Chapter 290
Chapter 290 Who’s Really in Charge?
A single palm strike, and that was all it took for the squad to fall dead silent.
Finished
One second, the bronze cauldron–solid, heavy, d*mn near unbreakable–was sitting right where it always had. The next? Gone, and blown apart like it was made of glass.
Chunks of it rained down in twisted shards, and behind it, a chunk of the outer cliff face crumbled like it had taken a direct hit from a demolition crew.
No one moved.
The entire Southern Wyvern Blade just stood there, frozen mid–breath, staring at the scene in disbelief.
That cauldron wasn’t some cheap training prop. It was solid bronze, nearly a thousand pounds, designed to train raw strength. Even stabbing it with a blade left nothing more than a scratch. Most of them had tried.
Yet Leander? He blew it apart as if it were made of paper.
Then that stone wall behind it—usually, you’d need a few pounds of explosives even to dent it. Leander cracked it clean through with just one palm.
It wasn’t just powerful. It was an absurd way beyond anything they understood about strength.
Skyler stood rooted, his stomach twisting.
Back in Ravenridge, he’d watched Leander kill Adrian and Elric without even breaking a sweat. No weapons, no visible moves–just two guys dropping dead like someone hit a switch. He hadn’t been able to make sense of it then.
He certainly couldn’t know even now.
Still, one thing was crystal clear–Leander was way out of his league. Far more than he’d ever imagined.
He reflected, What kind of monster is this? Can a human even do that?
Leona blinked hard, her lips parting.
For once, she had no words.
She’d been dead sure about Leander–thought he was just another hotshot throwing his title around, full of attitude and zero actual bite. Guys like that were a dime a dozen. She’d seen them crash and burn before.
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Chapter 29p Who’s Really in charge
Only now, the mountain behind her had a hole in it.
Finished
She was born into the Tarlyn Guild, raised around martial artists, and trained since she could walk. Her father, Tristan, was a full–fledged Martial Sovereign–one of the strongest she’d ever known. She’d watched him shatter boulders and crack tree trunks like twigs.
Even that didn’t compare.
What Leander just did made her father look like he was still playing with training wheels.
She swallowed hard, her throat dry.
There was no room left for guessing, no space for doubt.
She finally realized it for what it truly was–not a smug brat pretending to lead. Instead, it was a walking disaster wrapped in a calm face–a monster disguised in plain clothes.
Larry’s face had gone pale.
He’d marched in like a storm, ready to tear Leander a new one. Now? He looked like a man standing at the edge of a cliff with the ground crumbling beneath him.
Leander turned, calm as ever, voice low and clear. “So, do you know who I am now p>
Larry’s eyes darted, desperate for an out. His pride cracked. His knees hit the floor with a dull thud.
“It’s Larry Hooper, from Blacksteel Gate… Forgive me, Sovereign–I had no idea p>
His voice barely held together. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, each one a silent admission of fear. This wasn’t the same man who stormed in full of fire and indignation.
Of course, he knew he’d poked a sleeping dragon now. There was only one guy in all of Astria who ticked every box–young, terrifyingly strong, and carried that name.
Leander Ashcroft.
Top spot on the Astria Power Index.
The Iron Sovereign.
He wasn’t part of any sect and didn’t need to be. His fists alone had earned him a reputation that most clans would fight to have.
Leander waved lazily. “Didn’t you bring your people here to question me? What happened? Still want that explanation p>
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Fincher]
Larry bowed deeper, shaking his head fast. “No, Sovereign! Absolutely not p>
He could barely breathe.
The man in front of him wasn’t just strong. He was on a whole different level. Martial Sovereigns were supposed to be the peak. Leander made them look like apprentices.
Leander looked past him at the squad, still frozen solid. His voice dropped another octave. “Anyone else want to question me? I’m right here. Come one at a time or altogether. If any of you can stand after a single strike, I’ll step down p>
Not a soul moved.
Boomer, who had never backed down from anything, took a full step back.
Not one person wanted to test their bones against that kind of force.
Leander’s lip curled. “What happened to all that fire? Gone already p>
Torre, stiff as a board, stepped out front and gave a sharp salute. “Chief Ashcroft… we messed up p>
One by one, the others snapped to attention like their lives depended on it. “Chief Ashcroft! We messed up! We’ll take whatever punishment you give p>
The words echoed like a drill sergeant’s bark–loud, sharp, no hesitation.
No one dared to meet his eyes.
No one breathed wrong.
This wasn’t just some pretty–faced instructor anymore.
To them, Leander was a storm in human skin–so fierce that even Larry, proud and stubborn, had dropped to his knees.
A few of the squad exchanged glances, minds spinning.
If someone like him is the one drilling us… what could we become? Could we punch through steel? Shatter cliffs? Take out targets from halfway across the field with just a flick of the wrist?
The entire Southern Wyvern Blade folded.
Leander let them stew for a beat before speaking, “Good. Now that you know your place, get back to formation. Add five more hours to your stance training. No dinner tonight p>
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Chanter 200 Mens Really in Charge?
Yes, Chief Ashcroft p>
Not a peep of complaint. They turned in unison and jogged back to the training field, sweat already forming under the sun.
One palm strike. That was all it took.
thed
As they left, Leander turned to Larry one last time. “You get a pass this time–for the sake of the team. If it happens again, you already know what comes next p>
Larry dipped so fast it looked like his forehead might kiss the floor.
By the time he looked up again, Leander had already gone back to his desk, flipping through pages like none of this ever happened.
Leona looked at Larry, disbelief in her eyes.
She was still simmering over Leander’s arrogance. Sure, his strength was unreal–but did he really have to humiliate Larry like that? Forcing him to kneel? That felt over the line.
She was just about to speak up when Larry grabbed her arm and quietly pulled her away. He didn’t stop until they were well out of earshot of Leander’s office.
Leona frowned. “Uncle Larry… was that really necessary? I get apologizing, but kneeling like
that p>
Larry let out a long breath. “If it were anyone else? No way. I’d have squared up or at least talked it out over a drink. With him p>
He shook his head, voice low. “I’m just lucky I’m still alive, only because we wear the same badge p>
Leona frowned. “He wouldn’t dare kill someone at a base like this p>
“You think that?” Larry gave her a sideways glance. “You know how your Uncle Mason died, right p>
She froze. Cold dread crept down her spine. “You mean p>
Larry didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.
The look in his eyes said it all. Check latest chapters at. mouth stayed shut. The words wouldn’t come.
All she could do was stand there, heart pounding, head spinning, flooded with the horrifying
truth.
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WAN
From Outcast to Overlord The Unyfelding their