The Supreme Urban Martial God

As September dawned, a crisp chill permeated the air, heralding the approach of autumn. Against this backdrop, a solitary figure made his way towards the imposing Northbrook Auction House. William Durand moved with deliberate steps, his lean frame wrapped in a black jacket that seemed to absorb the fading light of day. At six feet tall, William cut an impressive figure. His short, neatly trimmed hair and sparse beard framed a face marked by sharp, angular features. But it was his eyes that truly commanded attention - piercing and alert, they scanned his surroundings with the intensity of a hawk surveying its domain. Those eyes now fixed upon the auction house, its façade bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun. "Five years," William murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "At last, I've returned." No sooner had the words left his lips than a well-built man appeared at his side. The newcomer bowed deeply, a gesture of profound respect. "My Lord," he said, his tone urgent yet controlled. "We've completed our investigation. The Durand family heirloom, the Celestial Map, is scheduled for auction at Northbrook today." At this news, William's fists clenched involuntarily, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. The change in his demeanor was palpable, and nature itself seemed to respond. In an instant, storm clouds gathered overhead, their ominous rumble echoing William's turbulent emotions. The temperature plummeted dramatically, frost forming on the grass in a matter of seconds. Five years ago, the Durand name had been synonymous with respect and influence in Northbrook. They were a clan of power and prestige, their roots deeply embedded in the city's history. But all of that had changed in a single, devastating night. William's mind drifted back to that fateful day. His marriage to Sarah Evans, the golden daughter of the Evans family from Shadow City, should have been a joyous occasion. Instead, it had sparked a brutal m******e that had wiped out nearly his entire family. In the span of a few blood-soaked hours, the Durands' glory had been extinguished, their legacy reduced to ashes. The architect of their downfall was Lucas Greene, heir to the powerful Greene family in the capital. Lucas's obsession with Sarah had driven him to unthinkable acts of cruelty. Leveraging his family's vast influence, he had orchestrated the Durands' annihilation with cold, calculated precision. For five long years, William had been haunted by Lucas's cruel face and mocking words. They echoed in his nightmares, a constant reminder of all he had lost: "Sarah Evans, let me tell you!" Lucas had sneered. "There's no woman in this world I can't have! If I can't have her, then no one else can! That waste of space William Durand - today I'll kill his whole family. I want you to watch as I break every bone in his body, one by one!" The memory of that night brought a fresh wave of pain to William. What tormented him most wasn't the physical agony he had endured, but the sight of his parents being murdered before his eyes. The knowledge that he had been powerless to save them, to protect his wife and child - it was a weight that threatened to crush his very soul. William could still hear his own hoarse screams as he was thrown into the river like a discarded piece of trash. In that moment, his heart had turned to ashes, filled with a hatred so deep and all-consuming that it had kept him alive through the darkest of times. If not for a twist of fate - meeting his master in the depths of his despair - William would have long ago been nothing more than fish food at the bottom of the river. But fate, it seemed, had other plans for William Durand. Taking a deep breath, William steeled himself for what was to come. His eyes, once filled with pain and anguish, now turned cold as ice. With a practiced motion, he clasped his hands behind his back and strode purposefully into the auction house. "From now on," he declared, his voice ringing with authority, "no one is to enter Northbrook Auction House. Anyone who violates this will be killed without exception." His companion nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir!" As they entered the building, William's thoughts turned to the object of his quest - the Celestial Map. This wasn't just any family heirloom; it was the Durands' most prized possession, a symbol of their legacy and power. By rights, it should have been passed down to William rather than his uncles. If not for the tragic events of three years ago, it would likely be in his possession already. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on William. Here he was, rightful heir to the Durand legacy, forced to infiltrate an auction to reclaim what was rightfully his. But circumstances had changed, and William was no longer the naive young man he had once been. He was prepared to do whatever it took to reclaim his birthright and avenge his family. Inside the auction house, the atmosphere was charged with excitement. The room was filled with the city's elite, all vying for the chance to own a piece of history. Little did they know that the true owner of that history had just walked through the doors. As William made his way through the crowd, he caught snippets of conversation that made his blood boil: "Three hundred million!" a voice called out. "Young Master Blackwood has bid three hundred million! Does anyone wish to go higher?" "Three hundred million going once!" "Three hundred million going twice!" "Three hundred million for the third and final time! Sold! Congratulations to Young Master Blackwood on acquiring the Celestial Map! This concludes our auction for today!" A round of applause erupted as a young man in an expensive suit stood up, basking in the attention. William's eyes narrowed as he studied the self-satisfied smirk on the man's face. "Congratulations, Young Master Blackwood!" someone called out. "You've captured the Celestial Map!" "In all of Northbrook, I suppose only Young Master Blackwood has the means to acquire such a treasure," another voice chimed in. The young man - Blackwood - preened under the praise. Adjusting his collar, he addressed the crowd with a smug smile. "It's all thanks to your support, my friends. Without you, I might not have been able to acquire the Celestial Map so easily! To show my gratitude, I'll be hosting a banquet at the Northbrook Hotel this afternoon. I hope you'll all attend!" As the crowd continued to fawn over Blackwood, William felt a surge of disgust. The Celestial Map wasn't just a pretty picture to be bought and sold - it was his family's legacy, steeped in history and meaning. To see it treated like a common commodity was almost more than he could bear. Taking a deep breath to calm his rising anger, William stepped forward. His movement caught the attention of those nearest to him, and a hush fell over the crowd as they turned to look at this newcomer. "The Celestial Map," William said, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "I want it." The simple declaration sent shockwaves through the room. The sycophantic murmurs ceased abruptly, replaced by looks of confusion and disbelief. "Who is this guy?" someone whispered. "Is he out of his mind?" "The auction's already over," another voice hissed. "What does he think he's doing?" Blackwood's eyes narrowed as he regarded William with obvious disdain. "Well, well," he sneered, "it seems every Tom, d**k, and Harry thinks they can make demands these days. Listen here, whoever you are - the Celestial Map is mine now. I suggest you leave before you embarrass yourself further." William's gaze remained steady, unfazed by Blackwood's attempts at intimidation. "I'll say it once more," he repeated, his voice deceptively calm. "The Celestial Map. I want it." The tension in the room was palpable. Blackwood's face flushed with anger as he stepped towards William, his finger jabbing accusatorily. "You insolent fool! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? I am the heir to the Blackwood fortune! This map is mine, fair and square. If you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and walk out that door right now!" As Blackwood finished his tirade, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Before he could react, a flash of cold light erupted from William's gaze. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through Blackwood's chest. With a heavy thud, Blackwood collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. Even as life ebbed from his body, he couldn't comprehend what had just happened. "Now," William said coolly, stepping over Blackwood's prone form, "you can't buy it." The auction house erupted into chaos as William calmly walked up to the auctioneer and took the Celestial Map with one hand. The auctioneer, paralyzed with fear, didn't dare to even breathe. As William made his way towards the exit, the crowd parted before him like the Red Sea. Not a single person dared to utter a word until his imposing figure had disappeared from sight. Only then did the whispers start: "Dear God, who was that? How did he kill Young Master Blackwood so easily?" "He's insane! Absolutely insane! The Blackwood family won't let this go unpunished!" But William was already gone, the Celestial Map securely in his possession. His mission was far from over, but he had taken the first step towards reclaiming his legacy and avenging his family. The return of William Durand was just beginning, and Northbrook would never be the same again.