Dragons Beneath the Surface

Two figures rapidly approached from behind along the garden pathway.

Their footsteps were disciplined.

Steady.

Clearly trained.

They stopped about three meters away before bowing respectfully. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Their expressions carried seriousness rarely seen before.

They stopped about three meters away and called out in unison, "Obsidian King."

The voices were respectful.

Steady.

Disciplined.

The morning breeze drifted softly through the private hospital garden as Evan slowly turned around beneath the sunlight. The white sleeves of his hospital attire fluttered lightly, his sharp black eyes landing on the two women before him.

Lina Ashford.

Liza Voss.

One had long green hair flowing down her waist, paired with mesmerizing purple eyes that carried both elegance and danger. Her curvy figure stood proudly beneath her fitted black outfit, her posture relaxed yet alert.

The other remained far quieter.

Liza stood beside Lina with her long black hair falling naturally over her shoulders, her black eyes calm and unreadable like a still lake at midnight. Compared to Lina’s mature curves, her petite figure gave her a deceptively harmless appearance.

But Evan knew better.

Both women were deadly.

And loyal.

At least for now.

Seeing the two women, Evan couldn’t help but feel a surge of desire rise inside him.

It had been too long.

Being bedridden for so long, unable to move freely, had left him with a frustrating amount of pent-up tension.

Especially after recovering his strength.

Now that his body had fully healed and his cultivation reached another level, the instinctive hunger inside him only grew fiercer.

His gaze slowly swept across Lina’s chest before lingering briefly on Liza’s slender waist and broad hips.

A familiar wickedness surfaced in his eyes.

However—

He restrained himself.

Not yet.

Now wasn’t the right time.

Once everything stabilized...

Once he regained control...

Devouring both of them would merely be a matter of time.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"You two have worked hard infiltrating these past days. How’s the mission going?"

Evan habitually flashed a wicked smile as he asked.

The sunlight reflected faintly in his dark eyes, making the smile look more dangerous than warm.

Lina stepped forward first.

Her purple eyes remained calm.

"We’ve successfully infiltrated the D’Aurelius Family."

Then Liza spoke immediately after.

"We’ve obtained crucial confidential information from the D’Aurelius Group."

Their coordination remained perfect as always.

Short.

Precise.

Professional.

Hearing that, satisfaction immediately appeared on Evan’s face.

"Good..."

He slowly nodded, folding his hands behind his back.

"As expected from you two. With your help, it’s like having a dragon and phoenix by my side."

His tone carried genuine appreciation this time.

Recently, too many things had spiraled beyond his control.

The Scythe Division had already betrayed him and sided with Lucas.

Even thinking about it caused killing intent to flicker briefly through his eyes.

Traitors.

All of them.

Meanwhile Bear was still rotting in prison, busy hammering stones every day like some low-class laborer.

The humiliation of his once-proud subordinate reduced to that state still irritated Evan deeply.

Thankfully...

These two women remained dependable.

Reliable.

Useful.

That alone was enough to stabilize his mood slightly.

Lina and Liza exchanged a quick glance but said nothing.

Neither woman showed any excitement at his praise.

Both had long since grown accustomed to his personality.

Evan slowly walked toward the nearby stone fountain in the garden.

Water trickled gently behind him.

Birds chirped overhead.

But beneath that peaceful scenery—

Danger quietly brewed.

"There were some minor issues with the plan recently," Evan said calmly, "but overall, it’s still under control."

As he spoke, memories flashed briefly through his mind.

Humiliation.

Pain.

Julian D’Aurelius.

Every encounter with that man had ended badly.

Yet strangely—

Each defeat also pushed him further.

Like a blade repeatedly tempered by fire.

"After being besieged by numerous experts," Evan continued slowly, "I actually had a blessing in disguise and broke through my realm."

His lips curved upward.

"I’m now at the peak of the Silver Realm."

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere around him subtly changed.

Pressure.

Invisible but real.

The fountain water trembled faintly.

Even the air itself seemed heavier.

Lina’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Liza’s calm expression shifted for the first time.

This breakthrough...

Was faster than expected.

Both women understood what reaching the peak of the Silver Realm truly meant.

Evan was already terrifying before.

Now—

He was even more dangerous.

Still, out of long-standing habit, the two women immediately spoke together.

"Congratulations, Obsidian King, on your breakthrough. What’s the next step?"

Their voices sounded perfectly synchronized.

Evan smiled faintly.

But unlike before—

There was less arrogance in that smile now.

More coldness.

More patience.

Recent failures had changed him.

At least somewhat.

He slowly looked toward the distant skyline of Valemont visible beyond the hospital walls.

The city stood peaceful under the morning sun.

Cars moved along distant roads.

People lived ordinary lives.

Completely unaware of the storms gathering beneath the surface.

"Next..." Evan murmured softly.

His fingers slowly tightened behind his back.

The veins along his hand bulged faintly.

The memory of Julian’s mocking smile surfaced again.

Lucas’s betrayal.

The humiliation.

The pain.

The losses.

One by one, they ignited quietly inside his chest.

His eyes darkened completely.

"It’s time to strike back."

His voice became colder.

Sharper.

The killing intent leaking from him caused even the nearby flowers to sway unnaturally.

Lina remained silent.

Liza quietly lowered her gaze.

Both women could feel it—

The Obsidian King they once knew was returning.

More ruthless than before.

Then Evan slowly turned around fully.

His black eyes carried chilling determination.

"Julian D’Aurelius and Lucas must die."

Evan’s face suddenly twisted with venomous hatred.

The gentle morning breeze flowing through the private hospital’s garden seemed to grow colder around him. Sunlight filtered through the trees overhead, casting shifting shadows across his black hair and emotionless eyes. Yet beneath that calm exterior, rage churned like boiling poison.

Both of them deserved to die.

One had ruined his plans again and again.

The other dared covet the position of the Obsidian Kings.

His fingers slowly tightened behind his back until the knuckles turned pale.

For a moment, the peaceful garden atmosphere vanished entirely. The pressure radiating from the peak Silver Realm expert made the nearby flowers tremble faintly.

He looked at the two women standing before him and ordered coldly, "Liza, continue gathering important confidential information. Make sure we can crush the D’Aurelius Group in one blow when the time comes."