Kayden stood tall, his brows furrowing slightly. It had been far too long since he had experienced such an exhilarating battle. At last, today, he could fight to his heart’s content.
The countless warriors surged toward him, slamming into the radiant shield that surrounded him.
Boom!
Though the impact didn’t directly reach him, the force rippled through his body. The warriors hung suspended in mid-air, their steel blades clashing violently against Kayden’s shield.
Nearby, four Grand Lords remained unmoved, their faces stoic as they concentrated their inner power, aiming to dismantle Kayden’s defenses.
Kayden’s shield collided with the combined force of the warriors and the Grand Lords. Energy met energy, power against power, locked in an unrelenting clash.
The plaza was bathed in dazzling white light as the energy continued to surge. The light grew brighter and brighter, and with it, fierce winds began to howl through the surrounding cliffs, producing haunting, ghostly wails.
This was no theatrical duel of swords-this was the confrontation of true masters, fighting with pure energy.
The sheer intensity of the clash made it impossible for onlookers to keep their eyes open.
Suddenly, Kayden summoned every ounce of strength within him. Clenching his teeth, he stomped his foot into the ground with a thunderous force. The earth beneath him cracked and caved, leaving a massive crater behind.
With this motion came a roar-a primal cry that erupted like a dragon bursting from the sea, shaking the heavens.
The surge of energy shattered the formation surrounding him, scattering the sword-wielding warriors.
The shockwave forced the four Grand Lords to stagger backward, their summoned beasts vanishing into thin air.
Kayden had broken through their formation.
“What?!” one of the Grand Lords exclaimed, his face pale with disbelief. “How could he break our formation?”
The leader of the Grand Lords remained calm, his expression unchanging. “It doesn’t matter,” he said coldly. “Can’t you see? He’s harmed himself in the process.”
Kayden dropped to one knee, his breathing labored. The battered blade that had been hovering above his head fell to the ground with a dull clang.
The Grand Lord was right. Kayden’s outburst had come at a steep cost-injuring himself as much as his enemies.
No matter how strong Kayden was, he was still only at the Master level. Against four Grand Lords, the gap in power was insurmountable.
Kayden glared at them, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with fury. He would not give up. He couldn’t. He had to kill them. He had to save Wood Faulkner.
Clenching his jaw, Kayden reached for the broken blade on the ground.
One of the Grand Lords stepped forward, his voice dripping with malice. “Reform the formation! He’s vulnerable-finish him now!”
The leader raised a hand to stop him. “No,” he said. “Do not act recklessly. This is his trap. Fall back and use the cage.”
The four Grand Lords nodded in unison, retreating to the raised platform behind them.
The platform was surrounded by four towering pillars, each over three meters high. Without hesitation, the Grand Lords leapt onto the pillars.
The leader looked down at Kayden from above and smirked. “Kayden, do you dare face us here again?”
Kayden’s eyes were bloodshot, his mind set on a singular goal: to kill these four old men.
If he couldn’t defeat even a faction like The Nightshade, what right did he have to challenge Hellblazer?
Determined, he stood and strode toward the platform, his voice steady and full of resolve. “Why not?”
Without hesitation, Kayden leapt onto the platform.
The moment his feet touched the surface, a loud clang echoed through the air. The ground beneath him gave way.
Kayden’s heart sank. Despite his strength, he hadn’t anticipated that the solid marble floor would collapse.
It was a trap.
Kayden realized his mistake too late. He had given The Nightshade three days to prepare, and they had used that time well.
The floor beneath him gave way to a massive underground dungeon, its depths stretching ten meters below. The space spanned thirty square meters-a large, dark prison.
As soon as he fell, thick steel bars slammed shut above him. Around him, additional steel beams emerged, forming iron gates that boxed him into a confined space.
In an instant, Kayden was trapped.
The floor above him rose back into place, sealing him in the underground cage.
The crowd above erupted in relief, their collective tension finally dissipating.
They had done it.
Kayden was imprisoned.
The disciples in the plaza were on the verge of cheering, their faces lighting up with joy. This battle was as good as over.
No one had ever escaped from this cage alive.
“Dr. Scott!” Lucy cried out, rushing forward. Her face was pale, her heart pounding as she tried to reach Kayden.
But before she could take another step, a dark whirlwind swept toward her.
A cold, iron grip closed around her throat.
It was Firestone.
He moved like lightning, his hand tightening on her neck.
“Cowards! The Nightshade, how could you stoop so low?” Lucy shouted, tears streaming down her face.
Firestone sneered. “I could kill you here and now, but first, I want you to watch. Watch him die. Watch as we, in our cowardice, destroy him.”
“You won’t succeed,” Lucy spat through gritted teeth.
“Oh, we will,” Firestone replied, his voice cold and confident. “He cannot escape this cage. This will be his grave.”
Lucy’s heart pounded. She wasn’t afraid to die. To her, dying alongside Kayden would be an honor, a worthy sacrifice. But her chest ached with sorrow for him-a hero like Kayden didn’t deserve such an end.
Kayden looked up from within the cage, his eyes fixed on the four Grand Lords standing above him.
The leader stroked his long beard and sneered. “Kayden, this is The Nightshade. You gave us three days to prepare, and we delivered. This dungeon is your reward.”
“You’re a rare talent, I’ll admit,” he continued, his tone mocking. “But your fatal flaw is your arrogance. You shouldn’t have challenged The Nightshade. You shouldn’t have provoked Hellblazer.”
“To fight Hellblazer is to court death. And death is exactly what you’ll get.”