Chapter 5980

Silence answered him.

Not even an echo lingered—just the wind sliding through fractured stone, carrying grit that stung his cheeks. Jared stood alone in the wasteland, the afterimage of white light still burning behind his eyes.

Level thirteen.

The words rang louder now that Mr. Sanders was gone.

He clenched his fists. Chaos stirred faintly inside him—not the roaring storm it once had been, but not ashes either. A live coal, banked deep.

So this was the price.

No shortcuts. No borrowed hands. No ghost-king favors or dragon lineage to lean on while he slept.