Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 118

118 Chapter 118 – Liam’s Unveiled Might, Asher’s Radiant Gamble

The water dragons roared through the air, their liquid bodies shimmering with deadly intent. Most men would have scattered or thrown up desperate defenses against such a powerful technique. I simply stood my ground.

“Move, you idiot!” someone shouted from the crowd.

I didn’t need to. At the last possible moment, I shifted my weight slightly to one side. The dragons crashed into the empty space where I’d been standing, their jaws snapping on nothing but air.

Asher’s eyes widened. My dodge had been so minimal, so effortless, that it looked as if his attack had simply passed through me.–

“Impossible,” he muttered. “No one evades the Water Dragon Strike that easily.”

I shrugged. “First time for everything.”

Asher’s face darkened with anger. He launched himself forward, crossing the distance between us with impressive speed. His right fist, wrapped in a swirling vortex of water energy, shot straight for my chest.

The crowd gasped. Even Eamon covered his eyes, unable to watch what he thought would be my devastating defeat.

The impact of Asher’s fist against my chest echoed across the clearing. A triumphant smile lit his face – until he realized I hadn’t moved an inch. I stood firmly rooted, having absorbed his full–strength blow without flinching.

“Decent punch,” I commented. “But you telegraph your moves with your left shoulder.” Confusion flickered across his face. Then pain, as I grabbed his extended wrist and squeezed. I applied just enough pressure to hurt without breaking bones.

“My turn,” I said quietly.

My palm struck his chest with measured force. Not my full strength – that would have killed him – but enough to send him flying backward ten paces. He managed to land on his feet, but only barely, his boots skidding across the dirt as he fought for balance.

118 Chapter 118–Liam’s Unvolled Might, Asher’s Radiant Gamble

118 Chapter 118 – Liam’s Unveiled Might, Asher’s Radiant Gamble

The water dragons roared through the air, their liquid bodies shimmering with deadly intent. Most men would have scattered or thrown up desperate defenses against such a powerful technique. I simply stood my ground.

“Move, you idiot!” someone shouted from the crowd..

I didn’t need to. At the last possible moment, I shifted my weight slightly to one side. The dragons crashed into the empty space where I’d been standing, their jaws snapping on nothing but air.

Asher’s eyes widened. My dodge had been so minimal, so effortless, that it looked as if his attack had simply passed through me.

“Impossible,” he muttered. “No one evades the Water Dragon Strike that easily.”

I shrugged. “First time for everything.”

Asher’s face darkened with anger. He launched himself forward, crossing the distance between us with impressive speed. His right fist, wrapped in a swirling vortex of water energy, shot straight for my chest.

The crowd gasped. Even Eamon covered his eyes, unable to watch what he thought would be my devastating defeat.

The impact of Asher’s fist against my chest echoed across the clearing. A triumphant smile lit his face until he realized I hadn’t moved an inch. I stood firmly rooted,

having absorbed his full–strength blow without flinching.

“Decent punch,” I commented. “But you telegraph your moves with your left shoulder.” Confusion flickered across his face. Then pain, as I grabbed his extended wrist and squeezed. I applied just enough pressure to hurt without breaking bones.

“My turn,” I said quietly.

My palm struck his chest with measured force. Not my full strength – that would have killed him – but enough to send him flying backward ten paces. He managed to land on his feet, but only barely, his boots skidding across the dirt as he fought for balance.

118 Chapter 118–Liam’s Unvelled Might, Ashor’s Radiant Gamble

The silence that followed was absolute. No one in the crowd made a sound. They were too shocked by what they’d just witnessed the Young Lord of the Lane Family, a respected Inner Strength Master, had been repelled like a novice.

Violet Miller’s jaw had dropped open. Beside her, Alistair looked like he’d been struck by lightning. Even Selina Burton, who prided herself on her composure, couldn’t hide

her astonishment.

“That was…” Eamon whispered, “Incredible.”

Asher recovered his balance and stared at me, reassessing. “I underestimated you,” he admitted grudgingly. “That won’t happen again.”

“It already has,” I replied..

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You’re still underestimating me. That wasn’t even ten percent of my strength.”

The crowd murmured in disbelief. Asher’s face contorted with rage. “Liar!”

He launched into a flurry of attacks, his fists and feet moving in a complex pattern taught only to the Lane Family elite. Water energy coated his limbs, adding power and reach to each strike.

I simply stepped through his assault, moving with casual grace. His fist missed my face by centimeters. His kick swept harmlessly past my knee. Each near–miss infuriated him further, making his attacks more desperate and less precise.

“Stand still and fight!” he shouted.

“If you insist.” I stopped moving.

His right hook caught me directly on the jaw with enough force to shatter granite. The impact cracked like thunder.

The crowd gasped, expecting me to crumple.

I turned my head slowly back to face him, completely unharmed. “That was better. You put your weight behind it this time.”

The blood drained from Asher’s face. “How are you still standing?”

Instead of answering, I struck. One punch, holding back most of my power.

It

118 Chapter 118–Liam’s Unveiled Might, Asher’s Radiant Gamble

connected with his sternum and lifted him off his feet. He flew backward, crashing into the ground fifteen paces away, his body carving a furrow in the dirt.

“Asher!” Alistair shouted, taking a step forward before remembering the rules of the

duel.

To his credit, Asher struggled back to his feet. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his breathing was labored. The impact had likely cracked several ribs.

“That was…” he coughed, “only a lucky hit.”

“Then I must be very lucky,” I replied.

His eyes flashed with dangerous determination. “I’ve been holding back. No more

games.”

“As you wish.”

Asher closed his eyes briefly, centering himself. When he opened them again, his aura had changed. The spiritual energy around him condensed, growing denser and more focused..

“Water Dragon Imperial Stance,” he announced. “My family’s highest technique.”

The air grew heavy with moisture. Droplets of water formed all around him, hanging suspended as if gravity had been temporarily nullified. His spiritual energy caused the droplets to glow with an eerie blue light.

Even I was impressed. This was a master–level technique, one that few could execute properly.

He launched himself forward with twice his previous speed. The water droplets followed, forming a comet–like trail behind him. His fist, now glowing with concentrated energy, aimed directly for my heart.

I could have dodged. I could have blocked. Instead, I chose to make a point.

His fist connected solidly with my chest. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground beneath our feet. Several onlookers lost their balance as the earth trembled.

When the dust settled, I remained standing, unmoved. Asher’s fist was still pressed against my chest, his entire body trembling with the effort he’d expended.

118 Chapter 118–Liam’s Unveiled Might, Asher’s Radiant Gamble

“Impossible,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “That was my full strength.”

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