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THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 42 ~
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a grand estate, its high iron gates parting silently to reveal a long driveway lined with cherry blossom trees. The estate itself was a fortress of elegance—tall, imposing, with a blend of modern and classic architecture that hinted at old money and power. Zach turned to Barbara, noticing her stiff posture, the way her fingers clenched into fists on her lap. The confident, sharp-tongued woman from earlier had faded into something else—someone hesitant, uncertain.He stepped out and walked around to her side, opening the door for her. “You okay?”She let out a short breath. “Physically, yes. Mentally?” She shook her head. “Not so much.”He studied her, concern flashing in his eyes. “Why?”She forced a smile. “You don’t have to worry about that.”Before he could push further, she turned and led him toward the entrance. As they approached, uniformed guards at the massive doors immediately straightened and bowed at her presence. Zach took it al
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 43 ~
Barbara was short of words, her throat tightening as she tried to swallow the bitter taste of her father’s words. She couldn't say anything else. Mac, standing tall and imperious, gave his final order."Look your best tomorrow for Julian, and see to it that your guard here stays well." His voice held no room for argument. Then, turning his piercing gaze to Zach, he smirked slightly, a glint of menace in his sharp eyes."I hope you've been protecting my daughter well and not taking advantage of your proximity at times?" he sneered.Barbara's shock tightened into something colder. How could he reduce a multi-billionaire who could erase poverty from Belmont with a mere signature to nothing more than a common bodyguard?However, Zach only smiled at the misconception, amusement dancing in his eyes. Mac frowned at the reaction."Father, with all due respect, he's not my bodyguard," Barbara said firmly. "He's my friend."Mac’s face twisted in disdain. "Friend? You keep friends with ordinary
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 44 ~
Julian’s nostrils flared, his grip tightening around the edge of the door. His gaze burned into the men kneeling before him, their heads bowed in shame. His voice, laced with restrained fury, cut through the tense air. “How was that possible?”With his face bruised and bloodied, the man hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. “They were too strong, Master.” He kept his eyes low, as if daring to meet Julian’s gaze would seal his fate.Julian’s jaw clenched, his fury rising like an uncontrollable storm. His breaths grew ragged. Weak. Pathetic. He had trained these men to be his shields, not cowards.A soft touch at his back made him freeze.“Come back, Master,” a sultry voice cooed. Delicate hands wrapped around his tense frame.Julian roared, shoving her away with brute force. “Get out!”The woman gasped, stumbling back as fear widened her eyes. She vanished in a hurried retreat, knowing better than to stay when his anger boiled over.Julian scoffed, shaking his
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 45 ~
The room was silent, save for the faint rustling of fabric as Zach adjusted his posture. He sat on the floor, knees bent, back straight, the locket hanging against his bare chest. The window he had left open allowed the silver glow of the moon to stream in, casting ethereal patterns on the wooden floor. He inhaled deeply, feeling the cool night air settle in his lungs before exhaling steadily.Closing his eyes, he focused on the locket. A warmth spread from the small object, pulsing against his skin like a second heartbeat. Suddenly, images flooded his mind—flashes of combat techniques, ancient movements perfected through generations, and a deep understanding of battle flowing through him like an untapped river.His muscles tensed, then relaxed. His fingers curled slightly before opening again as if guided by an unseen force. He could see himself in his mind’s eye, executing powerful strikes, evading attacks with precision, and channeling raw energy into his limbs. The sensation was o
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 46 ~
The city’s hall was packed. As Barbara stepped inside with Zach, whispers followed them.“Isn’t that Julian’s fiancée?”“Why is she with that ordinary-looking man?”“She’s so disappointing.”Barbara’s sharp eyes landed on the gossipers, and they immediately pretended to be engrossed in something else. Huffing, she walked further into the hall.Minutes later, a convoy of black jeeps pulled before the city hall—Lamborghini Urus, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and a Bentley Bentayga.All eyes snapped toward the entrance.Julian stepped out of the first jeep, dressed in an expensive tailored jacket and trousers, exuding dominance.Murmurs of praise erupted.“He’s here!”“The strongest man in Belmont.”“A true elite.”Flashes from cameras blinded the entrance as journalists rushed to get his picture.But Julian ignored them, walking with pride. His presence alone was suffocating. Inside the hall, even the richest men bowed slightly as he passed.One of the organizers rushed up. “Master Julian! Welc
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 47 ~
“You’re a waste of my time, boy," Julian scoffed, rolling his shoulders back before shooting one last glare at Zach. Then, with a smirk, he turned away. “This way, please,” Mac gestured forward, leading Julian to a private table at the front of the hall.Barbara, standing beside Zach, scoffed under her breath. “What a scumbag.”After Julian Viking had sat down, Mac stepped onto the platform, tapping the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, the competition will now begin, as our esteemed man of honor, Julian Viking, has arrived.”The room erupted in applause, an acknowledgment of Julian’s presence.Another man, the coordinator took the stage, his voice ringing with excitement. “This is the most anticipated competition in Belmont City every year. And this time, we have an incredible grand prize—the Heart of Solis, a rare antique of immense value.”Gasps and murmurs of admiration filled the room. The speaker continued, “This year, we have an extraordinary participant, making it nearly im
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 48 ~
Murmurs rippled through the grand hall, filled with a mix of awe and disbelief. Julian had defeated Kenji in mere moments, his strength and precision leaving the audience both stunned and terrified."Did you see that? He sent him flying like he was nothing!""Kenji is a renowned martial artist from Japan! How did he lose so quickly?""Julian Viking is truly undefeatable. Who could ever match up to him?"The astonishment was widespread, but for Zach, it was the opposite. He leaned back against his chair, arms crossed, eyes unwavering. He had seen through Julian’s flashy display. While the crowd might have been dazzled, Zach recognized the simple yet effective techniques Julian had used. It was nothing extraordinary—just brute force wrapped in an arrogant performance. He remained unimpressed.Julian, basking in the admiration, ran a hand through his slicked-back hair and scoffed. "That was barely a warm-up. If this is the best this reputable annual competition has to offer, I'm disappo
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 49 ~
Barbara’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded as she slowly turned, disbelief flooding her veins.Zach stepped forward, his expression unreadable, his posture calm but firm.The coordinator assessed Zach with a bemused expression, a chuckle escaping his lips. "You must be joking, young man," he said, shaking his head. "Challenging Julian Viking? Are you on something?"Zach's face remained impassive, his eyes locked onto Julian. "I'm dead serious," he replied firmly.Laughter erupted from the spectators, their mockery filling the hall."Is this guy for real?" one sneered."He must have a death wish," another jeered."Maybe he thinks this is some kind of joke," a third added."Didn't he see how Julian eliminated those two powerful men ?" someone else scoffed.Despite the ridicule, Zach's gaze never wavered from Julian.Julian's eyes narrowed, his pride wounded by the audacity of the challenge. He spat on the ground, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you have a death wish,
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~ 50 ~
The hall buzzed with murmurs, the air thick with anticipation. Every spectator leaned forward, eager to witness a match they already assumed was decided.Julian Viking, an infamous member of one of the top 3 powerful family in Belmont, known for his ruthless dominance, against Zach—a man they considered foolish for stepping onto this stage. The fight had yet to begin, but the verdict was already cast in their eyes.They believed Julian will waste no time to finish off Zach.Julian smirked and reached into his pants pocket, retrieving a deadly weapon—brass knuckles. He slid them onto his fingers with an unsettling grace, the metallic sheen catching the light. He flexed his hand, cracking his knuckles before lifting his gaze to Zach."You're going to regret this, boy," Julian sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm going to make good use of these on you."A ripple of unease spread through the spectators. Barbara, seated at the edge of her chair, felt her stomach churn. This wasn’t
~ 49 ~
Barbara’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded as she slowly turned, disbelief flooding her veins.Zach stepped forward, his expression unreadable, his posture calm but firm.The coordinator assessed Zach with a bemused expression, a chuckle escaping his lips. "You must be joking, young man," he said, shaking his head. "Challenging Julian Viking? Are you on something?"Zach's face remained impassive, his eyes locked onto Julian. "I'm dead serious," he replied firmly.Laughter erupted from the spectators, their mockery filling the hall."Is this guy for real?" one sneered."He must have a death wish," another jeered."Maybe he thinks this is some kind of joke," a third added."Didn't he see how Julian eliminated those two powerful men ?" someone else scoffed.Despite the ridicule, Zach's gaze never wavered from Julian.Julian's eyes narrowed, his pride wounded by the audacity of the challenge. He spat on the ground, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you have a death wish,
~ 48 ~
Murmurs rippled through the grand hall, filled with a mix of awe and disbelief. Julian had defeated Kenji in mere moments, his strength and precision leaving the audience both stunned and terrified."Did you see that? He sent him flying like he was nothing!""Kenji is a renowned martial artist from Japan! How did he lose so quickly?""Julian Viking is truly undefeatable. Who could ever match up to him?"The astonishment was widespread, but for Zach, it was the opposite. He leaned back against his chair, arms crossed, eyes unwavering. He had seen through Julian’s flashy display. While the crowd might have been dazzled, Zach recognized the simple yet effective techniques Julian had used. It was nothing extraordinary—just brute force wrapped in an arrogant performance. He remained unimpressed.Julian, basking in the admiration, ran a hand through his slicked-back hair and scoffed. "That was barely a warm-up. If this is the best this reputable annual competition has to offer, I'm disappo
~ 47 ~
“You’re a waste of my time, boy," Julian scoffed, rolling his shoulders back before shooting one last glare at Zach. Then, with a smirk, he turned away. “This way, please,” Mac gestured forward, leading Julian to a private table at the front of the hall.Barbara, standing beside Zach, scoffed under her breath. “What a scumbag.”After Julian Viking had sat down, Mac stepped onto the platform, tapping the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, the competition will now begin, as our esteemed man of honor, Julian Viking, has arrived.”The room erupted in applause, an acknowledgment of Julian’s presence.Another man, the coordinator took the stage, his voice ringing with excitement. “This is the most anticipated competition in Belmont City every year. And this time, we have an incredible grand prize—the Heart of Solis, a rare antique of immense value.”Gasps and murmurs of admiration filled the room. The speaker continued, “This year, we have an extraordinary participant, making it nearly im
~ 46 ~
The city’s hall was packed. As Barbara stepped inside with Zach, whispers followed them.“Isn’t that Julian’s fiancée?”“Why is she with that ordinary-looking man?”“She’s so disappointing.”Barbara’s sharp eyes landed on the gossipers, and they immediately pretended to be engrossed in something else. Huffing, she walked further into the hall.Minutes later, a convoy of black jeeps pulled before the city hall—Lamborghini Urus, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and a Bentley Bentayga.All eyes snapped toward the entrance.Julian stepped out of the first jeep, dressed in an expensive tailored jacket and trousers, exuding dominance.Murmurs of praise erupted.“He’s here!”“The strongest man in Belmont.”“A true elite.”Flashes from cameras blinded the entrance as journalists rushed to get his picture.But Julian ignored them, walking with pride. His presence alone was suffocating. Inside the hall, even the richest men bowed slightly as he passed.One of the organizers rushed up. “Master Julian! Welc
~ 45 ~
The room was silent, save for the faint rustling of fabric as Zach adjusted his posture. He sat on the floor, knees bent, back straight, the locket hanging against his bare chest. The window he had left open allowed the silver glow of the moon to stream in, casting ethereal patterns on the wooden floor. He inhaled deeply, feeling the cool night air settle in his lungs before exhaling steadily.Closing his eyes, he focused on the locket. A warmth spread from the small object, pulsing against his skin like a second heartbeat. Suddenly, images flooded his mind—flashes of combat techniques, ancient movements perfected through generations, and a deep understanding of battle flowing through him like an untapped river.His muscles tensed, then relaxed. His fingers curled slightly before opening again as if guided by an unseen force. He could see himself in his mind’s eye, executing powerful strikes, evading attacks with precision, and channeling raw energy into his limbs. The sensation was o
~ 44 ~
Julian’s nostrils flared, his grip tightening around the edge of the door. His gaze burned into the men kneeling before him, their heads bowed in shame. His voice, laced with restrained fury, cut through the tense air. “How was that possible?”With his face bruised and bloodied, the man hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. “They were too strong, Master.” He kept his eyes low, as if daring to meet Julian’s gaze would seal his fate.Julian’s jaw clenched, his fury rising like an uncontrollable storm. His breaths grew ragged. Weak. Pathetic. He had trained these men to be his shields, not cowards.A soft touch at his back made him freeze.“Come back, Master,” a sultry voice cooed. Delicate hands wrapped around his tense frame.Julian roared, shoving her away with brute force. “Get out!”The woman gasped, stumbling back as fear widened her eyes. She vanished in a hurried retreat, knowing better than to stay when his anger boiled over.Julian scoffed, shaking his
~ 43 ~
Barbara was short of words, her throat tightening as she tried to swallow the bitter taste of her father’s words. She couldn't say anything else. Mac, standing tall and imperious, gave his final order."Look your best tomorrow for Julian, and see to it that your guard here stays well." His voice held no room for argument. Then, turning his piercing gaze to Zach, he smirked slightly, a glint of menace in his sharp eyes."I hope you've been protecting my daughter well and not taking advantage of your proximity at times?" he sneered.Barbara's shock tightened into something colder. How could he reduce a multi-billionaire who could erase poverty from Belmont with a mere signature to nothing more than a common bodyguard?However, Zach only smiled at the misconception, amusement dancing in his eyes. Mac frowned at the reaction."Father, with all due respect, he's not my bodyguard," Barbara said firmly. "He's my friend."Mac’s face twisted in disdain. "Friend? You keep friends with ordinary
~ 42 ~
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a grand estate, its high iron gates parting silently to reveal a long driveway lined with cherry blossom trees. The estate itself was a fortress of elegance—tall, imposing, with a blend of modern and classic architecture that hinted at old money and power. Zach turned to Barbara, noticing her stiff posture, the way her fingers clenched into fists on her lap. The confident, sharp-tongued woman from earlier had faded into something else—someone hesitant, uncertain.He stepped out and walked around to her side, opening the door for her. “You okay?”She let out a short breath. “Physically, yes. Mentally?” She shook her head. “Not so much.”He studied her, concern flashing in his eyes. “Why?”She forced a smile. “You don’t have to worry about that.”Before he could push further, she turned and led him toward the entrance. As they approached, uniformed guards at the massive doors immediately straightened and bowed at her presence. Zach took it al
