Chapter 46 Khan’s Strength
Khan straightened his posture, his movements smooth and deliberate as he dusted the debris from his clothes, his fingers brushing over his dark jacket in a slow, almost mocking manner. Though his face remained mostly hidden beneath the black mask that covered everything but his piercing eyes, the slight crinkle at the corners of his lids hinted at a smile—one that radiated amusement rather than annoyance. He wasn’t frustrated by the kick Liam had managed to land; on the contrary, he seemed to welcome it, as if he had been hoping for more of a challenge. Chuckling lowly, his voice a smooth mixture of amusement and condescension, he tilted his head slightly to the side before uttering in a quiet but firm tone, "Now that’s more like it."
Before Liam had a chance to fully steady his breathing, Khan moved again, his speed almost unnatural as he closed the distance between them with frightening precision. This time, he no longer kept his hands idly behind his back, no longer playing the role of an observer testing his opponent’s strength. He went on the offensive, his arm shooting forward in a powerful punch aimed directly at Liam’s face. But Liam had been watching closely, his body already tensed and prepared, so the moment Khan’s fist came at him, he reacted instinctively, raising his forearm to parry the attack. The moment their limbs connected, Liam felt the sheer force behind Khan’s punch, the impact sending a painful vibration through his bones, but he ignored the discomfort as he countered immediately, his other hand snapping up in a sharp jab toward Khan’s ribs.
However, Khan was quicker. With an almost lazy movement, he slapped Liam’s attacking hand away with his own, the impact strong enough to send Liam staggering a few steps back, though he quickly corrected his footing. But before he could properly regain his stance, Khan’s arm shot out again, his fingers wrapping around Liam’s throat in a firm grip, effortlessly lifting him off the ground. Liam’s breath hitched as he felt himself being hoisted into the air, his feet no longer touching the floor, his hands instinctively grabbing at Khan’s wrist in an attempt to break free. But Khan’s grip was like iron, his strength absurdly overwhelming, and before Liam could even attempt another struggle, Khan slammed him down with brute force.
The impact was bone-jarring. Liam’s entire body convulsed from the sheer force of the slam, a sharp, searing pain spreading through his back and limbs as he gritted his teeth, his mind momentarily dazed from the collision. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling erratically as he tried to process what had just happened. He had expected the system to kick in by now, to provide some sort of temporary boost like it had before, to double his stats or give him a surge of power to fight back, but there was nothing. No notification. No sudden rush of strength. Just the overwhelming silence of the system’s absence, as if it had completely abandoned him the moment he needed it the most.
Frustration bubbled inside him, but he barely had time to curse the system before Khan’s shadow loomed over him again, his fist already descending toward his face like a hammer. Adrenaline kicked in, forcing Liam’s body to react before his mind could fully register it, and at the last second, he rolled to the side, just narrowly avoiding the devastating blow. He scrambled backward, creating as much distance as he could while wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. His head was pounding, his muscles aching, but none of that mattered right now. What mattered was figuring out how the hell he was supposed to fight back against this monster of a man.
Khan didn’t even give him a moment to think. The instant Liam found his footing, Khan was already upon him again, his movements fluid and precise, his strikes relentless. Liam managed to block the first couple of attacks, his arms moving instinctively to parry, but Khan’s onslaught was too fast, too overwhelming. Before he knew it, an elbow came crashing into his face, the sharp pain blinding as stars exploded in his vision. Then, before he could even recover, Khan’s leg shot forward, his kick connecting with Liam’s torso, sending him hurtling backward once more. His back slammed against the already damaged wall, the surface cracking slightly from the impact, and before he could so much as suck in a breath, Khan was there again, closing the gap between them like a predator cornering its prey.
There was no room to dodge this time. Khan’s fists struck out in rapid succession, each punch finding its mark as Liam’s body became the unwilling recipient of brutal blows. His stomach, his ribs, his chest—every strike sent waves of pain coursing through his body, each one more devastating than the last. He tried to fight back, tried to lift his arms to defend himself, but Khan’s relentless barrage left him no openings, no opportunities to retaliate. His breathing grew more labored, his strength draining with each punishing hit, and before long, his body could no longer keep up.
The final strike came in the form of a vicious knee to the face. Liam barely registered the moment of impact before everything went black, his body going completely limp as consciousness slipped from his grasp.
Khan straightened himself, staring down at Liam’s motionless form with mild disinterest, as if unimpressed by how quickly the fight had ended. Shaking his head slightly, he let out a small sigh before muttering, "Too easy." Without another word, he reached down, grabbing Liam by the ankle as if he weighed nothing at all. Then, with a complete lack of urgency, he began dragging him toward the door, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.
Reaching the doorway, he turned slightly, glancing back at the wreckage left behind in Amanda’s once-cozy living room. The walls were cracked, the furniture overturned and broken, the entire space looking as if a small tornado had torn through it. But despite the destruction, not a single sound came from upstairs. Amanda was still fast asleep, blissfully unaware of everything that had just taken place beneath her roof.
With a final glance toward the stairs, Khan smirked beneath his mask before stepping outside, pulling the door shut behind him as he dragged Liam’s unconscious body into the darkness.