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.

wasn't just the beginning. What pulsed within her was the kind of

martial artists

was beyond extraordinary. It

compared

did it, didn't I? I told you I wasn't

rare

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

I'm not the sharpest mind on the class, I've never lost a

"So

way! You're the stupid one!" she shot back, her eyes

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

smirked. "So, what-you plan to sell your

painted hanging over

head and muttered, "Forget it. I don't even like fighting.

"Don't worry. Martial arts isn't just about fighting. I can teach you healing techniques too. That requires inner energy as well. With cultivation, you can

voice bursting with excitement. "Yes!

said. "Keep training. Keep cultivating. I'll

say more, his phone

number. He answered.

Kingston. If you want her back alive, follow the address I'll send. Come alone. If you

The line went dead.

at the address and his

The ghost town.

stood at the edge of that cursed place. Towering, abandoned buildings and

years ago, the town had died overnight-industries collapsed,

and the streets

one dared

become a breeding ground for gangs and

to shed blood for the

figure stepped out of the shadows and approached him,

bow and said, his voice smooth but mocking, "Welcome,

the rat-faced man coldly, gave a short nod, and walked straight inside. The stadium swallowed him whole. Once a football arena, now it was a

tattoos crawling over

locked onto him the moment he stepped

was prey walking into the

barked out a laugh. "You're either the dumbest bastard

across the

roared with laughter, their voices bouncing around the empty stands. Alex tilted his head, unflinching. "Something

his face. "Yeah, it's funny. You know why? Because you're already dead—and yet here you are, asking

a cold pistol to Alex's forehead. "Tell me

chuckled. The sound was