With a roar of unrestrained fury, Karim lifted Ives and slammed him into the ground. A sickening crack echoed in the night—the unmistakable sound of breaking bone. Ives crumpled, his body twisted at an unnatural angle, his spine undoubtedly shattered.
Before he could even gasp in pain, Karim's fist drove into his chest like a hammer against steel. Crack. Blood sprayed from Ives' mouth as his ribs buckled under the impact.
Just as Karim prepared to deliver another devastating blow, his movements slowed. A flicker of restraint cut through his rage, and he forced himself to take a breath.
From the sidelines, Hutson watched the scene unfold with a knowing look. "You put a man who isn't even a knight in charge of guarding a Grand Knight," he said, shaking his head. "A foolish mistake. No matter how broken he is, he's still a Grand Knight. Ordinary guards were never going to hold him."
