Lust System: Conquering the World Beauties

Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Liam’s Arrival

Clark’s shadow soared overhead once more, his black wings slicing through the sky like blades. Vanessa kept her eyes on him, every instinct screaming at her to stay alert, to dodge, to move.

But she didn’t expect what came next.

From his pocket, Clark suddenly pulled out a small black device no larger than a deck of cards. His arm swung low, and with terrifying precision, he hurled it toward the ground.

Vanessa saw the throw and reacted instantly, leaping sideways in a sharp teleportation blur.

She made it.

Or so she thought.

The device didn’t explode on contact like a normal grenade. It pulsed for half a second, then—

BOOM!

A violent blast of blue light burst from the point of impact, spreading out in a perfect dome of shimmering energy. It wasn’t fire. It wasn’t shrapnel. It was raw, surging electricity—rippling across the dome in sharp veins of lightning.

Vanessa was still in midair when the shockwave caught her.

The explosion threw her against the inner edge of the dome, her body smacking into the curved energy field before bouncing off like a ragdoll. Sparks crawled all over her body, creeping under her skin, over her nerves, stabbing pain into every fiber of her being. She couldn’t scream—her jaw clenched too tightly, her muscles locked in convulsion.

She fell to the ground with a thud, body twitching.

The electric dome fizzled out just a second later, but it felt like an eternity. The sparks faded. The glow died. Silence returned.

Smoke drifted in the air as Vanessa tried to push herself up—but her arms buckled under her. Her body was shaking. Her hands trembled. Her muscles didn’t respond the way they should.

She collapsed again and coughed hard, her vision blurring.

A heavy thud hit the ground beside her.

Clark landed smoothly, his wings folding behind him. The same smug expression was carved into his face. The sword he carried hummed faintly in the air as he raised it.

”You should never have gotten involved with the Black Lotus,” he said coldly.

Vanessa coughed again, her voice weak but filled with anger. ”I’m not even involved... why the fuck am I being hunted?”

Her hand clawed at the dirt beneath her, and with every last bit of strength she could muster, she pushed herself up—onto one knee. Her head was heavy. Her eyes stung. But she forced herself up just enough to grab onto his leg.

Clark didn’t flinch.

He reached down, fingers curling into her hair, yanking her face upward as he sneered. ”Liam,” he spat. ”You joined him. You shouldn’t have.”

His grip tightened. The sword lifted.

Then—his body froze.

His eyes twitched, flicking upward instinctively.

Above him, something blazed across the sky. A streak of light. Not a star. Not lightning.

Just... a white glow.

Before he could blink—

WHAM!

A powerful force slammed into Clark’s body like a truck, launching him through the air with a sonic crack. His body spun out of control, flailing like a broken kite caught in a storm, until he crashed violently into the side of a rocky outcrop far in the distance. Dust and debris exploded on impact.

Vanessa fell forward, her arms catching her before she hit the ground again. She gasped for breath, eyes wide.

Footsteps landed beside her.

A familiar figure crouched low, arms scooping gently under her shoulders. Strong. Steady.

Liam.

She blinked once to make sure it was real. He didn’t speak immediately—his expression calm, focused. He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her in his arms as he turned away from the scorched crater left behind.

He walked toward a small hill nearby, his steps fast but careful.

In one clean motion, he jumped the hill in a single leap and landed softly on the other side, laying her down with care on the grassy incline.

He bent beside her, brushing the hair out of her face, his voice low and even.

”How fast do you recover?”

Vanessa coughed, her hand clenching into his shirt. ”Give me... five minutes.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed, and he slowly stood up, turning toward the direction he had just sent Clark flying into.

His tone was calm. Cold.

He muttered—

”Five minutes is more than enough.”

Clark dragged himself out of the cracked crater in the ground, his boots crunching the broken stone as he stood upright again. His jaw was clenched, fists balled tightly at his sides. He wiped some blood off his mouth and spat onto the ground.

”What the fuck was that?” he growled under his breath, glaring into the distance.

Then he saw him.

Standing there, unmoving, calm. A young man who looked far too harmless for the damage he had just caused. The moon light caught the edges of his dark brown hair, and his deep blue eyes stared ahead without emotion.

Liam.

Clark’s brows drew together. ”Who the hell—”

Then Liam spoke, his voice steady.

”Who sent you?”

Clark raised a brow. He hadn’t expected a question like that. Then he chuckled... and then laughed. The kind of laugh that dripped with arrogance.

He stretched his neck and cracked his knuckles before saying, ”I don’t care what kind of fancy technique you just used... I wasn’t ready, that’s the only reason you hit me. You think you can scare me with one sneak attack?”

Liam didn’t respond. He simply stared.

Five seconds passed in silence.

Then he said again, same tone, same pace.

”Who sent you?”

Clark’s eyes narrowed. ”Stop bullshitting me.”

He stomped hard on the ground, shattering the dirt beneath his foot as he took flight, wings spreading wide. With a fierce shout, he soared into the sky and raised his sword again, gripping it with both hands. Then he dove toward Liam at full speed, slashing down in a wide arc, aiming to cut him in two.

Liam didn’t budge. He didn’t raise his arms. He didn’t even flinch.

Clark’s smile widened. He’s frozen. Got him.

But just as the blade was about to connect, Liam’s lips moved.

Clark didn’t catch what he said.

DING!

[Dragon Steps activated.]

Then—whoosh.

Liam vanished.

Clark’s eyes widened in confusion mid-swing. The sword slashed through empty air.

”What—?”

Liam appeared at his side in a blur of speed, completely unharmed. Clark spun quickly and slashed horizontally again, but Liam simply leaned his head to the side, letting the blade pass just inches from his nose. Then Liam dropped low, spotting a gap just beneath Clark’s lifted arm.

He struck hard.

A swift upward kick slammed into the exposed ribs beneath Clark’s arm, and in the same motion, Liam flipped backward, turning in the air with perfect balance. The impact from the kick lifted both of them briefly into the air—except Liam had control. Clark didn’t.

As Liam spun and landed softly on the ground, Clark was flung backward, his sword flying from his grip and clattering against the dirt several meters away.

”Guh—!” Clark groaned as he flipped once midair, losing control.

Instinct kicked in. His black wings burst out from his back with a loud snap, stabilizing him before he hit the ground. He flapped hard, regaining altitude as he hovered several feet above.

His eyes locked onto Liam.

Liam stood still, arms down, posture relaxed. Like a predator waiting for his prey to get tired.

Clark gritted his teeth. That kid—he wasn’t supposed to be this strong. He wasn’t even using full strength. And yet he moved faster than Clark could react. That wasn’t just speed—it was control. Precision. Like Liam had already mapped out every move Clark would make before the fight even started.

Clark glanced at his arm—the one Liam had struck.

It was trembling uncontrollably.

Pain shot through the limb. He looked down and saw the cloth sticking wetly to his skin.

Blood.

A lot of it.

He hadn’t even seen Liam draw a weapon... and he was already bleeding.

The realization hit hard.

This wasn’t just a strong fighter.

Liam was a problem.

Clark’s crimson eyes flicked back to the young man standing quietly in front of him.

And in that moment, Clark knew.

If he took his eyes off Liam for even a second...

He’d die.