"Do not kill women?"
Joanna froze. Zayne's words left her momentarily at a loss.
"Yes. Dano was a decent man in his own way. You staying alive means someone can properly handle his body. Honestly, if he had not kidnapped Mr. Ward, I would never have wanted to become his enemy," Zayne said with a sigh.
"Dano…"
At the mention of his name, Joanna's tears burst out again like a dam giving way.
Zayne did not spare her another glance and turned toward Blake instead.
"Mr. Ward, I am sorry. I came too late."
He untied the restraints around Blake and pulled the cloth from his mouth.
"It is all right, my boy. You risked your life to come here for me. That alone moves me more than you know," Blake said, his eyes filled with emotion.
He knew how powerful Dano's forces were. He could hardly imagine how much Zayne had endured, how much effort it must have taken, to bring him out alive.
"Mr. Ward, let us go," Zayne said as he supported Blake and guided him toward the exit of the underground market.
"Zayne, you must have suffered a lot fighting your way in," Blake said painfully.
"You think too highly of me, Mr. Ward. I am only level sixteen. Even as a Forbidden Spellcaster, I could never fight through that many of Dano's men head on. They could have worn me down to death just by attrition," Zayne shook his head.
"Then how did you get in? And how did you leave Dano in that state?" Blake asked curiously.
He had seen it clearly. Dano's limbs had been severed. He had been reduced to a living stump.
"I had help from a friend," Zayne said after a brief hesitation. "This friend does not want his identity revealed, so please forgive me for not explaining further, Mr. Ward."
Blake nodded, a sharp glint of a businessman's insight flashing in his eyes.
Forbidden Spellcasters grew quickly. Zayne was only sixteen now, but once the exams ended and he ventured into the wilds, it would take no more than a year or two for him to become a force capable of dominating an entire region.
It seemed Blake was not the only one who had noticed Zayne's potential. Others in Old Shipyard Port clearly had their eyes on him as well.
With that realization, Blake did not press the matter. Surviving tonight was already a miracle, and the kidnapping had taught him many things.
"Zayne, do not take this the wrong way, but in this world, the most fundamental relationship between people is value. Others approach you only because you are useful to them. You must be careful. Do not trust anyone too easily, including…"
"Me."
Blake's gaze was complicated. When he first had Francis approach Zayne, he too had intended to make use of him.
"Understood, Mr. Ward. I will remember everything you have taught me," Zayne said obediently, nodding.
"There is one more thing I must say, or you will suffer for it later," Blake continued seriously. By now, he regarded Zayne almost as a second son, second only to Francis.
"Please speak, Mr. Ward. I am listening," Zayne replied.
"You are too kind. Too merciful."
A cold glint flashed through Blake's eyes.
"That is a fatal flaw."
"Take that woman of Dano's just now. I admit their feelings were genuine, and that is exactly why you should not have let her go."
"Once she recovers, with her status, she will be able to rally Dano's remaining forces and come after you. That will bring you enormous trouble, perhaps even cost you your life."
Zayne put on a look of alarm.
"Then what should I do, Mr. Ward? Should I go back and finish her now?"
"No need. I will handle the aftermath of the underground market. I only want you to fix this habit of being soft hearted," Blake shook his head, then smiled gently at Zayne.
"Zayne, kindness is fine, but only toward those close to you. Once someone is confirmed as an enemy, they have already chosen their own death."
"Understood, Mr. Ward. I will follow your guidance," Zayne replied obediently.
They spoke as they withdrew toward the edge of the market, but when they reached it, Blake froze.
Countless pale skeleton warriors stood guard at the perimeter, empty eye sockets burning with ghostly blue flames. Behind them were headless knights, bone dragons, liches, all manner of undead creatures.
Some skeletons still had warm blood clinging to their rusted blades, proof that someone unlucky had tried to escape and been cut down moments earlier.
"Is Dano's retaliation already here?" Blake said in fear, then hardened his expression. "Zayne, if things go wrong, leave me behind and run."
"How could I do that?" Zayne exclaimed.
Blake was about to say more when he noticed a skeleton warrior creeping up behind Zayne.
"Zayne, watch out."
Blake shoved him aside. The skeleton's fist smashed into Blake's face, knocking him unconscious in a single blow.
Zayne rubbed his nose and looked apologetically at the unconscious Blake.
"Sorry. I did not want to do it this way, but if you did not pass out, it would be hard for me to act."
The secret of his immortality was too important. Zayne could not let anyone know. As for everyone in the underground market tonight, he had no intention of letting a single one live.
"Forbidden Spell Infernal Overdrive."
"Forbidden Spell Hellfire Armageddon."
Zayne raised his hand. All the blood in his body was drained in an instant, leaving him a shriveled husk.
It did not stop there. With a thought, his immortal body regenerated the blood, and he sacrificed himself again.
He shifted back and forth between living flesh and dried bone, and with every cycle, the purple crimson Hellfire in his hand grew stronger, until it shone like a blazing miniature sun.
The Hellfire sun pulsed violently in his palm, as if it might break free at any moment and incinerate everything.
Zayne could clearly feel that he was nearing the limit of control. This Hellfire Armageddon was far more powerful than any he had unleashed before.
He took a deep breath and hurled the Hellfire sun toward the market. The purple crimson fireball streaked across the sky like a comet, carrying an apocalyptic presence as it plunged into the depths of the black market.
The instant it touched the ground.
Boom.
A deafening explosion shook the night. A mushroom cloud rose above the market as terrifying Hellfire erupted outward.
Flames raged, heat soaring high enough to burn everything to ash. Any living creature still inside screamed briefly before being swallowed whole, leaving not even cinders behind.
The underground market was consumed by Hellfire, transformed into a sea of flames. In the blazing light, it marked the absolute end of what had once been Old Shipyard Port's greatest den of sin.