92 Chapter 92–The Indomitable Will
92 Chapter 92 – The Ind mitable Will
The taste of blood filled my mouth as I staggered backward from Caspian’s brutal counter–punch. My vision blurred, the room spinning around me as I fought to stay conscious. My body screamed for surrender, but I refused to listen.
“Stay down.” Caspian growled, his carlier composure shattered by the lucky punch I’d landed on his face. “You’ve made your point.”
I spat blood onto my apartment floor and pushed myself up on trembling arms. Every muscle in my body protested as I forced myself to stand once more, swaying like a drunk man.
“I’m not… finished,” I managed, my words slurring through swollen lips.
Harrison Ashworth observed from the corner, his expression unreadable. “This is becoming unnecessary, Mr. Knight. Your determination is noted, but there’s no shame in acknowledging when you’re outmatched.”
I ignored him, focusing solely on Caspian’s irritated face. The small red mark on his jaw
-the only
ily evidence I’d managed to touch him–gave me a perverse satisfaction.
“One more round,” I insisted.
Caspian’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t a sparring match. This was supposed to be a
demonstration.”
“Then demonstrate,” I challenged, raising my shaking fists.
The jade pendant burned hot against my chest, almost scalding my skin. I felt its energy pulsing, but it wasn’t enough–not yet enough to bridge the massive gap in our abilities.
Caspian moved with lightning speed, his fist connecting with my stomach before I could even register his movement. Air exploded from my lungs as I doubled over, crumpling to my knees.
“We’re done here,” Harrison announced, checking his watch. “Caspian, Marcus, let’s go. Mr. Knight clearly isn’t ready for Veridia City.” He turned to me, his voice coldly practical. “My daughter deserves someone who can survive in our world. You are not that man–at least not yet.”
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“Walt…” I gasped, the simple act of b. thing causing excruciating pain. With monumental effort, I forced myself upright again.
All three men paused, turning to look at me with varying degrees of surprise.
“I’m still standing,” I declared, blood dripping from my split lip.
‘Caspian’s professional detachment cracked further, frustration flashing across his face. “Know when you’re beaten. This stubbornness won’t impress Mr. Ashworth.”
“I don’t care about impressing him,” I replied, my voice stronger now. “This is about proving something to myself.”
Without warning, Caspian delivered a swift kick to my chest, sending me crashing into my bookshelf. Books rained down around me as I collapsed in a heap.
“Caspian,” Harrison cautioned, “remember what I said about permanent damage.”
“He’ll live,” Caspian replied flatly. “His pride might not.”
I lay motionless among the fallen books, pain radiating through every inch of r My vision darkened at the edges, consciousness threatening to slip away. But somewhere deep within, a voice refused to let me surrender.
For Isabelle. For the promise I made. For the man I need to become.
my body.
The pendant’s heat intensified, its energy flowing through my veins like liquid fire. It wasn’t enough to win–but perhaps enough to stand one more time.
“Let’s go,” Harrison said, turning toward the door. “This has become distasteful.”
Their footsteps moved toward the exit, the sound of my failure echoing with each step.
With trembling arms, I pushed against the floor. Books slid away as I struggled to rise. My muscles screamed in protest as I forced my legs to bear weight.
“Mr. Ashworth, I called out, my voice hoarse but clear. “We’re not finished.”
The three men stopped, turning back with expressions ranging from disbelief to
annoyance.
“For God’s sake, stay down,” Marcus muttered, breaking his silence for the first time.
I stood before them, bloodied and swaying but upright. “You asked what kind of man I
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- am. This is your answer.”
Harrison’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Stubborn to the point of foolishness?”
“Determined, 1 corrected him. “I promised your daughter I would become worthy of
het. I meant it.”
Caspian exchanged a look with Harrison, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. The bodyguard approached me again, his stance casual yet menacing.
“Final demonstration, then, he said coldly.
His punch came straight toward my face–powerful enough to end this farce once and for all. I braced for the impact, knowing I couldn’t dodge it.
But something shifted in that crucial moment. Time seemed to slow as the pendant’s energy surged through me with unexpected intensity. My vision sharpened, my reflexes quickened just enough.
My hand shot up, catching Caspian’s fist inches from my face.
The shock on his face mirrored the disbelief I felt. For one frozen moment, we stood locked in place–his captured fist trembling against my palm, my arm shaking with the effort of holding him back.
Then, before the moment could break, I channeled every ounce of remaining strength into my
free hand and drove my fist directly into Caspian’s face. The impact was solid and true, carrying the weight of all my determination.
Caspian’s head snapped back, blood spraying from his nose as he stumbled backward. His eyes widened with genuine shock as he touched his fingers to his bleeding nose, staring at the crimson evidence of his vulnerability.
“How…” he started, bewilderment replacing arrogance.
Marcus moved forward instinctively to protect his colleague, but Harrison’s raised hand stopped him. The Ashworth patriarch studied me with new intensity, his calculating gaze reassessing everything he thought he knew about me.
I stood my ground, chest heaving with ragged breaths, fist still clenched and bloodied. from the impact. My body was on the verge of collapse, but I refused to fall–not until they left, not until I’d made my point.
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“Interesting.” Harrison murmured, the Ingle word carrying layers of meaning.
Caspian wiped blood from his nose, his expression darkening with humiliation and rage. “Mr. Ashworth, allow me to-”
“That’s enough,” Harrison interrupted firmly. “We’ve seen what we came to see.”
The room fell into tense silence as Harrison approached me, stopping just beyond arm’s reach. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something.
“You’re still not ready for Veridia City,” he stated matter–of–factly. “But perhaps my daughter wasn’t entirely misguided in her assessment of your… potential.”
I met his gaze without flinching, despite the blood trickling down my face. “I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
Harrison gave me a measuring look. “We shall see, Mr. Knight. We shall see.”
He turned to leave, gesturing for his men to follow. Caspian hesitated, fury evident in his eyes, before reluctantly falling in line.
At the doorway, Harrison paused, turning back to deliver one last assessment. “Remember this, Mr. Knight: in Veridia City, that display would have earned you respect–right before they killed you for your impudence. The rules are different there.”
The door closed behind them, leaving me alone in my devastated apartment.
Only then did I allow my knees to buckle, collapsing to the floor as darkness finally claimed my consciousness. My last thought was of Isabelle’s face, and the promise 1 was still determined to keep, no matter the cost.
I had stood my ground against impossible odds. I had shown them my indomitable will.
And somehow, I had made Harrison Ashworth reconsider his judgment–if only slightly.
It wasn’t victory, but it was a beginning.
