Jared’s form flickered once more, materializing before another soul in a seamless dance of movement.
This unfolded repeatedly, and in the mere span of a heartbeat, those souls engulfed in flames dissipated into nothingness, leaving behind only bewildered silence.
“How… How is this possible?” Keiran’s eyes widened, awash with pure horror.
He struggled to comprehend the inexplicable. How could Jared, a mere Third Level Tribulator, wield such unimaginable power?
He couldn’t grasp the reality of witnessing his meticulously crafted souls, each infused with the ominous essence of demonic fire, being effortlessly snuffed out by a mere Third Level Tribulator.
As Jared nonchalantly obliterated the souls, Keiran felt a wave of panic engulf him. Without hesitation, he bolted toward the horizon, knowing that once he reached home, even the formidable Jared would be rendered powerless against him.
“Hmph, where do you think you’re going?”
Jared emitted a disdainful snort, then swiftly gave chase.
When it came to manipulating flames, Jared held an unyielding confidence. Possessing the fire nascence and wielding multiple varieties of demonic fire, he remained unruffled by his opponent.
His current technique, the Blazing Stride, was a mastery beyond any attainable in the Ethereal Realm.
Jared’s form flickered, traversing space effortlessly. In an instant, he closed the gap with Keiran, his presence looming ominously.
With a gesture into the void, Jared unleashed a potent force, causing Keiran’s mid-air flight to grind to a sudden halt.
“You like playing with fire, don’t you? Well, now you’ll get to experience what it feels like to be scorched…”
In the palm of Jared’s hand, a vibrant flame danced before hurtling directly toward Keiran.
Boom!
Suddenly, an intense heat enveloped Keiran’s body, its ferocity defying all rational expectation.
While it was customary for Keiran, a fire technique practitioner, to be surrounded by flames, the inferno now seemed imbued with a sinister sentience. It penetrated his skin with voracious intent, delving into the very core of his being.
“Ah!” A pained cry tore from Keiran’s lips as he plummeted from the sky.
“Please, spare me! Spare me! I can give the soul back to you!” Keiran’s plea echoed desperately, yet Jared’s demonic fire held him ensnared, impervious to escape.
The sight of a Seventh Level Tribulator reduced to pleading for mercy at the hands of a Third Level Tribulator was a spectacle seldom witnessed, an anomaly in the hierarchy of power.
With a swift flick of his wrist, Jared quelled the flames consuming Keiran in an instant.
Keiran was in a disheveled state; gone was his usual poised demeanor befitting a scion of a distinguished lineage.
Jared extended his hand, his voice firm. “Hand it over.”
Though Keiran hesitated, he reluctantly surrendered the cloth bag from his waist.
Jared peered inside, confirming its contents to be the soul of Faiyar before securing the bag.
“I’ve given you what you want. Will you release me now?” Keiran inquired cautiously.
“Release you?” Jared scoffed. “You dared to seize the soul of my friend, risking his very life. Do you really think I’d let you leave? Today, I’ll put an end to your life, so you can no longer harm others…”
With these words, Jared unleashed a swift strike toward Keiran.
Shock seized Keiran to his core as he realized there was no escape from Jared’s relentless force.
“Mr. Chadwick, please show some mercy…”
In that moment, Moses hurriedly approached, trailed by the others.
Jared paused, shifting his attention to Moses with a quizzical expression. “Mr. Sutton,” he began, “this guy caused chaos at the Pathfinder Sect and endangered the life of my friend. Would it not be justified to end his life? Why do you intervene?”
“Mr. Chadwick, I hope you’d do me a favor. Permit me to take him back to Pathfinder Sect for disciplinary measures. It would serve as a stern warning to others,” Moses proposed with unwavering courtesy.
Since Moses had said so, Jared could only offer a nod of acquiescence.
Before long, Jared and his companions returned to the Pathfinder Sect.
Jared carefully unsealed the cloth bag, releasing Faiyar’s spirit. Upon its reunion with his body, Faiyar swiftly regained consciousness, spared from significant harm thanks to the Soulbinding Bead.
Clifford’s countenance darkened when he saw Keiran. Despite his internal turmoil, he struggled to maintain composure.
