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.

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

his eyes was a silent testament to his

Jared’s nascence, the nascence star seemed to stir, twinkling with defiance. Facing the inevitable, Jared’s resolve hardened;

yourself, boy. Since you’ve chosen

aura when a sudden, icy rebuke sliced through the air, a powerful presence that quashed Heinrik’s burgeoning force with

did you just

was Lauden, emerging alongside Keelan, leading a cadre of their own swiftly to the scene. Lauden’s

Lauden. “Mr. Delacroix, surely even you cannot disdain the Demon Seal Alliance’s century of offerings. You won’t stop

support of sect leaders Edward and Stuart, and the collective might of three of the Five Great

strike me down first to get

this young

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?

thundered with

on deaf ears, the allure of the Demon