"Right away!" The Judge complied with a nod.All of the Five Blades in the Shadow Sect had Howard's login credentials—a sign of the trust he placed in his top brass, much like Yoel and the Dragon quintet knew of his military system access.In that instant, Atwood crumpled to the ground, his face a mask of horror, sweat chilling his skin.That was when it hit him—the gravity of the person he had crossed. "You... You're with the Shadow Sect?""Well, look at you. You even know who we are." The Judge's voice was icy as he taunted Atwood.Howard turned his gaze to the man before him. "We've uncovered the truth. His crimes are countless. Ten executions wouldn't be too many.""Then let's proceed," Howard said calmly."Understood," the Judge replied with gravity."No, please, you can't kill me! I'm with Mr. Wagar! If you kill me, you'll be in deep trouble yourselves!" Atwood's voice was laced with terror."Oh?" Howard's eyebrow quirked. "Are you suggesting that your Mr. Wagar has sway
"Huh!?"Karson was taken aback. He had not expected Howard and his partner to actually kill Atwood in front of him.It had been years since anyone had dared to challenge him like that. His eyes flashed with a chilling light.Simultaneously, a formidable presence radiated from him. His gaze was piercing as he locked eyes with the two men and said, "Impressive, very impressive indeed!"After a brief pause, he turned to address another middle-aged man. "Mr. Dalton, you've seen it yourself. The Shadow Sect's members are out of control, treating lives like they're worthless, slaughtering innocents without a second thought!"I'm counting on you, Mr. Dalton, to stand with me and bring justice today!""Understood," Odin Dalton, the middle-aged man, nodded before turning his attention to Howard and his ally."The Shadow Sect's actions are getting out of hand, showing no regard for the law!"Who's in charge here? I want to speak with your superior, right now!""And who might you be?" th
Odin was no fool. He knew that anyone for whom the Shadow Sect Five Blades would play second fiddle had to be a major player. He had pieced together Howard's identity."Do you need to drag my superior into this conversation?" Howard's gaze was piercing.With Howard's silent confirmation, Odin's breath caught in a chill gasp, terror etched across his face, his trembling growing more intense.He quickly bowed deeply. "My apologies, Young Master Howard. I had no idea we were in the presence of someone of your stature."Beside him, Karson's eyes betrayed a deep shock. He, too, had not anticipated crossing paths with a VIP like this."Judge, pull up Atwood's file and show him. Let's see if the Shadow Sect is really as ruthless as they say," Howard said, ignoring the man's reaction."Sure thing," the Judge replied, fishing out his smartphone and offering it."I couldn't possibly!" Odin bowed deeply. "With Master Howard on the case, I'm sure there's a good reason Atwood met his end!"
"Trying to make a break for it?" The Judge, ever ready, lifted his hand and unleashed a palm strike that cut through the air.Karson might have been strong, with the prowess of a martial master at the ultimate mastery stage, but he was nothing next to a martial-god-level man.He barely made it a few steps before he was hurled through the air, slamming into a pillar with a sickening crunch, bones shattering throughout his body."Damn, who are you really?" Even Odin, who was not the sharpest tool in the shed, realized he had been duped by Karson."Is that even a question?" The Judge sneered at Odin. "Plain as day, he's a foreign spy—wormed his way in to be your informant, all to steal your secrets!""How dare he!" Odin's anger boiled over, like a hunter blindsided by his own prey."You're... You're the infamous Lord of the Shadow Sect, and you... You saw right through me..." Karson managed to look up at Howard."To be... To be taken down by you... I can't complain..." With those f
"No!" the messenger replied, his head still lowered."They failed to capture Blood Rakshasa. Worse, they won't be coming back. Everyone who ventured to Rackaham Mendorra has been slain.""What!?" The man on the throne was the infamous Ghost Blood Demon King, and his fury was palpable.With a thunderous crash, the chair beneath him shattered like glass, wooden shards dancing in the air."How is this possible? The martial god warriors of Rackaham's East District guard the borders. There shouldn't be anyone of that caliber in the entire district. Who could've bested them!?" The Ghost Blood Demon King's roar echoed through the hall, a storm of rage waiting to be unleashed."Speak! What's the word from Rackaham?" "Word on the street is Mendorra's got at least three martial god level warriors!""Impossible!" The Ghost Blood Demon King could not hide his shock, his brow furrowing in an instant. "Are you sure about this?""Solid," the man assured, nodding with conviction. "Straight fr
Two days flew by in a blink.This day marked the Brilliance Beyond exhibition's grand tour in Mareno City.At exactly 10 a.m., Howard, Yoel, and the Judge hit the road for Mareno City.Kenny, meanwhile, had jetted back to South Zachrich a couple of days earlier, busy with the invites."Sir, Kenny is from Mareno City, right?" the Judge inquired as he fired up the engine.He did not know Kenny too well, so his background was a bit of a mystery."Nope," Howard corrected with a shake of his head. "He's from the big-shot Carter family in the capital!""Really?" the Judge raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So how'd he end up making a name for himself in Mareno City?""A few years back, the Carter family had a major fallout, and Kenny's dad's side got the boot. Kenny himself nearly bit the dust thanks to a hitman the family sent after him," Howard explained."No kidding? The guy's done pretty well for himself then, bouncing back so fast!" the Judge remarked, impressed. "His Oceania Grou
It was just after one in the afternoon when they pulled up to a towering skyscraper in downtown Mareno City, home to the Oceania Group's headquarters."Welcome, Master Howard!"Stepping out of the car, they were greeted by a sea of Oceania Group employees, all dressed to the nines and bowing in unison. Their greeting was like a wave of sound, almost knocking someone over.Yoel rolled his eyes. "This guy and his theatrics," he grumbled under his breath.Kenny dashed over, a trail of high-powered execs in his wake."Master Howard, welcome to Oceania Group!" he exclaimed, bowing deeply with utmost reverence.The staff of Oceania Group watched, mouths agape in astonishment.They were well aware of Kenny's clout in Mareno City, on par with the patriarchs of the top families. Even the big shots from the company never received such a deferential welcome from Kenny!Who was this young man that commanded such respect?"If you try to pull off another stunt like this, I'll have you whitt
The destination was a private estate in Harrington, the venue for the Brilliance Beyond exhibition tour.By the time the group of four arrived, the entrance was swarming with people, all turned away for lack of an invitation.Two massive LCD screens stood outside the gates where the hopeful crowd lingered, eager for just a peek at Brilliance Beyond's splendor.With invitations in hand, the four made their way inside.The estate's sprawling lawn had been transformed into an elegant exhibition space, complete with a towering stage. At each corner of the stage, another large screen faced the cardinal directions.Surrounding the stage were rows of pristine white chairs. Beyond those were tables laden with an assortment of pastries and drinks.They could not help but notice the tight security—every few steps, a guard, every few more, a sentry—adding up to a small army of burly men in black."Why all the fuss for a global tour when they don't even sell Brilliance Beyond? What's the po
"And look at that bracelet, it's stunning! Oh, and the compact has such a unique charm! Should we get one of each to decorate our homes?""Yuffie, you're still in school. How can you afford all this?" Talia chided gently. "You have a hundred fifty-dollar budget. Spend more, and it's coming out of your allowance.""What? Only a hundred fifty dollars? You're being too tight-fisted, sis!" Yuffie's complaint was lighthearted as she playfully turned to Howard. "Howard...""Don't even think about it. His wallet is in my hands!" Talia cut her off, fully aware of her little sister's ploy."Fine..." Yuffie's pout was all in good fun."Haha! It's not every day we get to do this, honey. If Yuffie finds something she loves, let's get it for her. Who knows if it'll be here next time?" Howard chuckled."Yay! You're the best, bro-in-law!" Yuffie cheered, her face lighting up with joy."You're just making her more spoiled!" Talia gave Howard a playful eye roll and turned her attention away from
Howard's willingness to visit the antique market was not solely to assist the sisters in their quest for a legendary blade. Such weapons were treasures often stumbled upon by chance, rarely found by those who sought them.His real intent was to immerse the sisters in the rich culture of the martial arts clans they were then a part of. More exposure to the ways of the warrior guilds could only benefit them on their chosen path.The following morning, Howard's group of five set off in the direction of Nathanael. Talia and Yuffie buzzed with excitement throughout the journey, their minds alive with wonder.Nathanael, nestled in the mountains to the northeast of Mendorra and a couple hundred kilometers away, awaited them.By 10 a.m., they arrived, parking at the gates of a sprawling estate on the city's outskirts—the site of the famed market.Stepping out, they were greeted by a lively throng at the estate's entrance, many adorned in traditional robes, weapons hanging from their belts
"And that's not all. They might even be a bona fide king-level warrior." Howard's brow furrowed with uncertainty."It looks like The Dark World is a whole lot more tangled than we thought," Yoel mused aloud.Then, turning back to Howard, he inquired, "Sir, did the old man ever share anything with you about The Dark World?""Not a word," Howard replied, shaking his head."Sir, do you think our mystery person could be from one of the elite families or sects, maybe just there on some errand?" Mystical Chubby chimed in.His speculation was not unfounded. Most of the king-level warriors from Rackaham were known to hail from the secretive clans and sects."It's unlikely." Howard dismissed the idea with another shake of his head. "From what Sabertooth described, our guy seems to know The Dark World like the back of his hand.""Who's that supposed to be?" Mystical Chubby scrunched his brow in confusion."Let it go for now. We'll head back to The Dark World in a little while," said Howa
"Um..." Blood Rakshasa nodded, the woman's earlier words still ringing in her head."Sir... Sir, was what you said earlier true?" Blood Rakshasa asked Sabertooth, her voice barely above a whisper."What did I say?" Sabertooth looked puzzled for a moment."You said... You said next time, we'd go back home together to get married..." Blood Rakshasa's cheeks turned a soft pink."Hehe, absolutely," Sabertooth chuckled, his smile warm and genuine. "The boss gave me the order, and I've given my word."Blood Rakshasa's smile was shy but filled with joy.Soon after, Qemal strode in."Sabertooth, I've tracked down the hideout of the Slaying Heaven Palace," Qemal announced upon arrival."Is that so?" Sabertooth's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Tell the crew to take a two-hour breather, then we move out!"The Slaying Heaven Palace's goons had nearly wiped out them today. Payback was due.With the Palace's top fighters gone, the rest were hardly a threat. It was time to cross the Slay
"Shadow Demon Shrine?" The woman's brow creased for a moment, but she quickly dropped the subject.She then turned to Sabertooth and observed, "You and your group have the vibe of soldiers. You're not originally from The Dark World, are you?""Speaking to our savior," Sabertooth gave a respectful nod, "we were part of the Rackaham Western Region's military before we came here."He was open with the woman who had saved over a hundred of his comrades."The Western Region's military?" The woman paused, a hint of recognition in her voice, "You're with the Blood Shadow Force?""That's us," Sabertooth confirmed with another bow."Is your leader the King of the West, Master Howard?" she inquired further."You know my boss?" Sabertooth looked surprised."Not personally, but I've heard the name," the woman replied with a shake of her head. "What's he got you doing in The Dark World?""Over the past couple of years, the world's heavy hitters have been funneling their muscle and resource
"You'll live to regret this, Dark Demon Lord!" Blood Rakshasa declared, locking eyes with her adversary. "Kill us, and Master Howard will avenge us by wiping out every last one of you in your cursed palace...""Ha! That Master Howard of yours better think twice before stepping into The Dark World again, or it'll be his grave!" The Dark Demon Lord mocked with an icy laugh."You're the fool!" Sabertooth growled. "No one in The Dark World has been born who can take down our boss. Your time's coming!""Is that so?" The Dark Demon Lord sneered with disdain. "You're clueless, all of you. You have no idea how powerful the Shadow Demon Shrine truly is!""Enough babbling. Time to end this. I'll send you both to join your boss," he declared, his presence intensifying as he prepared to strike them down."I love you," Blood Rakshasa whispered, her eyes closing."No, don't!" Qemal and others shouted in despair.Then there was a thunderous boom.However, the expected tragedy did not unfold.
Sabertooth sneered, watching the man's futile efforts. "You're such a fool!"He then declared solemnly, "Blood Shadow Technique, second form, Sky Slash!"With those words, he summoned all his strength, his saber carving a fierce arc of light through the air, striking like thunder at his foe.The Blood Shadow Technique was known for turning the tides against stronger adversaries.The white-haired elder's eyes narrowed in alarm. Caught mid-leap, he desperately wanted to dodge but could not. The saber's light bore down on him, a chilling aura of death shrouding him completely.In that instant, a wave of energy crashed through the air like a tidal wave, bringing a howling gale with it.Crash!Suddenly, Sabertooth was hurled away like a shell fired from a gun, blood spraying from his mouth as he flew, before he slammed into the earth, leaving a huge crater and falling silent."Sabertooth!" Blood Rakshasa's shout pierced the chaos as she spun and dashed to his side.She barely made
The man in black was sent hurtling through the air, slamming into the ground with such force that he lay there motionlessly, struggling to rise. A gaping wound, carved by the relentless sword, oozed blood profusely from his abdomen."What in the world is that sword technique?" he gasped after a torturous effort to stand, his face ashen.He had underestimated Blood Rakshasa's swordplay. Since her breakthrough to a higher echelon of mastery, her blade's might had surged, utterly dominating her seasoned adversary."The Sword Without a Name," Blood Rakshasa declared icily.Without wasting another second, she launched another assault. Sabertooth was in dire straits, and she was determined to aid him.Her blade danced again, weaving a web of sword energy that shot toward the white-haired elder, ensnaring him in an instant.The old man's eyes narrowed in a flash of panic, realizing he was trapped with no way out."This is it!" he snarled, brandishing his blade and lunging forward.How
With a thunderous explosion of energy, Blood Rakshasa's power surged, forcing the old man before her to stagger back in disbelief."Impossible! Have you broken through?" he gasped, steadying himself, his face a mask of astonishment."You bet I have!" Blood Rakshasa's face lit up with triumph.She had done it, just as the old man had surmised. Amid her swordplay, she felt a dormant core energy within her erupt, catapulting her to the zenith of martial knight at peak mastery stage.Master Howard's words rang in her head. The core energy left in her by a once-mighty warrior was too much to absorb at once. Back in that cave, she only managed a minor mastery in martial knight. However, Howard had predicted further advancements, and he was right."Let's see if you can handle a few more of my strikes!" Blood Rakshasa challenged, her spirit soaring not just from her newfound strength but also from a deeper connection to her swordsmanship."Bring it on!" the old man bellowed, his blade re