Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Dylan and Natasha stood amidst a sea of travelers at the Jayrodale Airport's

arrival plaza, their crew of over a hundred trained enforcers blending seamlessly into the crowd.

They looked relaxed on the surface, but in reality, their eyes were locked on their incoming target-Phantom Eye.

Dylan turned and glanced toward the far corner.

There, sitting quietly on a bench like a delicate doll, was Shiloh, her face hidden beneath a white veil. She was completely absorbed in scrolling through short videos on her phone.

Dylan could not help but grumble, "Seriously? Mr. Lloyd actually sent this scatterbrained woman to deal with Phantom Eye? What the hell was he thinking?"

Natasha took one look at Shiloh and felt a muscle twitch in her face. "Quit whining. Mr. Lloyd gave the order, so we should just follow it. Besides, we wouldn't normally even get the chance to face someone like Phantom Eye. This is our shot to see what a Blumedale martial arts legend is really made of."

Natasha was far more patient than Dylan, but even she had her doubts.

Dylan scoffed. "Come on, Natasha. Do you really think Shiloh-the softest, most harmless-looking little lamb I've ever seen-can handle Phantom Eye?"

Natasha shook her head. "No idea. But if she can't, there's still the two of us."

Dylan snorted. "Damn right. Who cares if he's some big shot from Blumedale? If we have to, we'll take him down ourselves."

Just as the words left his mouth, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

Turning around, he forced a nervous chuckle. "Shiloh... uh, what are you doing over here?"

Shiloh's pale, unreadable gaze flicked over him. "Next time, remember-I'm not some soft little lamb, and I'm not some airheaded woman, either."

"I'm stubborn, and I hold grudges. So if you keep saying things I don't like..." She tilted her head slightly. "I'll beat the crap out of you."

Dylan's face turned beet red. Getting called out-by a woman, no less-was a first for him.

However, before he could say anything, Shiloh walked past him without another word.

Natasha suddenly tensed. Her eyes locked on the terminal doors as she muttered, "Get ready. Phantom Eye is here.

11

Dylan's body stiffened immediately as he turned to face forward.

Phantom Eye stepped into the plaza, his two bodyguards flanking him. A slow, eerie smirk played on his lips as he eyed the three standing in his path.

"So, you're the ones who think you can discipline me?"

Dylan and Natasha swallowed hard. Even though Phantom Eye had not lifted a finger, his sheer presence sent a suffocating chill down their spines.

alone

So, this was the difference of a semi-martial king. Just standing in front of him made their instincts scream danger.

Dylan and Natasha stood amidst a sea of travelers at the Jayrodale Airport's arrival plaza, their crew of over a hundred trained enforcers blending seamlessly into the crowd.

They looked relaxed on the surface, but in reality, their eyes were locked on their incoming target-Phantom Eye.

Dylan turned and glanced toward the far corner.

There, sitting quietly on a bench like a delicate doll, was Shiloh, her face hidden beneath a white veil. She was completely absorbed in scrolling through short videos on her phone.

Dylan could not help but grumble, "Seriously? Mr. Lloyd actually sent this scatterbrained woman to deal with Phantom Eye? What the hell was he thinking?"

Natasha took one look at Shiloh and felt a muscle twitch in her face. "Quit whining. Mr: Lloyd gave the order, so we should just follow it. Besides, We wouldn't normally even get the chance to face someone like Phantom Eye. This is our shot to see what a Blumedale martialarts

legend is really made of."

Natasha was far more patient than Dylan, but even she had her doubts.

Dylan scoffed. "Come on, Natasha. Do you really think Shiloh-the softest, most harmless-looking little lamb I've ever seen-can handle Phantom Eye?"

Natasha shook her head. "No idea. But if she can't, there's still the two of us."

Dylan snorted. "Damn right. Who cares if he's some big shot from Blumedale? If we have to, we'll take him down ourselves."

Just as the words left his mouth, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

Turning around, he forced a nervous chuckle. "Shiloh... uh, what are you doing over here?"

Shiloh's pale, unreadable gaze flicked over him. "Next time, remember-I'm not some soft little lamb, and I'm not some airheaded woman, either."

"I'm stubborn, and I hold grudges. So if you keep saying things I don't like..." She tilted her head slightly. "I'll beat the crap out of you."

Dylan's face turned beet red. Getting called out-by a woman, no less-was a first for him.

However, before he could say anything, Shiloh walked past him without another word.

Natasha suddenly tensed. Her eyes locked on the terminal doors as she muttered, “Get ready. Phantom Eye is here.

11

Dylan's body stiffened immediately as he turned to face forward.

Phantom Eye stepped into the plaza, his two bodyguards flanking him. A slow, eerie smirk played on his lips as he eyed the three standing in his path.

"So, you're the ones who think you can discipline me?"

Dylan and Natasha swallowed hard. Even though Phantom Eye had not lifted a finger, his sheer presence alone sent a suffocating chill down their spines.

So, this was the difference of a semi-martial king. Just standing in front of him made their instincts scream danger.

"Phantom Eye, sir, we-"

Dylan forced a polite smile, trying to stall for time. However, the next second, his breath hitched, and his eyes widened with disbelief.

Natasha was not any better-she looked like she had just seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Shiloh, without saying a single word,

had already stepped forward.

Without warning, she slapped-

Phantom Eye across the face. There

was no hesitation or buildup just a clean, effortless slap.

The entire plaza seemed to freeze.

Meanwhile, Phantom Eye did not even flinch. His remaining eye gleamed with amusement and mockery, as if he were watching a child throw a tantrum.

"Interesting," he mused. "A delicate little woman like you someone who probably

struggles to even lift a bucket of water-dares to lay a hand on me?"

He did not move, nor did he defend himself. Instead, he let out a low chuckle. “Oh, I see now. You must be one of the women I've slept with before right? That explains it. Guess you did your homework-found out when I was arriving, planned this whole little stunt."

He grinned as he admired Shiloh's fair skin. “Fine. If slapping me makes you feel better, go ahead. As they say, there's nothing more dangerous than a woman

scorned."noveldrama

Phantom Eye casually smirked, completely unfazed. After all, in his mind, she was

just another bitter woman he had discarded along the way.

What harm could she possibly do?