Ethan didn't bother responding to the accusation.
He'd just eaten the Stoneclaw Tribe's food. Sat by their fire. Been offered their protection, their trust.
In a world like this, sometimes that was all the reason you needed.
"Who I am," he said coldly, "has nothing to do with you."
His voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.
"But if you don't walk away right now… none of you are leaving here alive."
For half a second, the Gemward leader just stared.
Then he threw his head back and laughed.
"Delusional."
He raised his staff high.
Instantly, the runes carved across the surface blazed to life, pulsing in perfect sync with the gemstone embedded in his forehead.
A wave of power rippled out from him—cold, viscous, wrong.
Like it wasn't just magic, but something that shouldn't exist in this layer of the world. Like it'd clawed its way up from somewhere deeper… and darker.
"So the three of you want to die that badly?"
"Fine. I'll bury you myself."
Ethan didn't flinch.
