“Bang!”
Cassian didn’t dodge this time.
He slammed his right palm forward and met Trevor’ blazing purple punch head-on.
Though Trevor’s strike packed power, it failed to push Cassian back.
Instead, it was Cassian who clamped down on his fist with total control.
“Bang!”
Trevor’s left fist followed fast, aiming to land another blow.
But Cassian shot out his left palm, catching it mid-air with a snap.
“Boom!”
In the next instant, two blood-red flames surged from Cassian’s palms, wrapping around Trevor’s fists like serpents.
“You-”
Trevor’s face twisted in shock.
He tried to kick free, but his spiritforce and blood vitality were rapidly draining away, flowing into Cassian like a flood.
The sheer speed of the loss made Trevor’s whole body weak.
“What the hell did you do to me?
Let go!”
Trevor’s voice cracked with panic as he trembled uncontrollably.
The arrogance he wore earlier had completely vanished-only dread remained now.
His legs gave out-just like what had happened to Jareth before.
He dropped to his knees in front of Cassian, pale as a ghost, utterly spent and powerless to fight back.
All this happened in just three breaths.
“Smack!”
As Trevor nearly blacked out, Cassian released his hands, only to immediately swing a palm across Trevor’s face.
The slap snapped his head to the side, five crimson fingerprints blooming across his cheek.
“Smack!
Smack!
Smack…”
Cassian didn’t stop.
Both hands moved like lightning, slapping Trevor left and right in rapid succession.
Trevor’s skull wobbled with each blow, his mouth sprayed blood, and several teeth flew out under the force.
The square went dead quiet.
Every onlooker was too stunned to speak.
“Aah!
Stop!
Please!”
Trevor’s scream finally shattered the silence, hands clutching his head as he howled in agony.
“Is that really Cassian?”
“There’s no way Jareth was bribed!”
“When did he get this strong?!”
“This is insane-he’s beating Trevor like a dog!
What the hell is he doing to him?”
Voices burst from the crowd like a wave, shock and disbelief crashing through the plaza.
Cassian chuckled as he watched Trevor crumpled on the ground.
He reached down, grabbed his arm, and hauled him back to his feet.
“Had enough?”
Trevor’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, trembling all over.
When he met Cassian’s smile, it was like staring death in the eye.
“Don’t hit me again!
I surrender, damn it-I surrender!”
“You bastard, Cassian!
How dare you!
Let go of my young master!” came a furious roar from Trevor’s retainer.
“Smack!”Hearing that, Cassian didn’t say a word-just raised his hand and slapped Trevor across his bloated face.
Then, casually, he said, “Your mutt dares threaten me in public.
What do you reckon I should do?”
“Shut your damn mouth!
Stupid dog, I’ll skin you alive when we get back!
Ahh-damn…”
Even drained, Trevor still had the strength to shout.
He turned, snarling at the servant below the stage.
But the force of his outburst split the already swollen corner of his mouth wide open, blood trickling down his chin.
The crowd was dead silent, stunned.
Was this really Trevor, the proud young master of Gracehold City?
Now groveling like a beaten hound?
“Brutal as he is, I’m really starting to like this Cassian guy,” came a quiet voice from the fishing platform.
Hannah, clad in her dark veil and bamboo hat, couldn’t help but speak her mind.
Landon only smiled in response, saying nothing.
But his eyes stayed fixed on Cassian, sharp as if trying to see right through him.
“Master is amazing!” Emily was shocked, but mostly thrilled.
She never imagined their young lord could break Trevor down so completely.
“Cassian, I’ve already admitted defeat.
Isn’t it time you let go?” Trevor asked, voice low.
His pride was in shambles now, and his mood rotten.
But there was nothing he could do-Cassian’s methods were too terrifying.
All he wanted now was to flee this cursed arena.
“Let go?
Don’t be stupid,” Cassian said with a smirk.
Trevor’s face darkened.
Grinding his teeth, he snapped, “You planning to kill me now?”
“No, no, you’re missing something.” Cassian shook his head.
“You said it yourself before stepping onto this stage-if you lost, you’d take my surname.
Remember that?”
“Cassian!
Don’t push it!” Trevor barked, then darted a pleading look toward the butler below.
“Old man Woods!
The match is over, damn it!
Get him to let me go!”
Smack!
Before the butler could say a word, Cassian delivered another slap to Trevor’s face.
Coldly, he said, “Scream one more time.
Did you already forget what it felt like-when your spiritforce and blood vitality drained out of you?
As long as you’re still standing on this platform, I can turn you into a dried-up husk at any moment.”
Trevor’s expression twisted in fear.
He knew Cassian wasn’t bluffing-he’d experienced that nightmare firsthand.
This bastard’s a full-blown demon!
“Fine, fine!
Damn it, I’ll take your name-my surname’s Faraday now!
Happy?” Trevor capitulated.
Cassian grinned.
“That’s not enough.”
Trevor nearly spat out blood.
“Then what the hell do you want?” His voice cracked with desperation.
“Call me ‘father.’ Then I’ll give you a new name.”
Cassian said it so calmly, like it was the easiest thing in the world.
But his gaze was sharp and unyielding.
He had a plan when it came to dealing with people like Trevor-humiliate them so thoroughly they’d never recover.
That was the only way they’d learn.
Down below, the spectators collectively held their breath.
Cassian was really taking this too far now.
He was only sixteen, while Trevor was older by a year.
Forcing Trevor to call him father-wasn’t that pure humiliation?
Trevor’s rage almost made his blood boil over.
But what could he do now?
Who told him to provoke this damn devil in the first place?