Barely managing to deflect two long spears, Maceo was struck in the shoulder by a third attacker. Blood soaked his armor, a stark crimson against the steel.
“Jared!” Flaxseed called out, urgency in his voice. “This formation…”
“Just a cheap trick,” Jared replied with a cold chuckle as the Dragonslayer Sword rang out with a clear, melodic cry.
He raised the blade toward the sky, nine golden sword shadows forming around him. “Break!”
Nine beams of sword light shot forth like falling stars, crashing into a node within the triangular light array.
All three gray-roped elders let out a grunt in unison as faint cracks spiderwebbed through their formation.
Jared’s eyes lit up, and launched a second strike without hesitation. “Slash!”
The Dragonslayer Sword expanded into a massive blade. It descended with explosive force, causing the entire formation to quake.
The lead elder coughed up blood, stunned. “How did find the formation’s core?”
“Because you’re all fools!” Jared’s voice rang out as suddenly appeared overhead.
“Jared, for you!” Maceo, despite his wound, forced himself to throw a bronze mirror toward Jared. It was the same bronze mirror once used to peer into purgatory.
Jared caught it and turned its reflective surface toward the three elders. Their startled faces appeared in the mirror’s glow.
Jared murmured, “Now it’s my turn to take the lead. Everchange Illusion Spell!”
A blinding white light burst from the mirror, forcing the elders to close their eyes. When they reopened them, the battlefield had vanished, replaced by a boundless mist. It was mysterious, disorienting, endless.
An illusion spell?
The elder on the left sneered. “Just a…”
His voice out off as pale arms stretched out from the fog, dragging screaming into the abyss. The other two froze, horror etched on their faces.
Back in reality, the three gray-robed elders stood still, eyes wide and unseeing. Terror, ecstasy, and torment flickered across their faces.
Their staffs clattered to the ground. The formation’s light curtain shattered like brittle glass.
“No… Don’t come near me!” one of them screamed, falling to his knees and clutching his head. He swatted at empty air like a madman.
“I didn’t kill my senior! It was Master, made me do it!”
Another stroked the air longingly.
“Junior… You came to see me after all.” His expression twisted. “What? You’re pregnant… With our senior’s child?”
The oldest was the most terrifying. He tore open his robe, revealing a chest covered in curse runes.
Dropping to his knees, cried out in desperation, “Master, please forgive me! I won’t practice forbidden techniques again!”
The battlefield fell deathly silent.
The soldiers of Winged Tiger City stared in shock as the array masters they depended on unraveled into madness, some even harming themselves.
Jovan’s face turned pale. His knees trembled.
“W-What did you do to them?” asked, voice quaking.
Jared lowered the mirror.
“I just showed them the truth they fear most,” replied casually, then looked at Flaxseed. “Can you move now?”
Flaxseed cracked his knuckles, a yellow charm forming at his fingertips again.
“These old bones still have some fight left,” said.
He glanced at the trapped elders and muttered, “This is worse than death…”
It was true. Time in the illusionary realm didn’t flow like reality. The three elders were caught in an endless loop of their darkest memories.
Their senior’s dying curse, the betrayal of a junior now carrying his rival’s child, the shame of being caught studying forbidden techniques by his master, every buried secret was dragged out and put on display, over and over.
“Argh!” one of them suddenly screamed as blood burst from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He smashed his skull with his own hand.
The others followed swiftly, one bit off his tongue, the other gouged out his eyes.
Finally, Jovan broke. “Retreat! Everyone retreat!”
But it was already too late. The warriors of the revitalized Rhino City surged forward like wild beasts. Madman’s blade danced in a whirlwind of blood. Eason’s arrows fell like rain, each one fatal.
Maceo, despite his injury, led the charge.
“For Rhino City!” bellowed.
Jared didn’t chase the fleeing soldiers. His gaze turned toward the distant Eighth Hall.
The Dragonslayer Sword buzzed, vibrating with anticipation, sensing its master’s desire to fight.
