words kept echoing in his mind. The golden lig

He'd seen them die with

impossible. D

e planted, gro

om and headed to the forest training ground. T

e needed to focus on what he c

ments at first, then increasingly complex. His body

is body was moving faster, circulating through pathways

reach Earth King level. Most warriors spent years try

is eyes. Deep breathing. Focus inward. Feel th

when he was young. Back when his father

and pain brought anger,

circles. Three. The power built inside him like

cumulating energy. It was about control.

t that separated true warriors from pretenders. Many died attempting

Fifteen. The energy felt like fire

l. The wall between third-class warrior and Earth King.

rgy into a single point

ng ha

gain. Stil

was so close. Why coul

t," a voice said

ndfather Octavius stood at the

What are you

tavius walked closer. "I felt your energy spike from my roo

us n

in amazement. "You really are extraord

do you

ut understanding." Octavius sat beside him. "

lf. To never be

ransform you." Octavius looked at the moon. "True power comes from purpos

hought about it. His entire focus was

tice. For what w

e or ve

e a diff

ain." Octavius put a hand on Marcus's shoulder. "I don't know what happened to you before I f

t under

will let you reach Earth King level, maybe even higher. But it will also consume you from inside." Octaviu

aving Marcus alone

for. What did Marcus

lian and the other students. They'd become his family over

uld all die because of him. T

he thought about the living people who depended on him. He thought about protecting

tly. Instead of raging like fire, it flow

again and pushed

, somethi

ly. Like opening a door in

rier sh

ixed together. His 500 circles of energy transformed

uld sense energy in the trees, in the earth, in the air i

level Earth King

actice sword and swung it casually. The blade created a visib

azement. This was just a casual sw

ations," a

lack stood in the shadows. Not Gr

arcus demanded,

a woman, middle-aged, with a scar running do

you. But after watching your bre

on his sword. "You're

ssian's offer was ten thousand gold pieces for

do you

n I'll sell that information to the highest bidder.

f I re

take your head." The woman drew two dagger

th King warrior. Stronger than him. His breakthrough w

port back to Cassian. Not

way," Marcus said

ve but stupid. That's h

rcus could see. Her dagger