an agreement. The two-meter-wide
Early in the next morning, Maxwell's group of 40—the weakest among them a Lord of War—gathered quietly by the lake at the back of a mountain, somewhere in Shielded Valley. They stood in silence, their expressions grave.Though many had never ventured to Battleforge Summit, they had all heard of its
"Enemy attack!"Brenda sprang to her feet, drawing her sharp blade. Tensions had been high lately, and everyone's nerves were on edge."Perfect timing! I've been waiting to kill him sooner or later!"Alexander's killing intent surged, and his battle spirit ignited.Crimson Wyrm Master was destined t
As soon as Alexander asked the question, a heavy silence fell over the chamber. The three Guardians exchanged uneasy glances, but no one uttered a word."Never mind if you don't want to say anything, I'm just curious," said Alexander, sitting down cross-legged and closing his eyes to heal his wounds
"As you wish!"Crimson Wyrm Master channeled a furious surge of power into his spear, standing firm as he built up his momentum. Having fought to this point, he knew he had to unleash his most devastating attack."Here it comes!"All eyes were locked on the impending clash, each person holding their
"You fool! Don't think you'll be the last one laughing!"The Second and Third Guardians charged forward, joining forces to deflect Crimson Wyrm's relentless assault. Even with their combined strength, they could barely withstand a few moves."Do you really think we're without reinforcements?" roared
"Heh. I wouldn't dare accept your gift!" Maxwell scoffed, his voice steady despite the looming battle. Politeness had no place in this confrontation."Oh, but I'm sure you'll appreciate it," sneered Crimson Wyrm Master, his eyes gleaming with malice as he pointed at Darko, who lay crumpled on the gr