From a shadowed corner, an assassin released a single arrow, its tip black with poison meant to rot spirit and flesh alike. The shaft cut the air in utter silence, aimed straight at Jared’s unguarded back.
“Behind you!” a frantic voice cried, echoing through the clash of steel and spellfire. Jared caught the warning an instant too late. He spun, throwing a veil of spiritual energy across his spine.
The arrow struck the barrier with a wet pop. Though the shaft failed to pierce skin, venom seeped through the wavering shield, threading pain like molten wire along his meridians and setting every nerve ablaze.
“Hahaha, Mr. Chance, this Spiritual Corrosive Poison was brewed for one purpose, to gnaw away a cultivator’s power. In less than half an hour, you’ll be drained dry and ready for the knife!”
The words hit Jared like iron pellets. At once, sensed a gritty heat oozing through his meridians, each ribbon of energy turning brittle, sparks of pain flashing behind his eyes.
I have minutes, not hours. Shatter the array, escape, or be butchered here…
He dragged a breath so deep it hurt, then rammed what was left of his spiritual energy into motion.
The dormant spiritual energy inside erupted, a sudden tidal surge that rattled bone and sinew and blew the night air sideways.
“Break!” The Dragonslayer sword tore a silver are through the dark, forged lightning spilling from its edge and slamming straight at the glowing wall of the light curtain formation.
Boom!
Thunder and barrier collided. The whole curtain shuddered, then groaned, a single jagged crack snaking outward like frost across glass.
Ieuan’s smugness vanished. He pumped his own force into the formation, barking, “Now! Kill him! Don’t let slip away!”
Black-clad cultivators swarmed. Blades and spells rained in a savage rhythm, forcing Jared to parry left, dodge right. Crimson streaks opened
across his arms and side. Yet, his physical body-hardened by chaotic energy and Golden Dragon Bloodline, held. With a guttural snarl, raised the sword again and hammered the fissure.
The barrier screamed. With a sound like splintering ice, it collapsed, shards of light fluttering away. Jared blurred forward, streaking out of Lunar Hall and racing for the gates of the Prime Minister’s Office.
“After him! Bring back alive!” Ieuan roared, leading the black-clad pursuers himself.
Jared burst onto the avenue, cutting through the lamplit capital and bolting for the forests beyond Celestia’s outer walls.
The Spiritual Corrosive Poison within crawled faster, dimming his energy with each heartbeat. Footsteps and murderous shouts closed in, the gap shrinking to heart-stopping yards.
He needed sanctuary-somewhere to sit, breathe, and run the Focus Technique before the toxin chewed the last thread of power from his care.
“Jared, you won’t get away! Spare yourself the pain and surrender!” Ieuan’s voice rolled over the rooftops, thick with triumphant malice.
Jared clenched his teeth, eyes fixed ahead, burning his chaotic energy just to keep his legs moving. He knew if they caught now, in this weakened state, would last seconds against Ieuan.
Ieuan had attained the Human Immortal Realm, his strength was only second to Aurelius’. Under normal circumstances, Jared might have matched Ieuan’s strength, but poison and the Spiritual Barricade Array had slashed his strength in half.
He shot through the city gate and dived into the thick mountain woods beyond, praying the tangled trunks would swallow from sight.
The forest was a maze of dark holes and whispering leaves, perfect cover, if could keep moving.
Darting between roots and boulders, zig-zagged deeper. The clamor of boots and angry voices thinned, swallowed by the hush of night and the towering pines.
Jared staggered into a narrow, shadow-choked cavern that clung to the mountain’s ribs like a secret. Only when its darkness swallowed did dare to stop. He slumped against the cold wall, his breath ragged, every limb drained of strength.
Forcing his quaking muscles to obey, folded his legs beneath him. Eyes half-shut in concentration, channeled the Focus Technique, drawing his consciousness inward to confront the Spiritual Corrosive Poison gnawing at his veins.
The Power of Dragons, ancient, molten, and deliberate-began to pulse through his meridians. With each slow circuit, the golden current seared the invading toxins, burning them away flake by stubborn flake. Yet, the poison clung like burrs to flesh. Every corruption scoured away revealed another layer beneath, as though the venom itself possessed a will that refused to die.
Two hours crawled past. Sweat soaked his tattered robes.
When finally opened his eyes, a little more than half the poison had been purged, but fatigue pressed on like a boulder.
Right then, a voice drifted through the stone throat of the entrance, soft, urgent, unmistakably familiar. “Mr. Chance? Are you in there?”
Jared’s pulse jumped. He recognized Yuliana’s voice at once. Pushing himself upright, strode toward the light. “Ms. Fiala, why have you come all this way?”
The moment saw his wounds, torn clothes, and pallid face, concern eclipsed composure. “What happened to you? Did Ieuan hurt you? The Prime Minister’s Office is in chaos, his men claim you attacked and fled. I feared the worst and followed the trail.”
“Ieuan covets my Dragonslayer Sword and the Golden Dragon Bloodline in my veins,” Jared said, voice low yet steady. “He laid a trap inside the Prime Minister’s residence. Had I not shattered the Spiritual Barricade Array at the last heartbeat, I’d be chained in his dungeon right now.”
Yuliana’s lavender eyes blazed. “How dare he! To assault King Aurelius’ honored guest in daylight, spits on crown and law alike. I’ll ride for the palace this instant and place his crimes before the king!”
