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The cleric jolted, his face convulsing into a sneer. ‘Ohfokkno, you will not hinder us again.’

The whine of the monk’s rifle sounded as he prepared to fire.

‘You don’t want to do that,’ Zane warned.

Cadrin shook his head. ‘But I must protect the quickening at all costs. We’re so close.’

‘Close to what?’

‘To commune with the Shard. What we’ve always wanted.’

‘Commune? How about controlling it so you can unleash your twisted philosophies on Pegasi?’ Zane told the disbelieving monk. ‘Problem is we don’t agree with your pastime.’

Cadrin laughed a maniacal sound that Riv curled his lip at.

Then the monk lifted his weapon and fired.

Even before his laser left the barrel, his weapon disintegrated.

‘Watch out for falling objects,’ Zane warned.

He spread his arms and pushed out.

Riv stared at his fellow Rider as he felt a massive energy wave emanating from Zane.

It rushed over the monks in a trance.

Cadrin fell to the ground, knocked out and unconscious.

Élisa gave a small scream as the entire host of clustered monks fell to the ground in a wave, crumpling into oblivion.

‘Gnarly,’ Xion commented, nodding his approval.

Zane jerked his chin. ‘I hope they enjoy sweet slumber. Looks like they needed it. They’ll be out for a few hours.’

‘I need to learn that trick,’ Killen commented, his white milky gaze panning over the scene. As if parsing over the souls of the sleeping monks laid out on the multi-colored salt pan.

‘Nada!’

They whipped around at the cry.

To the sight of Ankis struggling to his feet, his shattered, glitching face a canvas of fury.

He staggered towards Zane, his broken, mangled body lurching. ‘How dare you? Howfokkin’ dare you?’

To Riv’s surprise, Zane ran forward, and as Ankis flailed and fell, the Rider caught him.

Riv raced to Zane’s side, heart pounding.

‘What the hell, brother? That man is freakin’ dangerous.’

Zane held a hand up. I know what I’m doing. There’s something you need to know. It’s a fact that all the Riders found out while you were away. Ankis is not who you think he is.’

‘Who the hell is he?’ Riv growled.

Zane looked up at him. ‘Brace yourself, brother.’

By this time, the rest of his companions had drawn close to the trio.