Chapter 111 Increasing The Stakes

Khan’s laughter echoed across the silent courtyard, loud and booming under his mask. He crossed his arms slowly, tilting his head as he stared at Liam standing still in the middle of the arena.

"Look at this," Khan sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Why’s the little mouse stepping up like a lion? Did you already forget what happened last week?"

He shook his head, chuckling again. "I crushed you, Liam. You were nothing."

The words sent a wave of murmurs through the crowd.

"Wait... what?"

"Did he just say he beat Liam?"

"Khan fought Liam last week?"

Lilith’s eyes widened. She turned sharply toward Liam. Khan beat him... a week ago? She had no idea. Liam never mentioned it. Not even a hint.

Then why—why was he walking up to face Khan now?

He wasn’t even speaking. Just standing there, arms at his side, unmoving. His deep blue eyes locked onto Khan, not shifting for even a second.

He didn’t blink.

He didn’t flinch.

Lilith furrowed her brows. What the hell was he doing?

"Hey!" Boss’s voice rang out across the clearing, filled with sudden excitement. "How about this—let’s raise the stakes."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Boss stood up and pointed a thick finger directly at Lilith. "If Liam wins, Black Lotus takes half of Crimson Hand’s assets—guns, cash, territory, the whole damn package."

Gasps erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"And if we win," Boss continued with a wide grin, "we take half of Black Lotus’ holdings. Equal stakes. Fair game."

People were stunned.

Even Lady Viora’s eyes flickered in surprise.

Lilith immediately took a step forward, ready to speak. "Absolutely not," she began. "That’s—"

But she didn’t get to finish.

Liam, calm as ever, turned and began walking toward her.

She blinked. His stride was relaxed, unhurried. There was no tension in his steps. Just unwavering confidence.

He stopped just inches from her and leaned in close, his voice a quiet whisper only she could hear.

"Accept it."

Lilith’s eyes narrowed. "Are you insane?" she whispered harshly. "He already beat you. You want me to bet everything on your emotions?"

Liam smiled softly. That same reckless smile that made her heart stir and her brain panic.

"Trust me, Lilith," he whispered. "You won’t regret it."

She stared into his eyes, searching for something—anything to give her reason. And there it was. The same fire. The same confidence she saw when he stood up to the Crimson Hand. It was dangerous. It was bold.

But it was real.

Lilith looked away for a second, biting her lip. Then she turned toward the crowd, her voice rising.

"Fine," she declared. "We agree."

The entire courtyard erupted with gasps and exclamations.

Li grinned smugly, arms folded.

Lady Viora furrowed her brows and stepped closer to Lilith. Her voice was low but firm. "Are you sure about this, kid?"

Lilith didn’t hesitate. "I’m sure."

She looked back at Liam—still calm, still unmoving. A silent storm waiting to be unleashed.

Boss’s grin widened, his teeth showing through his beard. "I hope you keep your promise," he growled.

Then he raised his hand and shouted, "BEGIN!"

The silence that followed was sharp, like the breath before a gunshot.

The air felt heavier.

People leaned forward, holding their breath.

Khan adjusted his footing, eyes burning behind the mask.

Liam? He didn’t move.

Not yet.

But something in his aura shifted.

Liam finally took his first step forward.

Silent.

Unbothered.

Khan narrowed his eyes behind the mask, confused by the eerie calmness of the boy approaching him.

"Heh..." Khan’s voice rumbled low, rising like a storm. "By the time I’m done, I’ll ruin that pretty face of yours. And I’ll make sure your leg is crippled for life."

The crowd winced.

Even the air around them seemed to tighten, pulled taut by the weight of those words. That wasn’t a threat for show. That was a death sentence. Everyone could hear it in Khan’s tone—he wasn’t here to just win.

He wanted to destroy.

Still, Liam said nothing. His gaze didn’t waver, his pace didn’t falter.

He walked forward like a ghost, step by step, until he was within striking range.

And then he stopped.

No stance. No guard.

Just stillness.

And that was when Khan struck.

A blur of motion.

His fist tore through the air like a sledgehammer, powered by raw force, precision, and speed that none of them had seen during his fight with Lilith.

Li’s eyes widened in excitement. "He was holding back before..."

Even Lady Viora leaned forward ever so slightly. "He’s not playing now."

But before the gasps could reach their throats, horror replaced surprise.

Liam didn’t move.

He didn’t even flinch.

He just stood there as the fist came roaring toward his face.

"LIAM!!" Lilith nearly shouted.

But just before impact, Liam’s right arm rose.

Smooth.

Unrushed.

His fingers closed around Khan’s wrist like a steel trap.

Thud.

The punch stopped.

Not an inch from Liam’s face.

Time seemed to freeze.

Khan’s brows furrowed beneath his mask.

"What...?"

Liam didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.

He just tilted his head, calm eyes locking with Khan’s in eerie stillness, before pulling his arm back and releasing Khan’s wrist—only to shoot his own fist forward in the same breath.

BAM!

A sickening thud echoed through the courtyard as Liam’s punch slammed into Khan’s chest with brutal force.

Khan’s entire body reeled from the impact. He stumbled back several steps, his boots scraping across the stone floor. His breath caught in his throat as he gritted his teeth and clutched his chest.

He wasn’t expecting that.

Nobody was.

Not even Lilith.

She stood frozen at the edge of the arena, her fingers gripping her arm tightly.

What the hell...?

Khan grunted and surged forward again, this time aiming a brutal spinning kick toward Liam’s ribs. The kind of kick that would snap bones on contact.

But Liam sidestepped it like it was a gentle breeze.

So fluid.

So natural.

Khan’s momentum left his side completely exposed—and Liam didn’t hesitate.

He twisted with a sharp motion, his leg shooting out in a perfect side kick that slammed into Khan’s ribs.

KRAK!

The sound rang loud.

Khan’s body lifted off the ground before crashing onto the floor and sliding several feet back, leaving a long skid mark across the stone courtyard.

Gasps exploded from the audience.

"W-What!?"

"He knocked Khan down?"

"Two moves... it only took two moves!"

People stood up, some with their hands over their mouths, others looking at Liam like he wasn’t even human.

Even Li was stunned silent. The confidence on his face had drained completely.

Lady Viora’s lips parted slightly, eyes narrowed, calculating.

Liam remained still, lowering his leg with perfect control, no change in expression—no joy, no anger, no pride.

Just calm.

Lilith blinked, unable to process what she was seeing.

This isn’t possible... she thought. He was injured—his body wasn’t even fully recovered this morning. How is he moving like that?

Then, before anyone could say a word, Liam turned around and began walking away from the center of the arena.

Some gasped again.

"Is he... leaving?"

"Why’s he walking away?!"

Khan struggled to stand, still clutching his ribs. His chest heaved with each breath. The pain was real—and unexpected.

But Liam didn’t even glance back.

He walked with the same silent confidence, approaching Lilith, who was still frozen in place, her red eyes wide with disbelief.

When he stood in front of her, he extended his left hand.

"...Help me remove the bandage," he said.

Lilith blinked again, still processing.

"Huh...?"

Liam’s tone was quiet, casual. "It’s restricting my movement."

She stared at him, still dazed.

Then it hit her—the bandage.

She looked down at his arm. The left one, wrapped tight in white cloth. He’d told her it was healing. She’d seen the wound herself just yesterday , nasty, something that should’ve taken weeks to recover from.

And now?

She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they untied the first knot.

The cloth began to fall away, slowly unraveling.

Her eyes scanned the skin underneath.

The wound... it was nearly gone.

A faint scar remained, but it was clear the injury had healed far beyond what was natural. The muscle was whole. The skin was no longer bruised or swollen.

"W-What...?" she whispered.

He’d told her it’d heal before morning. And somehow... it had.

Lilith looked up into his face again, eyes filled with confusion—and something deeper.

Doubt.

But also wonder.

"...Are you even human?" she whispered, barely audible.

Liam gave her that smile again.

He looked over his shoulder, back at Khan, who was finally pushing himself to his feet with a groan.

His voice was low when he spoke to Lilith.

"Thanks," he said, rolling his left shoulder. "Now I can go all out."

Lilith couldn’t speak.

She could only watch.

As Liam turned away from her and walked back toward the center of the arena, her heart pounded harder in her chest.

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