“Arrest Lin Mo!”
Emperor Ji Wudao’s shriek tore through the crisp autumn air like a rusted saw blade.
Spittle flew from the Emperor’s lips as he stood on the high marble terrace before his Nine-Dragon Throne. His royal yellow robe fluttered violently in the cold wind, whipped by his frantic spiritual pressure.
“Arrest him this instant!” Ji Wudao screamed, pointing a trembling finger at the floating jade pavilion. “He stole my household! He stole my court musicians! He incited open mutiny in the imperial court! Cut down the traitors! Confiscate every scrap of Taichu Group assets! Slaughter them all!”
The five hundred Imperial Executioners, clad in black spiked armor, shook off their initial shock.
They gripped their heavy greatswords with two hands. Dark soul-reaping runes flared along the serrated steel edges, humming with purple malice. They formed a tight wedge and surged toward the marble steps leading to Lin Mo’s floating pavilion.
They did not make it five paces.
“Halt!”
