Chapter 284
Chapter 284 Above the Heavens
The entire place fell deathly still.
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Every gaze locked onto the massive fissure gouged across the estate, stretching dozens of meters through stone and soil. No one spoke. No one dared to move.
What had they just witnessed?
Even the heroes in those flashy Western blockbusters didn’t hold a candle to this.
A single motion. One sweep of the arm.
And the entire Shire Estate had been split clean in two.
Was this still human strength?
Only now did everyone begin to understand why Leander had crushed Mornwick with ease, why the Walsh family had crumbled before him, and why even the darkest corners of the underworld had nearly been brought to ruin.
With power like that… what throne, what wealth, what legacy could ever hope to stand in his way?
Martha’s heart raced. Her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.
She had never felt anything like this before—not in her youth, not with any of the so-called elites she’d known.
For the first time, she felt like a girl again. Awestruck. Breathless.
Leander’s dominance. The effortless way he tore through resistance. The fact that even the region’s Supreme Commander held him in such esteem-it all left her utterly shaken.
Those other men, the ones who’d strutted around with titles like “heir to Cranfordale” or “young market genius,” suddenly felt like paper dolls in comparison,
Against Leander, they didn’t just fall short-they didn’t even qualify to compete.
She glanced at Sylvia. The other woman’s eyes were wide, fixed on Leander, as if spellbound.
“So, this is Jeff Ashcroft,” Sylvia whispered, her voice dazed. “The man who walks above kings p>
Nearby, Madeline’s
eyes shimmered faintly with a mix of awe and sorrow.
Ever since she’d discovered the truth about Leander, she’d vowed never to fall too far behind.
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Chapter 283 Above the Heavens
Even if she couldn’t catch up, she wanted to be worthy enough to stand by his side.
But no matter how hard she worked, he always surged ahead. And now?
Even the Supreme Commander had come in person to see him.
That kind of recognition-respect was something no status or bloodline could buy. Hazel.. your adopted son is no ordinary man.
Clement couldn’t stop smiling. He clapped his hands once, loud and full of pride. (62)
Finished
Mornwick’s quiet storm. Chairman of Ashcroft Group. Uncrowned ruler of the Astria martial world. Chief Instructor of the Southern Wyvern Blade.
Title after title, honor after honor. Each one more outrageous than the last.
Clement had once feared Leander wouldn’t be able to stand against the combined pressure of the Locke and Quigley families. He’d even reached out to his old war buddies, hoping to lend some last-minute help.
But now?
Not only had Leander flattened both families, but he had forced top-ranking state officials and even the province’s two strongest martial masters to bow.
Clement realized he’d underestimated him, over and over again. Everything he thought he
knew had crumbled.
The elderly man beside him, once dismissive, now let out a long breath.
You’re blessed beyond words, Clement. That young man is a force of nature.
He, too, had mistaken Leander’s calm confidence for arrogance. But the truth had hit harder than he could have imagined. Now all he felt was admiration—and a tinge of jealousy.
With Leander at their side, the Shire family would soar far beyond Cranfordale. There was no longer a single family in the entire province that could rival them. Clement said nothing. He didn’t need to. The silence of the others said it all.
They hadn’t even recovered from the sight of that one strike.
Michael-one of the highest-ranking officers in the region-was frozen solid, his face pale. He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move.
On the far side, Graham’s eyes gleamed with something close to euphoria.
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He had been hesitant, once, when he and Miles approached Leander to lead the Southern Wyvern Blade. Back then, Leander hadn’t shown his full strength.
Now? There were no more questions.
That single, effortless strike had shattered every doubt he’d ever held.
He was certain-the Southern Wyvern Blade would rise again. And this time, it would eclipse its northern counterpart.
Just then, the deep rumble of engines echoed from outside.
The arrival of a motorcade.
A beat later, the sky above filled with the sound of heavy rotor blades. Everyone looked up to see a massive military helicopter descending above the estate.
Twin rotors. Crestgate insignia.
The crowd grew tense. Eyes turned to the skies. Faces solemn.
They all knew what it meant.
The Supreme Commander… was here.
Clement and Graham moved swiftly to the helipad, not daring to waste a second.
The chopper landed.
Its side doors opened.
And then, one by one, five officers stepped out.
Each wore a crisp uniform. Each moved with purpose and precision. The weight of command seemed to follow them like a shadow.
No one dared speak.
Someone in the crowd glanced at their shoulder ranks and gasped.
Two carried a single star.
Two bore two stars.
And the last-tall, poised, exuding sheer dominance-had three.
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The crowd went quiet.
A three-star general.
There was only one man in the entire Crestgate Military District with that rank.
Darrow Leon.
He looked no older than his early fifties, yet carried himself with the strength of a man half that age. Shoulders squared. Gaze sharply. Presence absolute. When he saw Clement, he strode forward and gripped the old commander’s hand.
“Old Mr. Shire,” he said warmly, “on your birthday, how could we not come pay our respects p>
Despite his authority, his tone held genuine respect.
Clement, seasoned as he was, could only smile and nod, overwhelmed by the gesture.
But then, Darrow’s eyes shifted toward the front of the hall.
Toward Leander.
In a few swift strides, the General closed the distance and stopped in front of him.
“I’ve heard of you for a long time, Instructor Leander,” he said. “It’s an honor to finally meet you p>
And just like that, the highest-ranking military officer in the province stood before him, not as a superior, but as an equal.
Leander gave a calm nod. “General Leon. The honor is mine p>
The two men exchanged words like old comrades. No deference. No false courtesy.
Just mutual respect
The room could hardly process what they were seeing.
The General didn’t mind in the slightest. He and Leander took their seats in the main
hall, joined by the other top officers.
And just like that, it felt as if no one else in the room mattered.
Only those six.
Everyone else was just… background noise.
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Martha’s heart trembled as she watched Leander speak with ease to a man who
could command armies.
Only now did she truly understand.
These so-called clites-these trust fund heirs and glamorous socialites-were all just children playing dress-up.
No wonder Leander had dared to say: Whatever this world throws at me-I’ll bear it
all alone.
And now, Clement stood nearby, his heart racing with joy.
The Shire family had stood proud in Cranfordale for decades. They’d produced
talent. They’d earned respect.
But today… they had birthed something else entirely.
Leander may not have carried the Shire name, but he was one of them.
And today, the Shires had risen above the heavens.
Send Gifts
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