Meanwhile, Zelda engaged inbat with the members of Evil Heart Sect. Her strength far surpassed


    that of those small fries in the sect. “You think you can run away from me?” Jared sneered while gazing


    at Malphas.


    “Jared Chance, what exactly brought you to Evil Heart Sect? Lord Tanner and Skr are not here. Did


    youe merely to kill us? You should know we’re of little importance to the sect, Malphas said to


    Jared.


    “I have no intention of killing you. If you lead me to your dungeon right now, I’ll spare you,” Jared


    replied.


    “To the dungeon? What for?” Malphas was surprised by Jared’s demand. “That’s none of your


    business. Just take me there!” Jared snapped, growing impatient.


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    “I’ll never take you there, even if you kill me!” Malphas responded, fully aware of the dire consequences


    he would face if he were to bring Jared to the dungeon.


    Recognizing Tanner’s capabilities all too well, Malphas understood that aiding Jared would lead to a


    fate more dreadful than mere death.


    “It’s not your decision to make.” After finishing speaking, Jared released a radiant aura that prated


    Malphas’ body, causing him to freeze in ce.


    Suddenly, mes seemed to ignite within Malphas, and it was as though his organs were being seared


    over a scorching fire. Despite the intense pain, Malphas was unable to move or utter a single sound,


    forced to endure the torment of the searing mes.


    Beads of cold sweat formed on Malphas’ forehead as his face twisted in a grotesque expression. He


    stared at Jared in disbelief, unable toprehend how, in just a few months, Jared’s power had


    surpassed his own by such at tremendous margin.


    In the presence of Jared, he found himself utterly defenseless, incapable of mounting any form of


    retaliation. It was a stark contrast to a few months prior when he had dismissed Jared as


    inconsequential.


    With a flick of Jared’s finger, a beam of light instantly struck Malphas throat, allowing him to make


    sounds once again.


    Malphas let out a piercing shriek of agony. The other members of Evil Heart Sect, upon hearing his


    anguished cries, immediately lost their will to fight and desperately tried to escape.


    However, their attempts were in vain as Zelda swiftly dispatched each and every one of them, leaving


    no survivors.


    “I’ll take you there…” Unable to bear the torment any longer, Malphas finally gave in.


    Hearing that, Jared made a hand gesture, causing a spiritual light to fly out from Malphas’ body. As a


    result, Malphas was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.


    The sensation Malphas had just experienced was akin to being cast into the depths of hell and


    subjected to torture by fire. It was. unbearably painful.


    Gasping for breath, he took a while to recover. “Don’t waste any more time. Take me to the dungeon,”


    Jaredmanded Malphas.


    “I can take you there, but I can’t dismantle the arcane array. Only members of Evil Heart Sect marked


    with the imprint of Lord Tanner can pass through it. Otherwise, attempting to cross the arcane array will


    trigger it,” Malphas: exined to Jared.


    “Just lead the way. You don’t need to worry about anything else,” Jared replied. Reluctantly, Malphas


    nodded and guided Jared out of the courtyard.


    Jared ced a mark on Malphas’ forehead to ensure he would not y any tricks. Zelda transformed


    back into Dragonyer Sword and returned to Jared’s body.


    With Malphas in the lead and Jared following closely behind, they made their way toward the back of


    the hill. After a short walk, Malphas said, “Ahead lies the first arcane array. To pass through it, you must


    break it.”


    Jared gazed ahead, extending his spiritual sense to detect the presence of the arcane array, but to his


    surprise, he could not sense any trace of it. This left him perplexed and unsure of what to make of the


    situation. “Why can’t I sense the arcane array ahead?”


    Jared asked, feeling bewildered. “Lord Tanner set the arcane array up himself. Once I pass through it,


    you’ll be able to sense. it,” Malphas exined. With that, he advanced. forward, and soon, a surge of


    spiritual energy apanied by shimmering lights enveloped him as he passed through the arcane


    array.