Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 — Liam Samal

Chapter 113 — Liam Samal

Victor couldn’t see anything.

For several minutes, there was nothing but darkness.

Then, slowly, something began to change.

A faint image appeared in the darkness.

At first, it was blurry.

Then it gradually sharpened.

Victor found himself staring at what looked almost like a movie playing directly in front of him. A scene was unfolding before his eyes, as though an ancient memory had been turned into a moving picture.

Victor looked to his side.

His eyes widened.

Lyra was standing there.

She looked just as confused as he was.

Their eyes met for a moment.

Before either could figure out what was happening, the scene in front of them began to move.

A young man stood in an open courtyard, sword in hand.

He slashed to the left.

Then to the right.

His movements were precise, controlled, and powerful.

Victor immediately recognized the face.

It was the same man lying inside the coffin.

Liam Samal.

Samal’s son.

The resemblance was almost uncanny.

If Victor hadn’t already known who he was, he might have mistaken him for a younger version of Samal himself.

Liam completed another sequence before lowering his sword and staring at it with frustration.

"How much longer will it take for me to figure out this technique?"

A deep voice came from the side.

"You silly boy."

An elderly man walked into view.

He appeared to be somewhere around sixty or seventy years old. A long beard hung from his chin, and his hair had already turned completely white.

Yet there was something strangely reassuring about him.

His smile was warm.

His eyes were kind.

He watched Liam for several moments before laughing.

"Your father didn’t master that technique in a single day. You’ve only been practicing it for a hundred years."

Liam’s expression stiffened.

"A hundred years?"

The old man laughed again.

"Your father practiced that technique for roughly eight hundred years before he finally understood the beginning stages."

Liam stared at him.

"Eight hundred years?"

"Yes."

Riker shook his head.

"And your father was already one major realm ahead of you at that time."

Liam lowered his sword.

Riker walked closer and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

"You must have more confidence in yourself, boy. If you continue working hard, you’ll figure it out eventually."

Liam looked up at him.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Uncle Riker."

Riker smiled warmly.

"All right, boy. We must hurry."

He turned toward the enormous structure behind them.

"Your father wants to meet you before we head out with the army."

Liam immediately nodded.

"Yes, Uncle Riker."

The two walked toward the enormous castle.

Victor watched silently.

The structure was breathtaking.

It looked more like a sanctuary.

Massive towers rose toward the ceiling, intricate carvings covered the walls, and formations glowed faintly throughout the structure.

As Liam entered, servants immediately began moving around him.

Maids bowed.

Butlers bowed.

Other servants stepped aside respectfully as he passed.

Liam barely seemed to notice.

This was normal to him.

He had grown up surrounded by servants.

It was simply the world he knew.

They eventually reached a large chamber.

Liam pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

A massive table occupied the center of the room.

Food covered nearly every inch of it.

At the far end sat his father.

Samal.

The man Victor had seen in the visions.

Samal was eating when he looked up.

The moment he saw his son, his expression softened.

A loving, almost fatherly smile appeared across his face.

"Hello, Father."

Samal placed his utensil down.

"Come, boy. Let’s eat."

Liam walked over and sat beside him.

For several moments, the two simply ate.

Then Samal looked toward his son.

"So, Liam. How has your sword form been? Have you made any progress?"

Liam shook his head.

"No, Father."

He lowered his gaze.

"I still can’t understand the first step of the technique."

Samal laughed softly.

"Of course you can’t, boy."

Liam looked up.

"I didn’t expect you to."

Samal reached over and patted his son’s shoulder.

"But the fact that you’re trying tells me something."

Liam waited.

"You’re going to become very powerful one day."

Liam’s eyes brightened.

"Yes, Father."

There was enormous pride in the boy’s expression.

To Liam, his father wasn’t simply his father.

He was the strongest person he knew.

A man who had fought countless battles.

A man whom almost nobody in the world could defeat.

And Liam admired him more than anyone.

Samal’s expression suddenly became more serious.

"Now, boy."

Liam straightened.

"When we leave with the army and meet our allies, you will stay beside Riker at all times."

Liam nodded.

"Yes, Father."

"Do not leave his side."

"I understand."

Samal stared at him for a moment longer before finally relaxing.

"The beast army has been pushed back far enough. If we combine our forces with our allies, we may finally be able to finish this war."

Liam’s eyes filled with excitement.

"You think the war will end?"

Samal smiled.

"I hope so."

He stood.

"Now go get ready. We leave at once."

Liam nodded.

"Yes, Father."

He quickly finished his meal and left the chamber.

The scene shifted.

Time seemed to move forward.

Liam stood inside a large military tent beside Riker.

Outside, the sounds of battle echoed across the land.

Roars.

Explosions.

The clash of weapons.

The screams of soldiers.

The army was already fighting.

Liam looked toward the entrance of the tent.

Then toward Riker.

"Why won’t Father let me fight?"

Riker looked at him.

"Because you’re his son."

Liam frowned.

"How am I supposed to grow stronger if he doesn’t let me fight?"

Riker chuckled.

"Now, now. I understand how you feel."

He sat back.

"But your father cares about you more than he cares about this world."

Liam looked down.

Riker’s smile remained.

"He would never allow anything to happen to you."

A strange expression crossed Riker’s face.

It was subtle.

Almost impossible to notice.

But the warmth in his eyes had disappeared.

Liam didn’t see it.

A few moments passed.

Then Riker slowly stood.

"You know, boy..."

Liam looked at him.

"For a thousand years now, I’ve acted as your protector."

Riker’s voice changed.

"I followed your father everywhere."

Liam’s brow furrowed.

Riker’s smile widened.

"That stupid man..."

He laughed quietly.

Liam’s expression became confused.

Riker continued.

"All for this day."

He took another step toward Liam.

"All for this moment."

Liam’s eyes widened.

Something inside him finally felt wrong.

"Uncle Riker?"

Riker’s smile twisted.

"Yes, boy."

His eyes became cold.

"That’s exactly what it sounds like."

A strange laugh escaped his throat.

Then it grew louder.

And louder.

Until it became almost manic.

"The Beast Gods will shine brightly upon me for this!"

Liam froze.

His mind raced.

The words finally registered.

The Beast Gods.

His eyes widened.

"You’re..."

His voice trembled.

"You’re with them."

Riker laughed.

"Yes."

He looked at Liam almost affectionately.

"Yes, boy. I am."

Liam instinctively stepped backward.

"Too bad for your father."

Riker’s smile became cruel.

"He won’t be here to watch you bleed out."

Liam’s heart pounded.

He knew immediately that he couldn’t defeat Riker.

He wasn’t even close.

Then Liam remembered.

His father had given him a protective treasure.

A bracelet around his wrist.

If he broke it, it would send a signal directly to his father.

Liam slowly lowered his hand.

He reached into his pocket.

His fingers closed around the bracelet.

Then—

Crack.

The bracelet shattered.

A brilliant flash of light erupted from it.

Far away.

Hundreds of miles from the battlefield.

Samal stood among several of his advisors.

He was listening to their reports when suddenly his expression changed.

His head snapped upward.

His eyes turned toward the distance.

Something had happened.

Something was wrong.

Samal’s expression hardened.

"Liam."

And without another word, he turned toward the direction of the signal.

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