Chapter 156: Bruised, Bleeding, Broken...

"Need a hand, love?" she called, her voice teasing.

Adrian grinned despite himself, sidestepping another punch from the bald man. "I've got this."

Lilith's laughter rang out again, and Adrian could feel the fire in his chest reignite. 

'Okay,' he said to himself. 'Time to be serious.'

Adrian steadied his breath, pushing the sounds of the battle and Lilith's teasing voice into the background. He closed his eyes, his mind sinking inward. 

In the stillness, he searched for that pool of power deep within him. 

It felt like a raging river under the surface, a force waiting to be unleashed, dark and wild, yet oddly calming.

The bald man, seeing Adrian's stillness as an opening, lunged forward with a powerful punch aimed at his face. The move was swift, but Adrian remained motionless, his eyes still closed. Just as the man's fist came within inches, Adrian's hand shot up.