The two men looked at each other silently. No one moved. The other ten mercenary in the building seemed to nether hear nor see anyone else.
They in fear searched for an invisible enemy, slowly one by one they fell and took their last breath. The fearsome poison took their life slowly. Noise of people falling could be detected in hidden locations.
Around Antonio a 200 meter radius become a death zone for lower three realm warriors.
Hawk had no change in his expression, he stood still and watched as they died as they were complete strangers.
Hawk waved his hand. "Rain, there are some flies coming, don't let them disturb us."
From the corner in the dark a low voice replied.
"Yes Captain."
After giving out instructions to Rain, Hawk took a step forward.
"Did you bring the key?"
"Yes, What about the box?"
"It's always been with me."
"Good let's fight"
The next instant, Hawk heavily stamped his foot on the floor and shot towards Antonio.
Antonio was not slow, he immediately moved backwards and threw a black spherical object towards the incoming Hawk.
"F**k, bloody bomb."
Hawk cried out. The moment Hawk saw the object thrown towards him, he knew he couldn't completely evade it. Hawk slanted his body and curled up, activating the protective equipment a thin barrier covered Hawk, he himself also released his qi and mana and covered himself with a thick barrier.
When the black spherical object reached Captain Hawk, it shone with blood red light and exploded.
Even with his fast reactions Hawk had to take 80% of the strike. His protective equipment a necklace cracked, he felt his blood flow stopping for a second.
Hawk with a pale white face and eyes filled with panic looked towards Antonio.
"How,….where did you…"
Antonio sneered and readied his spells, a yellowish glow started to emit from his hands.
A magic circle filled with arrays and runes filled his hand and made a humming sound. With a mocking smile on his face Antonio slammed his hand on earth.
"Earth Wave: Burial"
"Un-huh"
A muffled voice broke out from underneath the earth.
Hawk's face turned surprised and then to fury.
"Good, I didn't thought there was a traitor in my Blood Hawk."
Antonio had his face pale after using the spell. He didn't bothered to reply and took a pill from his space ring and consumed, after a while his face turned normal.
"You think I will be muddle headed and not be prepared. I have checked all the details related to Blood Hawk Mercenary Group and their higher realm cultivators and also your contacts."
"It was expensive, but worth it."
Hawk with a solemn face stood up and cast away his blood red robe and his cracked leather armor.
"You've been preparing for a long time."
Hawk wasn't asking because he was sure.
"From the moment we became enemies, I started collecting information. After all the Blood Hawk mercenaries are a tough nut to crack."
Antonio's hands started to emit small energy fluctuations every now and then. He was ready for the next round.
"Give me the box and release my brother, and I will let you walk away unharmed."
In response Hawk just sneered.
Antonio with a crazy smile on his face continued, "The bloody bomb is fatal to someone like you who specializes in blood magic. I also know that you are a dual cultivator and practiced Five Poison Dragon Body and entered higher three realms of body cultivation. But you are too weak, if you are going to fight me with only your body."
"You don't need to stall for time and wait for Rain to come back. He would be busy attending his own affairs. I almost exhausted all my savings to exterminate the Blood Hawk."
As Antonio continued to speak, the coldness in the eyes of Hawk just got colder and colder.
A spear appeared in Hawk's hand, it was blood red in color and various red serpent like patterns covered the spear giving it a eerie glow. If observed closely wails of spirit could be heard in from the spear. It is certain that the spear was made from the blood of it's enemies.
The instant Hawk took out his spear the aura around Hawk transformed into overwhelming deadly blood read aura that could be seen by naked eyes.
Antonio immediately tossed a potion and chanted a spell. Soon a large matrix formed and a green arrow was shot from it and landed on the potion tossed in air. The potion exploded and a green gas covered the area obstructing other vision.
Hawk coldly watched and said. "You've severely underestimate a mercenary group capable of walking out from two forbidden regions. You're good, I can only use about 80% of my capabilities. But it's enough to destroy you."
-------------------------
Lucas was alarmed sensing terrifying fluctuations in the atmosphere.
'Seems like fight started.'
Lucas inwardly send his senses and tried again to communicate with the Book of Runes.
'Hopefully you won't let me down.'
When the Suppressing Qi Lock was shackled to Lucas the Book of Runes activated itself and helped Lucas from getting out of the tricky situation, Lucas was curious to how the mysterious book works and it's uses. Lucas tried to find some Suppressing Qi Lock, but he was disappointed to find that it was not something available in the market. Lucas speculated that Arsln Family must have Suppressing Qi Lock or items similar to Suppressing Qi Lock. But he didn't know how to get them.
While training using a low-grade gloves type magical item did Lucas accidentally activated Book of Runes again.
After some experimentation Lucas came to know that Book of Runes had the ability to increase or suppress the effectiveness of runes in the magical items and artifacts. It will automatically activate upon strong emotions or concentrating his mind on equipment and simultaneously communicating with the Book of Runes. For Lucas who had the system, it was easy.
Lucas still felt that these methods were a crude way of activation and there has to be a more advanced or a direct way. After some more experimentation Lucas concluded that Book of Runes haven't been completely awakened, it needs an opportunity or some kind of catalyst for complete awakening.
The strengthening or weakening effect varies from 1% to 12%, Lucas couldn't find the pattern behind it, it was neither attribute nor equipment type, it was completely random. But Lucas still remembered that he got 20% weakening in Suppressing Qi Lock. Such a huge difference is it related to the grade of equipment?
When Lucas tried his effects on the robe, bracelet and ring. They showed a remarkable increase in strengthening the artifacts. But still not every equipment of similar grade show such drastic change.
Lucas connected to his grey robe and activated his concealment function together with system. At once Lucas's presence was completely erased.
His smell, presence of life, air current surrounding him, the shadows everything seamlessly blended with the world around him.
Right now in this state even if Lucas walked on road in broad daylight, no one will notice him, other than Maxim or higher level cultivator and some special people with keen and extreme sense will detect him.
Lucas dived into the dark shadows moved towards where battles going on.
Lucas quietly climbed on a high rise building, the people nearby areas were evacuated early on. In the dark night Lucas's eyes shone with a sharp light.
'It seems many people knew about what was going to happen.' Lucas inwardly thought and shook his head.
'It seems like there are many who are interested in the battle. This way my plan to fish in troubled waters doesn't going to work. There are too many sharks here.'
Lucas with a pensive gaze looked around the city from the high building, bright lights and explosions were at all directions.
He thought, 'It doesn't matter, if I truly get something, it will be a surprise. If not I will consider it as a good trip and learn more about the combat in Sea-Mist Plane.'
'Also if my inference is correct about the presence of Realm Crystal and someone other than an Arsln got it. I can sell this information for a good price."
Lucas narrowed his eyes and took his goggles out and looked through it and searched for Antonio.