Chapter Analysis
Lines to Remember
A few sentences carry the heart of the scene. They show fear, resolve, or longing in simple words. These are the lines that will echo next chapter.
Chapter 2444
Luna stood to the side, quietly watching. Gradually, her brow began to furrow.
Andrew was browsing through it way too fast.
Fang and Clawโs Demise had a total of 18 unpredictable moves. Though it was only an Obscure-tier martial technique, mastering it was not something that could be done overnight. Even Luna herself had needed about two weeks, plus practical combat training, before she could fully integrate Fang and Clawโs Demise.
Yet, looking at Andrewโs pace, flipping page after page, he seemed completely relaxed. This was somewhat unreal.
Time passed, and soon half an hour had gone by.
Andrew closed the manual and handed it to Luna. โDone. You can put it back now.โ
Luna accepted it without thinking, then froze. โYou already memorized all of it?โ
Andrew smiled faintly without speaking. Instead, he began demonstrating on the spot.
The opening stance moved with the powerful, deliberate grace of a dragon and the agile certainty of a tiger. This was followed by an aura of overwhelming pressure, a palpable sense of their combined might.
Then, the technique exploded into a furious, chaotic clash, a true battle between the two legendary beasts. Finally, it culminated in a display of absolute mastery, the subduing of the dragon and the taming of the tiger.
There were 18 moves in total, and to his own astonishment, Andrew executed every single one in perfect unison with the manual.
Lunaโs expression shifted from astonishment to disbelief, then from disbelief to heavy silence. Because not only did Andrew replicate every move precisely, but soon he began to evolve them, channeling his energy coreโs true power.
The air around them trembled faintly with echoes of dragon roars and tiger growls.
โYouโve mastered it?โ Lunaโs voice was hoarse with disbelief.
Andrew withdrew his stance and smiled. โBarely. But martial arts have their own mysteries. It takes real combat and constant refinement to truly move with instinct. Give me three days, and Iโll have it completely mastered.โ
Three days? Luna felt an unexpected sting, deep and personal.
It had taken her nearly two months to master the same technique, and even then, Philip had praised her as someone born for combat. Yet, Andrew claimed he needed only three days.
For the first time, Luna truly understood what it meant to feel humbled.
Andrew noticed her silence and tilted his head. โWhatโs wrong, Ms. Phelan?โ
Luna snapped back to reality and bit her lower lip. โNothing, I just feel like this is surreal. Andrew, youโre really amazing. I rarely admire anyone, but you, Mr. Turman, and your father all seem like youโre from another world.
โEspecially you. Being close to you like this, I realized even more how wrong and ridiculous my judgment was when I first met you.โ
Andrew waved his hand dismissively. โIโm not as great as youโre saying. Your martial foundation isnโt much worse than mine. You just lack a special training opportunity. Once you experience what Iโve been through, you wonโt be any worse than me.โ
Luna instinctively pressed. โWhat kind of training opportunity? Is it too late for me now? Just tell me.โ
Andrew smiled. โForget it. That kind of opportunity is better left alone because it requires sacrificing something more important than life itselfโthings like despair, fear, and complete disillusionment. But the cruelest part is that your loved ones either die or go into exile. All the beauty from your past gets destroyed. Trust me, as a woman, you wouldnโt want to face that.โ
Lunaโs pride and stubbornness flared up at his words. โImpossible. I donโt think Iโd ever break from something like that. Iโm not just any woman, and any ordinary woman wouldnโt have made it this far.โ
Andrew met her eyes. โTo me, you are a womanโa beautiful, strong, remarkable one, but still a woman. And in my book, any woman by my side doesnโt get to suffer, not even a little.โ
Luna froze, mumbling, โWait, what did you just say? Did you just sayโฆ Iโm one of the women by your side?โ
As she asked, her voice trembled, and so did her heart. It felt like a jolt of lightning had rushed through her, making her bones tingle. No man had ever spoken to her like that, with that mix of tenderness and quiet dominance.