Read Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Novel by Only For You Updated 2025 -26 - Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3217

Andrew raised his hand as well and threw a punch. Their fists collided midair.

Both men suppressed their energy. Neither wanted to cause a massive disturbance. The outcome would be decided in that single, locked strike.

Within that tightly contained space, on a microscopic level, the force they exchanged was catastrophic—enough to shatter a mountainside or rip open a valley.

“Back off!” Nate clenched his jaw and roared like thunder.

Their fists seemed magnetized, locked together.

The shockwave of his roar could have ruptured an ordinary martial artist’s eardrums and killed them instantly. Andrew’s hair merely fluttered. He didn’t budge.

Calmly, he said, “Thunderclap Roar—the Hearst family’s ultimate technique. Not bad. But that’s all it is.”

His eyes shifted.

One turned blood-red. The other, pitch-black.

Nate’s expression changed instantly. A savage, suffocating darkness enveloped him.

In the next second, a violent surge of power from Andrew’s fist tore into Nate’s body, racing up his arm like a tidal wave. No matter how frantically Nate forced out his internal energy to resist, it was useless.

The dark aura slammed straight into his heart.

With a muffled groan, Nate staggered back, teeth clenched. Sweat poured down his forehead and neck.

“You—”

His face twisted in pain as he glared at Andrew.

This seemingly simple exchange—no flashy techniques, no dramatic movements—was the most dangerous kind of clash. One miscalculation could shatter a cultivator’s foundation forever.

And Nate knew it.

He had lost ground from the very first move.

A chill crept into his heart. Had Andrew already broken through to the Martial God realm?

Nate wasn’t weak. Even peak Martial Gods would struggle to defeat him easily. Otherwise, the Hearst royal family would never have sent him all the way from Hearstland to Chetvine to negotiate.

The Hearsts stationed people in Chetvine, yes—but their true power lay in Hearstland. What stood here was only a fragment of their presence.

Andrew stepped forward.

“If we keep fighting,” he said evenly, “even if you survive, you’ll fall from the Martial God realm.”

Power continued to pour from his fist, forcing Nate back another step.

Two steps now.

Among true experts, victory could be decided by a hair’s breadth.

Nate had already lost.

But pride ran in his bones.

With a furious roar, he burned through his potential, gathering everything into one final strike and smashing forward.

The result was immediate.

Andrew snorted coldly. The darkness within him surged violently outward.

Nate spat blood and staggered back three full steps, leaving deep footprints carved into the ground.

He tilted his head and expelled another mouthful of blood into the air, staining his long hair crimson.

He looked utterly wretched.

“Fine,” Nate said hoarsely, raising a trembling hand in surrender. “I admit it. I’m no match for you.”

His gaze was complicated—resentment, disbelief, and the faintest trace of jealousy.

“How did you cultivate that power? Among Holtrien’s schools and ancient sects, no one walks a path like yours.”

Andrew shrugged.

“Even if I don’t tell you, you’ll ask Franz later. So I’ll save you the trouble. It’s the dark origin power of Western vampires and werewolves.”

He glanced at Nate. “You look lean, but you’re a high-burst Martial God—explosive and direct. Unfortunately for you, I specialize in countering that type.”

A faint smile curved his lips.

“I like fighting violence with violence.”

Nate gave a bitter laugh. “I apologize for earlier. I’ll leave now. I won’t interfere in your affairs again.”

“You can go,” Andrew said coolly. “But take a message back to Hearstland.”

His eyes sharpened.

“I’m not afraid of the Hearst royal family. If you have an issue with me, come at me directly. But Mr. Hearst is a soldier of Holtrien—loyal to this country and its people. He’s also someone I respect.”

His voice dropped, deadly calm.

“If the Hearst family suppresses or harms him because of me, I swear I’ll wipe your ancient bloodline off this land.”

Nate’s entire body trembled.

“Rest assured,” he said stiffly, “the Hearst royal family isn’t so petty.”

“Verbal promises mean nothing to me,” Andrew replied. “Only absolute strength—the kind that makes others feel despair—has value.”

He turned away.

“Now get lost.”

Humiliation burned through Nate as he retreated.

The clash had no grand spectacle. No shattered earth. No torn skies.

But anyone who understood would know—

Nate had performed exceptionally well.

He survived.

Had it been someone like Kelvin, Andrew could have crushed his heart instantly.

“Let’s go. We’re heading to the Reyes residence.”

Andrew returned to the car and drove off as though nothing had happened.

—

After turning into a secluded area, Nate could no longer hold on.

He collapsed to his knees. Blood gushed from his mouth.

With sheer willpower, he forced himself to remain conscious. If he blacked out now, half a lifetime of cultivation would collapse.

Andrew’s warning hadn’t been empty.

He had nearly destroyed him.

Hands trembling, Nate pulled out two golden pills. Pain flickered in his eyes.

In the end, he swallowed both.

Life and realm came before everything else—even divine medicine.

After steadying his breathing and stabilizing his condition, he sent two messages.

The first went to the Hearst royal family:

[He is already beyond single combat. At minimum, no one person can defeat him.]

The second went to Guillermo:

[Mr. Vazquez, forgive my incompetence. I failed to complete your request. But I gathered some information. Unless you act personally, no one can handle him. Andrew’s power is rising unchecked—a force that cannot be stopped.]

After sending the urgent messages, Nate fled Chetvine.

He needed a quiet place to recover.

In half a lifetime, he had never suffered such a crushing defeat.