After that, Ray could decide whether to fight or merely show his strength.

After hearing Ray's choice, Ezra, Lawson, and Hannah all looked visibly disappointed. Lawson and Hannah were fine; they didn't particularly need a powerful ability user.

But Ezra was different. He truly needed one.

He had long harbored ambitions of expansion—first taking Jayzepan, then sweeping north to bring another foreign nation under control. After that, depending on the situation, he might continue northward to se