Leo, Luna, and Dan were trapped inside the solid magical force field. The surrounding radiance seemed to bind their every move. Leo felt a heaviness in his chest, and although the Void Ring within him provided elemental energy, he was still unable to break through the seemingly indestructible barrier. The light surrounding them emanated a warm aura, but to the three of them, it felt like a suffocating iron net, restricting every breath they took.
Leo's expression began to darken, as if he was contemplating something of great importance. He knew that if they didn't find a way to escape soon, their fate would be sealed—completely controlled by the young lord and his mage. There was no more time to waste. Leo decided to use the sealing power inside him. The black energy from the powerful pentagram seal was their only hope.
"I can try..." Leo murmured, a flash of determination crossing his eyes.
Luna and Dan both looked at him with worried expressions. Although they had faith in Leo's strength, the pentagram seal's power was far too potent. If it overloaded, not only would they fail to break the magical shield, but Leo might be put in even greater danger.
"Leo, don't take the risk!" Luna quickly urged.
"Yes, if that power goes out of control, we might not even have a chance to escape," Dan added, his voice full of warning.
However, Leo ignored their pleas. His gaze remained resolute, as if he had already made his decision. He gently placed his hand on the pentagram seal on his collarbone, closed his eyes, and began to focus, channeling the black energy from the seal.
As Leo moved, the pentagram seal began to glow faintly. The black energy, originating from the void, slowly poured out, gradually enveloping his body. It felt as if an uncontrollable force was surging inside him, and the air around them seemed to grow heavier. Sweat beaded on Leo's forehead, and a brief flash of pain crossed his eyes, but he endured it, redirecting the almost out-of-control power into the broken sword in his hand.
"Hurry! Seal it!" Leo shouted lowly, and with a swift slash, he thrust the sword at the center of the magical force field.
However, as the broken sword made contact with the shield, a violent backlash sent Leo stumbling backward. He coughed up blood, his face instantly paling. The energy from the pentagram seal reversed, and the power that was supposed to be sealed now wreaked havoc inside Leo's body, almost beyond his control.
"Leo!" Luna and Dan reached out almost simultaneously to support him, but Leo was already so weak that he could hardly stand, trembling violently.
"I... I'm fine..." Leo gritted his teeth against the excruciating pain, forcing himself to hold onto the broken sword and slowly straighten his body.
The magical force field flickered with black light but showed no signs of breaking. Clearly, Leo's attack had not worked, and he had paid a heavy price for it. Luna and Dan's efforts were in vain, too. The shield remained unbreakable, trapping them with no way out.
Just as they were on the verge of despair, Dan finally decided to take extreme measures. His eyes flashed, and he murmured, "I have no choice but to use the last resort."
With that, he hesitated no more. He raised his hands high and began to chant a low, powerful incantation. His voice was clear and strong. As the chant ended, Dan's body underwent a transformation. His limbs elongated, and his form became sleek and agile, eventually fully changing into a merfolk shape. His back shimmered with faint scales that glowed with a blue hue, and his tail gently swayed on the ground. In that instant, Dan became like a creature of the sea, infused with tremendous strength.
He opened his mouth again and began to sing a long, melodic tune—a song of the merfolk, an ancient melody capable of disorienting enemies and altering the very essence of things with its magical sound waves. The shell spirit on his shoulder flew into the air, harmonizing with Dan's song, creating an even stronger sonic attack. The strange rhythm of the song echoed around the force field, seemingly corroding the power of the magical shield.
Upon hearing the song of the merfolk, the young lord's eyes immediately lit up. His gaze locked onto Dan, and a smile of excitement spread across his face. "So, you are a merfolk. I didn't expect the merfolk to dare enter Broken Wind City. You're incredibly bold. It seems your power must be quite formidable."
He said this with a smirk, then waved his hand lightly, giving the order, "Capture him! Take him alive to the altar!"
The mage and the guards were ready, their eyes fixed on Dan, prepared to rush forward and seize him. But just as they were about to act, the force field trembled violently, and with a loud crack, the barrier was finally broken. The magical wall shattered completely, and the three of them were immediately freed.
"Go!" Dan didn't hesitate. He grabbed Leo's arm and immediately began to pull him toward the exit. Luna quickly followed, and the three of them sprinted toward the city outskirts, moving with incredible speed.
The young lord stood where he was, watching their fleeing figures, his face filled with rage and frustration. He ordered the mage and the guards to give chase, but the mage hesitated before speaking, "Young lord, we can't chase them anymore. We've lost their trail."
The young lord paused for a moment, then suddenly a blinding golden light pierced the night sky, enveloping the entire street. The three of them vanished without a trace, and neither the mage nor the guards could track their whereabouts.
"Damn it, they've been relocated again!" the mage cursed under his breath.
The guards stopped and looked around, but saw nothing. The young lord appeared confused, and after a moment, a trace of incomprehension flashed in his eyes. "How is that possible? That golden light... it seemed like..."
At that moment, after the golden light faded, the three of them were transported to an entirely unfamiliar place. The surroundings were dark, the air thick with the scent of dampness and earth. As soon as they landed, they heard a familiar voice.
"You've come."
The figure of the robed beggar appeared before them once again, his face still wearing that mysterious smile.
Under the guidance of the robed beggar, the three of them gradually regained consciousness. Leo still felt a sharp, intense pain sweeping through his body, as though every inch of his skin were pierced by countless sharp needles. The sealing power within him surged like a violent flame, continuously corroding his fragile body. Every time he tried to inhale, he felt an excruciating pressure on his chest, as if some unstoppable force was tearing at his internal organs.
"Leo!" Luna's voice was full of anxiety as she tightly grasped Leo's arm, her eyes filled with helplessness. "Ro—robed beggar, please, save him!"
The robed beggar remained calm, standing silently by their side, seemingly in no hurry to act. He didn't respond immediately, just observing Leo's condition quietly. A deep, complex look flashed in his eyes, and then he stepped forward, crouching to check Leo's body. After a moment, the robed beggar began to cast a spell. A soft, blue light emanated from his hand, gradually enveloping Leo's body.
The light was warm and gentle, seeming to penetrate Leo's skin and seep directly into his blood, gradually calming the turbulent sealing power within him. Leo immediately felt the pain in his body lessen slightly, as though the intense burning sensation had been temporarily suppressed. He gasped quietly, struggling to open his eyes, yet still filled with pain and confusion.
"Thank you..." His voice was weak, as though even speaking had become a luxury.
The robed beggar shook his head, his expression serious. "You should know, Leo, the power sealed inside you is far too strong, even beyond your ability to withstand. You forcibly used that power, and now your body has suffered irreversible damage. I can only help suppress it for a while, but you know the ultimate consequence."
"What should we do?" Luna asked urgently, her voice thick with worry. "Can Leo recover?"
The robed beggar paused for a moment, then spoke, "If you want to restore him to his original state, your only hope is... the fruit of the Tide Sanctuary Tree."
Dan was stunned upon hearing this, then shook his head. "But the Tide Sanctuary Tree has long since borne no fruit. According to the tribe's legends, the tree withered away decades ago, and there are no fruits left to harvest."
"The fruit of the Tide Sanctuary Tree only appears when the tree senses extreme danger or needs to regenerate," the robed beggar's tone carried a hint of gravity. "But now, you must understand, your actions have been exposed. Staying in Broken Wind City will only bring greater danger. The young lord has already begun tracking you. You must leave quickly."
Luna looked at him, dazed. "What should we do then?"
"I will help you temporarily seal this power, but you cannot stay in Broken Wind City any longer." The robed beggar took out several tightly sealed bottles from his robes and handed them to the three of them. "These are transformation potions of the merfolk. Drink them, and you will temporarily become real merfolk, able to blend into the sea and avoid being tracked."
"Your identities have already been exposed. The young lord will intensify his pursuit. And if you stay in Broken Wind City by force, not only will you be unable to recover, but you may even be fully controlled. So, this is your best choice." The robed beggar's tone was resolute. "Go now, under the cover of night, and leave as soon as possible."
Leo nodded with difficulty, still weak, but he understood that what the robed beggar said was the truth. He took the bottle of potion and handed it to Luna. Luna hesitated for a moment but then took the potion, and the two of them drank it together.
In an instant, their bodies underwent violent transformations, their skin covered in blue scales, their bodies growing longer and more powerful. Leo's pain subsided slightly, but he still felt weak, unable to return to his original state. Luna looked at Leo after the transformation, her gaze filled with worry, but she said nothing. She only spoke softly, "Let's go. We have to leave quickly."
The three of them reached the bottom of the Driftwind Sea, but Dan was stopped by the guards. Dan reached up and removed his veil. The moment the veil was taken off, the merfolk guards around them froze, all stopping their movements and whispering among themselves.
"How is he back?" one of the guards murmured.
"How is it him? Wasn't he already..." another guard's voice carried shock.
Dan calmly placed the veil into his robe and looked at the guards with a steady, calm gaze. He didn't speak, just walked forward, moving towards the guards.
"You should know, I am a traitor of the merfolk," Dan's voice was unwavering. "Inform your leader, tell him to come see me."
The merfolk guards exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to react. Finally, a lead guard gritted his teeth and said, "You... How dare you come back!"
Dan didn't respond, only turned his gaze towards the distant sea, waiting for the leader's response.
Not long after, news quickly reached the merfolk leader. The leader's expression was filled with shock, anger, and helplessness. He immediately ordered a few elite guards to prepare for Dan's reception and decided to meet him personally.
"How dare he come back?" The leader's voice was as cold as frozen seawater. "We have exiled him from the tribe, and yet he dares to return. Truly audacious."
However, despite his anger, the leader still decided to meet Dan personally. His voice carried a note of finality. "Let him in!"
The guards reluctantly stepped aside, clearing the way. Dan calmly walked forward, showing no signs of panic or regret, just taking steady steps toward the leader's palace.
In the quiet atmosphere, Leo and Luna followed Dan as they ventured deeper into the sea. The three of them didn't speak much, knowing that many unknown difficulties and challenges lay ahead. For now, all they could do was silently prepare for the battles to come.
Meanwhile, in Broken Wind City, the young lord and the mages were still intensively tracking the three of them, secretly planning their next move...