I stood in the main hall of the Veridia City Martial Guild, surrounded by shattered marble and the lingering scent of fear. Spencer Holt lay sprawled at my feet, his expensive suit torn, blood trickling from his mouth. The gathered martial artists watched in stunned silence as the city's most influential businessman groveled before me.
"I... I take back everything I said about you," Spencer stammered, his eyes wide with terror. "Please, Knight. Have mercy."
"Mercy?" I stepped closer, watching him flinch. "Like the mercy you showed when you tried to destroy Ashworth Industries? Or when you sent assassins after me last month?"
Spencer's face blanched. "That wasn't—"
"Save it." I cut him off with a wave of my hand. "Your schemes end today. Stay away from the Ashworths. Stay away from me. Or next time, I won't be so gentle."
