Chapter 11: Reaper

"Mr. Lyson, are you okay?" In front of a group of security guards, the burly head of security, Keith, took one look at the scene and immediately frowned. Keith was a retired special forces operative who was quick and agile. From the damage, he could tell Allan was no pushover. "Keith, this guy's making trouble. Go arrest him!" Emery shouted angrily. "Don't worry, Mr. Lyson." Keith nodded and took a step forward. His gaze fixed on Allan. "Sir, violating the regulations is causing trouble at Holy Pharmaceutical. You'd better surrender and not make things worse for yourself! We've already called the police. They'll be here any minute." Keith's body tensed as he spoke, every sense on high alert.  Years of special forces experience told him that Allan was an extremely dangerous individual, perhaps even more dangerous than those international fugitives.  One wrong move could spell disaster. He had to be extra careful. "So this is how it works at Holy Pharmaceutical? You can hit me, but I can't fight back?" Allan's eyes were icy.  Instantly, the onlookers nodded in agreement. Holy Pharmaceutical might be powerful, but if they throw their weight around like this, nobody would want to come here and get pushed around. "Hmph, you think you've got a point, making trouble here? Keith, quit talking and grab him!" Emery's face darkened. "Damn it, what an idiot!" Keith couldn't believe how reckless Emery was.  Going in blind against an unknown opponent? That's just asking for trouble.  But he was just the head of security and had to follow orders.  Besides, they had dozens of guys. No matter how tough Allan was, there was no way he could take them all on. "If you won't do this the easy way, don't blame us for getting rough!" Keith snorted, then motioned with his hand.  Instantly, dozens of security guards rushed forward, swinging steel batons. "Get lost!" Allan roared. "What?" "You want us to get lost?" "Kid, this is Holy Pharmaceutical, not a place for you to act wild!" The security guards sneered. Working here, even as security, they got cocky because they had backing. "Courting death!" Allan moved like lightning. In an instant, dozens of guards were sent flying, pain all over their faces.  Every single one had either a broken arm or a busted knee. "You brat, how dare you!" Keith's face twisted in rage. He cursed and lunged at Allan, throwing a punch straight at his head. He was the security captain, and having his men instantly incapacitated challenged his authority.  If he didn't suppress Allan, how could he survive in the future? Bang! Allan extended his hand, precisely catching Keith's fist.  The opponent's hard fist instantly turned limp in Allan's grip. There was a sickening crack. Keith's eyes went wide as he let out a howl of pain.  The tendons in his wrist snapped, bone sticking out, blood dripping everywhere. Keith dropped to his knees, his face pale with shock.  The pain in his wrist was nothing compared to the fear. He felt like a helpless chick facing a wild beast from that brief clash.  Allan could crush him at any second. "You bastard!" Emery's face changed dramatically.  In just a few seconds, the security team was out of commission. It was unreal. Who the hell was this guy? "You've overstepped, young man." Just then, the old man in a suit who'd been following Emery stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Mr. Hall!" Emery's face lit up with relief. He thought he was done for.  No matter how tough Allan acted, there was no way he could take on Victor Hall. Victor was the Lyson family's enforcer, the guy they trusted to handle things they didn't want in the open.  He was a big deal in the family. He stuck close to Emery because the family was grooming him to be the heir.  However, Emery didn't have the authority to command Victor.  Victor would only step in if things got dangerous. "Overstepped? I don't think so." Allan shook his head slightly.  He'd just broken a few of Emery's ribs, his nose, and his jaw. He thought that was going easy on Emery. "Kid, don't think learning a few martial arts moves makes you invincible. You're just a monkey jumping around, nothing more." "Mr. Hall, don't kill him. I want to make him suffer slowly!" Emery shouted, ignoring the pain tearing through his chest and the blood at the corner of his mouth. "You messed with the wrong people, kid. Now you'll have to pay for it. Mr. Emery wants to make you suffer, and you've only got yourself to blame." Victor nodded, his tone grim. "Enough of this nonsense!" Allan snapped, lashing out with a slap. "Arrogant fool, oblivious to your limitations! Let me show you what it means to be powerful!" Victor shook his head, his voice cold as he advanced.  His figure moved like the wind, causing an explosive roar. In an instant, he was in front of Allan, palms flat, energy surging, aiming at Allan's chest. "Get lost!" Allan countered with a palm strike. Boom! As soon as the palms met, Victor was sent flying. Blood sprayed through the air in a perfect arc. Allan stood steadily. In a single encounter, Victor was utterly defeated. The whole place went dead silent. Everyone stared at Allan in disbelief. Emery's eyes widened, filled with shock and terror. Peter and Myra clapped their hands over their mouths, shaking. The scene was too shocking. "How is it possible? I've trained in Iron Palm for decades, how could you trounce me?!" "Who are you?!" Victor's mind was in chaos, his thoughts jumbled, unable to believe the scene before him. He was Emery's bodyguard, famous in the martial arts world.  He had reached the top of the Yellow Rank, just one step away from the Black Rank.  But up against Allan, he didn't stand a chance. Such power was astonishing! "Who am I?" "I am the reaper!" Allan stepped forward and planted his foot on Victor's head, his face emotionless. His voice thundered through the room, hitting everyone like lightning. Victor's gray hair was a wild mess.  The light in his eyes was gone. Decades of pride and dignity were shattered in an instant. "Ugh!" The physical injury and the humiliation together caused Victor to vomit blood. He collapsed to the ground, barely clinging to life. "Emery, it seems your Lyson family isn't as deep-rooted as I thought." Allan's gaze fell on Emery, speaking calmly. Emery's eyes trembled, his heart pounding. Allan's face was blank, but he looked like the devil to Emery. "Wha-what are you going to do?" Emery was terrified. His whole body shook so hard he could almost hear his bones rattling. "Don't worry, I won't kill you." Allan said. Emery just began to relax when he heard Allan continue. "That'd be way too easy on you." With that, Allan flicked a few silver needles straight into Emery's body. As a former soldier, Allan despised those who treated life with disdain. He joined the army for national peace and the people's well-being. He climbed the ranks to Champion Marquis. But only he knew that the path was paved with bones. Very few ever made it out alive. Allan might have let it slide if Emery had merely been throwing his weight around. But he knew Daniella was Flynn's sister and still insulted her. That was crossing the line. Emery deserved the Nine Devil Needles. "Ahh!!" Emery and Peter started screaming in agony when the Nine Devil Needles took effect. Allan controlled the intensity of the Nine Devil Needles. The needles would destroy their nerves, leaving them in wheelchairs for the rest of their lives. On top of that, they'd be left impotent. Allan could tell that Emery and Peter were lewd men. Taking away their manhood would be worse than death. Besides these two, Allan's gaze turned to Myra. This woman was even more despicable than Peter. As Daniella's high school classmate, she disregarded their friendship and fanned the flames, oppressing Daniella. Caught in Allan's gaze, Myra trembled, about to speak, when a shout interrupted. "Myra, you damn bitch, get over here!" A slightly overweight man in his early thirties, dressed in a designer suit, stormed over, his eyes full of rage as he glared at Myra. The second Myra saw him, her face went pale. "Adrian!"