At the Houston Martial Arts School—on the open-air training ground—Sophia was drenched in sweat as she ran laps under the scorching sun.
She had only recently begun her martial arts journey and, like any beginner, had to start with the fundamentals. Running was one of the most basic yet crucial forms of training, meant to strengthen her body and temper her willpower.
But her teacher, Brian Wood, was clearly making things difficult for her on purpose.
While all the other students had been allowed to rest under the shade, only Sophia was still being pushed relentlessly. Every time she so much as slowed down, Brian would appear behind her like a shadow, his whip slicing through the air before striking her back.
"Faster! Faster! Keep those legs moving!" he barked. "Your martial arts talent is the worst I've ever seen. If you want to survive here, you have to work twice as hard as the others!"
His voice boomed across the field like thunder. "If you're too soft to take the pain, then quit. I'll allow you to rest—so long as you never come back! Go home and rest for good!"
Sophia's legs burned. Her lungs felt like they were on fire. Sweat blurred her vision, turning the dirt track in front of her into a distorted haze.
But she didn't utter a word of complaint. She clenched her teeth and ran on.
This opportunity was hard-earned. She couldn't afford to let it slip away.
Ever since the Flaherty Family had been destroyed, the Long Family had lost its backing. Sophia had no one to rely on but herself.
If she failed here—if she showed any weakness—she knew exactly what fate awaited her. She would be forced to marry Hardy. The Long Family would offer her up like a bargaining chip without hesitation.
She couldn't let that happen.
She wouldn't let that happen.
So no matter how painful or humiliating the training became, she had to endure it. She had to prove herself worthy.
Sweat poured down her body, soaking her training clothes. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she forced them to keep moving—relying entirely on raw determination. Even if she collapsed on the training ground, she vowed never to yield.
Crack!
The whip lashed her back again. She stumbled, biting her lip to stifle a cry. Brian's harsh voice followed close behind.
"Don't slack off! Speed up! If you can't even handle this, how do you expect to achieve anything in life?"
His tone grew colder, more contemptuous. "The Houston Martial Arts School isn't some cozy retreat. We're the talent training ground for the Martial Alliance. We forge warriors here, not weaklings!"
"If you can't take the heat, then get the hell out! You're shaming the school—and the U.S. Martial Arts League!"
Brian's shouts rang through the air. Every time Sophia's steps faltered, his whip struck again, without mercy.
But she kept going.
She didn't know how long she had been running. Time had lost meaning. All she knew was that if Brian submitted a poor evaluation—if he told the school administration that she was talentless or lazy—her hard-won spot would be gone. Her future, over.
Sophia ran as if her life depended on it.
Her back was soaked. Her vision swam. Yet her will didn't falter.
Brian, watching from behind, sneered.
He wasn't driving her so hard out of strict professionalism. No, his real motive was much pettier: Lucien.
Brian had a close relationship with Lucien. After Lucien's humiliating defeat at John's hands, he had been itching for a way to strike back. And since Sophia was someone John had helped, she became the perfect target.
Brian justified his cruelty under the guise of "training." It gave him free rein to punish her—and to enjoy it.
Sophia knew it too. She hadn't come into this blindly.
Before entering the school, she had already braced herself for the worst. She expected hardship, humiliation, and even injustice. So she never questioned the treatment. She knew it would be useless.
She just kept running.
Teeth clenched. Breath ragged. Heart pounding.
And then—amid the blur of motion—she saw a familiar figure standing at the edge of the training field.
John.
Was she hallucinating?
She rubbed the sweat from her eyes and looked again. No, it wasn't a mirage. It was him. John Lopez.
Mr. Lopez came to see me... He helped me get this opportunity... I can't let him down.
Her mind was foggy, her consciousness fading, but at the sight of him, her determination surged again like a second wind.
John stood in silence, his eyes locked on her.
He saw everything.
He saw the cruelty in Brian's actions, the unjust punishment disguised as training. He saw how Sophia's strength had already reached its limit—and how she continued only through sheer force of will.
Her perseverance moved him.
Another lap.
Sophia's legs grew heavier. Her steps lost rhythm, becoming dangerously uneven. No matter how strong her resolve, she was still a novice. Her body had not yet adapted to such extreme physical exertion.
"Faster! Don't slow down!" Brian's voice cut through the air again. "Want another taste of the whip?"
Sophia's face, already flushed red, suddenly turned pale.
She was right on the brink.
Just as she began to stumble, a firm hand landed on her shoulder.
Startled, she turned her head and saw him—John.
"You've done enough. Rest," he said gently.
A voice came from behind, harsh and mocking. "Who gave you the right to interfere?"
Brian approached, and when he saw John clearly, a sneer curled his lips.
"Well, well... I was wondering who it might be. Turns out to be you—the infamous bastard master."
John's reputation had grown significantly, especially after his battle with Bruce. His name had been on every tongue—but not always in praise.
To most Heaven-tier masters like Brian, John was still a joke. Despite his power, he wasn't formally recognized. A rogue. An anomaly.
Brian looked at him with nothing but contempt.
"Still playing hero?" Brian mocked. "You're not even a real master in the Alliance's eyes."
John didn't react to the insult. He merely said, "Sophia has only just begun her training. Subjecting her to such high-intensity exercise will only backfire. It's not only ineffective—it's harmful."
"Training should be progressive, not torturous."
Brian scoffed. "She's my student. I'll train her however I damn well please. You have no authority here."
He turned back to Sophia, eyes sharp. "Don't say I never gave you a chance. Now keep running!"
Sophia's heart sank.
She knew what this meant.
If she disobeyed now, Brian would report her to the school's leadership for being uncooperative. That would mean expulsion—no second chances.
"Mr. Lopez... I can keep going..." she gasped, trying to push herself up again.
John stopped her with a gentle but firm hand.
"You've done enough. Don't push yourself past the breaking point."
Brian's expression turned cold and dangerous.
"Lopez, do you have any idea what you're doing?" he growled. "Do you understand the consequences of interfering in my training session?"