Martial Arts Vs Magic - Chapter 127

Chapter 127: The Leviathan's Price

I really, truly, definitely regretted exploring a dungeon without my Demonic Sphere. The number of times I’d been ambushed, fallen into traps, and generally been clumsy was not even funny. The dungeon monsters weren’t weak either.

Ultimately, carrying healing water in small vials helped us survive by quickly mending our wounds mid-battle. It was our lifesaver.

With Vyrn and Azahira’s guidance, we managed to avoid the worst monsters, too. And I meant really avoid them. A typical 7th Ascension might not have won most of those monsters we avoided. We didn’t have to fight as much as I thought we would.

The phosphorescent moss pulsed like a dying heartbeat, casting shadows dancing across Lailah's face as I returned from my short scout ahead.

“Clear?”

“Mostly.”

Enough to lead her further inside. We'd been descending for what felt like hours, though time moved strangely in this organic tomb. The walls weren't carved, they were grown, twisted into spirals that reminded me uncomfortably of intestines.

"Watch your step," I murmured, catching Lailah's elbow as the floor suddenly slicked with an oily residue. "The Leviathan's digestive tract seems less than welcoming to visitors."

She shot me a look that mixed exasperation with amusement. "You think we're inside its stomach?"

"Inside something that used to be alive. Could be." I ran my fingers along the wall, feeling the faint pulse of residual magic. "These passages weren't built—they were formed by something massive dying and calcifying over millennia."

“What does calcifying mean?”

As we continued talking, a translucent jellyfish-thing drifted through the air ahead, its tentacles trailing bioluminescent sparks. Lailah tensed, but I held her back. "Let it pass. They're attracted to sudden movement."

"How do you know that?"

"So many questions, Lailah," I said as the creature floated by, close enough that I could see my distorted reflection in its gelatinous body. "I encountered a few during scouting. One of them touched me and left a burn that still hurts."

She glanced at my left arm, where angry red welts marked my earlier carelessness. "You could have mentioned that before letting me walk into a swarm of them."

"Where's the fun in that?" I grinned, then sobered as we reached another pool. The water here ran deeper, darker, more alive than anything near the surface. "Besides, you handled yourself beautifully against the Water Whips earlier. That sand barrier was inspiring. Reminded me of my sister.”

"Desperation, not inspiration. You have a sister?” she asked.

I knelt by the pool, ignoring her question and cupping the strange water in my palm. This time when I drank, electricity raced through my veins—not healing, not yet, but a promise of it.

My damaged pathways tingled, like circulation returning to a sleeping limb.

"Better?" Lailah asked, crouching beside me.

"Getting there." I watched her reflection ripple in the dark water. "Each new pool we encounter is more potent than the last. The true source must be magnificent."

“Really? Let me see,” she dipped her fingers into the water, and her eyes widened. "Uh…”

“What's wrong?”

“I don't know, it feels weird,” she said. “I feel like it's… calling me? I just got a spark hinting that I go deeper inside.”

"Your Leviathan Class responding to it?" I suggested. "Or perhaps your mother drank from waters like these."

"Perhaps." She pulled her hand back, droplets clinging to her skin like liquid diamonds. An odd look crossed over her features, something I failed to see through. "Alexander, can I ask you something?"

"You've been asking me things since we met."

"Something serious."

I turned to face her properly, noting the tension in her shoulders. "Ask."

"What's… what's the point in this all? The value of power—no, life?” She asked bluntly, staring at me as if I were some philosopher. “I've been wondering lately. I was just a farm girl, merely Level 7. Then, in less than two weeks, I'm Third Ascension. Many hardened mercenaries who've lost comrades in the dungeons barely reach this rank. And yet, I…”

I stayed quiet, allowing her to finish.

“I'm just wondering. Would I have made a difference if I had come out into the sands to hunt monsters by myself from a young age? Would I… could I have saved Mother?” Her voice grew low, her gaze distant. “I don't understand. What's the value of life and power when I've already lost everything? Well, yes, father is still there, but you know what I mean, right?”

I realized that she wasn't really asking those questions and simply wanted me to reassure her about her mother. At least, deep down that was what she wanted.

Instead, I decided to answer her. About the value of life.

“If you want an honest answer, Lailah,” I said, “I don't know. Life is fickle, be it human or monster. Goblins, for example. They barely live for a couple of years, and when they do, they loot, plunder, rape and a lot more bad stuff. What's the value of their life? You can say they're inherently evil creatures, but are they? They weep when their comrades die, laugh when their newborns crawl. Do we feel bad when we slaughter them?”

“Are you saying life doesn't matter, and all the care we have for it is… merely a mirage we create for ourselves? Or do we only value human life because of the sense of superiority we feel as humans?”

“Have you heard about Merasca?” I asked back in exchange, and she stared at me. Her expression shifted, confusion replacing some of the pain. 

"The city in Ethenia that was destroyed? Everyone was talking about it in Scorpion's Kiss, so I heard some rumors. They say a ton of people died when some alien Demon God attacked..." She paused, studying my face. "They say the Church is now hunting someone called Cheonma or something. Ah, the Heavenly Demon, who defeated the alien God. Why are you asking?" 

"I was there." The admission felt heavier than I'd expected. “Before I came to the desert.”

"That's impossible. It's on the other side of the continent."

"Long-distance teleportation," I said simply. “Just trust me, I was there. I saw the lives that were lost. When the Outer God burnt the city with his void flames and people just… melted away, it was strange to see. Their screams torn away, their forms evaporating. Did they truly die, or did they never exist? If I were to write a news story about it, I don't think I could convey the sight very well. The reader won’t be able to understand. But does that mean their lives had no value? Heh. They certainly had enough to help a man stop the Outer God.”

“Huh…”

I wondered how the Twelve Gods felt seeing so many innocents die. 

Somehow… it felt strange to say this, but somehow I kind of understood. 

The Heavenly Demon was a Transcendent Martial Artist. Basically a God in Murim, not just in strength but in mystical abilities, and he wasn't the only Transcendent in the world. At that impossible rank, they had access to powers and abilities beyond mortal. They possessed a special form of energy, the Immortal Soul Fire, comparable to the Divine Energy of this world. 

Since I had his memories, somehow I understood how Gods felt about innocent civilians dying. They didn't care.

Mostly, they did not give a fuck.

"What are you trying to say, Alexander?"

I considered my words carefully. "Here's what I learned—sometimes terrible things are the only way to stop even worse things. The destruction the Outer God caused in Merasca was horrific, but the Heavenly Demon sacrificed a bunch of people to gather just enough power to stop the alien God. The Heavenly Demon’s crime stopped something that would have consumed the entire continent. Even those dead people held that much value," I met her gaze. "How can you question if your life has any value or not?”

“Ah…”

“Your mother's death was a tragedy, Lailah, being betrayed by someone she saved. But beating yourself up over not being as strong enough a bunch of years ago won't bring her back. The question is what you do with the strength you have now."

She was quiet for a long moment, processing. "You're saying I should stop dwelling on what I couldn't do?"

"I think you’re already doing a great job at that. I'm just saying such guilt is a luxury you can't afford if you want to protect the people still alive. Your father will be pretty hurt if he hears you say you ‘lost everything,’ no?" I gestured toward the deeper passages. “Anyway. We have a Baron hunting us and an oasis that might hold powers. Focus on that."

“....”

I stood, offering her my hand. "Come. The Baron won't wait forever."

She stared at me for a moment. She took my hand but didn't let go immediately. "You know, you're terrible at keeping secrets. Your whole mysterious wanderer act often falls apart. What's your real name?

"You think I gave you a false name, and yet you keep following me deeper into danger? Silly girl.”

"Someone has to keep you from walking into walls while you brood dramatically."

****

The passage narrowed ahead, forcing us to proceed single file. I let Lailah lead, admiring how her newfound grace turned simple movement into art. The Leviathan's Scion class suited her like water finding its level.

A grinding sound echoed from somewhere below—stone against stone, or perhaps bone against bone. We froze.

"Company?" Lailah whispered.

"Cave settling," I lied to stop her from panicking. The sound was too rhythmic, too purposeful. Something large was moving in the depths.

We pressed on, the stream beside us growing stronger, its song more insistent. The air grew thick with power, making each breath feel like swallowing lightning. My damaged core sparked weakly in response, desperate for the healing these waters promised.

Then the passage opened into a vast cavern, and my breath caught.

The stream cascaded down terraced pools, the levels glowing with increasing intensity. My nostrils twitched at the scent. At the center, where all the water seemed to originate, stood what could only be described as a frozen waterfall of liquid starlight. Power radiated from it in waves that made my teeth ache.

"Beautiful," Lailah breathed.

"Deadly," I corrected, feeling no healing property from it. This wasn’t what we were looking for. "But yes, beautiful too."

That's when I heard it. Footsteps echoed from the passage behind us. Many footsteps, moving with military precision.

"Well, this is not good. That doesn’t sound like dungeon monster to me,” I muttered. Seems the Baron made better time than expected.”

Lailah's hand found mine. "What do we do?"

I surveyed the cavern quickly. One entrance, no other exits visible. That can’t be it, I don’t think this is the central room. The terraced pools offered some cover, but not enough. We were effectively trapped.

"We negotiate," I decided. "Or we die. Possibly both."

"Your optimism is infectious."

"I try." I positioned myself between Lailah and the entrance. "Stay behind me. Let me do the talking."

"Because your diplomatic skills are legendary?"

"Because my ability to die first is."

She squeezed my hand once before releasing it. "Don't you dare."

Then they arrived, and all thoughts of banter fled. People with alarming text boxes hovering above their heads showed up one after the other.

[Sahlizard, Level 121]

[Valerius Abbas Shah, Level 109]

[Thaddeus Grimwald, Level 130.]

A man with some lizard-like features entered first, his serpentine form moving with predatory grace. Baron Sahlizar. His forked tongue tasted the air, and his golden eyes fixed on us with satisfaction. Behind him, a man who [Insight] identified as Prince Valerius emerged from the shadows like a bad dream in silk robes, his orange eyes glittering with disdain.

The third figure made my frown deepen further. The Knight, Thaddeus Grimwald, moved with the economy of a career killer, his scarred face expressing nothing but professional assessment. Seventh Ascension, all three of them. In my current state, I might as well try fighting the mountain.

If that wasn’t enough, a dozen 5th Ascension guards accompanied them.

"Well, well," Sahlizar hissed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. "The rats we've been chasing. How convenient to find you cornered."

Prince Valerius stepped forward, his gaze sliding over me dismissively before fixing on Lailah with obvious interest. "And what a pretty rat you've brought to my oasis, Baron. Perhaps not all of this expedition has been a waste."

My eyebrow rose at his shameless words.

"Careful now, Prince," Sahlizar continued, circling us slowly, "even with that veil, those eyes are unmistakable. The farmer's daughter who humiliated my men. She’s the daughter of a witch. How delightful to meet again, child."

The ‘witch’ label only seemed to interest the Prince more. Lailah stiffened behind me. I felt her power stir, wind beginning to gather around her.

"Steady," I murmured, then louder. "Gentlemen. Your Highness. What a coincidence to meet here. I’d have offered tea if I had any. Thankfully, we have something better. Surely there's enough water here for all of us? No need for unpleasantness."

Valerius laughed, sharp as breaking glass. "Listen to it bargain, as if it has any power here. Tell me, one-armed beggar, do you know who I am?"

"Someone with excellent taste in silk and questionable taste in expeditions?"

The Prince's face darkened. "Insolent—"

"Wait." Sir Thaddeus stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. "One arm. Golden eyes. That face..." His hand moved to his sword hilt. "What’s your name?"

I felt my heart skip a bit. That’s not a good sign. I tilted my head. "...I'm many people. Who do you want me to be?"

"The missing arm should have given it away immediately." His voice carried the weight of dawning recognition. "But that face… You look just like the Titan in his younger days. You… You’re Iskandaar Romani?” he asked. “The Heavenly Demon."

The cavern fell silent except for the musical trickle of water.

Behind me, I felt Lailah's sharp intake of breath. Not fear. Surprise, certainly, but not fear. It lessened my worry a little. However, my forehead had gone cold. Goddamn bastard, why did he have to recognize me?

The situation just got a lot more complicated than it had to be.

Sahlizar's tongue flicked out nervously. "Impossible. From the rumors… from what I’ve heard about his powers, this Heavenly Demon fella would not be skulking in caves like a common thief. I think you’re mistaken, Sir Thaddeus."

"...Isn’t he?" I asked before I could stop myself. My forehead grew even colder, my throat dry, as an idea hit me. A slow smile spread across my face, embracing the role thrust upon me. "Baron, you seem to know a lot about demons. How much of that are facts, and how much is prejudice?"

"I know enough." His voice carried old pain, old hatred. "I know they corrupt everything they touch. I know they killed my children and left my wife mad with grief, leading to her suicide. I know they deserve nothing but death."

"Ah." I nodded sagely. "Personal experience. Those are always the most educational. But tell me—in your extensive demon hunting, have you ever wondered why some of us walk freely while others cower in shadows?"

Prince Valerius scoffed. "Enough of this. Guard—"

I moved.

Not physically—in my current state, that would be suicide. Instead, I unleashed something far more dangerous. The full weight of my Will.

The air in the cavern changed, becoming dense, oppressive. I'd stood against Ninth Ascension beings, faced the wrath of Ao’Kai and Bai Xiuying. That experience, that absolute certainty of self, poured out of me like a physical force.

"You will be silent," I said softly, and Prince Valerius's mouth snapped shut in shock. "Adults are speaking."

Sir Thaddeus took an involuntary step back, his warrior instincts screaming warnings. He sensed no Qi from me, no magical energy, yet something in my presence suggested depths beyond measurement. That was the fun about Willpower. Qi could enhance it, but it was already strong on its own.

"Gods, I wanted to deal with this without complicating things, but you just had to be aggressive little brats. You want the water?" I continued my act, my voice carrying the authority of someone who had never been denied. "You can’t have it. In exchange for your life, I’ll let you walk out this once. Do not make me repeat myself. This is not a negotiation."

For a moment, it worked. 

Even Sahlizar, for all his hatred, hesitated before this display of absolute confidence. All my shows in Merasca hadn’t been a waste. "The stories..." Grimwald muttered. "They say you killed a God in Merasca. Split the city with a single strike."

"Stories grow in the telling." I let my smile turn sharp. "The truth is usually worse."

Lailah stepped up beside me, and I felt her power respond to mine, adding an unsettling harmony to the atmosphere. The water in the pools began to ripple without any breeze.

"Leave," I commanded. "Now. Before I decide your Prince's education requires a more practical demonstration."

They wavered. I saw it in their eyes—the calculation, the growing certainty that they'd stumbled into something beyond their depth.

Then I felt it. The warm trickle down my upper lip.

No. Not now.

But my body had reached its limit. The immense strain of projecting such Will without Qi to channel it properly—like trying to conduct lightning with bare hands—finally overwhelmed me.

The blood came first as a trickle, then a flood. I doubled over, coughing, and scarlet splattered across the cave floor.

The spell broke.

"He's weak," Sahlizar hissed, triumph replacing fear. "He's nothing but a broken shell trading on reputation!"

Prince Valerius's face twisted with rage at having been momentarily cowed. "Kill them! Kill them slowly!"

Sir Thaddeus moved first, crossing the distance between us faster than thought. His blade sang from its sheath, aimed at my throat.

I raised my hand to block, knowing it was futile, knowing I'd gambled everything on a bluff and lost.

The last thing I saw before the world exploded into motion was Lailah's eyes—not silver anymore, but glowing with the deep, terrible blue of abyssal depths.

Then chaos descended, and the Leviathan's tomb became a battlefield.

Sir Thaddeus's blade whistled through the air where my throat had been a heartbeat before. I rolled left, came up swinging, and my fist met his armored chest with a sound like a gong. Pain exploded through my knuckles as I’d hit not just armor but defensive magic of a high grade—I might as well have punched the mountain itself.

"Pathetic," he said, voice flat as old stone. His backhand caught me across the jaw, spinning me into the cavern wall. Stars burst behind my eyes. "The stories made you sound formidable."

I spat blood, grinning through crimson teeth. "Stories rarely capture the full disappointment of reality."

Through the haze of pain, I saw Lailah. She wasn't screaming yet, but her face was a mask of stark terror, silver eyes wide and fixed on me. She looked shocked, scared, and unsure at seeing me beaten so badly. I could see the tremble in her throat.

I was saying jovial things to stop her from panicking, but it seemed to have failed.

Lailah had already unleashed her water tendrils, trying to fend off three guards, her movements becoming increasingly desperate as they pressed her back. The raw power she wielded was impressive, but against their coordinated assault, it was like a fledgling bird against a storm. A small, choked sound escaped her lips as a guard’s shield slammed into her barrier, the impact visibly jarring her.

"The girl has spirit," Prince Valerius observed from his safe distance, orange eyes glittering with interest. "Baron, ensure she's taken alive. I have... questions for her."

"Focus on the demon first," Sahlizar hissed, his humanoid body somehow moving like a serpent as he directed his men. "The girl is nothing without him."

Nothing. The word sparked anger in my chest, but I had no breath to voice it. Sir Thaddeus's knee drove into my stomach, folding me in half. His elbow followed, hammering down on my spine. The cavern floor rushed up to meet me.

This body—this miraculous Heavenly Demon Body that had weathered gods and monsters—had limits. And those limits, for now, stopped at Seventh Ascension warriors who knew their craft.

"Get up," Thaddeus commanded, almost sounding disappointed. "The Heavenly Demon who split Merasca shouldn't fall so easily. It’ll be my honor to throw you to the Emperor’s knees."

I caught Lailah's eye again. She was struggling harder now, her breath coming in ragged gasps. One guard had bypassed her defenses and landed a vicious blow to her side. She stumbled, her face contorting in pain, but her eyes, when they met mine, were filled with a desperate plea. She looked at her mentor, the man who’d taught her how to fight, to ask what she could do in this situation.

I wondered how frustrated she must feel seeing the same man bleeding on the ground. 

I pushed myself to my hands and knees, muscles screaming. "Sorry to ruin your expectations. Next time I'll schedule my physical collapse more dramatically."

His boot caught me in the ribs, lifting me off the ground. 

I hit the terrace edge hard, tasting copper and defeat. Through blurred vision, I saw Lailah surrounded, her defensive water barriers flickering as exhaustion took hold. A guard's pommel strike sent her to her knees. “Argh!” Her shoulders were shaking, and I could hear her ragged, hitching breaths even over the ringing in my ears. 

The fight seemed to drain out of her, replaced by a chilling stillness that spoke of dawning despair. To see even her reliable teacher beaten, how could she keep fighting?

"Get away from her. Isn’t it embarrassing, grouping against a woman?" I croaked, trying to rise. My legs wouldn't cooperate. The frustration I felt when a similar bunch of thugs, acting like esteemed people, had hurt Solara returned. My vision burned. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t have Amelia to help me this time.

"Look at them," Prince Valerius said, strolling closer with the confidence of a man who'd never faced real danger. "The terrible Heavenly Demon and his desert witch. Reduced to this." He crouched near me, just out of reach. "Did you really think reputation alone would save you? Tell you what, your reputation is only going to enhance mine."

"Congrats to your future," I managed, blood bubbling on my lips. "You'd be surprised how many problems can be solved by looking dangerous."

He laughed—that sharp, breaking-glass sound. "Not today, demon. Today you learn what real power looks like."

Sahlizar slithered forward, golden eyes burning with old hatred. "Twenty-three years ago, demons like you destroyed my clutch. Made my wife watch as they burned her eggs one by one. She never recovered. Neither did I." His forked tongue flicked out, tasting my pain. "I've waited so long for this."

"Touching backstory," I wheezed. "Mine's better, I think. Boy meets world, world tries to kill boy, boy kills god. Working on the sequel."

A scaled fist cracked across my face. The world tilted sideways.

Through the ringing in my ears, I heard Lailah cry out then—a raw, broken sound. Not in pain from her own capture, but in pure, unadulterated anguish at watching me being beaten further. They dragged her closer, forcing her to her knees beside me. Her face was bruised, lip split, but her eyes—those silver eyes now streamed with tears, reflecting the utter hopelessness of our situation. She looked from my battered form to the sneering faces of our captors, and something within her seemed to snap.

"Alexander!" Her voice cracked with desperation.

A guard caught her hair, yanking her back. She spun, driving an ice blade into his shoulder, but three more were on her instantly. They bore her down, pinning her arms.

"Magnificent," Prince Valerius breathed, moving toward her struggling form. "Such fire. Baron, I believe I'll be taking both prizes today—the water and the girl."

"Touch her," I growled, "and I'll—"

"You'll what?" Sir Thaddeus planted his boot on my back, grinding me into the stone. "Bleed on us more dramatically?"

“You lucky, lucky bastards you found me in this state,” I glared at them. They just laughed, making Lailah groan in pain. "...I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry. You got dragged into this. I should have–"

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry. You got dragged into this. I should have–"

"Don't," she said fiercely. Then louder, voice ringing off the cavern walls. "Don't you dare apologize! Not you!"

Prince Valerius chuckled. "How touching. The witch defends her broken demon."

"He's not broken!" Lailah's voice cracked like a whip. Tears streamed down her face, but her expression was pure fury. "You don't know anything about him!"

"We know enough," Sahlizar hissed. "We know he's weak. Pathetic. Another demon pretending to be powerful."

"Shut up!" The cavern seemed to echo with her scream. Her gaze locked onto mine, and in their depths, I saw not just fear or sorrow, but a burning, desperate belief that seemed to defy the reality of our crushing defeat. "Alexander! Iskandaar! Whatever your name is, get up!"

I tried. Gods, I tried. But my body wouldn't respond. Too much damage, too little Qi, too many limitations. If only motivation could cure my burnt-out channels.

"You showed me I could be strong, why’re you acting weak now?!" Her voice broke, raw with emotion. "You took me from nothing, made me believe I could be more. Now show them your strength! I believe in you!"

Belief. Such a fragile thing. 

I'd seen it shatter so many times. My eyes met hers, trying to convey the impossibility of what she asked. I was empty, broken, a vessel with nothing left to give.

I planned everything right. Even tamed Sand Drakes to speed up our travels, and somehow the Baron’s group caught up to us anyway. Things had gotten desperate.

It would be so funny if everything ended here, wouldn’t it? My vision blurred. Was this it? After everything I'd endured, to fall here, a broken shell in a forgotten tomb? The thought was a bitter poison. Is the universe playing a joke?

"Please," she whispered, and this time it wasn't about me at all. "My father... if I'm gone, I don't know how long he'll live. You said it, didn’t you? Even if my mother is gone, I still have my father. So, please, Iskandaar. Do something. I know you can. I believe you have something left. Come on!"

The words hit me like lightning.

Not because of their desperation. Not because of the tears. But because of the absolute, unwavering certainty in her voice. How long had we known each other for her to feel that way? She didn't hope I could save us. She knew it. With the same certainty that the sun would rise, that water would flow downhill, that wind would answer her call.

And in that moment of pure faith, something impossible happened.

Warmth bloomed in my chest. Not the burning of exertion or the fever of injury. This was different—clean, pure, absolute. Like swallowing liquid starlight.

No.

My eyes widened in shock. This feeling... I knew it. Had felt it once before, in that transcendent moment when I'd torn reality itself to save Lockdarn. But that had been borrowed power, stolen from a future that might never be.

This was mine.

Soul Fire. Immortal Soul Fire.

The revelation hit harder than any of Thaddeus's blows. Only transcendent martial artists, beings who'd stepped beyond mortality itself, could manifest Soul Fire. In this world's terms, it was divine energy, the power of an immortal soul made manifest.

How...?

But even as I asked, I knew. The Temporal Overdraft. Worldforge Creation. Killing a god. My channels hadn't been destroyed as punishment—they'd been transformed, evolved into something capable of containing power beyond mere Qi or Mana.

I'd needed extreme devotion to activate it. Faith. Belief.

And Lailah had given me hers, pure and unshakeable.

The Soul Fire flickered, tiny as a candle flame, but where it touched my damaged pathways, they healed. Not slowly, not partially—instantly, completely, as if they'd never been broken at all.

A laugh bubbled up from my throat. Not bitter, not pained.

Pure, dark joy.

"Finally lost your mind?" one of the guards sneered, drawing his leg back to kick me. "Let me help you along—"

My hand caught his boot.

The guard's eyes widened. He tried to pull back. My grip might as well have been stone.

"No," I said softly, still kneeling. "I don't think I have."

I stood.

It shouldn't have been possible. My body was battered, bloodied, pushed far beyond its limits. But Soul Fire cared nothing for such mundane concerns. It burned through me like liquid divinity, and where it passed, I was remade.

The atmosphere in the cavern shifted. The attackers paused, sensing an inexplicable change. Even the water seemed to halt in its eternal song.

"I-impossible," Sir Thaddeus breathed.

"I get that a lot," I replied, rolling my shoulders. Bones popped back into place with sounds like breaking twigs. "It's almost flattering."

Prince Valerius's face had gone pale. "Kill him! Kill him now!"

"Too late for that, Your Highness." I smiled, and several guards took involuntary steps back. "You had your chance. Several of them, actually. But you made two mistakes."

"Guard!" The Prince's voice cracked. "Grimwald! Finish him!"

Sir Thaddeus hesitated, warrior instincts screaming warnings. "Your Highness, perhaps we should—"

"So what if he’s the Titan’s grandson?! I don't care if he's the Crown Prince himself!" Valerius shrieked. "He's too weird! Kill him!"

Thaddeus sighed, drawing his blade with resigned professionalism. "As you command."

He moved like lightning, crossing the distance between us in a heartbeat. His sword carved a perfect arc toward my neck.

I wasn't there.

[Void Step]

The world blurred. One moment I stood before Thaddeus, the next I materialized behind Prince Valerius. The princeling had just enough time to register my presence before my leg exploded with Qi against the back of his neck.

The crack echoed through the cavern like thunder.

Valerius flew forward, hit the wall with a wet thud, and crumpled like a broken doll. He didn't get back up.

"One mistake," I said conversationally, as if I hadn't just potentially killed royalty, "was assuming reputation was all I had."

The guards stood frozen, caught between duty and the primal fear of prey recognizing a predator.

"The second," I continued, golden eyes sweeping over them, "was making her cry." The memory of Solara overlapped with hers, and my heart refused to stop its rage.

Sahlizar's forked tongue flicked nervously. "The Prince... you... do you know what you've done?"

"Started something interesting, you dumb lizard?" I suggested. "It's been a dull week. I was getting bored."

"You've signed your death warrant! The Empire will—"

"My name is Iskandaar Romani, and an Empire already hates me. What if another joins? What do Empires matter to a God?" My voice carried absolute certainty. "Plus, you're not leaving here to tell them."

The hunter had become the hunted, and everyone in that cavern knew it.

The Soul Fire flickered in my chest, already beginning to fade. Lailah's faith had ignited it, but maintaining it required more than I currently had. I needed to end this quickly.

But first...

I turned to Lailah, still held by two very nervous guards. "You asked me to get up."

Despite everything—the bruises, the blood, the tears—she smiled. "You always were terrible at following simple instructions."

"I prefer to exceed expectations." I glanced at her captors. "You might want to let her go. Things are about to become very unpleasant for anyone standing too close to her."

They looked to Sahlizar for guidance. The Baron's golden eyes darted between me, the unconscious Prince, and the cave entrance.

Calculating odds. Weighing options.

Making the very last mistake of his life.

As his brain matter splattered against the wall.

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The Veiled Man Note: I don’t know if you guys are going to like this chapter or not, as it’s another desperate fight for Iskandaar. It’s unavoidable at his current strength, but I’m worried it might not bear the impact I intended it to bear. Please let me know in the comments if you like it or not!