Chapter 297
Chapter 297 When Giants Move
零
Finished
Leona glanced at Larry, and he looked right back. Neither said a word, though the shock on both their faces said plenty.
Olivia had shown up without warning earlier that day. Larry assumed she was here to patch things up, maybe offer some kind of peace gesture from the Tarlyn Guild. That was the story she gave, anyway.
He brought her in, thinking it was harmless.
Then, she opened her mouth, and reality hit like a punch to the gut.
She wasn’t here to make peace.
She was here to declare war on behalf of someone the martial world hadn’t heard from in forty years—the second-generation master of the Tarlyn Guild.
Larry could hardly process it. That old ghost still alive? And now he wants a fight?
Off to the side, the Southern Wyvern Blade squad looked stunned.
Their Chief Instructor-Leander Ashcroft, the undefeated Iron Sovereign-was actually being challenged.
No one had ever dared to do that before.
Olivia stood tall, but her eyes told another story. This was her first time seeing Leander in person. The stories were all she had-stories of blood-soaked victories and mercy that never
came.
On the surface, she was poised. Inside, she was praying he didn’t take offense and turn her into a smear on the ground.
Then Leander finally spoke, “Oh? The second-generation master of the Tarlyn Guild p>
He didn’t even raise his voice. It was calm, too calm.
“Your guild lost to me nine months ago. You all went quiet real fast. Now, you think you’re ready for round two p>
He tilted his head slightly, eyes half-lidded.
“So, that’s the trick, huh? Dig up an old master and hope he can do what none of you could p>
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Olivia straightened her posture. He’s stepped into the Transcendent Realm. He told me to deliver one message. No matter what happens in this fight-win or lose-it ends here. The grudge is settled p>
Larry’s breath caught.
Transcendent Realm? Someone in the Tarlyn Guild actually reached that? No way… right?
Leander stood up slowly, lips pulling into a lazy smirk as he rolled his shoulders like he’d just woken from a nap.
“So, that’s what’s giving you all that courage, huh?” His tone was light, almost amused.
“I already buried this grudge when Mason died on Mount Lurvale. After that, your whole guild went quiet. As far as I’m concerned, it was done p>
He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as they settled on Olivia. “Now you want to drag up the past again?
“Fine. Go back and tell your so-called master this- if he stays where he is, I won’t go looking for him p>
A beat passed.
“Yet if he shows up… I won’t pull my punches. When it’s done and if he falls, there won’t be a Tarlyn Guild left in Mornwick p>
He didn’t raise his voice. There was no threat in his tone.
That made it even scarier.
Olivia felt her stomach tighten. Her confidence shrank with every word.
She understood what he meant-clear as day.
If Tristan stayed away, peace would hold.
If he came, the Tarlyn Guild wouldn’t survive.
So, this was Jeff Ashcroft, the man sitting at the top of Astria’s martial world.
No bluster or theatrics.
He didn’t need to raise his voice or make grand threats.
He just existed-with a presence that said everything.
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#Finished
“Understood. I’ll pass the message along. Thanks for your time, Sovereign, Olivia said, calm and steady. She gave a subtle how and walked off without another word.
Leander didn’t move. He stayed where he was-leaning back against the tree, legs stretched out, half-sunk into the dirt.
Olivia gave him one last sharp look, then glanced at Leona and Larry.
A beat later, she was gone-swift and silent, like a breeze that never lingered.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
Larry shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. “Chief Ashcroft… I swear,
I didn’t know she came for that p>
Leander waved it off like it was nothing. “No big deal. You’re not them p>
He turned to the squad, who were still frozen mid-stretch. “Why are you all standing around? Get back to work p>
His voice snapped them out of it. They returned to training, though their minds clearly hadn’t left the conversation.
Chief Ashcroft is already sitting at the top of Astria’s power rankings, and now someone thinks it’s a good idea to challenge him in broad daylight? Seriously?
The thought wouldn’t leave them.
Torre stood at the edge, brows furrowed. He thought, Tarlyn Guild’s making a move on Chief Ashcroft… this is going to shake the whole dmn martial world.
High up on Mount Lurvale, inside the Tarlyn Guild’s inner hall, Olivia finished her report to Tristan-every word, just as Leander had said it.
The old man sat still, but the pressure in the room doubled the moment she finished.
“Erase Tarlyn Cuild from Mornwick?” Tristan muttered, eyes cold.
He flexed his fingers once. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the stone floor. Thin fractures spidered outward from his chair.
“Jeff Ashcroft, you’ve had a good run, I’ll give you that. Young, victorious, and sharp p>
His voice dropped an octave.
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Chapter 297 When Diants Move
Finished
“Maybe a little too sharp… You’ve gotten so used to winning, you’ve forgotten what
real power feels like.” Tristan rose to his feet, slow and steady, like a storm gathering on the horizon. “So, let me remind you what a true Transcendent looks like p>
Tristan sat nearby, silent.
He didn’t say a word, but his mind was racing.
He’s going. There’s no question about it. Great-grandpa’s already made up his
mind.
This time, we can’t afford to lose.
If we do, that’s it. The Tarlyn Guild won’t just fall. It’ll disappear-like we were never
here to begin with.
Thirty days passed in a flash.
Leander’s time at Wyvern Field Camp had come to an end.
In just a month, everything changed.
Boomer, Torre, Brute, Skyler, Vane… each had surpassed their previous limits. Their strength, energy flow, and fighting instincts became sharper, faster, and stronger.
At the gate, more than twenty squad members stood tall in formation, saluting as Leander prepared to leave.
Darrow arrived with several generals to see him off.
“Chief Ashcroft… what you’ve done here? It’s’ honestly beyond words,” Darrow said, gripping Leander’s hand firmly. “That Devourer’s Flow of yours? After seeing how these guys trained with it, it’s the real deal p>
He hesitated for a second.
“I’d like to recommend it be locked in as a top-tier military secret. Something only the Southern Wyvern Blade has access to. What do you think p>
Leander gave a lazy nod, adjusting his shoulder bag. “I left everything at the base. Do whatever you need to p>
Darrow beamed and nodded gratefully.
Once the formalities were over, Leander turned to face the squad. “I’ve been here
for a month. It doesn’t matter how you feel about me-what matters is you made it. From here on out, it’s
4/5
000
on you’
He paused, ryes sweeping over the group.
One last thing p>
He raised a finger.
A gust of invisible force shot out, carving words into the earth beneath their feet.
“The brave have no fear. The fearless are invincible p>
With that, he turned and walked away.
Two steps in, voices rang out behind him.
“Chief Ashcroft! No matter how long you’re gone, you’ll always be our Chief
Instructor p>
The entire squad shouted in unison.
Even Skyler, who rarely raised his voice, joined in without hesitation.
Leona stood off to the side, arms crossed, eyes filled with emotion she didn’t quite
know how to
name.
Leander slowed for just a moment. A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
He didn’t look back, just raised a hand in silent farewell.
Right as he reached the edge of the camp, he stopped cold.
A sudden gust tore through the air.
The wind howled, kicking up dust and debris-something twisted above, like a storm
winding its way down from the heavens.
Darrow’s face shifted. His eyes narrowed. What in the world?
Leander clenched his fists. “He’s here p>
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