Everyone turned their attention to Riehl, confusion etched on their faces. His words made no sense.
Without a word, Riehl reached into his sleeve and pulled out a pitch-black gourd. The gourd was entirely black, its surface adorned with intricate, ancient runes that gave it an ominous aura. Though beautiful in craftsmanship, its negative energy sent chills through the air.
Uncorking the gourd, Riehl bellowed, “Kid, get ready to experience the might of my Devouring Sky Gourd!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful suction force erupted from the gourd. The force was so intense that Jared found himself momentarily paralyzed, unable to move.
It felt as though the space around him had been frozen in time, rendering him utterly unresponsive. Before he could react, darkness engulfed his vision, and the immense suction pulled him straight into the gourd.
“Jared! Jared!” Mia cried out in alarm, her voice trembling with fear.
“What just happened? Could Mr. Chance really have been sucked into that gourd?” Gordon exclaimed, his face a mask of shock.
Even Billy and Ezio stood frozen in disbelief, their eyes glued to the small gourd in Riehl’s hands.
How is this even possible? That tiny gourd… it actually managed to subdue someone as powerful as Jared!
Teegan, too, was momentarily at a loss for words. “Mr. Rundacel… this…”
Riehl, clearly pleased with the reactions around him, sealed the gourd with triumph.
Everything up until now was a performance. I wanted to lull Jared into a false sense of security, make him believe my arcane arrays were weak, and lower his guard. That was the only way to catch him off guard and trap him inside this gourd!
He turned the gourd over in his hands, admiring it. “This Devouring Sky Gourd was crafted by my master, in collaboration with dozens of array masters,” Riehl explained. “It may look small, but it contains the combined knowledge of countless array crafts, as well as the mysteries of space and time itself.”
He continued, “Jared may have been a formidable opponent, but now that he’s trapped inside, even his strength won’t save him. He’s completely at my mercy. The gourd’s inner realm is filled with wind blades that’ll slice through his flesh. It won’t be long before he’s begging for me to release him!”
As Riehl spoke, Teegan’s expression shifted to one of admiration. He stared at the gourd in disbelief. “This gourd… can it really swallow the universe?” he asked.
“Not the entire universe,” Riehl admitted with a sly grin. “But it can consume everything within a hundred feet, freezing time and manipulating space within that range. It’s more than enough to handle someone like Jared.”
“Amazing… absolutely amazing,” Teegan murmured. “I never expected you to have something this powerful. With you on our side, the Buckley family’s future is brighter than ever.”
Riehl chuckled, clearly enjoying the praise. “Of course, of course…” he replied.
Meanwhile, Teegan turned his gaze toward Billy and Ezio. “I’ll send someone to keep mining the celestial crystals,” he said. “As for these three, they’ve outlived their usefulness. Kill them.”
Ezio, alarmed by Teegan’s words, stepped forward. “Mr. Teegan, leave them to me. I’ll make sure they’re dealt with thoroughly.”
