The phone rang so suddenly that both Jerry and Ned leaped in fright."It is the long ring!" Ned exclaimed, breaking into a sweat. The gate phone usually had short rings for communications with the hotel's security team. However, the long ring meant that the big boss was calling.Jerry pressed the receive button. "Hello? Mr. Anderson? This is Jerry from the main gate."Silas Anderson was on the other end and wasn't in a good mood. "I don't care what your name is. I just received a message that someone swiped the diamond access card. Who is it?"Jerry gulped anxiously. "Sir, please don't mind the notification. A bum who calls himself Tyler Grant found your lost diamond card. He tried to gain entry fraudulently. We've confiscated the card and will call the authorities right away. He'll be arrested for and thrown into prison."There was a suspenseful pause before Silas replied. "Fools!" he thundered. "Tyler Grant is my esteemed guest! Do you think I hand out diamond cards to every commone
Silas eyed Natalie sternly. “That’s enough, Nat! I won’t have you misbehave with our savior! The unthinkable would have happened if Mr. Grant hadn’t rescued Tony from that shady club! Besides, he took the trouble of bringing your brother here discreetly with great regard for our family’s reputation. How can you be so ungrateful?”Natalie silenced herself but settled on the couch, glaring at Tyler with murderous intent.Silas stepped forward and joined his hands. “I can’t thank you enough, Mr. Grant. You have already done me two great favors in one day. How can I repay you?”Tyler shook his head. “Don’t mention it. But I’d like to share my opinion about Tony’s mental health.”“I am all ears. To be honest, I have trouble understanding the boy. He’s been avoiding us lately and hanging out with outsiders. I tried offering him expensive gifts but to no avail.”The young man looked into Silas’ weary eyes. “If I may be blunt, you are smothering him with too much attention. Tony has just come
Tyler exited the washroom to see the beautiful Natalie on her knees. Her face was soggy with tears, and her lips quivered in anguish. Yet, the young woman looked angelic, her dark cascading hair strewn about her shoulders and her radiant skin glistening under tears and perspiration.On recognizing Tyler, the beauty stared at him with her moist doe eyes and blinked her perfect eyelashes in surprise."Are you okay?" Tyler asked, extending a hand to help her up. The young woman accepted his offer and slowly got to her feet. For a moment, she saw him for what he really was—powerful, reliable, and dashing.Natalie shook her head and moaned. "You're still here?"Tyler let go of her hand and turned to leave. "I just went to the washroom, leaving right now. You don't have to chase me out. I have no intention of overstaying my welcome.""Wait!" she called out. The young man turned around with a raised eyebrow. "What now? You're not done berating me?"Natalie mumbled through her sobs. "I need y
“Poisoned?” Natalie asked in shock.”Who would want to poison my father? He has no enemies!”Dr. Becker weighed in. “I tested Mr. Anderson’s blood for all common poisons. His toxicology report was clean. Perhaps you are mistaken?”Tyler shook his head. He was talking about a curse, to be precise. However, ordinary people would not believe or understand such things.Tyler never believed in the supernatural three years back. However, he discovered an entire world of spiritual growth while training with Butch Salvatore.“There is limited strength one can gain through the physical body,” the old man told him during one of their sessions. “Once you hit your prime, your growth will hit a threshold—the limits of the human body. However, the mystical world offers another dimension of strength and power, where there are no limits!”Tyler was told that there might be others like him practicing the martial and spiritual arts. Silas’ curse was clearly placed by someone versed in the same field.“My
The Owens were a third-tier family who had sworn loyalty to the Coopers. Even though they were not a big deal in Sapphire City, they took pride in their connection with Mark Cooper, the family patriarch. Tim Owen was especially aware of the downfall of the Grant family and Tyler's imprisonment.Melissa Brown was a stuck-up young woman who had a crush on Tyler during their college days. However, the latter chose Erica as his partner because of her humility. Now, Melissa felt she had the upper hand since she landed an Owen family member as her boyfriend."Do you even realize where you are, Tyler?" Tim asked, drawing up a chair opposite him. "You're sitting on a VIP table in the Marian Hotel, a hub for the wealthy and the mighty. It's not meant for filthy rodents like you!""Should we even speak to this man, Tim?" Melissa snapped. "He's an ex-convict who slipped into this party for free food and liquor. It's better if we call the guards before he bites us!"Tyler paid no attention to the
The volatile sequence of events happened so fast that barely anybody had time to react.Before the bodyguards could intervene, Tyler pulled Trent out of the soup and shoved him away. The petrified Cooper heir stumbled and fell on his butt. As soon as he was free, he let out a somewhat effeminate shriek. One could only imagine the pain of being immersed face-first into a bowl of scalding soup.The servants panicked and splashed cold water over Trent’s face to wash away the vegetables. Ultimately, he looked disheveled and ragged like a soaking wet tabby cat. His facial skin turned a darker tan.Erica ran to her fiance in tears. “Are you okay, darling?” she asked, trying to comfort him. The young man swatted her hand away and glared at Tyler with bubbling hatred.“You delinquent!” Erica hollered at his attacker. “Are you trying to kill my fiance?”Tyler returned to his seat and continued enjoying his meal as if nothing unusual happened.“If I really tried to kill him, he would already be
“Trust me, Natalie,” Trent explained. “I’ve known this guy since high school. He neither has any medical skills nor any other talent. His only gifts are lip service and grifting, to which my present fiance, Erica, fell victim. I sent Tyler to prison and rescued her from his entrapment.”The truth was—Trent had been pursuing Natalie romantically for years. It was public opinion that she was one of the most beautiful women in Sapphire City, definitely better-looking than Erica.Even Mark Cooper wanted Natalie to be his daughter-in-law so he could one day claim the Anderson conglomerate. However, Natalie never showed interest in Trent and repeatedly turned him down.“If Mr. Grant has inadvertently offended you, I apologize on his behalf,” Silas told Mark. “But he is under my protection. You may not threaten his life while I am alive.”Tyler sighed, dipping his hand in the finger bowl and wiping it on tissues. He was finally done with his meal.“Silas…” he said, turning to the billionaire.
The entire hall was shocked to hear Tyler's declaration. The Ice Princess, Natalie Anderson, had finally chosen a mate? Was she dating Tyler Grant? What was she thinking?Natalie herself was delirious, her gaze firm on Tyler as he held her by the waist in an intimate embrace. "She is my girlfriend," he repeated. "Anybody who wants to court her has to go through me first."Even Silas looked bamboozled. Personally, he was thoroughly impressed by Tyler's abilities and behavior. He wouldn't mind having someone like him as his son-in-law."What nonsense is this?" Mark thundered. "Silas! Is this true? Have you given consent to this relationship?"Silas took a deep breath before replying. "It is my daughter's choice who she wants to be with. I have no say in the matter."Mark turned to Natalie. "Is it true, girl? You can tell the truth. This miscreant is lying, isn't he? Why would a popular diva like you want to be with a wastrel like him?"Natalie's gaze shifted from Mark to Silas and then
The Seraphim King’s mention induced a wave of muttering among the conference members. Lazarus raised his hand to silence them. "The last time I checked, the Seraphim King was dying in Montserrat Prison," he resumed with a louder voice than normal. "What the hell was he doing in El Abyssium? Tell me the truth!" A couple of shadows parted from the room's darkness and gradually slithered towards Dagon and Veronica. The hulk realized this and panicked. "When we reached the Hetacomb site, Butch Salvatore was already there! It was actually him who defeated Goliath!" "So you thought it convenient to claim the credit? You picked up the pieces and ran with the tail tucked between your legs?" The shadows moved faster, now only several feet from Dagon and Veronica. "No, my lord! I killed the Seraphim King with Kraken! He is dead!" Lazarus raised his brows. A gasp of surprise in unison rose from the conference members. It turned into scattered cheers. The Seraphim King was considered t
“You will certainly not die if you eat the forbidden fruit,” the serpent said to Eve.~Genesis 3:1-5.***Far off, a secret conference was under way in an undisclosed location. Selected individuals crowded a long table. Some faces were covered with hoods and masks, while others were shadowed. Regardless of the secrecy and covertness, the chatter was loud."What? We lost El Medalla? How could this happen?""Years of hard work and investments ruined? Shame!""What were the mercenaries doing? Did the Red Marauders give up?""Dagon has never failed us before! Does that dog's leash need to be tightened?""How dare the Prince of Petra launch a war against us? Who told him about El Medalla in the first place?""We must retaliate! We have no other alternative!"A man sat at the head of the conference table, paying no attention to the rabble. He looked engaged in deep meditation or profound thought. Suddenly, he stirred, his eyes turning to the side.A surge of incoming energy disturbed his in
The previous chapter marks the end of the Ascension Arc. I applaud and congratulate all readers who have read this far. I hope you enjoyed the journey. However, this is just the beginning. The Ascension Arc will be followed by the Coronation Arc, where Tyler deals with more daunting enemies and situations. New characters will be introduced, and the focus will shift towards those I have ignored till now. We have had a lot of fantasy battles. It is now time to return home and face more down-to-earth challenges. Those who read so far, kindly leave a review under the story's main page. (Note: there is a difference between leaving a comment on a paragraph or chapter and under the main page) I hope you will still accompany Tyler further on his journey. Thanks again for the support and love. Yours fictionally, KAISER KEN P.S: Do read my other story, THE PEERLESS MAN WITH A THOUSAND GIFTS. It is set in the same universe with an equally awesome main character. Thanks.
The Salvatore estate was situated in the hilly regions of Sapphire City. It was remote, accessible only by helicopters, ski lifts, and cable cars. Other billionaires of the city were rather unaware and uninterested in the massive terrain covered by the Salvatore estate. They dismissed it as waste hilly lands. Actually, the ancient estate was hidden from commoners through different geographical and magical means. However, the truth was far from it. The area was replete with mines and minerals. It was a treasure trove of riches. Moreover, a thirty-thousand-square-foot castle dominated the Salvatore estate. It was an ancient structure from where Butch used to rule when he was alive. Britta was raised within those premises. Tyler Grant touched down at a site specially selected for the old man’s last rites. As his wings retreated, he noticed a ceremonial gathering had been summoned. They were Salvatore loyalists, castle butlers and staff, and a few of Tyler’s acquaintances. Under Ty
The resurrected Yara Mathews received no replies from the others. Instead, she was the object of shocked stares from the girls and a blank look from Tyler. She turned from one to the other in utter perplexity. Suddenly, Yara realized she was naked. She let out a feminine scream. With one arm, the beauty covered her breasts and her crotch with the other. “Someone help me…” she whimpered. “I don’t know what’s happening…” Tyler turned his eyes away from the nudity, instead focusing on the charred Hetacomb site. While he dwelt on his emotions, Kat and Britta rushed towards Yara to aid her. “Don’t worry, child!” the goddess called out the soothing words. “Everything’s fine. I’ll manifest some clothes on your body immediately!” “Stay right there, Yara!” the young Salvatore assured her. “We’re coming to help you!” Suddenly, Tyler’s senses tingled. His gaze whipped back to the girls. “Don’t look at her while she is naked!” Britta snapped at him. “What’s wrong with you?” The you
Kat was still connected to Tyler emotionally and spiritually through a fine strand of mystical energy. It snapped abruptly, making her take an apprehensive step back. The goddess realized something had broken inside him. Butch Salvatore's death had already dealt a powerful blow to Tyler's psyche. Now, Yara's passing had broken the threshold. A part of his personality that he had suppressed all his life had awakened. "Tyler… You're scaring me…" Kat mumbled anxiously. The young man's demented smile was oddly persistent. He appeared not to have heard the goddess' concerns. He spun sharply, taking a purposeful step in the opposite direction. "Where are you going?" Kat asked, knowing her question would fall on deaf ears. Tyler took a single leap and, in a second, appeared fifty yards away. The area he landed on was bathed in deep red. It was as if a large tank of blood had been overturned. The young man's sharp eyes scanned the area with urgency. He finally spotted what he was l
"NOOO!" Britta screamed, jumping off Kat's back before the latter stopped her gallop.The girl's loud reaction was justified. She had just noticed that her grandfather lay on his back, seemingly lifeless. The old man had only one arm. Half a dozen holes riddled his muscular torso. Moreover, the corpse had already begun to turn blue.The great Butch Salvatore was dead. Tyler knelt before his body with a vacant and spaced-out expression. His own clothes were tattered, but no injuries or bruises were visible."Thank the primordial gods," Kat muttered to herself, realizing her ex-husband was alive and unharmed. She skidded to a stop and changed into her human form.The Mayan goddess raced towards Tyler for a much-desired reunion. However, she stopped abruptly on spotting Butch's corpse. Kat stood motionless, unable to decide whether to hug Tyler out of relief or grieve for Britta's grandfather.Butch Salvatore meant nothing to her as a person. She hadn't encountered him earlier in the pr
“Yes. Do you know what it is about?”“I thought it was another name for the Seraphim King?”The old man shook his head. “No. The prophecy is about the arrival of one powerful soul in a hundred thousand years.”“A hundred thousand? That is a long time period, running into prehistory! Even before humanity came into existence!”Butch furrowed his brows dismissively. “I don’t have the time to tell you about all the ancient civilizations that existed before recorded history. All you need to know is that the thousandth Seraphim King will be the prophesied Gilded Man.”“Who is he?” Tyler asked curiously. “What number were you?”“I was the nine hundred and ninety-ninth,” the old man replied with a knowing smile.Tyler sat up with a start, now that all his injuries were healed. “I am the Gilded Man? Are you sure about that? Clearly, there’s been a mistake! Someone who couldn’t even protect his own master can’t be a savior born from prophecy!”“Didn’t I ask you not to interrupt me?” Butch fired
Pluck! Something arrested Tyler’s free fall in mid-air. It was unexpected since his fractured senses detected no living beings in the vicinity. That was the primary reason he gave up in the first place.The young man opened his bleeding eyes to find out what was happening. Who was the mysterious savior? With sunlight blinding his already blurry vision, he could see someone carrying him. Together, they floated to the ground comfortably.Tyler strained his eyes as they landed. A heavily muscled torso and a familiar face loomed over him. It was Butch Salvatore!“Master!” he groaned in disbelief. “Is that really you? I thought you were dead!”Tyler had seen Butch die with his own eyes. Kraken devoured the old man’s right arm and later riddled his body with holes. In the end, the monster crushed his heart, essentially ending his life.How did Butch survive such irreparably fatal wounds? How did he fix his entire shredded body? Moreover, it was known that damage taken from Kraken could not