Howard had waited until then to bring in the Shadow Sect's Elegant Uniformed Troops for a reason. He wanted the Yaron family to come clean about certain matters.Otherwise, they could easily dismiss that as Davis's lone wolf act, unrelated to the family.That was not the result Howard was after!Wyatt let out a heavy sigh, his breath fogging in the chill air as he faced Howard's respectful bow."My deepest apologies. I had no idea we were dealing with the Shadow Sect. Any offense was unintended, and I beg your forgiveness.""The arts of Light and Dark was Davis's find, not ours. The Yaron family was in the dark about it. Please, have mercy on us.""You sure switched gears fast, old timer! You weren't singing this tune a minute ago. I've got the recording. Want to hear it?" the Judge mocked with a disdainful laugh. "I..." Wyatt's face twisted in anguish as if he had lost everything dear to him."Ryker, take your orders!" Howard commanded with authority."Detain everyone, leave
Wyatt confessed that his son had gotten into trouble, drawing the unwanted attention of the Shadow Sect. However, the Sect was not satisfied with just his son, they were after the whole Yaron family, intent on taking everything they had."I get it, the Shadow Sect has been out of control lately!" The listener was not shocked by Wyatt's tale.After a brief pause, he added, "Quell's been around Yaromir these days, right? I'll send him over. Just text me the address.""Sure... sure..." Wyatt's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much, sir!""That's it, then. And don't forget to delete my number from your phone," the old man instructed before ending the call.Wyatt let out a heavy sigh of relief, his face showing the weight lifted off his shoulders.He had faith that with the other party's power in Ciolara, the Yaron family would pull through since they had agreed to intervene.Quickly, he sent off the address."Done with your call? An hour should suffice, shouldn't it?" Howa
"Do you have any idea what the Yaron family is guilty of?" The Judge asked, his voice composed and detached."The Yaron family's business is of no concern to me. The main villain has met his end, and that's that—the case is closed!" Quell's voice was firm and resolute."Hm. You don't sound like you're with the Imperial Guards. You're more like one of the Central Authority's own," The Judge remarked, unimpressed. "But I'm afraid your commands don't fly with me.""Insolence!" snapped a man standing behind Quell. "To address Mr. Brad with such audacity—you've got some nerve!"It wouldn't matter if it were you or even the head honcho of the Shadow Sect here. He'd still have to pay Mr. Brad the proper respects!""Is that so?" Howard's voice echoed from the entrance of the Martial Arts School."Sir, you're up?" The Judge said with a sly smile, moving to meet him.He had purposely dragged his feet for half an hour just to give Howard a little extra shut-eye. He knew well that Howard ne
Time sure did fly. It had been a week since the Yaron family ordeal.On that weekend day, Howard and Talia took little Riley for a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood."Dad, what happened to that lady we saw before? Is she feeling better?" Riley piped up."She's all better now and back home," Howard replied with a gentle smile.The young girl had recovered her memory three days after the incident, and The Judge had arranged for her safe return to Yaromir."Is that true? That's amazing!" Riley beamed with joy. "Mr. Chubby must have made her better, huh? I want to be a doctor when I grow up too, so I can help people get well.""Ha, of course, Riley! You're going to be an incredible doctor one day!" Howard ruffled Riley's hair affectionately.Turning to Talia, he asked, "Honey, how's work been? Any better than before?""So much better," Talia confirmed with a nod."We've pretty much finished reshaping the company at the top level, and we've come through it all without a hitc
Talia looked amazed as she turned to Mystical Chubby. "Mystical Chubby, what is this ointment? It's like magic!""Sweetheart, this is a special hemostatic cream that Mystical Chubby whipped up himself," Howard said with a chuckle.Every man in the Blood Shadow Force carried that cream—it was a lifesaver.Back in the Western Region, when Mystical Chubby was not deep in conversation with the nurses about the meaning of life, he was busy crafting that very ointment and other healing remedies."Really? He made it himself?" Talia was surprised all over again. "Hey, Mystical Chubby, did you ever think about selling this stuff? It works wonders, especially for getting rid of scars. You could make a killing in the market.""Go commercial?" Mystical Chubby paused, then shook his head. "Never crossed my mind.""Honey, Mystical Chubby's the type who's rolling in it—he doesn't bother with such thoughts," Howard said, still smiling.It was true, Mystical Chubby was loaded. With his healing h
"Ah, it's ready?" Howard's eyebrow quirked upward as he took the box and extracted a small pill. He gave it a sniff before popping it into his mouth.In no time, a refreshing freshness cascaded through him, filling his meridians with a sense of clarity and exhilaration.Minutes later, a rush of energy flowed into his core."Sir, what do you think?" Mystical Chubby asked, a hopeful twinkle in his eye."It's decent," Howard acknowledged with a nod, though he was clearly pleased."Sir, you're a tough one to please. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into making this Energy Revitalizing Pill! By any standard, it's a top-tier concoction, and you're calling it 'decent'?" Mystical Chubby could not hide his disappointment.The Energy Revitalizing Pill, true to its name, was designed to gather and amplify one's core energy.In the heat of battle, warriors' core energies would rapidly drain. When two fighters were evenly matched, the victor was determined by who could sustain their core ene
Howard was not exactly the Imperial Order's biggest fan, but that was just a family squabble. Then, with the Imperial Order's top dog nabbed, it was a whole different ball game for Rackaham.Especially since Vicenzo was one of the few in the Imperial Order that Howard did not just tolerate but actually respected.For both personal and practical reasons, he could not just sit that one out."It's all a bit murky right now, but I'll shoot you the coordinates of the trouble spot soon," Ezra replied."Great! I'm on it. Sabertooth's getting a call from me right now," Howard said, ending the call.Within a couple of minutes, the coordinates landed in his inbox.Howard grabbed his phone and dialed Sabertooth."Sir!" Sabertooth's voice came through almost before the ringback tone could finish."Sabertooth, listen up, there's a situation that needs your immediate attention!" Howard briefed him on Vicenzo's predicament."These guys have a death wish!" Sabertooth barked after getting the
"Headed to the base, huh? Just be careful, okay?" Talia's voice carried a note of concern."Don't fret, love. It's just a quick check-in," Howard reassured her with a warm smile."Dad, make it a quick trip!" Riley piped up, her eyes wide with the earnestness of a child."Will do, Riley. You be a good girl and keep Mom company," Howard ruffled her hair affectionately before nodding to Holden and Susanne, striding toward the door.Pulling out his phone, he punched in Mystical Chubby's number, signaling him and The Judge to get the car ready."Sir, where are we off to?" Mystical Chubby inquired as the engine hummed to life."The Mendorra war department," Howard stated firmly."Roger that!" Mystical Chubby floored the accelerator."Sir, is trouble brewing?" The Judge asked, glancing over at Howard as they pulled away."Details later," Howard replied curtly, already dialing another number on his phone."Sir!" Yoel's voice crackled through the speaker."Yoel, bring Dragon and meet
"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