The Pyro's Martial Artists Ranking glowed on my screen, a digital testament to power in our world. I scrolled through the names, recognizing many from newspapers and whispered rumors.
Ignazio Bellweather sat comfortably at number three overall. No surprise there – the man was a legend, an immovable mountain in Veridia City's landscape of power.
Further down, younger talents like Dominic Ashworth and Dashiell Blackthorne occupied respectable positions. Their names brought a bitter taste to my mouth for entirely different reasons.
Where would I fall if they knew what I was truly capable of? The thought whispered through my mind. Not at the top – not yet – but certainly not invisible anymore.
"Liam Knight? Is that you?"
The voice yanked me from my thoughts. I looked up to find a vaguely familiar face watching me with obvious surprise.
"Cody Ross," the man said, extending his hand. "We were in college together."
