Marcus's POV
Here I am — standing face-to-face with Evelyn's raw strength.
The reason was simple: I wanted to know what made a hero so special… and how I compared to one.
I knew she wasn't the hero anymore — that title now belonged to Lucas — but Evelyn carried the experience of a hero from her past life, and that alone made this sparring match something entirely different from anything I'd faced before.
We stood in the back room behind the shooting range, our private training area. Mrs. Lily, Evelyn's mother, had conjured a protective barrier to keep our mana from leaking out. Outside it, Lucas, Lina, and Mr. Ivan watched closely. They were curious — just like me — to see what a "hero's" strength truly looked like.
On paper, we were equals. Both at Stage Four cultivation.
But deep down, I already knew I hadn't reached her level. Not even close.
Evelyn's calm voice broke the silence.
"Brace yourself, Marcus… and try not to bite your own tongue."
It wasn't arrogance — just a quiet warning. I straightened, tightening my grip on my spear.
"Ready when you are, Evelyn."
Then it hit me.
A crushing wave of pressure slammed into my body. My vision blurred for a second, and I almost blacked out. My instincts screamed move, but my body refused to obey. I forced myself to breathe, gritting my teeth as the air grew heavier, thicker — as if I were submerged in liquid steel.
Even those outside the barrier reacted. I could feel their unease through the distortion of mana.
That's when I realized — this wasn't even an attack. This was just her presence.
I summoned my armor, shield, and the spear she'd made for me. Golden lines flared across its shaft as I poured mana into it, extending the blade's reach. With a shout, I swung at her left side — fast and precise.
She caught the spear with one hand. Effortlessly.
Before I could react, she lifted the weapon — and me along with it — and slammed me into the ground with a sound that cracked through the barrier. The impact knocked the air from my lungs.
When I looked up, she stood over me, calm as ever. Her figure loomed like a titan, her mana pressing against me like the weight of a mountain. I could barely breathe.
I thought she'd follow up, but instead, she smiled faintly.
"Congratulations, Marcus. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
And just like that, the pressure vanished.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling for a while, unable to move or speak. Outside, I heard Mr. Ivan dismiss the others. He wanted to talk to me alone.
Two hours passed before he finally approached. I was still sitting on the floor, replaying everything in my head — every motion, every failed defense, every impossible moment.
"Have you calmed down, Marcus?" he asked gently.
"As calm as I can be," I admitted. "But what I faced just now... I've never felt anything like that before."
He smiled knowingly.
"Your reaction's better than most. Most people would've fainted the moment that pressure hit them."
I gave a tired laugh. "If it was you, what would you have done differently? Any plan to win against her?"
That made him laugh outright.
"Win? I don't think I could either. The only one who might stand a chance is my wife — and even she might not come out on top against Evelyn."
His honesty made me think. "Maybe that's why this world needs heroes," I murmured. "Someone to fight monsters that the rest of us can't — the Vampire King, the Undead King, the Werewolf King... any of them could wipe out a city. Compared to that, a Goblin King feels like a bad joke."
Ivan put a firm hand on my shoulder, his expression warm but serious.
"The fact that Evelyn took your request seriously says a lot. She respects you as a warrior, Marcus. She showed you what you wanted to see — no excuses, no holding back. That's her way of honoring you."
Then he left, leaving me to my thoughts.
I sat there for a long time, replaying every moment again.
Yes — there was a massive gap between us. Her strength wasn't something a normal human could ever reach. And yet, instead of discouragement, what I felt most was… gratitude.
She could've brushed me off, told me I wasn't ready. Instead, she treated me as an equal — and showed me what true power looked like.
I might never reach her level.
And that's fine.
I don't need to be a hero. I just need to be strong enough — strong enough to stand when it matters, to fight when no one else can, to protect those who can't protect themselves.
Evelyn carries the weight of a hero.
Lucas might one day rise to match her.
But as for me… I'll be the warrior who holds the line until they arrive.