The muscular man glanced triumphantly at the young man with the white halo. A broad smile spread across his face.
"Haha... You're finished this time."
He pointed the tip of his mace at the young man, revealing a set of sharp, jagged teeth embedded in its end. Like a serpent poised to strike, the mace opened its mouth wide, more than a meter across, and then lunged forward, seemingly devouring the young man with the white halo.
For a brief moment, the mace chewed and chomped with its razor-sharp teeth before swallowing with exaggerated relish, its tongue licking its lips as though savoring a gourmet meal.
"Hahaha!" the muscular man laughed heartily, reveling in what he believed to be a historic victory.
However, his jubilant mood quickly soured when he noticed that the clock's hands had stopped. The digital display showed a glaring 0, and the large clock abruptly vanished into thin air.
Time resumed, but the muscular man sensed something was amiss.
"Why isn't anyone cheering?" he thought to himself, unease creeping into his mind.
When he turned back, he found the young man with the white halo standing there, utterly unscathed and casually brushing off imaginary dust.
"Hahaha... Besides your big muscles, what else do you have?" the young man mocked, his voice dripping with condescension.
Without missing a beat, the white halo floated back up into the sky. This time, it transformed dramatically.
Like a brilliant sun breaking through the clouds, the white halo expanded and formed a radiant domain around the young man.
"Hahahaha! Let's see where your arrogance takes you now!"
The young man's aura intensified palpably, and even the mayor felt the atmosphere grow chaotic.
"Run! Get away!"
"Crazy! That guy has awakened the Seed of Faith. Stay clear if you don't want to get involved!"
"Mr. Bang Lu, someone call for Mr. Bang Lu!"
"That Player is finished!"
Panicked screams echoed from the onlookers, who quickly retreated from the escalating situation. Who would have imagined that a brief skirmish in front of the War Office would lead to such a dramatic confrontation?
"Miss, do you want to keep watching?"
An old man resembling a servant approached a young girl dressed in white, who stood at the edge of the crowd.
"Yes, I'm curious about Yol's new power," she replied, her eyes sparkling with interest. With her white hair and eyes, she appeared strikingly unique, yet she blended seamlessly into the bustling city streets.
Her gaze remained fixed on the young man with the white halo, anticipation written all over her face.
At that moment, the young man with the halo summoned a swan-feather quill, its tip glimmering with a pure white aura.
The muscular man felt slightly overwhelmed as the quill clashed against his mace.
"Damn... Just a few months ago, this guy hadn't even awakened his Seed of Faith!" he muttered in disbelief.
"Hey, Petri! If you just stand there, I'll make you pay for it when we get back!"
The muscular man shot a sharp glare at a young man with a bow slung over his back.
"Hahaha! Rod, you think I'm the one causing trouble for you?" the bowman shot back, a smirk on his face.
Despite his bravado, the man with the bow drew his golden bow and readied an arrow.
The aura around Petri's equipment began to glow an intense blue.
In an instant, the bowman leaped into the air, drawing his bow and aiming at the young man with the halo.
"What's the matter? Asking for help from your lowly friend now?" the young man with the halo taunted.
A black arrow streaked through the air, but feather quills appeared out of thin air, blocking its path.
"Damn! Why do these people always have such bizarre powers?" the young man with the white halo exclaimed.
The feather quills he summoned failed to stop the black arrow; it pierced through them like a hot knife through butter.
Not to be deterred, he quickly retaliated with a barrage of feather quills directed at the bowman, the attack enhanced by the power of his halo domain.
Now, it was two Players against one Faithwarden. The skirmish escalated, and onlookers had long since retreated to a safer distance.
"Everyone, stop!"
An old man in a white robe suddenly appeared, floating effortlessly in the air. A powerful, oppressive aura swept through the area, shattering the young man's white halo domain.
Their attacks fell silent, the trio suddenly immobilized. The overwhelming pressure forced them to the ground, leaving them sprawled like lizards in a heatwave.
"Sorry, Elder Zein! We were wrong!"
"Forgive us, Elder Zein!" the three of them gasped, struggling to offer apologies.
Elder Zein, however, ignored their pleas. His gaze remained fixed on them as he increased the pressure.
Blood began to flow from their mouths, and the sickening sound of cracking bones echoed around them.
"Elder Zein, please forgive the chaos caused by Young Master Yol. We will provide compensation," a woman from the young man's group interjected, her voice shaking.
"Shut up…"
Just two words escaped Elder Zein's lips, yet they carried the weight of a mountain. His eyes remained locked on the three men, who lay on the ground, soaked in their own blood.
"But..." Before the woman could finish her sentence, she found herself subjected to the same crushing pressure, forced to the ground alongside the others.
Now four people felt the force that made their hearts race and their minds spin in confusion.
Elder Zein's overwhelming power rendered them unable to think clearly, filling their minds with fear, regret, and a desperate hope for salvation.
"Haha... Just because you have a little power, you seek death in a war zone."
"They got what they deserved," someone in the crowd murmured.
"Elder Zein is as strict as ever."
Essim watched the entire scene unfold, his heart pounding when Elder Zein made his entrance.
[Status]
Name: Zein Wafu
Race: Cui Race
Power Core: Cultivator
Rank: Nascent Soul (Master)
"Master?!?!" Essim exclaimed in his mind, suddenly remembering the golden talisman he had received.
The talisman was said to withstand a full attack from a Master-level being. With over 100,000 of such talismans in his possession, did that mean he had 100,000 life-saving tools?
The thought filled Essim with exhilaration. Their security level would rise dramatically. Yet it also suggested that the middle-aged man with the time crown wielded immense power, casually issuing protective talismans of that caliber.
"I give you three seconds to call someone who can provide me with clarity," Elder Zein announced, standing calmly with his hands behind his back.
As he spoke, the oppressive pressure lifted slightly. Despite their injuries—broken bones and damaged organs—the three of them mustered their remaining strength to contact their organizations.
"Yes, sir… Yes."
"Of course, Elder Zein…"
Meanwhile, the girl with white hair had found a chair from somewhere and was seated comfortably, her expression a mix of curiosity and irritation.
"Very interesting… and exciting... That idiot Yol!!!" she exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.
"Yes, Miss, I hope Mr. Idris does not come," the old servant replied, concern etched across his face as he contemplated the consequences if the mentioned Mr. Idris arrived.
-----
3 chaps a day !
I hope you will like this as much as I love working on it !
If you do, please don't forget to support me ! Vote and Review helps me a lot :)