However, that might just be a silver lining for her.The pair of father and daughter stepped inside, and there was Seth, sitting calmly.He did not have an aura of power around him, but there was something about him that made one think twice before taking him lightly.The young woman's eyes sparkled with intrigue.Even though she had seen Seth's photo before, seeing him with her own eyes took her breath away. The guy was a knockout, plain and simple.He had the kind of face that could make just about any woman under 25 go weak in the knees.The woman was starstruck, frozen in place with wide, adoring eyes.It was not until her dad nudged her that she snapped out of it. She was blushing a bit. "Hi Mr. Yeager, I'm Caelia Mason from Martial City, and this is my dad, Aaron."Seth gave a small nod. "Take a seat."They sat down across from Seth, while Tanya loomed behind him. She shot daggers with her eyes at his head, itching to give him a piece of her mind.She had wanted to get

Caelia gave Tanya a once-over, then dropped a bombshell. "Don't tell me you're bitter because Mr. Yeager didn't give you a second glance?"Before Tanya could retort, Caelia nodded sagely. "I thought as much, you poor thing."Tanya was seething. "You're spouting nonsense! I'd rather fall for a stray mutt than have anything to do with that jerk."Caelia just smiled, letting the argument go.Fuming, Tanya stomped off to her bedroom to straighten up the bed. Her mood was in the dumps.Seth pulled out a spiritual stone that was nearly depleted, drew out the last of its energy, and channeled it into the Emberbloom. It began pulsing with a renewed vigor.He then stashed the Emberbloom away in his storage ring.Tanya clacked toward him in her heels, her expression sour. "I'm done here. Can I go now? It's nearly after hours."Seth glanced at the clock. "We're working late tonight.""You've got to be kidding me!" Tanya's brief calm shattered. "For what? There's nothing left for me to do

Seth did not stop there. He shared with them a formidable martial arts technique that could unlock their full potential. Overwhelmed by the newfound power coursing through them, the 13 warriors knelt in gratitude, pledging their unwavering loyalty.With a casual wave, Seth urged them to their feet. "The time for battle draws near," he told Major Wolf. "Let's gear up. Each of you will wield twin aluminum alloy blades and a pair of crossbows. Don the finest Goldensilk Armor for protection. And for supplies—medicinal salves and the like—I'll fund your run for enough to cover a hundred men."Such gear was available for those in the know within the martial world, though it would cost a pretty penny. Major Wolf acknowledged the order and led the pack out to prepare.Seth took a moment to think, then waved the quadruplets over.These four were at the top of their game, each a Fourth-ranked Warrior at their peak.He handed out three Minor Reversion Pills to each, guiding them through th

A day had passed when Seth and his crew rolled into the dusty streets of Carbodia. Trailing behind him was Wendy and the rest, each rocking their own unique getup. With a flick of his wrist, Seth whipped out an arsenal of weapons from his magical storage ring, decking out his squad. The crew's jaws dropped at the sight. Seth's magic was the real deal, and he kept his secrets close. That was how he kept the respect, by keeping them guessing.Once the gang was all geared up, Seth spread out a map and jabbed his finger at three critical spots. "Dwayne, grab ten folks and hold down this fort. Nelson, you and 15 others take that spot. Major Wolf, you and the Night Wolves lock down this joint."These were the choke points to the outside world, and they had to be locked up tight. Plus, there was the airport, already under the watch of the infamous Sword Tyrant. Seth sent a backup crew of 20 to beef up security. That left him with a lean team of 50 by his side, 30 of whom were the eyes

A few figures stepped out, stirring up the noise and excitement.Owen was practically bouncing. "Look, it's Elijah!"A buff guy with a tank top, a shining gold chain, and a scowl that meant business strutted into view. He caused quite the stir.Seth asked, "Who's this Elijah character?"Owen looked up to Elijah like he was a hero. "Elijah's the top dog around here, a real stand-up guy. Everyone gives him props."He leaned in and lowered his voice. "And that lady with him? That's Morgana, his woman. Drop-dead gorgeous, and what a knockout figure She's just... just..."He fumbled for words, coming up short.Seth took in the sight of Morgana.Clad in a sleek black leather outfit, she was a sight for sore eyes.Her delicate features and sultry waves made her stand out in the crowd.Seth gave a mental nod of approval. She was a solid nine out of ten.She had every guy's attention, and their eyes were practically glued to her. They wished they could get closer.Elijah leaned on t