A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 5186

Flaxseed chuckled. “All right, lad—Fourth Heaven awaits us.”

Jared cast one last glance at the two women, squared his shoulders, and sprinted into the corridor beside Flaxseed. “I will come back for you!” His promise echoed across the shattered plaza.

The portal swallowed them. Jhaelyn’s composure broke; tears spilled unchecked. Jemina laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, hope glimmering in her own eyes.

Inside the passage, raging spatial currents lashed at Jared and Flaxseed. They pushed forward, channeling energy into shields of light as the far end of the corridor drew rapidly closer.

After an unmarked stretch of darkness, a ribbon of light finally pierced the gloom ahead. Jared’s eyes lit up. He lunged forward, Flaxseed on his heels, and together they burst out of the winding corridor. They landed on unfamiliar soil and drew a deep, grateful breath.

The celestial energy here was tens of times richer than in the Third Heaven. A cobalt sky spread overhead, and knife-edged peaks speared the clouds while huge beasts flashed through the distant treeline.

Jared felt the fully woven laws of this Fourth Heaven humming in the air, an invisible weight that pressed gently against his chest.

“This place feels strangely familiar,” Flaxseed murmured.

“Of course it does,” Jared said. “You were in the Sixth Heaven and clawed your way up from the Fourth. Of course you’ll think it’s familiar.”

Jared suddenly remembered that Infinides was an immortal in the Fourth Heaven. Perhaps our paths will cross again.

Flaxseed let out a soft sigh. “It has been centuries. I don’t know what became of my people.”

While they spoke, a foul wind burst from the canopy below. Seven or eight blood-red jackals with wings erupted into the sky, venom dripping from their fangs as they marked the two men for prey.

“What a nuisance,” Jared muttered, eyes turning cold.

The Dragonslayer Sword thrummed at his side, and a golden arc of sword light tore across the air. The beasts split apart before they could even scream. Stinking blood rained over the forest, stirring uneasy rustles, but no creature dared show itself again.

Flaxseed smacked his lips. “Your sword is getting dangerously sharp. Back in my prime, I—”

“Enough,” Jared cut in, waving him quiet. “Save the heroic saga for your relatives. If we drift another half-day without answers, we’ll nab the first traveler we see and demand directions.”