"We are here"
As the elevator doors opened, Hutton, Bob, and Boma stepped out onto the top floor. The hallway was eerily silent, with dim lighting casting long shadows across the pristine marble floor. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating.
"Not a single soul in sight," Hutton muttered, his sharp eyes scanning every corner for signs of danger. His gut told him something was off.
Bob, standing at his right, tilted his head in confusion. "Strange. With the kind of activity happening below, you’d expect this floor to be crawling with their people."
Boma shrugged, though his eyes narrowed. "We need to keep moving. Whatever trap they’ve laid, lingering here isn’t going to help."
Hutton hesitated for a moment, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious, but Bob and Boma gave him a reassuring nod. Begrudgingly, he began walking forward, leading the way down the silent corridor.
But the moment their feet passed the midway point, an ominous hum resonated through the hallway. Before they could react, shimmering walls of light shot up around them, forming an impenetrable barrier. The space around them distorted, and a powerful force rippled through the air.
"What the—" Hutton exclaimed, clutching his chest as he felt his cultivation powers being stripped away. His body felt unnaturally heavy, and the usual flow of spiritual energy within him was completely severed.
Bob staggered slightly, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade that has been with him. "This... This is a sealing barrier!" he growled. "It’s designed to suppress cultivation completely!"
Boma clenched his fists, his usually calm demeanor cracking. "Whoever set this up is no ordinary foe. This level of precision… we’re trapped like rats."
As the trio tried to make sense of the situation, figures began materializing outside the barrier, their forms initially hazy before solidifying. A group of hostile faces surrounded them, each radiating malice. Among them stood Hughes, a sly grin plastered on his face, and Timothy, his calm yet sinister expression betraying a quiet confidence.
But it was the figure at the center who commanded the most attention. Dressed in an ornate dark robe, with four glowing fragments of the God Crystal swirling ominously in his hand, their master exuded an overwhelming aura of power. His presence was suffocating even through the barrier.
"Welcome to my domain," the master said, his voice smooth yet dripping with malice. His piercing eyes scanned the trio, lingering briefly on Hutton. "You’ve been quite the nuisance, haven’t you?"
Timothy smirked, stepping forward. "Its just as you said, Master, they’d come right into our hands. Predictable as ever." His eyes locked onto Hutton’s, a mixture of amusement and disdain flickering in them.
Hutton’s hands curled into fists, his knuckles white with rage. "You...." he spat, his voice low and venomous.
Hughes chuckled, crossing his arms. "I never knew you guys will be this dumb. Walking right into a trap, How typical."
Hutton ignored him, his attention solely on Timothy and the master. His mind raced, searching for any possible way to turn the tables. The power-sealing barrier was tightening its grip on them, and time was running out.
The master tilted his head, amused by their helplessness. "Let’s see how long you can last without your precious powers," he said coldly. "It’s time to put an end to your interference. Timothy, once they leave this world, get the crystal from them and bring it to me
"Yes master" Timothy confirmed with a sly smile on his face while he locked gazes with Hutton.
With a single gesture, the barrier began to contract, the space around Hutton, Bob, and Boma growing smaller as an invisible pressure mounted. The odds had never been grimmer.
As the barrier continued to constrict around Hutton, Bob, and Boma, panic set in. The air was thick with tension as they desperately scanned the shimmering walls for any weakness.
"We’re running out of time!" Bob growled, his fists slamming uselessly against the barrier.
"There has to be a way out!" Boma snapped, sweat forming on his brow as he channeled his knowledge of seals and talismans.
Hutton’s eyes darted between the barrier and the figures outside, his mind racing. ’Think, think, damn it!’
Meanwhile, Timothy’s master, clearly satisfied with their entrapment, turned on his heel, his robe flowing behind him as he began walking back toward the grand room at the end of the hallway. But before he could take more than a few steps, an unsettling chill filled the air.
Suddenly, a dark, hooded figure materialized behind him, the movement so silent and swift that even Timothy and Hughes didn’t notice until it was too late.
"Master, behind you!" Timothy shouted, his voice laced with alarm.
The master turned, his eyes widening in shock. But he was too late. The hooded figure moved with terrifying speed, his hand barely grazing the master’s chest before a shockwave of immense force erupted.
BOOM!
The impact sent the master flying down the hallway like a ragdoll, his body crashing into the far wall with a deafening thud. Debris and dust filled the air, leaving everyone frozen in stunned silence.
Timothy and Hughes exchanged wide-eyed glances, their usual confidence replaced by palpable fear. Even the other members of their group recoiled, unsure whether to attack or flee.
Inside the barrier, Hutton, Bob, and Boma could only stare in disbelief. The sheer power of the hooded figure’s attack was staggering, and for the first time, Hutton felt a deep, unexplainable dread creeping up his spine.
From the rubble, Timothy’s master emerged, battered but alive. His robe was torn, and his expression was grim as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. His earlier arrogance was gone, replaced with wariness.
"Who are you?" the master demanded, his voice low and threatening as he faced the hooded figure.
The figure tilted his head slightly, his movements slow and deliberate, as if mocking the master’s attempt to regain composure. Then, with a twisted grin and a laugh that echoed through the hallway like nails on glass, he spoke.
"I am the Harbinger," the figure declared, his voice cold and otherworldly.
At the mention of the name, Hutton involuntarily shuddered, an icy chill shooting down his spine. His breath hitched, and for reasons he couldn’t understand, a deep-seated fear rooted itself in his chest.
The master’s eyes narrowed, though a flicker of unease crossed his face. "The Harbinger…" he repeated, his tone laced with caution. "So, you’ve finally shown yourself."
The Harbinger’s smile widened, his presence suffocating as he stepped closer. "Oh, you’ve no idea how long I’ve been watching, waiting for this moment. But don’t worry, your suffering will be short-lived."
The air grew colder, the oppressive atmosphere making it harder for anyone to move or even breathe. Inside the barrier, Hutton clenched his fists, his mind reeling. Who is this Harbinger? Why does he feel so familiar… and so terrifying?
Bob and Boma exchanged worried glances, sensing Hutton’s unease. But no one dared to speak as the Harbinger continued to close in on the master, his every step radiating a malevolence that promised chaos.
The tension in the hallway reached a fever pitch as Timothy’s master, now standing shakily amidst the debris, barked his command, his voice cutting through the suffocating atmosphere.
"Everyone! Attack him! Now!"
The room erupted into motion as the remaining figures in the hallway—all loyal to the master—rushed toward the Harbinger without hesitation. Timothy and Hughes, however, stayed back, their instincts screaming at them not to get involved.
But before a single attack could land, the Harbinger raised his hand, his fingers curling as if grasping something invisible.
"What the—" one of the assailants stammered, their movements suddenly halting.
In the next instant, an eerie, pulsating glow began emanating from their bodies. Their life force, a bright and vibrant energy, was forcibly drawn out, twisting and spiraling toward the Harbinger like streams of liquid light.
"No… what’s happening?!" another screamed, their voice choking into silence as they collapsed lifelessly to the floor.
Within moments, the hallway was littered with the lifeless bodies of Timothy’s allies, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and pain. Only Timothy, his master, Hughes, and the trio trapped in the barrier remained standing.
The stolen life force swirled around the Harbinger, glowing brighter with each passing second before surging into him. His aura exploded outward, an oppressive wave of energy that slammed into the walls and ceiling, shaking the entire top floor of the hotel.
Inside the barrier, Hutton, Bob, and Boma shielded their faces from the force of the energy, their breathing shallow as the Harbinger’s power climbed to an entirely new level.
Timothy’s master staggered back, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the Harbinger. "You… what are you?!"
The Harbinger slowly lowered his hand, his movements deliberate as his now-glowing eyes locked onto the master. His twisted grin grew even more sinister, his voice echoing with an unnatural resonance.
"I told you, didn’t I?" he said, his tone both mocking and menacing. "I am the Harbinger—the bringer of death, the devourer of hope. And now, I am stronger than ever, thanks to your pawns."
Timothy took an involuntary step back, his usual composure slipping as the weight of the Harbinger’s aura pressed down on him. For the first time, he felt genuine fear—a fear that even his master might not be able to protect him from this being.
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Inside the barrier, Hutton clenched his fists, his mind racing. The Harbinger’s words, his overwhelming power… it was all too much. And yet, amidst the chaos, that unshakable feeling of familiarity gnawed at him.
"Who… who is he?" Hutton muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
Bob and Boma exchanged grim looks, their expressions reflecting the same unspoken question.
The Harbinger turned his gaze toward the barrier, his glowing eyes piercing through to lock onto Hutton. His smile widened as if he could sense Hutton’s confusion and fear.
"Don’t worry, Taylor," the Harbinger said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Your turn is coming soon."
Hutton’s breath caught in his throat, his mind spinning. ’Taylor… again? What is going on?’
Before anyone could respond, the Harbinger turned his attention back to Timothy’s master, his aura flaring once more. "Now then, shall we continue?"