Under the watchful eye of his Pride Gang comrades, Edward's stepmother rebounded with astonishing speed after her surgery. When Edward laid eyes on her, he was taken aback by her newfound radiance."Looking good in recovery, Mom," Edward exclaimed joyfully."Indeed, my thanks to your pals. Check me out, I've even put on a few pounds," his stepmother quipped as she gazed at herself in the mirror. "But you, my goodness! You've taken self-care to a whole new level. How did you manage to become so tanned and thin all of a sudden?"With a tender gaze, she scrutinized Edward."No worries, Mom. A man's gotta be a bit sun-kissed and lean to be truly handsome," Edward boasted, flexing the muscles on his arm before her. "In fact, I'm even stronger now.""No," His mother sighed, "You've had a rough time these days, all because my frail body caused you big trouble.""Mom, what are you talking about? We're family, there's no such thing as trouble or burden. It's all part of what I should do," Edwa
With newfound clarity in his mother's eyes, Edward's heart danced with joy."Right this way, Ma’am. Allow me to show you to your presidential suite," Kalina exclaimed enthusiastically.Though Kalina currently held the prestigious position of General Manager at FS Hotel, she had started from the ground up. Before ascending to her role as GM, she had led countless tours of the hotel's suites at the behest of clients. Thus, guiding Edward and his mother through the rooms was a mere piece of cake for her, considering she knew every nook and cranny of the establishment.It was as they stepped into the elevator that Edward failed to notice the fetching young lady seated elegantly on the lobby sofa. This woman, dressed in casual attire, exuded an air of competence that belied her relaxed sportswear. Even so, the slightly loose attire couldn't hide her attractive figure. Undoubtedly, she was a natural beauty, possessing the aura of a potential superstar.Observing every detail unfold, this be
The elevator chimed softly as it came to a halt on the third floor, and the doors glided open. Evelyn stepped out onto the corridor, greeted by a pristine crimson carpet that stretched ahead. The red carpet seemed to extend into the distance, beckoning her towards a realm of violent crimson horrors.Perhaps her own psyche was at play, conjuring up these sensations within her. She played out the scenarios that might unfold ahead in her mind, poised to confront the challenges that lay ahead. Taking a deep breath, she paced herself and moved towards Room 308.Room 308 was one of the FS Hotel's finest presidential suites, a single night's stay costing upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. At this very moment, Kalina was showing Edward and his mother around Room 309.Standing before the door to 308, Evelyn hesitated briefly, but ultimately pressed the doorbell.In a matter of seconds, the door swung open to reveal a woman in her twenties, dressed like a secretary. She wore a low-cut she
Peter's attack on Evelyn's shoulder was like a calculated strike from a dragon's claw, his intention clear: hurl her deep into the room's shadows.Evelyn, not one to be outdone, channeled her vital energy with lightning speed, executing a move called Tai Chi Shake. Peter's assaulting force became but a conduit, flowing through her body and dissipating into the very core of the earth beneath her feet.The maneuver was nothing short of brilliance, morphing Evelyn's body into a sleek, eel-like fluidity. Peter's dragon claw, touted as the apex of grappling techniques, slid off her shoulder like a bead of water, his hand repelled by an unexpected surge of power emanating from Evelyn.As the abruptness left him reeling, the disoriented state worsened as Evelyn's lightning-swift retaliation landed on his face another two resounding Big Slaps that left Peter seeing stars. Those blows were like throwing oil onto the flames of his already escalating rage."I'll end you, you wench!" he roared, c
The lad at the heart of the scene was none other than Edward, a true embodiment of dashing charisma.Evelyn, sprawled on the ground, also recognized him – the dapper young fellow who had the hotel staff bowing and scraping in the lobby.How could he be working as a mere security guard at the hotel? It defied reason. Yet, a glimmer of hope ignited within Evelyn. With a resounding cry, she exclaimed,"Save me!"Little did they know, in the adjacent room 309, Edward had eavesdropped on the exchange between Evelyn and the scoundrels Benson and Peter. He had honed his hearing to a supernatural level through relentless practice, and now, even the fall of a pin a mile away would be as clear as day."What's this security sweep nonsense?" Peter fumed, his anger erupting like a volcano. He bellowed at Edward,"Who gave you the right to barge into our private space uninvited? Get out of here instantly!"However, Edward paid him no mind, instead pointing to Evelyn on the floor and demanding of Pe
Swift as a whisper, Edward seized the moment before their blade-tipped toes could kiss his flesh, contorting his body into a gravity-defying backflip.Just as he steadies himself, he immediately lunged forward, striking like a dragonfly skimming a tranquil pond, landing his sidekick with precision on the juncture of their knees.In a heartbeat, Benson and Peter were engulfed in an avalanche of searing anguish, centered around the delicate articulations of their knees."How on earth did you unveil the secrets of our Mantis Soaring Kick?" groaned Benson, his voice etched with the agony coursing through him.Edward's lips curved into a sardonic smile, his response laced with cold resolve,"My move, 'Mantis Catches Cicada, and Sparrow Follows Behind' was tailored to dismantle your mantis artistry. Impressed yet?"Little did Benson and Peter know that Edward bore the boon of the wonderful Life Skills Package, a gift that momentarily transformed him into a savant of martial disciplines."I
“What kind of technique is this?” Edward couldn’t help but ask.“The Smoke Blade Technique,” responded the Great Blade.“Wow, it’s a good name. And Impressive work, truly,” Edward praised, extending his thumbs up in approval.Witnessing their two robots instantly reduced to nothingness, Benson and Peter felt an unprecedented weight bearing down on them. Little did they know that the young man before them could actually trump their ace in the hole. It was simply too incredible to believe.Now, he wished he could pull a disappearing act like a vanishing trick, or find a rabbit hole in the hotel's floor to crawl through. But all those hopes were in vain. Now, Edward's two Robot Warriors were slowly closing in on them.With a thud, they both dropped to their knees in an instant."Spare us, please."Edward waved his hand, and his two Robot Warriors immediately stepped back. Another wave, and both of them shrank back to their original size, resembling nothing more than small cell phones. Ed
Evelyn had finally returned to her snug and inviting dorm room, the warmth of which embraced her like old friend."Well, well, look who's back in the game," chimed a girl slightly shorter than Evelyn, her hair cascading in waves like a river's embrace."I was on the verge of dialing 911," she continued with a wink.This girl was Zoe, Evelyn's roommate. Despite not towering over Evelyn, Zoe possessed a charm of her own, especially with a figure sculpted as if by the hands of a gym artist."Yep, Evelyn, you have no clue the levels of anxiety you've put us through. We were brainstorming abduction scenarios and everything. So, how'd it go? Did you snag that leading lady role?" injected another roommate, Linda.Her speech was a rhythmic dance as her twin braids swayed in tandem as if in sync with her bubbly persona, creating an endearing sight.Her expression transformed, lips pursed, eyes widened as if awaiting a juicy secret."I'm itching for the deeds!" she exclaimed."I apologize for p