Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 2482

Soon after, Andrew and Wilder arrived at the Martial Tower. They both stood on the sealed arena, about 30 feet apart, staring each other down with cold, sharp eyes.

The massive chamber was specially built for Martial Saints to train in, its greatest feature being its durability. No matter how intense the battle, not even a Martial Saint's full strength could damage it.

Wilder had chosen this place for that very reason. Though he was a martial emperor, even someone like him could not afford to unleash his power carelessly in public, as harming civilians carried severe consequences.

In this era, martial artists might have held a special status. Still, if they broke the law, the military's heavy artillery and secret divisions, such as the Ironhold Division of Chetvine, would not hesitate to bring them down.

Inside the military headquarters, Luna was in shock when she heard that Andrew was facing Wilder in the Martial Tower.

"Mr. Turman, why did you even agree to let Mr. Murphy Senior duel Andrew there? Wilder is one of the strongest in the Northern Martial Alliance, a full-fledged martial emperor! If he's fighting Andrew, what chance does Andrew even have to survive?"

From his command post, Philip had a complete view of the Martial Tower. Every inch of the place was lined with sensors and surveillance feeds, all directly under his control as the head of the military.

Philip said calmly, "This isn't your concern. Sometimes, battles between men are simple: strength versus strength, power against courage. And the conflict between Andrew and the Murphy family might look like revenge for Benny's death, but behind it, someone much more influential is pulling the strings."

Philip let out a low scoff. "A big one. The Cunningham family once had enough power to rival the royal bloodlines, but in the end, they were crushed by the Lloyds. Their ancestor was a martial god, but he was killed by the Lloyd family's forefather."

He continued, his voice turning grim. "But that's not the point. Otto has always played the long game. To him, the only way for the Cunninghams to rise again is to wipe out the Lloyd royal line completely. Only then can his family ascend to royal status themselves. So whenever Andrew or Reginald shows even the slightest weakness, Otto will never hesitate to strike."

Luna still looked confused. "But even if the Cunningham family becomes powerful enough to stand among royals, why fixate on the Lloyds? Their strength and reputation should speak for themselves. It's not like royal status is limited to one family? Why go to war over it?"