“We thank you for your kindness, Master!” Agazoz replied, his forehead never leaving the dirt. People like this did not tolerate hesitation.

  Gratitude first. Always.

  Agazoz's quick thinking had saved their lives twice in less than three minutes.

  A flick of Jack's wrist and a turn to look towards the moon signaled Agazoz his reply was satisfactory.

  The gesture was not wasted. Agazoz rose and slung Magog’s arm over his shoulder, hauling him back to the camp as quickly as Magog could be moved.

  Their silhouettes were swallowed in the night, footsteps bleeding into the sounds of a frantic encampment.

  Silence returned, and Jack lingered. A moment of respite in the moonlight.

  At last, I'll soon be done with this.

  The ground beneath him splintered and groaned in response to the thought, spiderwebs of fractures crawling away from where he stood. The supposed honor granted by that woman. Subjugate the rising groups along the border.

  “Watch the children while we have the fun,” Jack muttered, exasperation bringing slight cracks to his smile.

  What a waste.

  “Elder,” he added quietly. “She'll know soon enough.”

  But that was for the future. The near future.

  Tonight, he had children to educate.

  —

  Magog's organs screamed with every breath, but his back remained straight and his breathing measured. Get through it. He repeated through his head as he knelt in front of Jack inside the banquet marquee, Agazoz following suit a few feet behind him and the rest of the Reavers lined up motionless outside.

  For what it was worth, the makeshift banquet was well put together. While their group was far from the wealthiest in the region, they had a seasoned skill for caravan raiding. Though the layout lacked a designer's touch, the gathered jewels and minor artifacts would be enough to appease most mortal nobles.

  Even Jack couldn't help but be begrudgingly charmed by his seat. With no one in their camp remotely close to Jack's size, they were forced to craft it from scratch. Crates were used as a base, cushioned with an assortment of pillows and soft beast furs, then topped and cinched with their most expensive blanket, lightly adorned with the purest gems in the camp, shimmering in the tent’s torchlight.

  The linen table stationed in front of Jack's sitting pillow also had a passable variety of fruits, plates of sectioned bleeding oranges, sunkissed cypha-berries and stacked vines of hollow Tajeales, among others; they even had snowfrost plums. A rarity for the region and one of Jack's favorites. If judged by first impressions for this campaign, this would be the first group that Jack could say wasn't completely hopeless.

  Surely I wasn't looking at the moon that long. Jack thought as he made his way to his seat.    The Valley Reavers waited with lowered heads as he savoured every fruit. His eyes never wandered to make full contact with any of them as he sat in delight. The disrespect was apparent but none of them could challenge it. It had been earned.

  An hour passed before he finished and washed the last of it down with the light red, sweet nectar stored in the barrel beside the table. One massive hand palmed the barrel as he raised it overhead and poured the contents straight into his open mouth.

  Finally, Thought Magog, relieved he wouldn't have to see a possible punishment if he dropped during the meal. My injuries shouldn't be taking this long to heal.

  Normally he would be right, someone of Magog’s ability shouldn't take an hour to heal from external injuries.

  Something's off.

  “I suppose this at least warrants a proper introduction. You two may raise your heads” Said Jack as he looked over Magog and Agazoz kneeling before the table—it was the first time he paid them more than a moment's glance.

  Their raised heads revealed strikingly similar features, skin that reminded him of dark cinnamon, the one in the back possibly a tone darker, charcoal eyes beneath near jet-black hair. The biggest difference being their build. Muscular and stupid, smart and skinny.

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  Of the eleven fighters with discernible qi, only theirs resonated.

  Same clan.

  “Your names.” he said while eyeing Magog.

  “I am Magog and this is Agazoz-”

  “Prior allegiance” Jack cut his answer off.

  The interruption sent a ripple through the Reavers. Magog remained stoic in the face of the loaded question. Agazoz had already advised him how to answer.

  “Before belonging to the esteemed Boundless Peak Sect, we had recently finished talks with a minor branch master of the Azure Fist… Master”

  Agazoz subconsciously relaxed, relieved Magog had remembered. Just enough to catch the attention of Jack's eye.

  “You,” said Jack as he shifted his gaze to Agazoz.

  All planned for.

  A few questions for both of us. Maybe another test. Then we survive and regroup. Agazoz recalled telling Magog.

  As usual, his prediction wasn't wrong.

  “You seem to be the smart one,” Jack said.

  Even remembering the events earlier, Agazoz had no way to prepare for the pressure that followed.

  “Why am I here?”

  The Reavers sank, and the silence shattered in a unified scream.

  Jack stood as their cries rolled across the plains.

  Only five of the Reavers remained conscious after the first crash into the ground. Their screams, fewer and weaker, were made more visceral due to their bones and organs compressing.

  The pressure increased.

  Only Magog and Agazoz remained.

  “Y-you!” Magog stammered out as he strained against the weight, forcing his head upward. It didn’t move.

  He fell unconscious, his body ceasing to resist as the toll of the night’s injuries finally claimed him.

  The tent convulsed as the Reavers were crushed into the ground beneath it. Agazoz's lone scream withered into a deathly groan.

  Just as quickly as the pressure came, it ceased.

  Hhk!... ugh-aaaaah!... k-kkkhhh!... ...hhhhhh! Agazoz retched violently as his body desperately fought for life.

  “What? No plan for that?” Jack cooed at him. Agazoz wouldn't register the words until moments later.

  Acidic droplets fell on his back. He could breathe.

  “Hospitality,” Jack said softly. Met with silence.”

  Agazoz did not hesitate at the voice above him.

  “My apologies Master!” forehead pressed to the ground, hands laid palm up before his head. Total submission.

  He was answered by a familiar voice.

  “Fucker…” Magog groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, to Agazoz's horror.

  “Granted. Come,” Jack ordered as he sauntered out of the tent.

  Agazoz wasted no time, scrambling to follow. Magog trailed behind, briefly contemplating rushing him and getting this humiliation over with.

  This Bastard, fists clenched as they passed the bodies of the Reavers—alive but broken.

  No words were spoken as they walked beyond the boundaries of the camp, in the opposite direction of where they had first confronted Jack.

  “The blue fingers no longer control this region,” Jack said when the moon finally drowned out the torches.

  Realm invasion, Magog and Agazoz thought in unison at the implication of his words.

  Jack stopped walking, never turning to face them. “How strong are you? Individually, and as a group?”

  Magog stood straighter when he answered. “The Valley Reavers are still a fledgling group, but there's no two in the area I’d bet against me and Agazoz”.

  Jack turned at this. Magog and Agazoz again saw that disgusting smile.

  ”The strongest path around is… water?” He joked.

  “Ripple path.” Magog responded, no longer able to hide his anger.

  Jack let the words hang in the air for a moment before he replied. Before he threw his head back and laughed.

  Chee-he-he-heee!

  Magog broke.

  Miniscule light blue lines swirled into existence in his hands creating palm sized glowing orbs, beautifully reflecting the moonlight. He launched once more.

  Still weak

  Pressure slammed over him. The orbs burst.

  But clever

  Magog rose with a roar!

  Brilliant blue strands coiled in a circle within Magog’s mouth, hissing as they condensed at rapid speed. Causing his jaw to ache from the pressure

  Ripple, I see

  [Bubble Bomb!]

  The liquid sphere of qi shot out of Magog's mouth, expanding with terrifying velocity once it reached the open air and slammed into Jack's face.

  The ensuing explosion of water sent Magog ricocheting back. A swift back-step from Agazoz saw him sliding away from danger, the soles of his shoes glowing the same brilliant blue as Magog's orbs.

  With a somersault, Magog recovered, landing side by side with him. The uplifted dust was too thick for them to see through under only moonlight.

  “Did he react?” Agazoz asked.

  “The fucker fell from the sky. Guess!” Magog yelled as two more orbs formed in his hands, double the size of the previous two.

  Chee-he-he-hee!

  The dust dispersed in an instant. Revealing Jack— arms crossed, unfazed, still smiling.

  That fucking smile.

  Magog stepped forward, arms extended outward. The orbs were now nearly barrel-sized.

  “I am Jack, Core Disciple of Boundless Peak,” Jack said.

  “I hereby accept you as outer disciples,”

  The grasses of the plains lowered, as if they were bowing.

  “Accept my guidance, junior brothers.”