Read Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Novel by Only For You Updated 2025 -26 - Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3177

Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3177

Moments earlier, Alfredo had risen in agitation the instant he saw Andrew. Now, Andrew had calmly taken his seat, acting as though Alfredo didn’t exist at all.

It was a naked slap to the face—a direct humiliation of the number one figure of the Eastern Regions, a man ranked among the top three on the Holtrien Titan List.

Alfredo should have drawn his sword and struck on the spot. Yet once again, he endured.

Part of it was his wariness of Nyx. More importantly, he could not gauge Andrew’s true strength.

Andrew’s reputation had exploded across the Outlands, but within Holtrien, very few understood what had actually happened. The fall of Throne City and the annihilation of the Ludendorff family—the so-called King of the Wasteland—had all occurred within mere days. As for the Cathedral army’s defeat and retreat to Lomuia, the news had been deliberately suppressed. Lomuia was too ashamed to spread word of such a disgrace.

Because of that, Andrew’s name had not yet truly reached home.

Guillermo, however, had summoned Alfredo to Chetvine the moment Andrew appeared, claiming it was to discuss something important.

Alfredo had rejected him outright.

Did Guillermo really think he could summon him like a servant?

Ever since the failed assassination of Reginald, Guillermo’s so-called alliance had collapsed. The major powers no longer trusted him. He called himself Holtrien’s master strategist, boasting that he never failed—yet he had not succeeded once against either Andrew or Reginald.

Even the time Andrew had been cornered in what should have been an inescapable trap, he had still managed to break free.

Because of that, figures like Alfredo and Julius no longer respected Guillermo and had chosen to act independently.

They had resented taking orders from him in the first place.

Each of them ruled their own domain. What right did Guillermo have to command them? If he lacked the ability to back it up, then there was no reason to keep playing along.

That was how men like Alfredo thought—men who valued pride and status above all else.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Alfredo finally turned toward Andrew, his eyes narrowing as his right hand drifted unconsciously to the hilt of his sword.

“Have you taken a liking to my seat?” he asked coldly. “Or perhaps to my position as Lord of Swordhaven Keep?”

His gaze sharpened. “We’re on the same side. If you simply ask—out of respect for your father, and as your elder—I might even consider stepping aside.”

Andrew glanced at him, expression indifferent.

Then he smiled.

“I have no interest in any of that,” he said calmly. “What I want is your head rolling.”

Alfredo sneered. “That’s not something to joke about.”

Andrew’s voice was flat. “What makes you think you’re worth joking with?”

They were standing too close now.

Andrew’s aura pressed down like a blade at the throat—sharp, violent, suffocating.

Alfredo had not wanted to strike first. But under the crushing pressure of their clashing energies, restraint became impossible.

With a furious roar, he drew his sword.

If he struck first, he would seize the advantage.

He refused to believe this arrogant bastard could overturn him.

A flash of sword light burst from the scabbard—

—and in that lightning-fast instant, Andrew struck out with his palm.

A thunderous boom echoed through the hall.

Alfredo’s sword, barely halfway drawn, was slammed violently back into its scabbard by that single palm strike.

His expression changed drastically.

He roared and tried to draw again—

—but Andrew’s hand clamped down on his wrist like iron.

Then came the sound of cracking stone.