Power is only given to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up. Only one thing matters, one thing: to be able to dare.

The receptionist named Dorsi, she was the woman who started all this.

Zane was arguing with the Emberlord so well but the woman raised her hand and dragged Milo into the trial.

Zane could forgive God for making him a gutterborn, but he cannot forgive someone who disrupts Milo’s life.

Therefore, he outright tried to murder the woman.

But she was saved by her husband at the last second. Though, that doesn’t change the fact that Zane wanted her dead.

So he walked towards the woman again.

But the husband came in front of her and stared at Zane.

Zane ignored the man as he had nothing to do with him.

He might be in rage but he would never become a Halocrat who destroys anyone who comes in their way. Only the responsible shall be killed.

But the husband wasn’t in front of his wife only to stare at Zane.

He had something in mind. And he shared it.

"She has nothing to do with this. She is a mere worker. If you really want your sister’s safety..."

The man gulped as he didn’t know if he would be punished for saying the next words. But to save his wife, he would say them.

To save his wife, he told Zane that hurting the woman would amount to nothing. If Zane really wanted to protect his sister, there was only one thing to do.

"Attack the Emberlord. If you dare."

The words left the man’s mouth and all eyes darted at him.

The man outright asked Zane to attack the Emberlord.

The Halocrats and the Commoners alike didn’t know how much guts the man had. But what they did understand was that the man truly loved his wife.

Zane also heard him and those words, those words stopped his steps.

He stopped walking towards Dorsi.

Averting from the man, all eyes glued to Zane as they waited for his next move.

What would a man blind in rage do? Will he really go for it?

Zane stared at the shivering woman and even in his rage, his mind was forced to think.

All because the husband of the woman used his words accurately.

He had said if Zane really wanted his sister’s safety, he should attack the Emberlord.

And by now, the whole Citadel got to know that Zane really wanted Milo’s safety.

That was the only reason Zane stopped walking towards the woman.

The woman was a mere receptionist. She revealed Milo’s existence because she wanted to score points with the Emberlord. She wanted to earn the favorability of Coin.

After she revealed Milo, the ball was on Emberlord’s court and it was him who decided that Milo should appear in the Cathedral.

So taking everything in mind, the culprit was clear.

Zane made the decision.

He took a deep breath and under everyone’s gazes, he changed his target.

He looked at the Emberlord.

Zane looked at Coin.

An accused looked at the accuser.

A gutterborn looked at God.

Shocked breaths rang out in the Cathedral as all of them knew what would happen now.

The Emberlord also watched Zane and there was nothing on his face.

Not even a wrinkle on his forehead. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

He simply had his sleeves rolled upwards as his hands were behind his back.

The scythe was also far away from him.

The Emberlord appeared as if he was waiting for Zane to snap. As if waiting for him to come and strike.

The calm composure of the Emberlord amazed the audience but at the same time, it made Zane’s fingers curl inwards.

His chest heaved up and down as he finally ignored the woman completely.

He turned his whole body towards the Emberlord and from the ground, gawked at the black shirt man.

The man on the stage looked down on the gutterborn.

But Zane, he stepped forward.

"Nullify the order you gave to Kairon, Emberlord. Or else, I won’t be responsible for the following events."

"You little shit!"

Someone shouted.

Zane was focused on the Emberlord so he was sure it wasn’t Coin who barked.

Then who?

STEP!

STEP!

Fast footsteps rang and they were coming towards Zane.

Zane instantly turned around and saw an armored man coming towards him with his spear.

He was the other Enforcer that was guarding the gate with Kairon and he was already in front of Zane.

Zane’s eyes widened seeing the incoming spear aimed at his stomach.

He won’t be able to move.

The chains won’t let him move with speed.

The Enforcer stopped inches away from Zane and with no time to waste, he pushed the spear to pierce his stomach.

However...

"Let’s go to hell together!"

THAAM!

Another shout rang out as someone slammed on the Enforcer.

The Enforcer wasn’t able to kill Zane.

Someone came from Zane’s right or the Enforcer’s left and crashed on the man.

But all of them already knew who did it.

They all recognised the voice when the shout had come. Including Zane.

The Enforcer crashed on the seats of the Halocrats, crushing half of the cushioned and polished seats.

All eyes focused on the destruction as from the dust, came out the man they all had guessed.

Xavier Reivax.

He walked towards Zane, stretching his neck.

"You do what you have to do. I am done watching." Xavier said and waved at Tesla.

"Sorry for the punch. You should have let me go."

Zane turned his head and saw Tesla groaning while holding his jaw.

One look was enough for Zane to understand what went on between them.

Tesla tried to stop Xavier from stepping in but when the Enforcer was about to kill Zane, Xavier couldn’t hold back. He punched Tesla and finally jumped in.

"Who was that?" The Enforcer barked.

Xavier turned around. "Your father."

The Enforcer groaned and before they knew it, they were exchanging blows.

Zane paid them no further attention and again faced the Emberlord.

"Don’t do it! Zane, don’t do it!"

Zane frowned.

Xavier clenched his jaw.

"Just because you are a coward doesn’t mean he should not fight as well. Don’t impose your cowardly beliefs on others!"

The voice that stopped Zane was Tesla and for stopping Zane, the merchant heard an earful from Xavier.

Zane ignored Tesla and stepped towards the stage again.

But just after one step, he stopped.

Not by his will.

By force.

Someone held his foot from behind.

Zane turned around as one second wasted was one more cry of Milo.

His mind only had blood inside and whoever stopped him would face his wrath.

"Listen to me, Zane. Do not engage with the Emberlord!"

It was Tesla again.

He had jumped to hold Zane’s feet.

Zane gritted his teeth.

He had no words to spare.

If it was someone other than Tesla, then Zane would have slammed his chains on their head.

Nevertheless, even if it was Tesla, he won’t change his mind.

The Emberlord had to revoke his order.

So with Tesla on his feet, Zane still moved forward.

With great effort, yes, but he moved forward.

Tesla cried more but no words fell on Zane’s ears.

He reached the stairs of the stage.

He stepped foot on the first step.

Then on the second.

Then on the last one.

After one more second, Zane was finally on the stage.

The Emberlord was only a few steps away from him and the calm face of the god man gave birth to cyclones inside Zane’s heart.

His world was on the verge of breaking and the man responsible for that hadn’t even woken up from his sleep.

He clenched his fists, his broken wrists ached but he took one more step.

And as Zane took that one step, the Emberlord finally placed his hands in the front.

He finally changed his posture as his hands weren’t on his back anymore.

But that simple gesture, that simple gesture from the Emberlord...

I am dead.

Zane thought.

Not willingly.

The thought came on his own.

Zane stared at Coin as a glint passed the Emberlord’s eyes.

And with that glint, another thought came on its own.

He is death.

Zane’s entire body screamed.

The survival instincts he had honed all his life, all of them begged Zane to move away from the man.

The calm person in front of him wasn’t someone one could simply challenge for a fight. Even in rage.

If Zane took one more step towards the Emberlord, his life would become a nightmare so vile that no one had ever seen in their sleep, much less in reality.

Coin watched Zane with no expressions and Zane drenched in sweat all over his body.

The rage he had, it fought with the fear that crept inside his heart.

Both emotions fought inside his soul and the winner between them was decided by the words spoken from someone else.

"You need to stay alive to protect your sister. Listen to me!"

Tesla’s words.

His scream finally fell on Zane’s ears as he turned around.

He looked at his feet.

At Tesla.

Tesla gulped seeing the bloodied face of Zane and he would have let go of his feet if not for Zane saying:

"Speak."