Chapter 15: Unleashed Fury
"Tyler! How dare you speak to your elders like that? Where are your manners?" A member of the royal family rose from his seat, shouting at Tyler in outrage.
"Control your tongue!" Tyler roared back, his voice ringing across the hall. "Where were you all when my father was murdered? Think of everything my father did for Silverdale! How can you all be so ungrateful? And don't you dare say you didn't know the truth. Or is it that you were all part of his murder as well?"
Tyler shouted, his tone razor-sharp and trembling with fury. For three years, a spark of anger had smoldered in his heart—now it blazed into pure hatred. As his eyes swept the audience, he saw faces turn away, others casting their gaze down to avoid meeting his contempt.
Julius was done with these arguments. "Enough nonsense, boy. Let's get to the real matter. Tell me what body refinement technique you've learned, and I promise you a swift and painless death. How does that sound?" His tone turned icy as blue light began to pulse from his arms.
"You want to know my body refinement secret? Ha! Keep dreaming!" With that, Tyler spun on his heel and strode swiftly toward the main gate, determined to fight his way out if he had to—there was no other way now.
Seeing Tyler make for the exit, Julius immediately sprang after him, blocking his path.
"You're a stubborn brat, but there's no escape," Julius thundered. "I'll give you one last chance to hand over your technique! Or I'll tear you apart and burn you until there's nothing left but ash!"
"Go to hell!"
Tyler shouted back, lunging with a punch aimed at Julius.
But as Tyler's fist neared, Julius slipped aside with ease. In a flash, Julius countered, landing a crushing blow on Tyler's back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Julius's strength dwarfed that of any disciple—when his fists struck, it was a force several times stronger than any Tyler had faced. The power of a Solar Core cultivator was three times greater than that of the Sacral Core.
The shock invaded Tyler's body like a raging tempest. At first, searing agony—then, something familiar: the pain transformed into a cleansing heat, but this punch was too much, even for him.
"Aaah!" Tyler cried out as the impact dropped him hard to the ground. But—panting, bloody-mouthed—he somehow forced himself back to his feet, spitting crimson onto the floor.
Julius's eyes gleamed with dark pleasure. "Amazing! Your body refinement truly is astounding. Give me the technique, and I might let you live."
"Ha! Why would I ever trust a liar and traitor like you?" Tyler replied, steadying his breath through the pain. Instead of defeat, a rush of incredible sensation flooded his body—from the pounding he'd just endured, it was as if the last trace of impurity had been burned from his bones.
After a month of savage beatings, Tyler had reached the peak of the Sacral Core, but progress had slowed. He needed even stronger opponents to ignite the warm currents and push onward.
Now, after surviving Richard and Julius, Tyler felt stronger than ever. Every bone in his body seemed forged from steel.
Suddenly, he felt a new strength flow through him, as if he could sense power radiating from his very bones. His breath deepened, every inhale and exhale slower, his body now instinctively cleansing itself. Energy surged through his Kundalini centers, flooding him from within.
It was a sign—he had awakened his third core: the Solar Core!
A new surge of power made Tyler feel lighter than ever. On the outside, though, his face stayed calm and unreadable.
"So, you're not going to cooperate?" Julius thundered. "Fine! Let's see how long you last under my fists!" Teeth gritted, he lunged at Tyler to grab him.
But at that moment, the arena shifted. The unexpected happened.
As Julius closed in, Tyler unleashed his fist—faster than lightning.
A full-powered punch blasted straight into Julius's chest.
Now that he had awakened his Solar Core, Tyler had unprecedented control and explosive power. Julius, taken off guard, had badly underestimated him.
Tyler's strike sent Julius flying thirty feet backward. He crashed to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
"You… you've awakened your Solar Core," Julius gasped, clutching his chest as blood trickled from his lips. His face was a mask of disbelief.
Tyler sneered back at him.
Turning to face the rest, Tyler challenged, "Who else dares stand in my way?"
Straight and tall, Tyler released the aura of his blazing Solar Core for all to see.
A stunned silence fell over the entire training ground—no one moved, not daring even to breathe loudly.
Now that even Julius had failed, no one dared challenge Tyler.
Princess Aurelia looked at Tyler with wide, astonished eyes. Moments earlier, Viktor had returned and quietly whispered news that left her speechless.
"Such a massive conspiracy?" Her jaw dropped.
"Princess! We must return immediately and inform the Emperor!" Viktor urged.
"Yes, Uncle," Aurelia replied, rising to her feet—only to freeze as she saw what happened next.
At that second, a male voice rang out from the far corner of the arena, "I'll face you!"
What happens next? Who is this new challenger daring to face Tyler? Can Tyler overcome yet another threat, or will his path to freedom be blocked once more?
Find out in the next chapters…