Jevan leapt aside, dodging another blow from Edmund while clutching his chest. The first hit had made him feel as though his ribs had shattered. Without the mask he doubted he could even be standing.

He hadn't come here driven by justice or any desire to save anyone. His plan was simple: kill the men here to force the Claw gang to focus on him instead of taking revenge on innocents.

Jevan could feel everyone's desires in the restaurant, their deep wish for those men to die. In the past, the mask had blocked those feelings from him. Now, even while wearing it, he could still sense the desires if they were strong enough.

This was a chance to experiment. Could he assimilate his Authority more deeply if he fulfilled other people's wishes, even if they never spoke them aloud?

He hadn't expected to face another assimilator in this place. If he'd known, he would never have come without better preparation.

He rolled backward, dodging another strike that nearly crushed his skull. Edmund wasn't carrying a weapon, but he didn't need one. His fists alone were deadlier than any blade. One punch from him could end an ordinary man's life.

As Jevan backed up, avoiding the flurry of blows, his mind worked fast. Edmund wasn't letting him speak a rule, keeping him from using his strongest card. Still, Jevan noticed a small detail: Edmund avoided fighting near his own men and hadn't called for their help so far.

With a sideways smile, Jevan charged toward them. One of them cried out and tried to back away; Edmund tried to intercept him too. But Jevan managed to grab one of the men and pressed a dagger's edge to his throat, forcing Edmund to stop in his tracks.

Jevan seized the opening and muttered quickly:

"First rule: everyone who was inside before I entered is forbidden to move."

Transparent chains extended from the glove, binding everyone.

Jevan began to feel intense fatigue; restraining an assimilator took far more effort than ordinary people. He stepped up to Edmund until he stood right in front of him, then drew another sword from his leather belt and lifted it high.

"Second rule: no assimilator may use their Authority except through a system piece."

As soon as he spoke the rule, Edmund's body returned to its human state. Jevan raised his sword, ready to bring it down on his opponent's neck but his hand froze midair. Suddenly the desires of the others surged into him. Their wishes were strong; they wanted Edmund to live.

Jevan tried to shut out the flood of desires from his mind. He wanted to finish this quickly; he couldn't maintain the Law Authority's effect much longer.

The blade struck Edmund's neck, severing his head from his body. The laws' effect vanished, not because Jevan canceled it but because he could no longer sustain it. A faint white light seeped from Edmund's corpse. His body kept glowing for a moment before the light faded.

Jevan drew a deep breath and walked toward the door. No one present dared to stop him; they were all trembling with fear and shock.

He cast a brief glance at Liam, who stood alone among the wreckage, then turned his back and left the tavern.

***

[Liam perspective]

The tavern was half destroyed. The tables smashed, the walls on the verge of collapse, and the floor no better. Amid this ruin, everyone's eyes were fixed on one place: Edmund's body.

None of us dared approach. We were all just a bunch of cowards, cowards made by him through his generosity. He had been more like a brother than a leader. He'd helped us so many times… helped me so many times. But when he needed me, I couldn't reach out a hand.

Unlike the others, I could still move. I was hiding a small dagger in my coat. But what good was it now? I was nothing but a craven wretch. This was all my fault. If I'd had the guts to stop them from chasing that woman, things wouldn't have ended this way. No the truth was if I'd ever had real courage, I wouldn't be here at all.

I stepped toward Edmund's body. No one else did. At least I had to have the guts to be the first to stand before him.

I bent slightly when I reached him. It was true he wasn't a good man in every sense and he wasn't a saint personally, but to me he'd been like an older brother since we roamed the alleys with David and Dan.

When I stood over his body, the others moved hesitantly behind me. Then I noticed something glowing on his chest: a small pendant etched with tiny symbols, giving off a faint white light.

I stood in the middle of the ruined tavern, staring at his frozen face. Then I felt the tears I'd been holding back slide down my cheeks.

***

Inside Corvin's shop, Vensen sat across from the owner. Hours had passed since sunset and Jevan still hadn't returned. Vensen was beginning to think the man had left and abandoned him here.

He tried repeatedly to start any conversation with Corvin, trying to ask him about anything, but Corvin in turn avoided talking. Each wanted to know more, but neither would reveal anything to the other. In the end they started playing cards to pass the time.

At last Jevan walked in through the door. Both of them turned to him at once. There were several daggers and swords hanging from his leather belt, and his clothes were stained with blood. He didn't say a word, didn't even look at them, simply went straight up to the second floor.

End of the chapter 18 "Hard as stone."

End of the chapter 18 "Hard as stone."

End of the chapter 18 "Hard as stone."

End of the chapter 18 "Hard as stone."

End of the chapter 18 "Hard as stone."

End of the chapter 18 "Hard as stone."

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