Before sometime…
"I never thought you would be th….this trouble. You…you really have many secrets."
Antonio leaned against a boulder and was panting, he was in a terrible shape, his left hand was gone and a horrible bloodied scar ran through near his heart to his torso.
The land was riddled with pits and scars. Poison and mana flowed through the air in very complicated patterns. Opposite of Antonio stood Hawk in about a 20m distance, Hawk's body was filled with scars, what terrifying was not the scars but the poison, various parts of his body were in different colors and some swelled.
But even so Hawk stood straight, even though he was facing inhuman pain he only furrowed his eyebrows and no excessive expression could be seen on his face.
"If I didn't have any secrets, I would have been long dead."
Hawk with an indifferent face gazed at Antonio.
Antonio laughed, the initial craziness in his eyes were gone and a only a cold brutal firmness was left.
Both of them knew, only one of them will survive. Hawk couldn't let the fight continue to drag on, while Antonio had emptied his pockets and he was spent on his tricks. It was only due to the array that he could hold on till now. The toxic gas circled around Antonio but didn't get closer while Hawk was attacked by the venomous gas from all sides.
Suddenly both of them sensed a disturbance in a direction not far away them.
"Did Rain get through the formation? Or is it some uninvited guests."
"Is someone still alive after I deployed the poison trap?"
Antonio assumed that one of the mercenaries of Blood Hawk in some way survived, he had a complete confidence in the array. Unless the providers intentionally sabotaged the array disc or a high level powerhouse, no one could get in without him noticing.
Hawk knew the capabilities of his subordinates. If even him had so much trouble with the array, no one would survive this, unless they have an extraordinary artifact, but the probability of that happening is very very small.
Hawk was hoping for Rain or some stranger that entered the array coincidentally. If he could get the new guy to help, maybe it was possible to kill Antonio here.
Whoever has come would not be friendly to Antonio, so it would not be hard to use him. Blood Hawk mercenaries reputation is a gold-plated signboard compared to an unknown explorer Antonio.
He didn't know which array Antonio deployed, he only understood that the array is wide and can help Antonio in controlling the poison released by Antonio.
But through the short investigation he knew that even though the array looked strong it will not hold for long, he only needed to preserve for some more time and when the array will deactivate itself and that will be the time when the prey becomes the hunter and hunter the prey.
As time continued to pass Hawk understood that he made a grave mistake. Yes it's true that the array won't stay active for long but he will certainly die before the array deactivates after depleting it's energy. Antonio truly made a foolproof plan.
Antonio released too much kinds of poisons. Each different and targets and attacks differently. Due to the different poisons invading his body his combat capability largely decreased and the bloody bomb reduced his blood energy magic power. So he was in a constant dangerous state. If there is no disturbance from time to time from Antonio, Hawk could solve such poison relatively quite easily.
If everything continued like this, he would die for sure. So the any kind of uncertainty was like an oasis in the desert for Hawk.
A drowning man will clutch at even a straw.
But as soon as both of them reached the place of disturbance, they immediately stopped, they didn't dare to get any closer.
Ahead of them a colorful vortex was surrounding a person, due to the poison swirling in the vortex they could only see everything in blurry way. That person wore a grey robe.
If both of them could see everything clearly they would be able to see that the mysterious person was not coolly standing but was shocked still.
--------------------------
"Who are you?"
"How did you come in?"
Lucas was stunned, he felt an overwhelming pressure surrounding him.
[Ding! Unlocking 70%..72%....7]
Lucas ignored all the notifications ringing in his ears, he was furiously trying to think of…
'What the &%#*$ is happening?'
Lucas tried to calm his racing heart, he secretly rubbed the ring his grandfather gave him with his finger. Lucas lived among the strong since he was born. Even though no one near him intentionally revealed their aura it is undeniable that they are in a complete different life level.
Lucas's body and mind have soaked in the aura of strong since he was born and so he have quite a resistance against the pressure from higher existence.
Lucas regained his bearing quickly. He calmed himself. It is still not the worst situation.
Lucas quickly analyzed, somehow due to my bloodline this vortex have formed. I am right now consuming the various poisons in the atmosphere and I don't think I can keep up this bizarre phenomenon for much longer, so I need a plan as soon as possible.
Narrowing his eyes Lucas looked towards the two.
Antonio? Captain of Blood Hawk mercenaries?
From their voices, it is evident that they are exhausted, weak and afraid.
Why? What are they scared of?
They can't identify my cultivation? The grey robe can still inhibit their senses?
Or is it vortex filled with poison?
Or all of it?
Lucas slowly closed his eyes.
I have got to play a play.
-------------------------------------
Antonio's bloodshot eyes were filled with madness and fear.
"How did you come? No one can enter or exit the Six Directions Law Forming Earth transformation array without my notice, no one can. It was specially modified for me."
"Were you from the start here? Did you waited till now?"
Hawk was inwardly shaken.
Six Directions Law Forming Earth transformation array is only an supporting array but high level array used by high level companies or great houses for land transformation using atmospheric and earth energy.
"I was trapped and fighting for my life in a support array?"
Hawk was in disbelief.
But quickly he sobered up. He went over the words spoken by Antonio and thought about it's implications.In a low voice he mumbled.
"Sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight"
In response of Antonio the grey-robed figure just chuckled.
"You are really confident in your array."A hoarse male voice echoed.
Antonio wanted to say something, but he quickly restrained.
"Six Directions Law Forming Earth transformation array, using a support array as a guide for poison and as an excellent trap. An ingenious idea." The mysterious person took a step forward.
"Such a pity, such a pity".
Antonio and Hawk simultaneously subconsciously took a step backward.
Tilting his head the Lucas gazed at both of them.
[Ding! Unlo….cking 85%]
The vortex rippled and then rapidly expanded.
Surprised both Antonio and Hawk rapidly retreated, but they still didn't loose their focus on each other and the mysterious figure.
Lucas almost jumped. He didn't know what happened, his only choice was continue his act.
"Don't be afraid, I don't want to hurt anyone, truthfully I am a peace loving man."
Hawk sneered and sarcastically he said, "So playing with poison must be your hobby."
Antonio was dumbfounded, if this mysterious person was not from the start here and only arrived now there are three possibilities. Someone like Hawk with vast experience could easily think about them. Is he insane?
The first possibility is that he is from the Arsln family.
He got inside because the array disc was provided by their people and they sabotaged it. As for poison, it is some kind of not well known ability of Arsln family. Everyone know the bloodline abilities of Arsln family. But chance of it is very low. First of all there are many eyes on the battlefield. If they really participated without a sufficient reasonable reason, their reputation will be damaged. If they truly acted like a cheat in their own home ground.
Thinking about it Antonio inwardly shook his head in denial. It is almost impossible.
Second possibility is that he is an expert in formations. And the reason they can't identify his level is due to some rare equipment and as for poison, he is using some kind of trick or technique to control the poison.
Third possibility and the worst possibility. He is a Maxim Level powerhouse.