The Almighty Dominance

The next morning, Alex sat watching the news, his eyes narrowing as the anchor reported on the unrest shaking Vinland State.

Everyone was talking about Jose.

They said he had changed after his son's death and his wife's injury.

Now he was cleaning house, rooting out the corrupt officials who had been trying to undermine him.

Speculation spread like wildfire.

To answer Jose's call, his old loyalists-men who once fought beside him in the rebellion that toppled the tyrant governor-were rising again.

Vinland was witnessing a storm, Jose tightening his grip on power.

"Alex! Alex-something happened!"

Josephine's voice rang out, sharp and urgent, as she rushed down the stairs.

It was already noon, yet she was just now emerging from her room. She had never slept so late before.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked, his gut tightening.

"There's... something inside me." She pointed at her stomach, her face pale with panic.

Alex froze. "What do you mean, something inside? Are you pregnant?"

"God, are you stupid? I'm still a virgin!" she snapped, rolling her eyes. But her cheeks burned crimson.

"Then what the hell are you talking about?" Alex pressed, thrown completely off balance.

She hesitated, then burst out, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Didn't you teach me that cultivation technique last night? Well... I did it. I actually did it! There's this warmth, this... seed in my stomach-the core energy you told me about!"

Alex's eyes widened. "What? That fast?"

His voice was sharp with disbelief. If cultivating inner energy were this easy, every martial artist in the world would already be a superhuman.

Normally, it took at least a year of relentless training just to glimpse the first sparks of inner energy.

Even geniuses needed months to form the faintest core. But Josephine was claiming she had succeeded overnight.

Suspicion flickered across Alex's face. He reached for her wrist, fingers steady as he searched her pulse.

His eyes narrowed. There it was—a faint but unmistakable current flowing through her core. Subtle, yes, but real.

What pulsed within her was the kind of energy most people spent

countless martial artists bled, sweated, and

beyond extraordinary. It

nothing compared

you think? I did it, didn't I? I told you I wasn't lying!" Josephine bragged, her voice

studied her, a rare smile tugging at his

is remarkable. You're a prodigy. If you keep this

knew it!" Josephine burst into laughter, grinning wide. "Even if I'm not the sharpest

"So you're admitting you're

the stupid one!" she shot back, her

I'm not great at books or studying, but when it comes to fighting-I shine. There's a saying, right? Everyone's born to succeed, they just need to

"So, what-you plan to sell your fists

he painted

scratched the back of her head and muttered, "Forget it. I don't even like fighting. Let's not go down

isn't just about fighting. I can teach you healing techniques too. That requires inner energy

up, her voice bursting with excitement. "Yes! That's exactly

Alex said. "Keep training. Keep cultivating. I'll teach you everything

say

number. He answered. "Who is

you want her back alive, follow the address I'll

The line went dead.

at the address and his

The ghost town.

cursed place. Towering, abandoned buildings and crumbling factories

town had

the streets

dared live

become a breeding ground for gangs and mercenaries, rebels

to shed blood for

stepped out of the shadows and approached him,

said, his voice smooth but mocking, "Welcome, Mr. Alex. This way,

coldly, gave a short nod, and walked straight inside. The stadium swallowed him whole. Once a football arena,

with scarred faces, tattoos crawling

the moment he stepped through the gate.

was prey walking into the

the crowd barked out a

sharp, steady. His gaze cut across

the empty stands. Alex tilted

his way to the front, a cruel grin splitting his face. "Yeah, it's funny. You know

to Alex's forehead. "Tell me don't you think

sound was low,