If there was one fortunate thing about their situation, it was that the transfer location in the realm was surrounded by large rocks, leaving only a single entrance for the monsters to attack from. Whoever planned this likely chose such a location to prevent anyone from escaping. However, given the current condition where only Jiang Tianluo could still fight using qi, it turned out to be slightly in our favor.
According to Elder Sanghyuk, a Sakti Forbidden Realm is a spiritual location that seals all forms of energy usage, often used by cultists during the war in ancient times. The only people able to use energy within it are those who possess ether skills, a rare power with very few users across the universe.
Even so, deploying a forbidden realm is not only taboo but also has another issue, it requires a specific activation ritual. The fact that this technique was activated within the Jiang family estate, especially on the day of the Grand Elder's coronation, a ceremony attended only by family heads could only mean one thing: there was a traitor among us.
"Besides the monsters, we should also be wary of a traitor who could strike at any moment." (Elder Sanghyuk)
"Putting the traitor aside for now, how do we get out of this realm, Elder Sanghyuk?" (Gai)
I didn't care who the traitor was in theory because I already knew. From the very moment the coronation began, my Soul Eye had remained active, quietly watching.
Among all the family heads present, there was one whose hatred burned far too brightly, too personal to ignore.
His face wore a mask of calm, but his soul screamed otherwise.
I let my eyes wander toward him briefly, lips twitching into a cold smile.
You'll get your turn. I'll make sure of it your body, your soul, and everyone who stood beside you will be dust.
"To escape this realm… we'll have to destroy the formation core." (Elder Sanghyuk)
"And let me guess it's in the center of the realm, isn't it?" (Gai)
Elder Sanghyuk simply nodded.
"That's a bit troublesome. If we send Tianluo, there'll be no one left to defend the other family heads." (Gai)
"Grand Elder, allow me to defend the entrance while Tianluo searches for the formation core", Patriarch Jiang said, approaching Elder Sanghyuk and me after calming the panicked family members.
"Can you use ether skills too, Patriarch Jiang?" (Gai)
"I can't. But we can use this to seal the entrance." (Jiang Liang)
From his pocket, he pulled out a small, oval-shaped object with a shimmer like a gemstone.
"Aquamarine?" (Gai)
"Grand Elder Gai, this isn't a gem, it's an artifact." (Jiang Liang)
"An artifact? They work here?" (Gai)
"Yes. During the war, most soldiers were equipped with artifacts just in case they were trapped in a Sakti Forbidden Realm." (Elder Sanghyuk)
"However, this isn't a combat artifact. This is a Barrier Stone, which can create a protective shield with itself at the center." (Jiang Liang)
"So you plan to use this artifact to guard the entrance while Tianluo searches for the core?" (Gai)
Patriarch Jiang nodded.
"But this artifact has a flaw." (Elder Sanghyuk)
"Yes, you're right, Grand Elder." (Jiang Liang)
"What is it?" (Gai)
"It's single-use, and once activated, it can't be deactivated until its energy runs out." (Jiang Liang)
"How long will it last against these monsters?" (Gai)
"With the current intensity, I'd say it can hold for a day." (Jiang Liang)
I looked over at Tianluo. He had been cutting down wave after wave of monsters without pause, yet didn't look tired in the slightest. As expected of a top ranker.
But if he kept defending us like this, he wouldn't be able to look for the formation core. And no one else could use ether skills. Although most family heads had artifact weapons, they were stored in their space inventories, which they couldn't access due to the sudden inability to use qi. That applied to me as well.
At this point, I wonder why those people are not using any artefact style space inventory like the one Mei used before.
"(Sigh)... Nothing has gone according to script since yesterday. Now that we finally have an event like this, will I end up powerless?" I muttered to myself
"I think it's the best option we have. Has Tianluo been informed, Patriarch?" (Gai)
"Yes, I've told him." (Jiang Liang)
*
"Hey Gai, my father told you already, right?" Tianluo asked casually, all while slashing away at the monsters.
"Yeah. But I'm going too. If we split up, we can find the core faster. Hmm... I'll take the west side. I've got a feeling there's something sacred there." (Gai)
"Huh? Sacred?" (Tianluo)
"Never mind, I'm just messing with you," Gai grinned.
"Wait, are you sure? You can't even use your mana, right?"
Gai just gave a small smile, then walked past Tianluo. As monsters continued pouring in, Tianluo watched Gai calmly approach them. Oddly enough, none of the monsters attacked Gai. In fact, they didn't even seem to notice him, they just kept charging toward Tianluo.
(What is he doing? He's not using mana or any skills, but... the monsters aren't even acknowledging his presence?) (Tianluo)
Gai waved back and pointed west before disappearing from view.
*
"Leader! Dad!" (Yuemei)
"Oh Mei, where have you been?" (Jiang Liang)
"Helping the injured who were slow to get behind cover. But more importantly, I heard your plan with the leader. I'll take a side too. I might not be as strong as the leader, but I also use ether skills." (Yuemei)
"Hmm… Alright. But be careful. I don't care if Tianluo gets hurt or even dies. But if something happens to you, your mom will kill me." (Jiang Liang)
"....."
Tianluo, questioning if he was truly his child
Yuemei just nodded.
*
"Hoho, I can't let just the young folks go. I'll take the north." (Elder Sanghyuk)
"Grand Elder... Please be careful." (Jiang Liang)
"Mei, I'll be counting on your help." (Elder Sanghyuk)
Yuemei nodded, summoned a sword from her ether skill inventory, and handed it to Elder Sanghyuk.
"Hmm... As I thought, trusting you with my sword was the right decision. Ether Inventory may be a simple skill, but it's incredibly useful in times like this. I'll be off, then." (Elder Sanghyuk)
"Alright, I'll head west," Mei said, taking a step forward.
"Wait Mei."
She paused, eyebrows raised.
"Gaia's already gone that way. He took the west."
Mei blinked, then gave a dry chuckle. "Of course he did. I even thought I saw his weird footprints earlier… looked like someone walking while arguing with the sky."
"South it is then," she sighed, already dashing forward.
She dashed south, skillfully dodging monster attacks.
*
"Alright, I'll go too. Father, activate the artifact the moment I'm out." (Tianluo)
"Leave it to me." (Jiang Liang)
Tianluo slashed through the crowd and dashed east. At the same time, Jiang Liang activated the artifact, raising a protective barrier around the area.
"Now, while we wait for their return, we've got something else to clean up here." (Jiang Liang)
Behind him, the other elders and a squad of black-clad special forces from the Jiang family stood ready.
*
Slash. Tap tap. Slash. Tap tap tap. Slash slash. Tap tap. Tap.
Tianluo moved with fluid speed, cutting down monster after monster. After running for a while, he came across a glowing crystal pillar surrounded by a strange circular pattern, like a magic array.
"Is this the formation core?" Tianluo muttered to himself.
Without hesitation, he raised his sword to strike it but just as he did, an attack rained down from above. Sensing it, Tianluo dodged sideways and took a defensive stance. The ground where he'd stood was crushed, as if by a falling boulder.
When the dust cleared, a monster stood before him towering twice the height of a human, its body carved with muscle like stone, skin a dark orange marred by old scars, eyes glowing dimly with a hunter's precision. It had elongated arms built to rip and crush, and sharp fangs protruding from its jaw silent, yet ferocious.
"(...This monster is clearly stronger than the others. Is it the guardian assigned to this formation core? Please let there be only one...)" (Tianluo)
As if mocking his hopes, similar figures appeared in the three other cardinal directions.
*
"Hoho... the perfect opponent for an old man fresh out of seclusion." (Elder Sanghyuk)
*
"...." (Yuemei)
summoning her dual artifact pistols
*
"Sigh Really? When I want things to go off-script, nothing happens. Now that it is like a novel, I'm nerfed and can't use mana? F*** you, author. Do you hate letting me be OP for once? If I had my magic, I could one-hit-kill this thing!"
Gai, yelling at the sky while facing the formation guardian strangely unnoticed by the monster.