As the King of the Western Region and the head of the Shadow Sect, Howard was well-acquainted with the notorious Dark Shady Cartel.Their reputation was formidable.The Dark Shady Cartel had a storied past, one that could be traced back hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years.The Dark Shady Cartel was not the average gang. It was born out of necessity, a shadowy hand for the royals to deal with the dirty work they could not touch, taking orders straight from the top. They were the cloak-and-dagger types, with a reach that spanned the nation.Back in the day, they were the boogeymen of the empire, bold enough to take out the emperor's own guards, sending shivers down the spines of the high and mighty. However, as empires rose and fell, the Cartel's grip on the throne loosened, not that they got any less deadly—they just got better at hiding it.To those in the loop, the Cartel was still very much a force to reckon with.Even at present, the Cartel had all but vanished into the
The onlookers were seething with anger."Everyone, just zip it!" the middle-aged woman yelled furiously. "If any of you have a problem, give me your address. I'll make sure someone pays you a visit for a little chat.""You've crossed the line, threatening people in broad daylight. Have you no respect for the law?" Talia's eyebrows furrowed in frustration."Hmph! You think you're in a position to lecture me about the law?" the woman scoffed. "Do you even know who I am? Or who my husband is?""What, is your husband some kind of big shot?" someone in the crowd muttered under their breath."Slap him!" the woman's face twisted in anger."Right away!" The man in black behind her nodded, stepped forward, and was about to deliver a slap."Lay a finger on him, and you'll be leaving without a hand!" Howard's voice cut through the tension, sending a chilling shiver down the man's spine.The man in black froze, the threat in Howard's tone leaving no room for doubt."Honey, what's the trou
"You..." The woman's face went through a rapid series of changes as she realized Yoel's capabilities were beyond her expectations."So, what'll it be? Are you going to call someone, or are you going to apologize to everyone here?" Howard asked, his gaze fixed on the middle-aged woman."Just wait. You'll find out what you're in for soon enough!" she snapped, her teeth clenched in anger.She yanked her child aside and stormed off, whipping out her phone to dial as she went."Everything's fine now, folks. Go on with what you were doing!" Howard called out to the onlookers, trying to ease the tension."She doesn't look like she's up to any good. You and your family might want to head out," an elderly woman in plain clothes advised."Thanks for the heads-up, but we're good," Howard replied with a reassuring smile before taking his seat on the bench once more.The woman's backup arrived fast. In under 20 minutes, a group stormed in, looking for trouble.A middle-aged man led the pack
"Hey kid, ever heard of the Wadsworth Group?" the middle-aged woman barked with fury."The Wadsworth Group?" Howard glanced at Yoel. "Ring any bells?""Nope!" Yoel shrugged nonchalantly."Sorry, that name doesn't mean a thing to us, so you're not scaring anyone!" Howard said with a composed smile."Listen, this isn't over. I'm out of here!" Cidrich scowled and stalked off toward the park exit."Who said you could go?" Howard's voice was icy."You've already messed up my crew. What more do you want?" Cidrich shot back, his eyes blazing."Are you having trouble understanding me?" Howard shot back. "Grab your wife and bow to everyone, apologize. If they forgive you, maybe I'll let this slide. However, if even one person isn't happy, you'll keep apologizing until they all are!""You sure you want to push it this far?" A distant aura seeped from Cidrich. "Thought about what'll happen if you do?""If I were you, I'd stop yapping!" Howard's tone was frosty. "You've got one minute to
"Alright, enough. Off you go, no harm done," someone from the crowd called out.They were just regular folks who had been on edge ever since they spotted that intimidating gang of men in black, worried they might be out for revenge.Howard managed to defuse the tension, but there was no telling if the other guys would come back for payback. They all preferred to avoid any further drama."Babe, let's just drop it, okay? Let them go," Talia suggested, sensing the troublemakers were out of their league."Sure thing!" Howard agreed with a grin and turned to Cidrich. "The name's Howard. If you're itching for round two, I'm right here."With a dismissive wave, he added, "Beat it!""Until next time," Cidrich said, rising to his feet and heading for the park's exit. As he turned, a sharp look flashed in his eyes.He had just been warned that Yoel might be as tough as a top-tier martial artist, a martial general.However, Cidrich had his own ace up his sleeve: deep pockets. With enough
Yet, they came to an abrupt halt before they could reach their allies.Before Talia and her group knew it, a man and a woman sidled up next to them."Hey kiddo, how about you and I hit the seesaw?" cooed the woman, her voice dripping with a seductive charm as she scooped Riley into her arms."Let me go! I don't want to play with you, let me go!" Riley squirmed and fought to break free."What are you doing? Put Riley down this instant!" Talia and her sister screamed together."Be quiet!" barked the man accompanying the woman.He threw a punch that obliterated the nearby seesaw into dust, leaving a gaping hole in the ground.The sisters gasped in unison, instantly realizing those strangers had come for them.Riley burst into tears, overwhelmed by fear."Riley, don't be scared, Daddy's here. I promise, no one's going to hurt you," Howard said, his voice a mix of calm and fury as he took a deep breath.A chilling aura of menace emanated from him, making Yoel, who stood behind, sh
As the sisters grappled with their disbelief, a shadowy figure darted past, swift as a specter. It was none other than the Judge, his hand gripping the legendary Cold Moon Saber.Not far behind, 100 Elegant Uniformed Troops charged forward with urgency.A true titan of martial god prowess, the Judge's senses were sharp enough to detect the faintest whiff of a warrior's aura from ten kilometers away, unless they were deliberately masked.He had been nearby, attending to some business, when he picked up on the unmistakable presence of fellow martial deities. Without a moment's hesitation, he raced to the scene."Do you fools from The Dark World have a death wish?" he snarled, eyes glinting with frost, as he surveyed the chaos before him.An enemy that formidable had slipped through unnoticed by the Shadow Sect, and he bore the weight of that failure.To think they dared to take his boss' family hostage… It was a bold move, indeed.His mind was set. Once he dealt with that mess, he
While Bexleigh spoke, she noticed the powerful energy radiating from Blood Rakshasa, and it left her utterly astounded.She had been there not too long ago when the Dark Ebon Corp had laid siege to the Rakshasa base. She saw how her Hall Master dealt a devastating blow to Blood Rakshasa, leaving her so weak that she was barely stronger than a martial general.She was sure, considering how badly Blood Rakshasa had been hurt, that making it through the next three months was a long shot.Blood Rakshasa, standing in front of her, was not just on the mend. She seemed to have powered up a whole level!It was beyond belief!"Master Howard, I'm sorry. I've let you all down." Blood Rakshasa did not respond to the earlier comment but walked over to Howard and gave a deep bow, her eyes brimming with remorse."Huh?" Bexleigh caught the change in Blood Rakshasa's demeanor and was taken aback.She had known Blood Rakshasa for years and was well aware of her tough-as-nails attitude. She was th
"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