At the very front, the Swordmaster City delegation, Qivius, stood close to Lester. His chin lifted a fraction higher than courtesy allowed, a triumph tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Jared! Drag yourself out here now!” Lester roared. “If anything bad happens to Kael, the Sword Sect will be doomed!”

The massive gate groaned open. Jared stepped through at an unhurried pace, Corin, Flaxseed, and Lyra fanning out behind him.

A slim rank of Sword Sect disciples followed, heads high, eyes blazing with the eerie calm of people who had already promised their lives to a cause.

They were hopelessly outnumbered, yet they wore the same expression, unyielding, fearless, prepared to die before surrendering so much as a breath.

“Where is Kael?” Lester demanded, each word bitten off like steel striking flint. His glare locked on Jared, murderous intent gathering so thick in his eyes It seemed to darken the sunlight itself.

“His cultivation is gone. I tossed outside the city.” Jared’s answer was delivered in a level tone, the words dropping into the silence like cold iron. Lester exploded, his roar splitting the air. “You’ve got a death wish, boy!”