stjorthotic Chapter 74 A desperate situation and a questioning that seems to be caught in a net!
Chapter 74 A desperate situation and a questioning that seems to be caught in a net!
The white wizard apprentices poured out of the mountains, heading towards the Eastern Canyon with the excitement of treasure hunting.
Meanwhile, deep within the canyon twenty miles away, a deadly trap had already been woven!
"My lord! The core node of the rune array has been activated, and the energy pathway is stable!"
"My lord! The 'Soul-Eating Miasma' gaseous potion has been injected into the designated area, and the concentration has reached the target!"
"Sir! All personnel in position! Awaiting the target to fall into the trap!"
Suppressed excitement was palpable in the shadows as reports were relayed.
Hick (through the raven) stood still on high, his cold raven eyes looking down toward the valley entrance.
The intelligence from Nia was accurate.
He listened to his subordinate's efficient report and responded only indifferently:
"The target is almost there. Prepare to close the net."
"Yes, sir!" came the reply, tinged with bloodthirsty anticipation.
Hick's mind swept across the direction of the manor, a chilling mockery flashing through his consciousness:
Leo Rells...
When you step into this "treasure trove" with great joy, only to find that what awaits you is an abyss of no return... your expression must be absolutely priceless!
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"Look! The canyon entrance is just ahead!"
"I never imagined such an inconspicuous place would hide such a treasure! The Evans family has been guarding this treasure trove for so many years without discovering it? Tsk tsk..."
"Nonsense! Without any outward signs or a treasure map, who would expect to find something in this godforsaken place? We're just lucky!"
The apprentices, gazing at the craggy entrance to the canyon so close at hand, were brimming with excitement and began to chatter amongst themselves.
York was surrounded by the crowd in the center, boasting with spittle flying about how he had "discovered the treasure" and "worked day and night" to decipher the treasure map, looking every bit like a hero.
He was smug and didn't even bother to glance at Nia not far away—in his eyes, Nia's silence was utter defeat and retreat.
Upon reaching the canyon entrance, Leo unfurled the parchment again, his sharp gaze sweeping over the terrain ahead, his face brimming with barely suppressed excitement:
"That's it! This is the place! The entrance features match perfectly!"
"Very good!"
"Treasure! Here we come!"
Amid cheers, the crowd eagerly surged into the dimly lit canyon.
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"All targets have entered the ambush zone!"
"Activate the outer 'Silence Veil'! Block information! Prepare to activate the core 'Absolute Prison'! This time, I'll trap them like turtles in a jar, unable to escape!"
Brown's voice was filled with excitement, and as he gave the order, he didn't forget to glare at Sorey provocatively, exuding a strong sense of superiority.
Sorey ignored Brown's provocation.
His withered fingers pressed tightly against his chest, feeling his heart pounding violently with hatred and desire, whispering like a poisonous oath:
"Leo...this time...you won't escape again! Your life...is mine!"
Above the canyon, the shadowy raven (Hick) locked its cold gaze on the moving figures in the valley.
"Begin." The simple command was like a death sentence.
Om-!
A nearly transparent, light-distorting energy film descended like a giant inverted bowl, instantly enveloping the entire canyon entrance area!
This is the "Silent Veil"—a magic array that isolates energy fluctuations, blocks sound transmission, and distorts the vision of outsiders. Although it has no destructive power, it can turn this place into an isolated island!
Immediately afterwards!
Rumble—!
The earth trembled! Countless pillars of light, shimmering with dark runes, suddenly rose from the rocks, the ground, and even the air around the canyon!
They intertwined and quickly formed a huge, complex, three-dimensional cage that exuded a chilling aura of confinement and destruction—the core magic array "Desolate Prison Cage" was fully activated!
Cold, runic chains flickered in and out of the void, sealing off the entire core area of the canyon!
"What happened? Why did it suddenly get dark?!"
"No! It's a rune array! We're trapped by it!"
"An ambush! Damn it! We've fallen for their trap!!"
The apprentices looked up in horror, only to find that the area above and around them was completely covered by a barrier of runes that shimmered with an eerie light!
The scope is far greater than the previous lockdowns!
"Hehehehe—!!!"
A chilling, eerie laugh, like the rubbing of countless viscous substances, exploded in the dark canyon!
From the direction of the valley entrance, a figure barely formed from wriggling white matter slowly "flowed" out of the shadows—it was Sean!
His form was more distorted and unstable than before, like a half-melted wax figure, exuding a strong ominous aura.
"You little brats! Didn't expect that, did you? You burned me to a pulp, and you really thought you could just let it go?! Heh heh heh! Today, you'll pay me back, with interest!!"
As Sean appeared, shadowy figures exuding a chilling killing intent silently emerged like ghosts from the shadows of the rocks and the recesses of the cliffs around the canyon!
A dozen or so powerful black wizard apprentices with fierce eyes surrounded the white wizards like a pack of wolves eyeing their prey!
The magical artifacts in their hands gleamed with a dangerous light, and an aura of curses and malice permeated the air.
"Leo Rells!"
Sori's figure appeared on the highest rock, looking down at the viewer with a voice like a poisoned ice pick, filled with deep-seated hatred and madness.
"Today is your death day! I will use your blood... to wash away all my shame!!"
"York!!!"
An apprentice from the Tower of Eternity suddenly grabbed York by the collar, his eyes blazing with fury.
"What on earth is going on?! You were the one who produced the treasure map! Did you betray us?! Tell me!!"
"I...I...I didn't! It wasn't me! He...he..."
York was deathly pale, trembling violently, so terrified that he was incoherent and unable to utter a single complete sentence.
He looked at Leo for help, but only saw the other's cold profile.
Nia had been behind the group long before they entered the canyon. Looking at the situation before him, he felt no fear, only endless madness and pleasure!
"York. You forced me into this! Your family forced me into this! You must die! You must die!!!"
Leo ignored the chaos and questions around him. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, suddenly looked up, his gaze like lightning, piercing through the layers of encirclement, and locked onto Sori!
His voice carried a final, questioning tone, as he tried to grasp at the straw called "rules":
"Thori! Open your dog eyes and see clearly! This place is only twenty miles from Evans Manor! It's still under the protection of the hunting season's safety rules! How dare you attack apprentices here?! Aren't you afraid of being punished by a formal wizard?!"
Inside the canyon, the air seemed to freeze.
The bloodthirsty gazes of the black wizards, the despairing eyes of the white wizard apprentices, and Leo's final question, tinged with a sliver of hope, clashed fiercely within the cold rune cage!
Battle is imminent!