An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

"Troublemaker! I know you're in there, so come out and face the music!"

The loud shout echoed through the tavern again. It sent waves of unease rippling through the patrons.

Miles and the others instinctively turned their gaze toward Abigail.

To them, she was the only one who fit the bill of a troublemaker. But who would dare to be so bold as to challenge the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order so openly?

"Everyone, please continue enjoying your meal. I'll take care of this." Abigail smiled as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Then, she rose from her seat and descended the stairs.

Miles and the others exchanged glances and hurried to the window to see what was happening outside.

On the street, a burly man surrounded by a gang of 20 to 30 men was shouting threats. They wielded their weapons menacingly as if they were ready for action.

"Hey, doesn't that man look familiar?" Ruby arched her eyebrow as she recognized the burly man. She had seen him at the Combat Tournament, but his name momentarily escaped her.

"It's Luke Harding from Frostzard Manor!" Miles chimed in.

"You're right! It's him!" Ruby nodded. "This punk caused a scene at the Combat Tournament earlier, and Caleb blasted him with Stormcraft magic until he was a mess. I didn't expect him to recover so quickly. He's quite resilient."

"Luke's got the skills, but he's not the brightest bulb," Dalen remarked.

He unfolded his fan and said casually, "Caleb spared his life back at Sacred Wrym Summit, but now he's out looking for trouble again."

"People like him, sheltered from reality, have no idea how dangerous the Mystic Arts Order can be." Crystal shook her head in disbelief. She shared Dalen's view on Luke's futile provocation.

looking at the group of men that Luke's brought along, I'm worried that

elites. Despite Abigail's status as the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order, Ruby

outnumbered, but

parasitic poison?" Ruby quickly

"Exactly!" Miles nodded.

encountered anything like that. But just the parasitic poison alone is terrifying enough to make the top martial artists quake in

the crowd at Frostzard Manor, if Ms. Robinson were to use her

really that deadly?" Ruby

than deadly—it's downright

how many elites from the

can kill its victim without leaving a trace. Plus, its eerie menace has haunted countless martial artists'

yet no faction dares to pick a fight with them. That's because the terror of parasitic poison has deeply ingrained itself in everyone's

our sect would avoid confrontation unless provoked by profound

thrived in outnumbered scenarios and employed various unorthodox tactics. Those who provoked their disciples would meet their

into a hornet's nest?"

for a fight despite knowing the risks of

soon enough," Miles remarked as he glanced out the

moment, Abigail confidently

So, you're here!" Luke angrily brandished his

you haven't learned your lesson from this morning. And you dare to swagger in front of me? Aren't

standing in the end," Luke

martial arts experts I've paid handsomely. You might be tough, but you can't

she scanned the group. "A