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.

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

countless martial artists bled, sweated, and

talent was beyond extraordinary. It was

nothing compared

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

her, a rare smile tugging at his

If you keep this up, you'll become

if I'm not the

"So

one!"

fighting-I shine. There's a saying, right? Everyone's born to succeed, they just

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

froze, the future he painted hanging over her like

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

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

with excitement.

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

say more,

call from an unknown number. He answered. "Who

her back alive, follow the address I'll send. Come alone. If you call for help...

The line went dead.

at the address and

The ghost town.

the edge of that cursed place. Towering, abandoned buildings and crumbling factories loomed over

years ago, the town had died overnight-industries

and the

one dared live here

a breeding ground for gangs and mercenaries, rebels

hire-men willing to shed blood for

out of the shadows and approached him, boots echoing

man gave a slight bow and said, his voice smooth but mocking, "Welcome, Mr.

walked straight inside. The stadium swallowed

filled the stands and the field-hulking men with scarred faces, tattoos crawling over their skin, guns gleaming under the floodlights, blades strapped to

the moment he stepped through the gate. Every glare

walking into

in the crowd barked out a

across the mob. "It said you know where Jasmine Kingston is. Is

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

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

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

chuckled. The sound was low,