Cornered Beast, Desperate Breakthrough
As Steffan stepped out of the restroom, the quiet hallway instantly erupted with movement.
The Ashbourne Household’s black-clad bodyguards were sweeping through every corridor like relentless hunting hounds. Boots thundered against the polished floor, doors were flung open one after another, and sharp voices echoed through the mansion as each room was cleared.
One bodyguard had just reached the restroom entrance.
The moment he saw Steffan emerge in a servant’s uniform, his eyes narrowed.
His expression changed immediately.
Before the search had begun, every servant in the household had already been assembled and accounted for.
There shouldn’t have been anyone left wandering the estate.
Yet now...
There was suddenly one extra servant.
The bodyguard’s pupils contracted.
"It’s him!"
His shout exploded through the hallway.
"He’s here!"
The cry instantly alerted everyone nearby.
Within moments, several more bodyguards rushed into the corridor.
Click!
Click!
Click!
The crisp sound of firearm safeties echoed through the air as black pistols were drawn in perfect synchronization.
More than a dozen gun barrels were aimed directly at Steffan.
For the briefest moment...
Steffan was completely dumbfounded.
What the hell is going on?
How was I exposed?
His heartbeat accelerated violently.
Years of combat instinct immediately took over.
His sharp eyes rapidly scanned the hallway.
There was no time to think.
No time to question.
Only one option remained.
Fight.
His gaze turned ice-cold.
"So..."
"You’ve prepared quite the welcome."
A cold smile slowly spread across his face.
The lead bodyguard barked,
"Don’t move!"
"Surrender immediately!"
"Raise your hands!"
Steffan merely sneered.
"You think..."
"A few guns are enough to stop me?"
Bang!
He stomped the floor.
The marble beneath his feet cracked like shattered glass.
His entire body exploded forward with astonishing speed.
Like a leopard pouncing upon its prey...
He charged directly into the formation of armed bodyguards.
Everyone knew the old saying.
Beyond seven steps...
The gun is faster.
Within seven steps...
The gun is fast...
And deadly accurate.
But only...
If there are no obstacles.
The instant Steffan crashed into their formation, everything changed.
The bodyguards immediately hesitated.
If they fired now...
Their own comrades could be caught in the crossfire.
That tiny hesitation...
Was all Steffan needed.
His eyes flashed with ruthless killing intent.
"Too slow."
His fist shot forward.
Boom!
A bodyguard’s chest caved inward before he was hurled backward like a broken kite, crashing through a wooden cabinet.
Splinters exploded across the hallway.
Without pausing...
Steffan spun on one foot.
His elbow slammed into another guard’s jaw.
Crack!
Teeth mixed with blood flew through the air.
Before the man even hit the floor, Steffan drove a devastating side kick into a third bodyguard.
Bang!
The powerful impact launched the guard several meters backward.
He smashed into the wall so hard that cracks spread through the plaster before collapsing unconscious.
The hallway instantly descended into chaos.
"Spread out!"
"Don’t let him close in!"
"Watch your fire!"
The captain shouted frantically.
But Steffan was already moving like a phantom.
His movements were unbelievably swift.
Every step was precise.
Every strike was ruthless.
He weaved through the crowd with terrifying efficiency.
Punch.
Palm.
Elbow.
Knee.
Every attack carried explosive force.
Every blow dropped another opponent.
Within seconds...
The hallway resembled a battlefield.
Bodyguards crashed into furniture.
Decorative paintings fell from the walls.
Flower vases shattered across the polished floor.
Groans echoed from every direction.
Steffan looked exactly like a tiger charging through a flock of sheep.
No one could stop him.
No one could even slow him down.
Another guard rushed forward with a combat baton.
Steffan caught the descending strike with one hand.
Crack!
His fingers crushed the metal baton before he drove his shoulder straight into the man’s chest.
The guard flew backward, knocking over two more teammates.
Steffan laughed coldly.
"Is this all the Ashbourne Household has?"
"I expected something better."
Just then—
Two graceful figures burst into the corridor.
Their arrival instantly changed the atmosphere.
Liza Voss.
Lina Ashford.
The two women arrived almost simultaneously.
Their eyes locked onto Steffan.
Cold killing intent radiated from both of them.
Without exchanging a single word...
They attacked together.
Liza disappeared first.
Her petite figure blurred like a shadow.
Whoosh!
She appeared behind Steffan and swept her leg toward the back of his knee.
Steffan sensed the danger instantly.
He twisted sideways.
Her kick barely missed him by an inch.
At the same moment—
Lina lunged from the front.
Her green hair danced behind her as she drove a fierce palm strike toward Steffan’s chest.
Boom!
Steffan crossed both forearms to block.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Both fighters slid backward several steps.
Steffan narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"You two again."
Liza smiled coldly.
"This time..."
"You’re not escaping."
Lina’s purple eyes were filled with murderous resolve.
"You’ve caused enough trouble."
"Today ends here."
Steffan laughed.
"Just the two of you?"
"You aren’t enough."
Before his words had fully fallen—
Boom!
Two more powerful auras descended upon the battlefield.
The Ashbourne Household’s two elite enforcers had arrived.
One of them had once been poisoned by Steffan.
Now...
Thanks to Julian’s treatment, the deadly poison had been completely removed.
The fear that had once restrained him had vanished.
His eyes burned with vengeance.
He pointed directly at Steffan.
"You poisoned me."
"You nearly destroyed my life."
"Today..."
"I’m collecting that debt."
The second enforcer slowly cracked his knuckles.
His expression remained calm.
But the pressure radiating from his body was immense.
Steffan looked around.
Four powerful opponents.
Dozens of armed bodyguards.
Every escape route sealed.
His expression finally became serious.
"So..."
"You’ve prepared quite a trap."
Liza slowly took a fighting stance.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"This isn’t a trap."
"It’s justice."
Lina’s voice was equally cold.
"And this time..."
"You won’t run away."
The bodyguards quickly regrouped, surrounding the battlefield once more.
The atmosphere became suffocating.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on Steffan.
Neither side moved.
For one brief moment...
The corridor fell completely silent.
Only the sound of everyone’s breathing remained.
The decisive battle...
Was about to begin.