The alley, once buzzing with the raw tension of the fight, now lay eerily silent as William and his guards vanished around the corner.
Their mocking laughter echoed faintly for a few moments before being swallowed by the distant hum of the base—the constant low rumble of energy barriers, the shouts of vendors closing up for the day, the occasional roar of a beast from beyond the walls.
It was a reminder that life in the third level never truly stopped; it just adapted, survived, and moved on. The small crowd of neighbors—those brave or foolish enough to watch the confrontation—dispersed like smoke in the wind. Heads down, footsteps hurried, no one daring to meet Anna's eyes or offer even a word of sympathy.
A few older residents peeked from behind cracked doors or tattered curtains, their faces etched with pity or fear, but they quickly retreated when Anna glanced their way.
In this district, where death was as common as the dust underfoot, getting involved in a guard captain's grudge was a sure way to invite your own demise. Better to pretend you saw nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing.
Anna turned to David, her vision tunneling to him alone, the rest of the world blurring into insignificance. Her face was pale, streaked with dirt and sweat from the scuffle, the shallow scratches on her arm and thigh already scabbing over—insignificant to her Half-Step Foundation Establishment body, which healed such trifles with ease.
But when her gaze landed on him—bruised and battered, one arm hanging limp at his side, blood seeping through his torn shirt from a deep gash on his shoulder, his breathing ragged from cracked ribs—something deep inside her snapped like a brittle branch under too much weight.
"David…" The name escaped her lips as a whisper, laced with raw terror. She rushed forward, her legs feeling like lead, catching him just as his knees buckled. The adrenaline that had kept him upright during the brawl was gone, leaving only pain in its wake.
"My boy—sit, please, sit. Lean on me. I've got you."
He collapsed against her, the full weight of his injuries crashing down now that the fight was over. Anna guided him to the low stone step outside their door, lowering him with trembling arms. Tears—hot, angry, terrified—spilled down her cheeks as she knelt before him, her hands hovering for a moment, afraid to touch, afraid he might break.
David hissed in pain as he settled, one hand clutching his cracked ribs. Every breath was fire. Every movement agony.
Anna's heart tore open.
My son, she thought, the words a silent scream in her soul. My brave, foolish son. Look at you—blood everywhere, bones broken, all because you stood for me.
You charged a Seventh Stage monster like it was nothing. For me. Always for me. And I couldn't stop it. Couldn't protect you. Again. How many times have I failed you? How many hunts have I come back from, bloodied and broken, just to see you safe? And now you do the same for me… it's unbearable. I'm your mother—I'm supposed to be the shield, not the reason you bleed.
The guilt was a living thing, gnawing at her from the inside. All these years, I've been your shield. Hunting beasts that could tear me apart, just to give you a chance. Patching your wounds, wiping your tears, telling you it would be okay even when I wasn't sure. And now, when you finally rise—finally become the cultivator I dreamed you'd be—you throw yourself into the fire for my sake. I should be proud. I am proud. But gods, David… seeing you bleed like this… it's killing me.
What kind of mother lets her child fight her battles? What kind of world forces him to?
Tears fell freely now, dripping onto his torn shirt as she worked.
Her hands shook as she tore strips from their precious clean cloth, the one they saved for emergencies.
"You absolute fool," she choked out, voice thick with love and fury and fear all tangled together. "What were you thinking? Charging William like that? He's Seventh Stage—he could've killed you with a flick of his wrist! We could've waited, talked him down, let him posture and leave. But you—you had to fight.
For me."
David met her eyes, guilt and defiance warring inside him.
"He was at our door, Mom," he said, voice rough. "Talking to you like… like you were his. Threatening us. I couldn't just stand there and let him. Not again. Not after everything you've done for me."
Not after all the times I've stood frozen, his mind screamed silently, the memories flooding back unbidden. Gateside humiliations, his guards laughing as he propositioned you like a market good.
Me, too small to do anything but clench fists. The nights you came home bruised from hunts, sacrificing for me while I failed at cultivation.
Every scar on your body a reminder that you stood between me and the world when I was too weak to stand at all.
And me? I've been nothing but a burden. The reason you're still in this hellhole, still fighting for scraps. If I'd been stronger sooner—if I'd broken through years ago—William wouldn't dare. You'd never have to hear his filth.
But today… today I finally had power. And I still failed you. Took the beating.
Let him walk away laughing. What good is this inheritance if I can't protect the one person who matters? The one who's given everything for me?
The self-reproach twisted like a knife in his gut. I'm supposed to be the shield now. The protector. But I'm still the one making you cry. Still the one adding to your scars—emotional ones, if not physical.
How many times have you hidden your tears from me? How many nights have you lain awake worrying about my failures? And now, when I finally step up, I step wrong. Reckless.
Driven by anger instead of thought. The hunt postponed—Beast Core Valley delayed because of these injuries. Days lost, progress stalled on the blade. All because I couldn't control myself. Stupid. So stupid. I could've lost you today. What if he'd targeted you more? What if one of those guards got lucky? The thought… it's like ice in my veins.
I can't lose you, Mom. You're my world. My reason. Without you, what's the point of any power?
Tears pricked at his eyes again, but he blinked them away fiercely. No. No weakness. Not in front of her. She's carried enough burdens. I won't add tears to the list. I'll be strong—for her.
Anna's hands paused in their work, the cloth hovering over a cut on his forearm. Her expression softened, the anger giving way to understanding—and deep, aching pride.
"I know," she whispered, resuming her tending with a gentler touch. "I know why you did it. And part of me… part of me is so proud it hurts. You stood tall, David.
You fought for me. My little boy—my son—faced down a monster like William and didn't back down. But the rest of me…" She pressed a hand to her chest, as if to hold her heart together. "The rest of me is terrified. Seeing you take those hits, blood pouring out… it rips me apart. Every drop is a reminder that I failed you again. I should've been stronger.
Should've pushed harder to shield you. We're all we have, David. If I lose you…"
Failed me? David's thoughts rebelled, the guilt crashing over him like a wave. You've never failed. You've been everything—mother, father, provider, shield. Hunting beasts that could kill you in a heartbeat, just to give me a chance at cultivation. Patching me up after every failure, every mockery.
Telling me stories of stronger days to keep hope alive when I had none. And me? I've been the anchor dragging you down. The reason you've stayed in this hellhole, still fighting for scraps.
If I'd been stronger sooner, if I'd been less of a burden… none of this would happen. William wouldn't dare. You'd be free to rise, to live without constant fear for me.
But I've held you back. And now, when I finally have power, I still make you worry. Still make you cry. I hate it. Hate myself for it. But I'll change. I'll become so strong you never have to fear again. Never have to shed another tear for me.
The emotions swirled—guilt, love, determination—a storm he could barely contain.
"You never failed me," he whispered fiercely, reaching out to wipe a tear from her cheek despite the pain it caused. "Never. You're everything, Mom. Everything. I fought because I love you.
Because I'm tired of being the reason you suffer. This power… it's for you. To protect you. To make sure no one ever talks to you like that again."
Anna's own tears fell faster as she bound his shoulder, her fingers trembling against his skin.
"And I love you," she said, voice breaking completely. "More than anything in this godforsaken world. That's why it hurts so much to see you like this.
Every scar on you is one on my heart. But… but I see the man you're becoming. Strong. Brave. And it terrifies me because the world doesn't let the strong live easy. It breaks them or uses them."
She finished cleaning the wounds, binding them with practiced wraps. She dug deeper into the pouch, pulling out a small vial containing three dull green pills—peak-level mortal-grade healing pills, rare and precious, scavenged from a lucky find years ago.
They were still effective for low Qi Refining cultivators like him, accelerating recovery without wasting qi.
"Take two," she ordered, pressing them into his palm. "We can't afford you down for weeks. These will help the bones set and stop infection."
David swallowed them dry, the bitter taste coating his tongue. Warmth spread immediately—qi from the pills seeping into his meridians, bolstering the physique's work. Ribs ached as they began to knit, bruises fading from deep purple to yellowish green.
"Thanks," he said, voice steadier.
Anna sat beside him, tending her own minor scratches with a rag. They were superficial—already clotting, barely worth the effort.
"You scared me half to death," she admitted quietly, wrapping a strip around her forearm. "Seeing you take those hits, blood pouring out… it brought back every time I've failed to protect you fully. We're all we have, David.
If you fall because of pride or anger…"
David's rage simmered anew at the memory—William's leering, his threats.
"I know," he said through gritted teeth. "But I couldn't let him talk to you like that. Not anymore."
And I won't, his mind vowed fiercely. Not ever again. This postpones the hunt—days lost earning for the blade. But it's fuel.
Every ache reminds me why I need to grow faster. Stronger. William thinks he's untouchable—Core Formation close, second level waiting. But I have the physique.
The scripture. Abilities he can't imagine. One day, he'll be the one on the ground.
One day, I'll make him beg, make him feel the powerlessness he's inflicted on us. Crush him like the insect he is. But for now… for now, I heal. I grow. I protect you the only way I can—by becoming unstoppable.
Anna sighed, tying off the bandage.
"Rest tonight. No hunting tomorrow—your ribs need days, even with the pills. We'll plan when you're healed."
David nodded reluctantly. Postponed again. But she was right.
Inside, resolve hardened like steel.
William had drawn the line.
One day, David would erase it—and him with it.
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