"Mr. Ramsey!"
Varryn stepped quickly in front of Robin, his tone sincere. "Sir, I can sense the depth of your love for your wife. Please, hold off just for a moment. Let me speak a few words. I'm willing to petition the High Pontiff on your behalf. If we can't reach your terms, then ... you may act as you see fit."
But before his words could take effect, a wave of hateful shouting from the citizens erupted across Soulforge Mountain.
"Kill Drakebane! Banish his wife's soul to the Wraithvale! Shatter her soul and let her never reincarnate!"
"Varryn, you traitor! You snake!"
"Drakebane defied the authority of our High Pontiff! Tear him to pieces!"
...
Rupert wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed maniacally. "Drakebane, do you hear the will of our people? They loathe you and your wife. They want to feast on your flesh and drink your blood! Get on your knees and die! You can never walk away with her soul. You think you can save your wife's soul now that you've lost the dagger? What a joke! Hahaha!"
Just as Varryn was about to speak, Robin let out a cold scoff. "In that case, there's nothing left to negotiate."
"Mr. Drakebane—" Varryn tried again.
But Robin vanished in a blur of motion and appeared right in front of Rupert. With a single punch, he sent the man flying to the ground.
Rupert, despite having reached the Sanctified Realm, couldn't even defend himself. He sprawled helplessly.
"Drakebane, if you dare kill me, the High Pontiff will—"
Crunch.
Before he could finish, Robin stomped down, crushing Rupert's skull beneath his boot.
A collective gasp swept the mountain as Robin raised the Vowbinder high into the air.
"Death means nothing to me. I came to Netheris with no intention of making peace with you vermin. If I can't retrieve Shirley's soul, then we all go down together."
Thousands of Heavenfall Blades erupted across the sky like a storm of silver fury.
In the blink of an eye, the blades descended—aimed at the crowd that moments before had called for Shirley's soul to be damned to the Wraithlands.
The mob, once full of fire and bravado, scattered like frightened animals.
"Mr. Ramsey, please lay down your sword, just for now!" Varryn bowed deeply before Robin, his voice urgent. "These angry people ... They're just a mob driven by ignorance. They're fools, not true enemies. Killing them would be beneath someone of your stature. Give me a few moments to speak with them. That's all I ask."
Robin's eyes narrowed, but he recalled the blades poised above the cowering citizens. "You have a few minutes. But let me make one thing clear—if those trash from Dark Syndicate think they can manipulate these harmless fools to provoke me, they're wasting their time. In my presence, all your morality, your public image, your supposed righteousness—they mean nothing."
Varryn was drenched in sweat.
He knew all too well: if Robin's bloodlust awakened fully, this mountain would run red with rivers of blood. And the entire Netheris Domain ... would be lost to ruin.
Unfortunately, Kage and the rest of the High Guardians and Archmages were still blinded by arrogance, completely unaware of the danger they were courting.
Except for Varryn, no one had realized that something terrifying had already awakened within Robin's bloodline—a force capable of commanding the laws that govern the stars themselves.
A cosmic power he had yet to fully understand.
This celestial force could break the boundaries of any realm's magic or structure.
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