Adams' gaze drifted toward a shadowed corner of the arena where the figure stood, his expression darkening as he sensed the man's malicious intent toward Elamenor. The realization soured his mood instantly, and his frown deepened in disgust.
Without a word, Adams rose from his seat and flew to the stage, landing with an almost imperceptible grace. He looked down at Gale and Alan, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I believe with this, you have learned your lessons," Adams said, his voice low and serious, each word carrying a weight that pressed down on the two men like a physical force.
Gale and Alan felt their hearts sink. A sense of dread washed over them, and they exchanged a brief, panicked glance. Gale's mouth went dry, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. He struggled to find his voice, his thoughts racing as he desperately prayed for some divine intervention, for some miracle that would spare them from Adams' wrath.
"S-Sect Master Adams..." Gale finally managed to stammer, his voice quivering. "W-we... we have realized our mistake. P-please... spare us... we... we will never dare to—"
His words faltered as Adams' expression remained unchanged, his cold eyes locked onto Gale. The sheer intensity of Adams' presence made Gale feel as though he was shrinking under that gaze, as if all his power and pride had been stripped away, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.
Alan, sensing the hopelessness in his master's voice, swallowed hard, his body tense with fear. He tried to muster the courage to speak, to plead for their lives, but the words caught in his throat.
The arena was silent, the disciples watching with bated breath, wondering what Adams would do next. They had never seen the power and ruthlessness of their Sect Master before, and the severity of the situation now left them feeling uneasy.
The man's voice was low and strained as he spoke, trying to maintain some semblance of control. "Sect Master Adams," he began, his tone forced and trembling slightly, "there's no need for this. I was merely observing, nothing more. I don't want any trouble."
Adams burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the arena like a roll of thunder. The man flinched, his forced calm shattering under the weight of Adams' laughter. It was a laugh devoid of any humor, filled instead with a chilling mockery that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
As the laughter faded, Adams' expression shifted in an instant. The amusement drained from his face, replaced by a terrifying glare that seemed to pierce straight through the man's soul. The air around Adams grew heavy, oppressive, as if the very atmosphere was bending to his will.
"Who do you think I am?" Adams' voice was low and deadly, each word laced with venom. He took a step closer, his presence towering over the man who now visibly trembled. "Do you think I am one of you lesser beings? Someone you could deceive and get away with?"
The man recoiled, his earlier defiance crumbling into abject fear. He opened his mouth to respond, to plead for his life, but no words came out. He was frozen, caught in the crushing grip of Adams' power, and he could feel the cold certainty of his doom settling over him.
Adams didn't wait for an answer. "You dare to stand here, in my presence, with your pathetic schemes and think I wouldn't notice? You thought you could hide your intentions from me, that I wouldn't see the malice in your heart?"
The man's knees buckled as he realized the full extent of the danger he was in. He had never encountered a force like this, never felt so utterly powerless. It was as if the world itself had turned against him, and there was no escape.
Adams' glare intensified, his eyes narrowing into slits. "You've made a grave mistake," he continued, his voice now a whisper that seemed to reverberate through the entire arena. "And now, you will pay the price."