"Evildoers don't get to see another day," Howard said sternly. "I thought I'd give them a little longer, but it looks like they're done waiting."Elsewhere, in a private club a few kilometers from where the taxi had crashed, the story continued. In the plush confines of a third-floor VIP room, the Talia sisters huddled together on a couch, terror etched on their faces, their clothes in disarray, trembling from head to toe.Across from them sat a man in his forties, his face hardened and menacing, exuding a vibe that screamed danger. This was Lucas, the notorious number two of Mendorra's criminal underground world. Flanking Lucas were four muscular toughs, his top four major henchmen. They were notorious figure in Mendorra's underground world."Man, Mr. Jean, these sisters are drop-dead gorgeous!" Maclin, with his buzz cut, commented as he licked his chapped lips."No kidding, they wouldn't be Mendorra's finest beauties otherwise!" another thug chimed in. "I just didn't see it comin
"Ah!" Yuffie's scream pierced the air, her face a mask of terror."Get off me, you monster!" Talia yelled, panic-stricken, as she lunged at Maclin. With a swift backhand, Maclin sent Talia crashing to the floor, a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth."You've got one minute left to decide. If you don't spill it, my crew here won't be able to hold back much longer!" Lucas warned, eyeing Talia as she lay on the ground."You're all going to pay for this..." Talia sobbed, her face wet with tears, her voice barely a whisper. She was cornered, facing an impossible choice. Speak, and she would betray Howard. Stay silent, and her sister's life would be destroyed."Thirty seconds!" Lucas announced calmly, taking a drag on his cigar."You'll get yours!" Talia spat out the words, her voice laced with agony."So, you've chosen silence?" Lucas eyed Talia and signaled with a hand. "Take her sister to the next room!""You got it!" Maclin chuckled darkly, reaching for Yuffie.Then, an e
"But..." Talia's eyes darted to Lucas, who stood a short distance away, his face dark with anger, her body shaking with fear."Don't worry, I'll be fine. Go ahead, I'll follow soon," Howard cut her off."Please, be careful." Talia inhaled deeply, trying to find her courage."Watch your back, Howard," Yuffie chimed in."Got it!" Howard nodded, acknowledging their concern.After they left, Howard walked towards the couch, an unmistakable threat in his every move. Each step he took left the floor tiles cracked and splintered, a testament to his fury. A single bead of sweat, large as a soybean, slid down Lucas's forehead, his body quivering, eyes wide with fear. "What are you?" Lucas croaked, his throat dry with fear."Come on up, you two," Howard said calmly, ignoring Lucas. He settled onto the sofa and pulled out his phone to call Kenny.Kenny and Layton had been waiting at the clubhouse entrance when he and Yoel arrived minutes earlier. He had not brought them up to keep Talia an
"Vonn... it was Vonn," Lucas lowered his head and spoke with a trembling voice. "I was just following his orders... I beg you... please let me live...""The second you plotted to snatch Talia, you signed away your life," Howard declared with a grave tone. "Don't worry, Vonn's about to join you in your fate!""No, not this!" Lucas's plea turned into a hysterical shriek. His plea was cut short, silenced by a spray of blood, and just like that, Lucas was no more in Mendorra.Layton inhaled sharply, stunned. The rival he had been itching to take down for years was gone in the blink of an eye! He could not help but admire Howard's iron will, when it was time to strike, he struck without a second thought."Mr. Holt, you handle the rest. You've got one night to claim Lucas's turf," Howard said, rising to his feet."Don't fret about his cronies, they'll be joining him soon enough."With those words, Layton and Kenny stepped outside."Wha—?" It took a second for Layton to process, then h
"He picked up his moves in the military too," Yoel admitted reluctantly. "I've never gone head-to-head with him, so I can't say for sure who'd win in a fight!""Yoel, level with me, what's the real deal between you and Howard?" Talia asked, taking a deep breath to steady herself."Uh... what are you getting at?" Yoel looked puzzled."I wasn't born yesterday!" Talia's expression tightened. "Ever since you guys showed up in Nimbulus, everything's been falling into place way too easily, like it just doesn't add up!""In Nimbulus, powerhouses like Hurley and the Reynolds family rule the roost, but you two swooped in and saved Riley like it was nothing!""And about this morning with the neighbor—Jayden's a big shot around here in Mendorra, not the biggest, but still a major player!""But he coughed up a ton of cash just to keep the peace. He wouldn't do that unless he was scared of someone, right?""And then there's the Mendorra Tower deal. Howard said he'd have the contract in a day
"Don't worry, Mr. Holden Jenkins, it's all taken care of. A buddy of mine from the station dealt with it," Howard reassured him with a grin."Did you find out why he was after Talia and her sister?" Kaylee's face was etched with worry.She knew all too well the kind of man Lucas was. If he had his sights on them, her family would never be safe again. To her, Lucas's criminal reach was far more terrifying than any high-profile family's influence."They got the wrong girl. Talia just happens to be a dead ringer for some lady who's deep in debt with their loan sharks, so they snatched her by mistake," Howard quickly concocted a story."When my buddy got there, they sorted everything out. Lucas offered me an apology, and I headed home."Howard could tell from Kaylee's question that Yoel must have warned Talia and her sister to keep the details from their parents."They snatched the wrong person?" Kaylee's tension melted away at the news. "Oh, thank goodness, thank goodness..."Talia
"Given the choice, I'd rather head back to Mendorra and start fresh with a new gig at a different company.""Go for it, then! You've got my wholehearted support!" Howard said, nodding with enthusiasm."We'll head over to Nimbulus in a few days, pack up our stuff, and bring it back to Mendorra. Then the job hunt begins.""You're oversimplifying things. You do remember why we all headed to Nimbulus in the first place, don't you?" Talia's face took on a grave expression."I do." Howard acknowledged with a nod. "But that's small potatoes. I promise you, the Blake family won't be giving you any more grief from here on out.""Sure, the Blakes aren't the top dogs in Mendorra, but they've got more clout than the Reynolds of Nimbulus—it's no laughing matter, you..." Talia countered."Talia, believe me. When I say it's all good, it's all good," Howard cut in."Okay, it's a deal. Just loop in your parents when you get a chance, so they're not fretting over anything."Talia let out a sigh,
"Got it!" Yoel nodded, then a thought struck him. "Oh, and sir, I found out about that thing you asked me to dig into.""Turns out, the Rhodes family took care of your foster family's funeral five years ago. They've been maintaining the graves too." Yoel said."Are you certain?" Howard's eyes sparked with intensity.After the Ziegler family tragedy five years back, Talia had saved him, and an elder had whisked him away. He could not do anything for Ziegler's final affairs. He had figured no one would dare touch his foster family's funeral, thinking at best the cops would have done a basic job.However, recently, the Judge let slip that some good Samaritans had seen Ziegler's funeral back then. He had sent the Judge to find out who was behind it, but there had been no leads, those people had vanished from Mendorra. It was a shock to discover that the Rhodes family was behind it all.The Rhodes family, once a prominent second-tier clan in Mendorra, had always been on good terms with
"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