Read Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Novel by Only For You Updated 2025 -26 - Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3249

Pablo’s laughter rolled through the broken street, deep and unrestrained.

“General Turman,” he said, golden body gleaming beneath the darkened sky, “you uphold your justice. I uphold my family’s survival. If you wish to act, then act. Even if your troops flood this city right now… I would still have nothing to fear.”

Philip’s jaw tightened.

He understood exactly why Pablo spoke so confidently.

Blades meant nothing.

Bullets meant nothing.

Even artillery would struggle to penetrate the perfected Diamond Body Art. If they failed to locate a flaw, they would only exhaust themselves while Pablo remained standing like a divine statue of war.

And Andrew—

Andrew had just finished battling Wyatt, a peak Martial God.

Now he faced someone even stronger.

The Hearst foundation was not comparable to the Cunningham family.

This was not recklessness.

This was pressure from a titan.

Philip exhaled slowly and prepared to step forward.

“Fine. Since you’ve made your stance clear—”

“No need.”

Andrew’s voice cut across him.

Philip snapped, “Andrew, don’t be stubborn!”

Too late.

Andrew lunged.

His head smashed brutally into Pablo’s chest with a metallic boom. In the same motion, he sprang upward, locking both arms around Pablo’s neck and wrenching violently.

It was not elegant.

It was primal.

He meant to tear the man’s head off.

Pablo roared and spun, hurling himself backward into reinforced concrete. The impact crushed half a building façade.

Andrew released and flipped away mid-crash.

When he landed, fresh gashes split open across his hands.

He looked down.

Blood soaked his fingers.

He smiled faintly.

“So the Diamond Body Art really is that solid.”

Pablo steadied himself, voice low.

“It is not invincible. If you can endure until my technique fades and my inner energy is drained, you may break it.”

A pause.

“I have maintained it while fighting continuously for three days and nights. If you wish to defeat me, Andrew… you must endure that long.”

Andrew flicked blood from his hands.

The wounds closed visibly.

Muscle knit.

Skin sealed.

He rolled his shoulders.

“I don’t have three days,” he said casually. “And I don’t need them.”

His gaze sharpened.

“I’ll break it.”

Pablo laughed again, this time edged with anger.

“Very well. If you truly shatter my Diamond Body, the Hearst family will withdraw from interfering in your purge of Chetvine.”

Andrew didn’t look at him.

He glanced instead at Philip.

“I don’t need you stepping in.”

His voice was calm.

“Today, either I get beaten to death… or he does.”

Philip swore under his breath.

“Have you lost your mind? You’re walking into a trap!”

Andrew smiled faintly.

“Holtrien hides too many masters. If I want to stand at the top, I can’t avoid battles like this. Facing someone like Patriarch Pablo…”

His aura pulsed again.

“…is a gift.”

Philip stared at him as if questioning whether the Diamond Body strikes had rattled something loose in his skull.

From a tactical standpoint, this was foolish.

Andrew was not at full strength.

He could withdraw.

Recover.

Return later.

But Andrew’s eyes held no hesitation.

Because he understood something Philip did not fully accept.

Pablo was not a mortal enemy.

When Andrew had faced Arya—

When he had confronted the werewolf progenitor—

When he had stood before the vampire progenitor—

Those had been life-ending threats.

That had been true death pressure.

Pablo?

Terrifying.

Yes.

Unbreakable defense.

Yes.

But not beyond reach.

Andrew flexed his fingers.

His recovery was already compensating for accumulated damage.

Blood loss slowed.

Breathing stabilized.

Energy circulated with renewed rhythm.

He could not match the Diamond Body’s defense.

But Pablo could not match his regeneration.

If this truly became a battle of endurance—

Andrew would not collapse first.

The wind shifted.

The storm clouds thickened overhead.

Pablo’s golden body radiated blinding brilliance.

Andrew stepped forward again, barefoot on shattered stone.

His aura no longer surged wildly.

It flowed.

Controlled.

Refined through pain.

“You said three days,” Andrew said softly.

“I don’t need that long.”

He lowered his stance.

And the next exchange—

Would no longer be about force alone.

It would be about who broke first.