Jax was drowning in rage.

A storm of fury so violent that rational thought had abandoned him entirely.

His mind replayed everything.

How Nerith had been broken. How her family had been crushed. How they stood there with arrogant faces instead of guilt.

And then there was the main problem.

Himself.

His tongue touched his lips. Tasted the clotted blood still caking them.

He remembered every kick. Every stomp. Every humiliation.

They had done the one thing in this world that guaranteed consequences.

They had hurt Jax's ego.

And now they would witness bloodshed.

The dark beam erupted from his palm.

Screaming toward Eryndel's head.

Jax smiled, imagining it. The skull shattering. Brain matter decorating the sacred floor. That smug face reduced to chunks of—

The beam stopped.

Inches from Eryndel's eyes.

The energy began reversing. Sucking backward into... something.

Jax's head snapped to the side.

High Commander Zyrek stood beside him.

One hand had created a small portal—void-type magic absorbing the dark energy into its depths. The other hand rested on the hilt of a massive greatsword strapped to his back.

Jax studied this new obstacle.

Then stepped forward, one foot pressing down on Eryndel's chest for good measure, and walked toward Zyrek.

"What's the meaning of this?"

His voice was ice.

Zyrek finished absorbing the beam. The portal closed.

"You already won."

His tone was flat. Professional.

"The step you were about to take was stupid. And would have ended with you dead as well."

Jax laughed.

Just a little.

The remaining dark energy in his palm—he crushed it. Let it dissipate into nothing.

Then stood face to face with the High Commander.

His laughter died.

"So killing ME was acceptable. But not him."

His voice dropped lower.

"You know that, right? He would have KILLED me in this battle. That was the plan."

Zyrek didn't blink.

"It was the term of the bet. You lose, you die. Those were the stakes you accepted."

Jax moved closer.

His forehead was nearly touching Zyrek's nose now.

Close enough to feel his breath.

Zyrek didn't flinch.

"The Emperor trusted me with ensuring fair play in this wager. That is my duty."

His eyes remained steady.

"You can settle your grievances outside. But here in this sacred place, I will not allow anything to interfere with my justice."

Jax laughed.

Maniacal. Unhinged.

"Fair play?"

His voice echoed through the sanctum.

"JUSTICE?"

He spread his arms.

"My FOOT."

His eyes swept across the watching crowd.

"Where was your JUSTICE when this family was suffering? The same family that served your precious Emperor for AGES!"

He pointed at Nerith.

"Where was your justice when LUST was winning over LOVE? When an innocent soul was being KILLED?"

His voice cracked with rage.

"Where was YOUR justice or your Emperor's STUPID ASS when this girl was BEGGING and CRYING in this sacred hall?!"

Silence.

Some demons in the crowd cursed under their breath. How dare this nobody drag the Emperor's name through mud.

But a few—very few understood the weight of his words.

Zyrek said nothing.

Didn't flinch. Didn't react.

Just waited.

Then spoke.

"Say whatever you wish. I will not let you kill him."

Jax raised his hand.

Dark energy swirled. Forming. The Sphere materialized and then it formed.

A staff materialized. Longer than his height. Solid and deadly.

"So you'll stand in my way then?"

That devilish grin returned.

"Well. Doesn't matter. If I'm killing one here today—"

He gripped the staff tighter.

"—two bodies won't make a difference, will it?"

He stepped back. Creating distance. Ready to strike.

Zyrek tilted his greatsword. Drawing stance. Ready to meet him.

The sanctum held its breath.

"JAX!"

Nerith's voice cut through the tension.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Jax turned.

She stood there. Face a mixture of joy and worry. Tears still streaming. But smiling.

"You actually did it."

Her voice wavered.

"And that's enough for me."

She stepped forward.

"I don't want you to kill him for my revenge. With your win, I've already gotten everything I ever wanted."

She gestured at Eryndel.

"And killing him will only make things more complicated. Look at him!"

Jax glanced back.

Eryndel lay there. Face destroyed. Teeth missing. Blood pooling around his head. Pathetic. Broken.

"Look what you've done to his face. Those missing teeth."

She almost laughed.

"It's already more punishment than death could ever deliver."

Her eyes met his.

"So please. Calm down."

Jax clicked his tongue.

"Tsk."

He turned back to Zyrek.

Then buried the staff into the ground with enough force to crack the stone.

Leaving it standing there like a monument to his mercy.

He walked back toward Eryndel.

His foot found the boomerang still wrapped around the demon's neck.

And pressed down.

Hard.

Suffocating him just a little more.

A parting gift.

Then he stepped away and headed toward Nerith.

His eyes stayed fixed behind him. Watching Eryndel's father and his men scrambling to remove the cuff from his son's throat.

He didn't see Nerith directly in his path.

She opened her mouth to warn him—

BUMP.

They collided.

Nerith stumbled backward. Off-balance. Falling.

Jax's instincts kicked in.

His arm shot out. Wrapped around her waist. Pulled her close.

She hung there. Suspended. Pressed against him. Completely disbalanced.

Jax looked down at her.

Tears still wet on her cheeks. Face and hair a mess from the chaos. Mouth open from the shock of almost falling.

She was an absolute disaster.

And somehow an epitome of beauty.

Those cute features. Those cute lips.

A devilish grin spread across Jax's face.

He had an idea.

Nerith saw that grin.

'Oh no.'

She knew something was coming.

"HEY!"

Jax's voice boomed across the sanctum.

"ERYNDEL! AND HIS OLD HAG!"

All eyes turned.

"LOOK HERE!"

He stared directly at the broken demon prince being helped up by his father.

"Is THIS what you wanted, Eryndel?!"

Then he looked back at Nerith.

She was still hanging in his arm. Face flushed. Panicking.

She DEFINITELY knew what was coming now.

Jax closed the distance.

And locked his lips onto hers.

Soft. Warm. The taste of tears mixed with something sweeter.

He savored it for a few seconds—

Then felt something.

An interference.

Magic.

Invisible hands rotating around him. Wrapping. Binding.

He broke the kiss immediately.

For the first time in his life, he'd had a kiss CUT SHORT.

And he was PISSED.

"WHO THE FUCK IS THAT?!"

His voice thundered.

"SHOW YOURSELF!"

He wasn't letting this slide. He'd shown too much mercy today already.

Someone was about to die.

Then a gentle whisper reached his ear.

Nerith's mother.

Standing right beside him.

Smiling warmly.

"Relax, son."

Her voice was soft. Almost amused.

"This is the binding."

Jax froze.

"This is the witness that you two are now bonded for eternity."

His mind went blank.

'The hell did she just say?'

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.