Rise of the White Dragon

Trying again, Cecilia dialed her parents' number. No answer. In their absence, she decided to call her grandfather.

"Ah, my dear. It's late, why are you calling me? Did you miss me?" The gentle and affectionate voice of her grandfather, filled with life experience, came through.

"Grandpa... Someone tried to harm me today and... steal my innocence!" Cecilia spoke hesitantly, the fear and trauma still fresh.

"What?! Who would dare to do such a thing?" The previously gentle voice now boiled with indignation and rage.

"It was Nicolas, from the Borges family. But I'm okay thanks to a man named Renato Lopes... However, I'm now alone, near the city exit, and my parents aren't answering..." With a choked voice, Cecilia tried to hold back her tears. Talking to her grandfather brought her some relief and safety.

Calmly, but determinedly, the grandfather replied, "Don't worry, dear. I'm on my way. I won't be more than five minutes. And, when we're together, we'll deal with this threat."

Although the Borges family had some influence in Blumenau, Cecilia's grandfather, a former soldier who had reached the Fourth Order thanks to potent elixirs and his own latent natural talent, had the means and will to protect his granddaughter and stand up to any challenge.

While he was curious about Renato Lopes, who had saved Cecilia, he knew the priority was to act fast. Only after securing his granddaughter's safety would he address the topic. 'Could it be that Renato Lopes?' Suddenly, an individual from Elias Levy Cardoso's group came to mind. But he didn't dwell on it.

Amid the vastness, Cecilia's voice sounded like a comforting melody: "I'm here, grandpa. I'm waiting for you." The relief in her voice was evident. Immediately, she sent her exact location to him.

Even after ending the call, Cecilia kept her senses sharp and ready. She activated her mental ability, prepared to sense any unwanted approach. Whenever she noticed someone's presence, her strategy was clear: keep her distance. After all, it wasn't worth facing an adversary whose skills she didn't know.

Suddenly, a series of booming explosions tore through the air, distant and powerful echoes sounding like drums from the sky. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!"

Recognizing those sounds, Cecilia couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. She halted her flight, hovering in the air. It could only be her grandfather.

Moments later, an imposing figure appeared on the horizon. A man with short stylish red hair, contrasted by a meticulously trimmed black beard. His eyes, a deep blue, though youthful, carried wisdom acquired over millennia.

Although his appearance suggested someone in their early forties, there was a depth in his gaze that defied time. He stood tall, nearly two meters, with broad shoulders and an athletic build.

"Cecilia!" He called, arms open wide.

"Grandpa!" Cecilia, overcome with joy, dove into her grandfather's loving embrace.

"I'm here, my precious. Everything will be alright now," he reassured her, gently stroking her back.

With shining eyes, she kissed his cheek and declared: "I knew I could count on you."

The man cast a glance around, a question on his mind: "You mentioned a certain Renato Lopes. Where is he? I would like to thank him personally."

Cecilia hesitated for a moment before answering. "He... left."

Cecilia's grandfather arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. As he approached, he had sensed someone else's presence besides Cecilia.

It was plausible to think that Renato, noticing the grandfather's arrival and seeing that Cecilia was safe, had chosen to discreetly retreat.

The mere idea of someone so considerate and reserved piqued the grandfather's curiosity even more. He wanted to learn about this mysterious benefactor. However...

With an icy determination echoing in his voice, Will Gates proclaimed, "We'll set that conversation aside for now. I promise you, Cecilia, those who harmed you will face the consequences."

His eyes shone with restrained fury; Cecilia's current well-being didn't erase the horror of what she had endured.

"I'm ready, Grandpa," Cecilia replied firmly. Her eyes mirrored the thirst for justice, a flame she had seen burning so fiercely in Renato Lopes.

However, a thought struck Cecilia, and with a stern look, she cautioned, "Grandpa, we must ensure that only the truly guilty suffer. The innocent cannot be victims of our revenge."

A silence hung as Will pondered his granddaughter's words. At last, he nodded, "Your words are wise, my dear. We'll keep our focus solely on those who truly deserve it." A proud smile appeared on his face.

Beaming, Cecilia exclaimed, "That's why I love you, Grandpa!"

Without further ado, surrounded by a shimmering aura, Will took flight, guided by the energy of the man who had dared to harm Cecilia. She, in turn, agreed with a murmur of approval.

In no time, they located their target.

Upon spotting the duo, Nicolas's eyes widened in shock, his surprise evident. "Cecilia? And this man...?" Dread set in when he recognized Will's potent aura and his inability to gauge the extent of his power.

"Dare you utter my granddaughter's name without permission?" Will projected his overwhelming aura, immobilizing Nicolas with crushing pressure. Nicolas's connection to his own Qi quickly dissipated.

"Y-You..." Stammering, he tried to speak, but words stuck in his throat.

"Silence! Who gave you permission to speak?" Will interrupted authoritatively, not wanting to give Nicolas a chance to justify himself or plead for mercy.

Amidst the tension of the moment, Cecilia's thoughts wandered briefly, recalling Renato Lopes and his formidable power. In her mind, she revisited the scene where Renato, with a graceful move, brandished his swords, resulting in countless fallen adversaries.

The irony was that, if Will knew of the comparison between his strength and Renato's in Cecilia's thoughts, his pride might be deeply wounded...

Snapping out of such reflections, Will summoned his special ability: a direct attack on Nicolas's psyche.

Nicolas's anguished scream shattered the silence, echoing for seemingly endless minutes until, at last, Will halted his assault.

Nicolas, with his sanity clearly shaken, laughed disjointedly. "Fools! All of you, fools! Idiots... Hahaha." He uttered with empty eyes, wandering aimlessly.

Will, with a stern look and an icy tone, remarked, "He's broken, lost his mind."

Observing Nicolas's pitiful state, Cecilia felt a mix of satisfaction and relief. "He got what he deserved," she stated, her determined tone hiding any trace of pity.

Will nodded, "Yes, my dear, he reaped what he sowed. But our work isn't over yet. There are others who need to face justice."

With renewed resolve, Cecilia replied, "I'm ready, Grandpa."