The First Fight

The next morning, Lyrus returned to the main courtyard of the HellSin estate. His cousins were gathered there, laughing and boasting as usual. Among them was Varen Falk, a member of a rival family who had come to visit.

"Still dragging buckets, Lyrus?" Varen sneered. "No wonder your family is finished."

The laughter stung, but this time, Lyrus didn't lower his head. He stepped forward.

"Say that again," Lyrus said, his voice calm but firm.

Varen blinked in surprise. "What? Did the dog learn to bark?"

Lyrus took another step. His aura flared, and the ground beneath him cracked. The air grew heavy, and silence fell over the courtyard.

Varen's smirk wavered. "You think you can—"

Before he could finish, Lyrus moved. With a single step, he closed the distance, his fist slamming into Varen's chest. The force sent the rival tumbling across the courtyard, crashing into a pillar with a sickening thud.

Gasps filled the air. The weakling they had mocked for years had just defeated a trained fighter with a single blow.