The tone within the stadium had completely changed.

Gone was the fanfare and excitement of the tournament match, to be replaced by perfect silence as the High Council, the highest court in the land, conducted its business. I stood in my brand new robes, flanked by Lunalah and her mother Empress Revenah.

The same chairwoman from the tribunal was presiding over the floating dais, but she was on her own now and from the caption on the Qi-screens, her title had changed as well, becoming the Speaker of the Council, the Honorable Yue Zhi Wen.

“This special session of the High Council is hereby called to order,” Yue Zhi Wen said, with a bang of her gavel. “The council recognizes the petition of Councilman Jin Yoo Sai, representative of constituency number 256, the domain of Third Princess Lunalah. The petition requested the granting of royal title in the 5th rank, that of Duke, for one capable of liberating the planet Dokumu. Councilman, I understand you wish to address the council with an update on said petition?”

“That I do, Madam Speaker,” Councilman Jin Yoo Sai said as he stood from among the hundred or so councilmen seated before the dais. “Madam Speaker, I rise to bring a report of good news. The planet Dokumu is known to many by far more sinister names. It is called ‘the forbidden planet’, the ‘planet of no return’ or even the Forest of Lost Souls. For thousands upon thousands of years, this cursed world has been a plague upon the empire, enticing cultivators of all realms to defy the odds to dispel the forces of evil surrounding it. Sadly, all who have attempted have come to their unknown ends.

The Qi-screen played some B-roll of Dokumu, images of the dark world from orbit.

“So great was this loss and failure, that over ten thousand years ago, this Council banned any soul to step foot upon its cursed surface ever again. That was, until I, having found a worthy candidate, did petition this great Council to allow one last excursion to try and free this world from its deadly curse. To call this a monumental task was an understatement. Many would call it simply impossible, or a fool’s errand at best. So, it was with great consideration that this council did agree to grant the royal title of Duke to any cultivator capable of achieving such a feat.

“Madam Speaker, it is thus with great pleasure and pride that I announce the liberation of this world has now been achieved. The lifting of its curse, a feat thought impossible, was accomplished by none other than the victor of the great battle we have witnessed here today, the Imperial Marshal and proxy of the Princess Lunalah… the now legendary… Max Chun!”

A chorus of applause erupted as the Qi-screens all panned on me.

Trumpets blared with some variant of the imperial anthem as everyone within the stadium rose to their feet and cheered. I expected there to be some kind of pomp and fanfare with this, but in no way was I prepared for the massive outpouring of honor and respect.

It was the finest lemonade I’d ever sampled.

I cultivated it greedily, desperate to replenish my spent reserves.

But as I did so, I couldn’t help but feel the emotion that stirred within my heart as well. This was an accomplishment I had simply treated as a check box in my mind—a step like any other towards my true goal of saving the Earth and my people back home, but the way Councilman Jin Yoo Sai had just framed it, the entire empire now understood that I had just pulled off something that no one in history had ever done before.

It both humbled and awed me.

I had truly made my mark on the world stage now.

But who knew what kind of negative attention and speculation this might draw as well?

From the looks of things though, I was nothing but a Hero of the Empire today.

And that was good enough for now.

I waved back to the crowd and gave bows of thanks and appreciation to the Speaker and Councilman Jin Yoo Sai. I had no idea he was going to “big me up” like this, but I wasn’t complaining.

After that fight, I needed every ounce of Frenzy I could get.

I managed to fill my Dantian to about a third full before the applause finally died down.

“Well received, councilman,” Speaker Yue Zhi Wen said. “Your constituent has performed a most honorable feat in the provision of her champion for such a task. Are there any who wish to add a contribution?”

“I do, madam speaker,” someone said.

The screens focused on a red-bearded Dharmian man, who looked in his 80s.

“The council recognizes the Honorable member for constituency 12, Councilman Rengu No’ch, representative for the domain of Second Princess Valerina.”

The man Rengu No’ch stood. “Thank you, Madam Speaker. As representative of the territory governing the planet Dokumu, I extend personal words of gratitude from the Princess Valerina herself. ‘To my younger half-sister, well done on your great victory, both in your defense and in that of your liberation of my very precious world. The reward for your champion is well earned.’”

That got another round of applause which Lunalah accepted with a bow.

It was a bit weird how she attributed everything to Lunalah, but I guessed that was just how things worked. So long as I got my title I didn’t mind. A couple more Councilmen stood to give praise on behalf of their princesses, which amounted to thinly veiled ass kissing for the most part. Once that was done, the speaker took control of the assembly again.

“We shall now commence the bestowing of the Royal Title,” Yue Zhi Wen said. “Imperial Marshal Max Chun, also known as the Iron Bull and the Iron Marshal—for the valor, courage and strength you have demonstrated in liberating one of the most contested worlds in the Empire, you are hereby granted the royal Title of Duke. Please step forward.”

The imperial anthem played as I took center stage on the court platform.

Once again, I had no love for the empire, but the sense of pride that filled me couldn’t be denied. A woman entered the platform, flanked by a cadre of imperial guards. She looked only twenty or so, dark hair cut short in a bob. Her robes were an elaborate mixture of white and gold and upon her head was a small jade crown.

“And to present the honor,” Yue Zhi Wen continued. “Will be none other than the ruler of the Planet Dokumu itself, Second Princess Valerina, 9th Heir to the throne.”

That got another set of standing ovations.

9th heir? Damn…

I had only heard her name before, but to see her in person was a surprise. She had to be ancient, thousands of years old, like the crew back on Ri Ben, but she carried herself with a youthful and casual grace that mirrored her twenty-something appearance.

She gave a huge, giddy smile as she stopped just short of me. “Greetings, sir. How amazing is this, no? Who would have thought after so many millennia I would have the honor of my world returned to me?”

I didn’t know what to say to that and just smiled and nodded.

Valerina laughed.

She turned to one of her guards who was carrying a chest in both hands. She opened it and revealed a golden pendant within. It was shaped like a dragon with two sets of claws and emeralds for eyes. She removed it gingerly and then stood on her tiptoes to pin it to my chest.

“Tall one, aren’t you?” she said with another laugh. She then stepped back and nodded, as if admiring her handiwork. “Wear this with much pride, young man. You have earned it through and through.”

“Thank you, princess,” I said with a bow.

“The thanks, is all mine.” She performed a curtsy. “And technically, you outrank me now, so I should be the one to bow to you first.”

Holy shit… what?

“How shall I refer to you now? Duke… Iron Marshal? Duke Iron Bull? You have so many curious names. It’s fascinating.”

I was still so stupefied I didn’t know what to say.

“Umm…I suppose Duke Iron Bull sounds cool?”

She laughed again. “So fascinating indeed. I would relish a chance to know you better, Duke Iron Bull.”

Valerina then raised both hands towards me like she was unveiling a piece of art. “All hail his royal majesty, the Imperial Marshal and liberator of Dokumu, the Duke Iron Bull, Max Chun.”

That caused thunderous applause and lemonade to flow again.

I was still somewhat beside myself.

I was true royalty now.

Princess Valerina bowed to me once more and then departed.

I rejoined Lunalah, who was smiling so hard I thought her face might break.

“We’ve done it,” she said excitedly. “You are a Duke! Fit to now marry me!”

I smiled, eyeing the crowd.

Fia, you better be out there.

“And now for the granting of lands,” Yue Zhi Wen said. “As is customary, the granting of Royal Title is associated with the granting of land. In this case, the liberated planet being already part of a ruled domain, the council has agreed to an alternative proposed by the Princess Lunalah, who has graciously bequeathed a part of her own domain to the Duke.”

I looked to Lunalah who was still grinning.

“I think you’ll like this,” she said. “I picked it especially for you.”

Better be the Earth, I thought.

“Duke Max Chun has been granted the 4th planet of the Terran system. A world known in the native Terran tongue as Mars which was the symbol of the Terran God of War. A fitting territory for such a fearsome warrior.”

Applause filled the stadium but I could barely focus on that.

Frigging Mars? But given the explanation I guess it made sense.

I looked to Lunalah again, surprised she had put so much thought into it.

“How did you even know about Mars?” I asked.

“Oh, Ling Wei suggested it. She did get it right, didn’t she? I would be very cross if she’s erred.”

I let out a laugh.

Figures, it wasn’t really her. I smiled inwardly. It was indeed a thoughtful gesture, very much in line with something Ling Wei might do. Like research ancient Terran history to discover the God of War.

“No, she got it right,” I said. “I appreciate it. Thanks.”

Lunalah smiled again, looking well-pleased with herself.

“Consider it my wedding gift to you, my love,” she said. “We shall rule side by side in the heavens.”

I wasn’t sure what good ruling an inhabitable planet might do in a practical sense, but simply owning land was never the true goal. I needed the ability to own land to rule the Earth and now I was just a half-step away from being able to stake my claim for it. I just needed to bide my time and play my cards right. My declaration of independence would likely come soon enough once I dropped the bomb shell with Fia.

Speaking of which…

I looked out into the massive crowd again, praying she was nearby.

“There is one more order of business to conduct today,” Yue Zhi Wen said. “A special proclamation by the Princess Lunalah to be witnessed before the High Council. Princess Lunalah, you may approach the assembly.”

* * *

Fia’s heart leapt with fright at the announcement.

The massive Qi-displays focused on the Princess as she stepped forward to address the High Council, Max standing closely at her side.

There was no time left.

The moment was here.

“I need to get down there!” she cried. “Now!”

The skiff pilot looked back at her perturbed. “What? I’m going as fast as I can, miss.”

It had taken them long enough to push through the massive crowds at the Pai Fang entrance, and despite Ling Wei using her influence to get to the head of the line for the ferries, they were now still a good thousand feet or more above the court platform where Princess Lunalah was about to seal Max’s fate.

“You heard her!” Kel Zhi yelled at the pilot. “Fly this damn shit box faster!”

The pilot jutted his hand towards the flotilla of skiffs and yachts moored in mid air before them. “You want me to crash into all of this?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on NovelBin.

“It’s alright,” Hei Dong said. “She’s bound to make some elaborate speech. We’ll get there in time.”

Tense seconds passed as the skiff slowly lowered and Lunalah waved to the crowd.

Fia glowered at the Qi-screen as a sudden anger filled her.

There she was—the woman who ordered both her and her unborn son murdered. And now, so self-assured in her right to marry Max, the vile conniving bitch wanted to announce it on the world stage?

No, Fia thought as indignation roiled in her heart. I will not give her the satisfaction of thinking she has won.

Not for a second.

Fia looked to Kel Zhi. “You don’t feel any Bloodmoon influence here, right?”

“What?” Kel Zhi looked back at her confused. “No, why?”

“Because that means I won’t need to take your axe with me.”

“Huh?”

Fia pulled Bryce from her back and secured him within her arms. “Hold on little one, we’re going to see daddy.”

She leapt onto the edge of the skiff and her mother gasped. “Fia, what are you doing?!”

“Get everyone down there as fast as you can, Ling Wei. I’ll need all of you for support.”

“You’re not going to jump, are you?” Rhi Dong said. “Not with that child.”

“Max needs the both of us there. You too.” Fia focused on the gauntlet of skiffs and floating barges to weave through on the way down. “Don’t worry. I’m still a cultivator mother. And you long ago taught me how to fly.”

Fia stepped off the skiff, engaging her [Silver Sail] technique. She channeled her Qi, jetting straight downward as Bryce laughed within her arms, no fear at all.

So much like your father, she thought.

Fia kicked off a stray skiff, propelling herself even faster as Lunalah took center stage.

Hang on Max. I’m coming.

* * *

I hid my anxiety with [Indifference] as all eyes focused on the both of us, but for a very different reason now. The details of this announcement clearly weren’t on the agenda and every soul was leaning forward in anticipation of what Lunalah might say next.

I could sense her fear, almost hear the thunder of her heartbeat.

She removed a sliver of parchment from her robes and began reading from it.

“Members of the High Council, fellow royal members of the House of Yee, Imperial Dignitaries, lower house nobles and of course, all the commoners who may be here also, I, Third Princess Lunalah, greet you in the name of my Divine Father, the Great Soul Emperor Yin Yee.”

She paused for some kind of emphasis but nothing but silence filled the void.

“We have seen today the elevation of a great Hero of the realm,” she continued. “A native commoner of a newly assimilated and virtually Qi-less world. A man who has demonstrated his prodigy by rising through the ranks of society as both a cultivator and a skilled warrior. He has served the empire to claim victory over the fires of hell and death itself. He has survived training at Du Gok Bhong, survived the Hell Worlds three times over and triumphed over the deathly curse of Dokumu. He has even, before your very eyes today, defeated a Lesser Deity Realm Cultivator whilst being an entire realm outclassed, faithfully defending his beloved Princess.”

She then turned about to smile at me and I forced a smile in return. It was a nice summary of my accomplishments though, something Ling Wei had to have helped her with for sure.

“To say that such a man would be a rarity would be an understatement. The envy of many perhaps, but certainly the object of desire for many more.”

That caused a weird shift in tone that even the Speaker raised a brow at.

“By physical means alone he is a fine specimen. Enough to stir any woman’s loins, but now, elevated to the title of not only an Imperial Marshal but now a Royal Duke, what eligible princess or lady would not fiend to have such a man pursue her?”

My gut wrenched with ick and cringe.

She had to be kidding talking like this, I thought, but I poured on the Frenzy to maintain my outward visage of stark [Indifference].

“The woman he does pursue would no doubt be the envy of every woman in the empire. Even those already married would burn with rage at missing out on what perhaps could have been. But today I come before you to announce who that woman is. The woman who has won the affections of the now Duke…Iron Bull.” She paused with a grin. “That woman…is me!”

A nausea inducing silence reigned as she punctuated the word ‘me’ like a curse.

Uncomfortable murmurs joined confused stares as the cringe was turned up to eleven.

Even the Speaker leaned over to one of her aides as if to confirm what Lunalah had just said.

I felt like dying on the spot.

“That’s right!” Lunalah shouted, anger filling her voice now. “Me! Whom my half sisters Princess’ Ul’vera and Rheutera sought to destroy today with their false allegations of treason. Me! But a Third Princess who was cast to rule a far-flung and Qi-less outer world, with no prospects of hope. Me! Who many of you whispered of, with jeers and laughter! Me! Who many of you thought would never find a man to marry! Me! Who many of you ridiculed with spite and hatred in your hearts. But look now who shall be the one laughing and jeering! The one ridiculing with spite and hatred! Me! You will all see now that—!”

“Princess Lunalah, please!” Yue Zhi Wen said, banging her gavel. “If you have a proclamation to make before the council, do so make it now!”

The sour mood intensified as every Empress, Princess and Lady focused their hatred on Lunalah after her unhinged speech. If negative lemonade existed, Lunalah had just pulled a shitload of it. But the dumb bitch was completely oblivious, still leering like a spoiled brat showing off a new toy.

And that toy was me.

I roiled inwardly, my skin burning with embarrassment and hatred for this sick freak.

I looked to the crowd for salvation.

Fia, please…!

“Certainly, Madam Speaker,” Lunalah said, tidying her hair. “I, Third Princess Lunalah, 257th Heir to the throne, do hereby proclaim that, the Imperial Marshal, Duke Iron Bull, liberator of Dukumu and Hero of the Empire, has agreed that he and I, an infinitely eligible princess, on this day, shall be officially betrothed to we—!”

Her words cut short as a silver needle sliced through the air, lodging into the marble at her feet.

Oh, thank God… I sighed inwardly with relief.

I looked up to see Fia punching through the air with Bryce in her arms. She landed with a blast of wind a few feet from us, causing all hell to break loose with the court guards. Whistles blew and several enforcers leapt into action, brandishing clubs and swords.

Holy shit!

I wanted her to make a noticeable entrance, but she’d pulled out all the stops.

“Order!” Yue Zhi Wen shouted, banging her gavel. “Who dares to defile the sanctity of this council? Arrest her!”

I blasted across the distance to Fia, placing myself between her and the guards. “Wait! Stop!”

I then turned to Fia. She was dressed in strange robes, but her silver hair and eyes shone just as brightly as the day I’d left her. In her arms little Bryce cooed up at me, squirming and wriggling.

I couldn’t believe it.

She was here.

They were both here!

My heart exploded with elation as I released a cry of joy. I could barely contain myself and was just about to crush her in my arms, when I remembered the role I needed to play in this elaborate pantomime. I couldn’t look relieved and elated to see her.

I needed to look shocked.

“Fia?” I managed to say with cautious inflection. Like I was not expecting to see my thought-to-be-dead fiancé reappearing after nearly a year. In reality it had been more like six years for me though and the tears that filled my eyes were all too real.

Fia put on a much better performance than me, reaching out to touch my face.

“It’s me, Max,” she said. “I’m here. I’m alive. And we have a son.”

* * *

Princess Lunalah stood frozen as the silver-haired girl, uttered words that shattered her reality.

Her stomach fell through the ground as her dream twisted into a nightmare.

How could this be?

Her mind reeled for some kind of explanation. This could not be her. This woman was dead. But the child in her arms bore the bright eyes of her betrothed. Her skin chilled at the grim realization. Someone had betrayed her.

Lied to her.

Was it Silver Tear?

Her nieces?

Who else had done so?

Her heart raced with panic. She looked to the dais where the Speaker was still banging her gavel.

“Madam Speaker, this woman is a fraud!” Lunalah screamed, pointing at Silver Light. “She should not exist. She should be dead!”

“Should?” the Speaker said incredulously, and Lunalah realized she had already said too much. “Who is this woman?”

Lunalah opened her mouth to answer, mind reeling to say something that would dismiss this girl’s very existence as nothing.

“She is of no consequence!” Lunalah shouted. “She is—!”

“My true betrothed,” the Iron Bull said, cutting her off.

Lunalah’s mouth hung open as her heart stopped.

The way he said those words cut to her very soul.

There was a look in his eyes like nothing she had ever seen before. The way he looked at Silver Light—it was a gaze he had certainly never given her before. It was as if she didn’t exist. He ignored her, but a few feet away. Captivated by the gaze of this measly little girl.

That same festering pit of envy and hate crept back into Lunalah’s stomach. The one she thought she had quelled so long ago by killing this girl and her child.

Yet here she was.

Alive and well.

But how?

Why?

Lunalah screamed inwardly, hatred turning to anger and indignation. This little bitch should be dead. But now she appears on the eve of her betrothal, to snatch her Iron Bull from her?

No!

It cannot be.

Her mind screamed again. She would not have it. She would not allow it. Only when the Iron Bull glanced at her with wild confusion in his stare did Lunalah realize that the screams had not been inside her head.

She screamed again regardless, the heat of embarrassment burning her face with humiliation as the entire assembly focused on her.

“This isn’t fair! This isn’t real!”

* * *

I’d never seen anyone have a full-blown mental breakdown before, but this had to be it. Lunalah was pacing in a tight circle, screaming at the top of her lungs while pulling at her hair. She wasn’t even speaking true words anymore, just an incessant rambling that had the entire court platform shaking with the power of her Qi.

Her mother, the Empress Revenah, was trying to calm her down, along with their barrister, both of them pulling on her arms, but to no avail.

“Hard to understand what is going on right now, folks,” the announcer suddenly came back on the air, as if to bring some kind of order to the chaos unfolding. “But it is clear the Princess Lunalah’s betrothal announcement has been interrupted by a woman unknown.”

“Enough of this!” Yue Zhi Wen shouted. “Arrest them all! I will not tolerate this madness within the chambers of the High Council!”

“Please wait, Madam Speaker!” someone shouted. “I have an explanation!”

The familiar voice of Ling Wei drew my attention to a skiff touching down on the court platform a stone’s throw away. More elation filled me as I saw even more of my family disembark. Tu’lok and Kel Zhi, along with my in-laws, Master Hei Dong and Mother Dong. Jian Yi leapt out of the skiff as well and then I was surprised to see Blue Rose and Mal’Kira having joined them somewhere on the way down as well.

Hei Dong, Jian Yi and Ling Wei all ran in a trio before the dais and prostrated themselves. Ling Wei then stood to speak.

“Madam Speaker, this woman is the Lady Silver Light of the Silver Leaf Clan,” she said. “She is the betrothed of the Iron Marshal, whom he thought dead some months ago. She and her mother were separated during a demon attack upon their home city on Terra. They managed to survive by hiding within the underground tunnels for some months but have now found their way home. Master Hei Dong her father, rushed to get her and his wife here.”

“Is this true Duke Iron Bull?” the Speaker Yue Zhi Wen turned to question me directly.

“It is,” I said. “I don’t know how. But she’s here…along with my son.”

“Then this betrothal to the princess Lunalah is annulled?” she asked.

I looked to Lunalah, who had calmed down enough to be staring at me with nothing but pain and desperation in her eyes now. It was a moment of truth for her. A last chance perhaps for me to finally decide between the two of them and ultimately choose her. Or so she hoped. I hid the grin of satisfaction that threatened to line my face, stifling it with [Indifference] as I simply turned from her to stare into Fia’s eyes.

“No, not annulled, madam speaker,” I said and paused just long enough for some glimmer of hope to enter Lunalah’s heart. “Just replaced with the right woman now. I Max Chun, Duke and Imperial Marshal, do proclaim before this honorable council, my betrothal to the Lady Silver Light of the Silver Leaf clan.”

The relief and joy that entered Fia’s eyes mirrored the same in my heart.

It was done.

We’d pulled it off.

We were free.

I kissed her deeply and the crowd erupted into a series of hoots and applause.

When I finally pulled back Fia was blushing.

“Damn…” I said. “I’ve waited six years for that.”

“Huh?”

But before I could explain, a shrieking wail erupted from behind me.

I turned about to see Lunalah being held back by her mother and several guards.

“No!! You bitch!” she screamed. “I’ll kill you! You thieving little whore! You’ve stolen my Iron Bull!”

The platform was shaking like an earthquake. If I could sense Qi I was sure she had to be producing a ton of it. I was just about to say something to her, but then Fia spoke ahead of me.

“I’m so sorry, princess,” she said. “It seems the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. There is now no longer a need for Max to settle for a second-choice bride.”

She said it with a cold indignation.

As one who knew the truth.

It was the best dose of non-berserker [Indifference] I’d ever seen.

Lunalah screamed in a raging tantrum, reduced to a five-year-old before the massive crowd.

“Settle yourself!” her mother shouted. “Lunalah, stop it!”

Suddenly one of the councilmen stood. “Madam Speaker, I, representative of constituency 187, territory of Princess Rhetera, do rise to support and recognize the Duke Iron Bull’s betrothal to the Lady Silver Light.”

“I too rise, madam speaker,” another councilman said. “On behalf of Princess Ul’vera, of constituency 212, she too is in full support of the union between the Duke and the Lady Silver Light. She also questions the Princess Lunalah’s conduct within this council and her fit for rule.”

And then it happened.

One by one, every princess and older sister Lunalah had insulted with her ridiculous ‘in your face’ speech, made their support of my proclamation known, along with their denouncement of her bad behavior and questioning her competency to rule. I expected to see Lunalah start screaming again, but this seemed to affect her a little differently now. It was as if the full realization of the consequence of her actions were finally hitting home.

She burst into tears, wailing and moaning as she slumped to the ground.

It was so pathetic I could barely watch.

It went on for over a minute, her mother trying to both console her and drag her off the stage.

And then finally Lunalah straightened herself and pointed at me.

“You!” she said. “It was all you, wasn’t it?”

Holy crap, did she figure it out?

I was just about to say something when Ling Wei suddenly released a cry from behind me.

I realized then that Lunalah hadn’t been pointed at me, but at her.

She flew towards Lunalah, gripped in some kind of Qi technique.

“You brought them here! It was you who betrayed me! It’s been you, all along, hasn’t it?!”

“Princess, no!” Ling Wei cried. “Please!”

But there was nothing but hatred and madness in Lunalah’s eyes. She whipped her hand through the air as if performing a slap, and something invisible struck Ling Wei hard across the face as she hung in midair. She cried out in pain and then Lunalah slapped her again.

“Hey!” I shouted.

Fury lit inside me as Lunalah struck her again and again, my mind coming undone.

“You shall pay for this treachery with your life, you wretched, useless fool!” Purple light surrounded Lunalah as she summoned another technique, a glowing celestial hammer forming high above Ling Wei’s head. “[First Law, Hammer of Divine Justice]!”

Ling Wei cried out as the technique crashed down on her.

“No!” I screamed.

I let go of Fia and blasted across the distance with [Ride the Lightning], risking it all by releasing [Mark of the Beast] at the same time.

The world slowed as milliseconds became seconds.

I managed to grab hold of Ling Wei, just as the hammer crashed down on her, spinning my body to trade places with hers. I manifested the [Spectral Body] of my Sacred Soul, the Red-hued demon superimposing itself over me as the hammer came crashing down on my back. The power of her attack was tremendous, as strong as anything Rhe Su Long had just dished out.

I was slammed three feet deep into the marble of the platform, debris flying. The pain went straight to my soul, but I shrugged it off with [Indifference] and [Struggler’s Resolve]. The stadium stood still as the dust cleared, everyone holding their breath to both see what had happened and what would happen next.

I looked down at Ling Wei, now coughing in my arms.

“You okay?” I asked, dropping the [Mark].

She managed to nod, her face swollen, her lip bleeding.

The sight infuriated me.

“I.. I thought I was dead. How did you move so quickly?”

But I could barely answer her question—the Demon already at the controls and filling my heart with rage. I was on my feet and striding across the distance to Lunalah in an instant. My stomach churned with heat as every recollection of savage disrespect she had ever shown Ling Wei, sprang to the forefront of my mind. The constant humiliating and chastising of her, plus punishing her in public and trying to kill her just now?

No…this wasn’t right. This couldn’t stand.

Fear spiked from within Lunalah as she no doubt saw the murder in my eyes.

“You damn coward!” I said with vehemence as the demon took full control. “You can’t get your way, so you blame the one person you can abuse? The one person who can’t fight back? The one who has supported you and freely given her loyalty when you scant deserved it?”

The stark incomprehension in her vacant stare said it all.

She probably had no idea who I was even talking about, much less cared.

“My love,” she said. “What are you saying?”

Her words made me sick.

I couldn’t do it anymore.

The lies. The bullshit.

Placating this bitch’s fragile ego just to get along?

To pretend?

To allow her to keep hurting innocent people just to maintain her delusion of superiority and control?

Nah…to hell with her.

“Love?” I said sardonically and then let out a mirthless laugh as the world around me turned to [Barren Ground]. “I never loved you. You crazy…evil...insufferably, stupid… BITCH!”

My arm flew with a [My Turn] charged backhand, heart filled with fury and rage.

I slapped Lunalah so hard across the face that it sent her crashing into the ground.

The resounding clap! echoed across the entire stadium, magnified by the Qi-Screens posted all around. It wasn’t a true technique, using little to no Frenzy at all, but it was enough for her to feel it and hold her face like a wounded dog when she looked up at me with pain-ridden and tear-filled eyes.

I reveled in it.

The justice of it.

The satisfaction of finally telling this bitch the truth and putting her in her damn place.

It was a great feeling.

A revelation.

And one that lasted all of about five seconds, before the Demon finally let go and the Struggler took back control.

Then the gravity of what I’d just done slowly began to sink in.

I looked up at the crowd which had grown deathly silent once again.

Ah shit… I thought.

I’d just struck a member of the Imperial Family.

In front of millions.

And right in the midst of their home.