Awakening : Becoming The World's Strongest Beast Master

"Since this is the case, then we will cut off our ties from now on," Lia declared firmly, her voice echoing across the factory.

As she spoke, the wind surrounding her intensified, surging violently throughout the workshop. The young people inside, most of whom were not very strong, panicked. One by one, they fled outside, terrified by the escalating chaos.

Those seated near Evan froze in shock as the battle unfolded before them. Moments later, however, they sprang into action, moving to aid Evan without hesitation. After all, Evan was their leader, someone they relied on, whereas Lia had always been the outsider. Supporting him was the obvious choice.

Before they could intervene, Evan's cold, expressionless voice rang out: "No one can interfere today. This is between me and her. if she kills me, you are not to step in."

His sharp tone left no room for argument. The group hesitated, exchanged uncertain glances, and then reluctantly stepped back.

Evan's command held weight. Everyone knew he was on the brink of joining the prestigious Southern Gate Academy. Once he returned, his status and power would only grow, solidifying his influence over them.

Standing firm, Evan let the wind crash against him. The sharp gusts had transformed into cutting wind blades, but the protective layer of electricity surrounding his body kept him unscathed—for now.

Summoning his strength, Evan launched another attack. A bolt of dazzling lightning materialized above Lia's head and shot toward her. However, the wind enveloping her body carried her away effortlessly, as if she and the wind were one. In a blink, she reappeared behind him.

Without hesitation, Lia summoned a flurry of wind blades, which sliced toward Evan with lightning speed.

The crackling aura of electricity around Evan flared brightly as he struggled to deflect the onslaught. While he managed to block most of the wind blades, he couldn't keep up with Lia's relentless attacks. Some lightning bolts arced toward her in retaliation, but Lia moved with such agility that they failed to land.

The battle quickly turned one-sided. Lia's wind blades bombarded Evan from all angles, leaving him little chance to counterattack. His face darkened as he struggled to keep up.

"I didn't expect you to have already broken through to Level Four!" he spat, his voice cold but tinged with disbelief.

At 24, Evan and Lia were the same age. Both were B-rank ability users and had once been evenly matched at Level Three. Yet now, Lia had surpassed him—a fact he found difficult to accept.

The advancement of an ability user depended heavily on their power's strength and their innate potential. For someone with the same rank and resources, reaching Level Four was a clear sign of greater talent.

Evan's pride wouldn't allow him to admit it, but the truth was evident: Lia's potential far exceeded his own.

Lia didn't respond. Instead, the wind around her grew stronger and stronger—until, suddenly, it vanished completely.

A thin mist began to swirl around her body, condensing into a translucent, ethereal figure that floated at her side.

Evan's expression turned grim. He recognized this form; it was the manifestation of Lia's wind elemental powers in their truest state.

Then, without warning, the calm shattered. The wind returned in a violent storm, shaking the entire factory. Mixed within the raging gusts were countless razor-sharp wind blades.

Despite his best efforts, Evan's electric shield could no longer withstand the ferocity of the attack. The blades sliced through, leaving shallow cuts across his body. Within seconds, blood dripped from a growing web of wounds.

"Argh!" Evan screamed, his voice carrying far beyond the factory.

Hearing his cry, the group of followers who had stepped aside earlier froze. Glancing at one another, they rushed back into the factory, knowing full well the consequences of abandoning their leader. If Evan fell and they had done nothing, his family would never forgive them.

Though Evan's family wasn't the most powerful in the city, they were still a dominant force.

No one wanted to risk their wrath.

Meanwhile, Leo had reached the workshop's entrance. Hearing the commotion inside, he pushed forward, but the violent winds blocked his path. As a mere Level One ability user, he struggled to move against the storm.

Summoning his White Jade Cat and Silver Light Fox, Leo directed the two beasts to shield him. The White Jade Cat grew larger, using its bulk to deflect the wind, allowing Leo to advance.

As he stepped further inside, Leo saw several of Evan's followers surrounding Lia, trying to attack her. Yet their efforts were futile. Each of them, only at Level Two, was overpowered by Lia's wind blades, accumulating injuries with every failed attempt.

One of them, his face twisted in pain, shouted: "Lia, don't be reckless! If you kill Evan, his family won't just come after you—they'll hunt down your brother and your helpless sister! Your entire family will pay the price for this!"

The threat struck a nerve. Lia's anger, already teetering on the edge, exploded.

Before, she had only come to seek an explanation from Evan. It was he who had escalated the conflict. But now, hearing her family being dragged into the fray pushed her over the edge.

The wind blades, which had been inflicting only shallow cuts, suddenly grew sharper and deadlier. Deep gashes tore through Evan's followers, turning them into bloodied messes within moments.

"Argh!" Their collective screams filled the air before they collapsed to the ground.

Leo finally reached the scene. Taking in the sight of the fallen men and his sister standing amidst the chaos, he shouted: "Sister, stop! If you kill them, you'll face severe punishment!"

His words broke through Lia's fury. Turning to him, she hesitated, her expression softening. Her eyes, red with unshed tears, reflected a deep sadness as she slowly descended to his side.

As the winds died down, the factory fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the groans of the injured.

Leo sighed as he surveyed the aftermath. Fighting with abilities within city limits was a serious crime. Had this happened on a main road, Lia would already be under arrest.

"I…" Lia began, her voice trembling. She didn't know how to explain herself. She had come seeking the truth, not a fight. But Evan's provocation and the threat to her family had pushed her past her limit.

Now, she was terrified. If she were arrested, her dreams of entering the top academies would be over.

Leo, however, remained calm. Assessing the situation, he realized there were no witnesses outside of the injured men before them.

"As long as we silence them, this won't affect Lia," he thought.

Without hesitation, Leo pulled out a bottle of White Jade Snail Saliva from his inventory.

"It's a waste to use this on them," he muttered, "but I don't have a choice."