Rise of the White Dragon
chapter-435

Deep down, despite the fear he held for the Gates family, he had a wicked plan in mind. He believed that if he took Cecilia's purity, she would be forced to marry him. Over time, he thought he could make her fall in love with him, despite his heinous acts.

He was confident, thinking that modern times had made them forget contemporary rules and morals. He felt that, like in ancient times, such a deed could be forgiven and forgotten.

However, he underestimated Cecilia.

"Nicolas, you beast! I'll never let you touch me!" Her voice echoed with impressive power.

"Kyahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Cecilia's shrill scream was deafening, causing a sharp pain in Nicolas's ears. He covered his ears in agony, blood dripping between his fingers.

The soundproof magical formation surrounding the mansion couldn't withstand the force of that sonic blast. He never imagined that Cecilia possessed such an ability, and now he found himself completely vulnerable.

Recently, Cecilia had awakened an Origin. She now had the 'Origin of Voice', granting her a deafening scream and much more. However, only her parents and grandfather were aware of this recent awakening.

Nicolas, his face twisted in rage, shouted, "How dare you use such power against me?!"

Despite being staggered by the overwhelming force of Cecilia's scream, the power accumulated by Nicolas over the months still pulsed through his veins. Even feeling the agony, he lunged at her, driven by rage.

Cecilia, aware of the gap in experience and skills between them, had no illusions about her ability to face Nicolas.

The young girl had progressed on her own merits, refusing to rely on external resources, like the magical pills filled with side effects. Her goal was clear: she wanted to push past imposed limits, aiming to reach the level of her idol, Catharina Dimas, of the Fifth Order.

Adrenaline made her heart race. Without hesitation, Cecilia dashed to her bedroom window, hurling herself into the vast open space.

Upon touching the ground, her feet barely had time to plant firmly before she was already sprinting at full speed, seeking to escape the looming threat.

Nicolas's chase instinct was aflame, but he suddenly found himself surrounded by the loyal guards of the Gates mansion.

Though they lacked the power to face someone of Nicolas's stature directly, they were skilled and, in numbers, managed to distract him, making Cecilia's escape more effective.

While fending off and pushing back the guards, Nicolas hurriedly took out his phone, quickly dialing a crucial contact's number.

"Listen closely," he said urgently as the call connected, "Cecilia has escaped. Find her immediately, or our family will pay dearly for this mistake!"

On the other end of the line, Nicolas's father, Nathan Borges, felt a chill down his spine. He had always feared the power and influence of the Gates family.

The decision to align with this dangerous plan was a desperate measure, taken in times of global instability. He had foreseen a bleak future, a hopeless era.

However, the rise of powerful figures like Luan Dimas reshaped the landscape, bringing a new era of hope, especially for Brazil?

"Understood," Nathan replied with determination. "I will mobilize all our forces. Cecilia won't remain free for long."

Upon hanging up, Nicolas's fury manifested in brutal attacks on the guards, leaving the area littered with motionless bodies.

"Damn you!" He roared, his voice laden with frustration and threat. "You can't run forever, Cecilia. I promise you will be mine!"

With that, Nicolas took flight, soaring through the night sky, determined to find the one person who could ruin all his plans.

Cecilia Gates' heart thudded rapidly, accentuating the sound of the night's silence as she ran through the unfamiliar streets of Blumenau.

She and her family were newcomers to the city, and the unfamiliarity became even more menacing, making the idea of trusting anyone an almost impossible task.

Despite the chaos, she held onto her determination, pushing further, leaving the city behind. She tried desperately to call her parents, but her attempts were futile.

"We would have been safer in the City of the Navigators," she murmured, her voice shaky, tears carving sorrowful paths down her cheeks.

Just as she thought she was on the brink of escape, a shadow formed ahead. An enigmatic group in black cloaks blocked her path, their presence radiating danger.

"Halt, Miss Cecilia," the apparent leader intoned, his voice sternly authoritative.

The young woman found herself surrounded, despair wrapping around her like a blanket. She tried her father's number again, but the silence of the phone seemed deafening.

She lifted her eyes, getting lost in the starry expanse above. 'If only I had Catharina's strength,' she thought despondently.

However, a dull hum broke through the air, shattering the night's silence. "What's that?!" someone from the group exclaimed, their voice a mix of fascination and alarm.

In the blink of an eye, a silhouette descended in a spectacular flight.

"A shadow slid across the sky, approaching at breakneck speed!"

Hope flared in Cecilia's heart as a commanding figure materialized before her.

The man, with his upright and imposing posture, emanated an aura of power. His tan complexion, deep brown eyes, and closely-cut black hair were striking features.

His voice, slightly hoarse and edged with coldness, cut through the air. "Why are they chasing you?"

Cecilia hesitated for a moment, assessing the stranger before her. Yet, deep down, she felt he was someone powerful, possibly a cultivator of the Fourth Order or even higher.

"They are trying to kidnap me," she admitted, her eyes filled with desperation and determination. "The leader behind them wants to steal my purity!"

A fire lit up in the previously apathetic eyes of the man. He revealed a sword, which appeared almost magically. In a move so swift it was barely perceivable, he decapitated the attackers surrounding her.

Grasping a second bloodied sword, the figure, known as Renato Lopes, surveyed the scene before him. Among the members of the infamous Elias group, Renato was renowned for his unparalleled speed and lethal abilities.

His nickname among them was 'Black Lightning,' for he always acted with devastating speed. Indeed, his kill count surpassed even that of Elias himself.

"Too slow for my liking," he murmured, his voice as sharp as the edge of his blade.

The enemy bodies, still standing in a grotesque death ballet, took a moment to process what had happened. One by one, they fell to the ground, marking the end of an almost silent confrontation.

Renato, having eradicated the imminent threat, turned to Cecilia, his words pouring out gravely. "Now, get out of here. If you can contact any ally or family member, do so. For now, you're safe."

She furrowed her brow, unable to accept the abrupt departure of the stranger who had saved her. "Before you go... Who are you?"

With a half-smile, he replied, "Renato. My name is Renato Lopes." And with those words, he turned away, revealing magnificent metallic wings from his shoulder blades that took him to the skies.

Cecilia, with an awestruck sigh, murmured, "Renato Lopes..." The heroic – albeit brutal – manner in which he had acted left a profound impact on the young woman. For the first time, her adolescent heart throbbed with an unfamiliar intensity.