The Man's Decree

Meanwhile, Jared and his beleaguered companions were ensnared within the clutches of the Five Great Sects.

Their allies, Montane Daemon, Igor, the valiant Catina, and the resourceful Tyler, all bore the brunt of grievous wounds.

They were ringed by the covetous eyes of the Celestial Darkmore Sect, Celestial Moon Sect, and Celestial Sun Sect, whose disciples encircled them with avarice gleaming in their eyes.

The Demon Seal Alliance’s century-long promises were a lure too seductive to ignore.

Heinrik, Edward, and Stuart couldn’t help but exchange knowing looks and burst into mirthful laughter.

Despite Lauden’s express prohibition, the temptation of the Demon Seal Alliance’s offerings was too strong to resist.

Everyone had their schemes, their secret desires, and now, they were all here, with Jared unwittingly cast as their prey, a fish laid bare upon the board, awaiting their will to carve.

surrender your life willingly, or must we wrest it from you ourselves?” Heinrik asked, his smirk playfully

relentless fire in his eyes was a silent testament to

twinkling with defiance. Facing the inevitable, Jared’s resolve hardened; he would go down fighting, determined to drag

thick with contempt. “You overestimate yourself, boy. Since you’ve chosen

when a sudden, icy rebuke sliced through the air, a powerful presence that

Darkmore, did you just disregard

was Lauden, emerging alongside Keelan, leading a cadre of their own swiftly to

upon laying eyes on Lauden. “Mr. Delacroix, surely even you cannot disdain the Demon Seal Alliance’s century of offerings. You

might of three of the Five Great Sects behind him,

strike me down first to get to him,” Lauden

your stake in this young man’s fate?” Edward inquired, his tone laced

our sects’ bounds, his fate is his own to meet. But within the Five Great Sects, such wanton violence will not stand. Our forebears founded these sects on principles of justice, to combat evil. Even in these degraded times, should we not honor their memory? Should we not hold fast to the last vestiges of our integrity? We are not butchers, to kill at whim for

thundered with righteous

the allure of the Demon Seal Alliance’s promises too potent for some,