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.

was the kind of energy most people spent a year, sometimes more,

martial artists bled, sweated, and suffered

beyond extraordinary. It

nothing compared to raw, natural

didn't I? I told you I wasn't lying!" Josephine bragged, her

studied her, a rare smile tugging at

Your talent is remarkable. You're a prodigy. If you keep this up, you'll

"Even if I'm

brow. "So

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

fighting-I shine. There's a saying, right? Everyone's born to succeed, they just need to find their path. Well, mine has always been

"So, what-you plan to sell your

the future he painted hanging over

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

can teach you healing techniques too.

with excitement.

Keep cultivating. I'll teach you everything

could say more, his

number.

voice slithered through the line. "I have Jasmine Kingston. If you want her back alive, follow the address I'll send. Come alone. If you call for help... she'll be dead before they

The line went dead.

the address and

The ghost town.

edge of that cursed place. Towering, abandoned buildings and

ago, the town had died overnight-industries

and the

one dared

ground for gangs and mercenaries,

to shed blood for the right

of the shadows and

and said, his voice

straight inside. The stadium swallowed him

gang elites filled the stands and the field-hulking men with scarred faces, tattoos crawling over their skin, guns

he stepped through

was prey walking into the

a laugh. "You're either the dumbest

a call," Alex said, his voice sharp, steady. His gaze cut across the

their voices bouncing around the empty stands. Alex tilted his head, unflinching.

man shoved his way to the front, a cruel grin splitting his face. "Yeah, it's funny. You know why? Because you're already dead—and yet here you are, asking questions about

pressed a cold pistol to Alex's forehead. "Tell me don't you think that's

The sound was low,