Intimidated by John's iron-fisted approach, not only did the officials fall into line, but even the previously restless rcenaries and wanderers beca markedly more subdued.
Many among them possessed strength surpassing John's, yet at this mont, they were as ek as quails under his command.
This scene left Albertus in a state of reflection.
Sotis, the appropriate display of force could indeed achieve unexpectedly effective results.
After so thought, Albertus approached John, who looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Soon after, he saw Albertus pull out a small, shield-shaped black object and hand it over to him.
[Item]: Blackrock Shield Array
[Tier]: Transcendent-tier
[Type]: Defensive Artifact
[Quality]: Precious
[Requirent]: None
[Description]: Upon activation, this item forms a Blackrock Shield Array with a diater of 5 ters around the user, capable of shielding those within from one full-force attack at the transcendent-tier level.
...
John was familiar with the object.
It was the sa one that Albertus had thrown to him during the Venomous Serpent attack, although he had not ended up using it.
John's brow furrowed slightly as he asked, "What does this an?"
Albertus replied with a cheerful grin, "Your talent is obvious to all, and your promises are worth more than a re Fairfax Token. I wouldn't want to take advantage of you. Consider this Blackrock Shield Array a gift. Should you find yourself in danger, this item might just save your life."
Others in the vicinity cast envious glances toward John.
Even Dark Fox couldn't help but steal a look at Albertus.
A transcendent-tier life-saving artifact was being given away as if it were nothing, especially one as precious as the Blackrock Shield Array.
This artifact, with no usage conditions and extre rarity, was sothing not even the scions of the great families in the imperial capital could easily claim to own.
It was hard to say whether this was a testant to the Fairfax House's vast wealth or Albertus's own lavish generosity.
Before John could refuse, Albertus pressed the Blackrock Shield Array into John's arms.
He waved his hand dismissively and said, "It's just a transcendent-tier item, nothing precious. If you really want to repay , then protect my House Fairfax for a couple more years once you've beco a strong warrior."
Albertus spoke openly and honestly.
In essence, he was saying: "I see the potential in you, so I'm providing you with precious resources and artifacts now, betting that you'll beco a top-tier warrior in the future capable of protecting our House Fairfax."
His intentions were transparent, rooted purely in a straightforward exchange of benefits.
Watching Albertus's departing figure, John remained silent for a mont before ultimately deciding to keep the Blackrock Shield Array.
He believed he could grow on his own without relying on anyone else, but with the support of a major family and resources, his growth would undoubtedly be accelerated.
At this point, John felt a profound sense of crisis.
For him, nothing was more important than enhancing his strength.
After Albertus left, Seraphina approached.
She looked at John, her gaze filled with complexity.
Seraphina could clearly sense a significant change in John's deanor.
The John she initially perceived as carefree and unrestrained, yet cautiously prudent, had now transford into a sharp sword, radiating decisiveness and a readiness to act.
She wasn't sure what had prompted this change or whether it was for better or worse, but Seraphina felt this was how he was ant to be.
With John's remarkable talent, he should indeed shine with unparalleled brilliance.
Freed from his reservations, he would beco even more unstoppable.
Sensing Seraphina's gaze, John looked up at her and asked, "Is sothing the matter?"
His voice was calm, unfathomable as an ancient well, less frivolous than before, and imbued with a newfound stability.
Seraphina pressed her lips together.
After a mont of silence, she finally asked, "That girl with the black hair, do you know her?"
During the earlier battle, she had felt an intensely unpleasant aura emanating from the girl, a kind of instinctual repulsion.
Seraphina knew that the girl might also be one of God's Chosen and that the deity watching over her likely harbored animosity towards Seraphina's own patron deity.
Seraphina felt it was necessary to learn more about this adversary.
John's brow furrowed slightly as he asked, "Are you talking about Dark Fox? We just t today; I don't know much about her. What do you want with her?"
Seraphina felt an inexplicable sense of relief and gently shook her head, "Nothing, I just thought she seed formidable and wanted to know more about her."
John had no reason to doubt her.
He was aware of Seraphina's competitive nature.
He stated plainly, "Dark Fox is a platinum-tier dark fla magus, not soone you can take on..."
As John spoke, his gaze suddenly shifted, looking towards the direction of Stellarburg.
A colossal black pillar of light surged into the sky, enveloping the entire city within its grasp, filled with an indescribable, corrupt aura.
rely glancing at it caused everyone to experience a sharp pain in their minds, with faint, terrifying whispers echoing in their heads.
"Boom!!!"
Before they could even process what was happening, another deafening explosion reverberated through the heavens and earth.
Even those outside Stellarburg, including John and his companions, felt the ground tremble beneath them.
The crowd turned their eyes towards Stellarburg, aware that sothing had shifted dramatically on the battlefield there.
Silver Tear and the others displayed expressions of anxiety.
They understood all too well what the battle unfolding within Stellarburg signified.
Should Victor and their plans fail, it wouldn't just be the million souls of Stellarburg at risk of being sacrificed, but the nearby safe zones would also vanish from the Federal maps!
This was the power of the dark god, a terror they had all faced before.
Above Stellarburg, a black pillar of light pierced the heavens, casting the essence of twilight across the sky.
Both Victor and Shadowcloud's faces paled.
The sacrificial array had been activated!
"Ha ha ha, the sacrificial array has been activated! You..."
A smile cracked across Rean's face as he began to mock, only to be cut off by a loud noise.
He paused, his expression turning.
By then, Victor and Shadowcloud had also realized the problem.
The magic array had been forcibly activated without completion.
This revelation allowed them both to breathe a sigh of relief.
As long as there was still a chance, that was all that mattered.
Their gazes collectively shifted towards the direction of the underground church.
The underground cathedral had beco a wasteland of ruins.
A magnificent six-ard deity statue shimred brilliantly, its hands clutching six transcendent-tier weapons that radiated dazzling light.
Golden runes orbited the statue, conveying a solemn and imposing majesty.
Theodore, clutching his staff, was clad in an azure, magnificent armor.
Blue light swirled ceaselessly in his eyes, and around him, the sounds of raging seas roared faintly.
In his grip, Alexander, adorned in golden armor, held the head of Raven.
His hand was on a golden broadsword, still sared with blood.
Beneath him, a twin-winged golden lion exuded a fierce deanor, its wings, spanning over twenty ters, fully unfurled in intimidating display.
All the other stewards of the Dusk Sect had been slain on the spot.
The ground was littered with blood-soaked corpses.
Yet, the expressions on everyone's faces were grim.
Before his demise, Raven had forcibly initiated the incomplete sacrificial array.
They could already sense the presence of the Dusk Lord, albeit faint; it was indeed a connection to that dark god.
Should this continue, His arrival into this world was inevitable.
Baron looked at his companions with a grave expression.
"We can't just stand by and watch. Is there nothing else we can do?"
Alexander offered a wry smile.
"As a warrior, I'm adept in battle, but magic arrays? They're beyond my comprehension."
Theodore, too, shook his head, indicating his helplessness in this situation.
Eldritch furrowed his brows in contemplation before speaking, "Although I can't completely solve the issue, I can attempt to use a large-scale purification array to weaken the effects of the sacrificial array. Given that it's an incomplete magic array, I have so confidence in succeeding, but it will take ti."
Baron and the others' spirits lifted imdiately upon hearing this.
Baron eagerly said, "We'll protect you. Just focus on casting your spell without any concerns."
Alexander and the others nodded in agreent.
Having a plan was infinitely better than having none.
With ti pressing, Eldritch wasted no further monts in hesitation.
He grasped his staff, chanting incantations under his breath.
A dazzling golden light suddenly erupted from him, signifying the activation of a divine purification array beneath his feet.
At the heart of the magic array was the Dusk Sect's sacred relic, the "Vial of Corruption."
The pure white light, akin to a scorching sun, illuminated the darkness.
The sacrificial array, on the brink of activation, began to dissipate rapidly under the brilliance of this light.
The corrupt aura enveloping Stellarburg's skies was also being purified at an astonishing rate.
Baron and his companions were visibly delighted.
It was working!
In the skies, Rean's eyes were filled with rage.
He roared furiously, "Eldritch, Baron, you're courting death!"
With his words barely finished, Rean disregarded Victor and the others.
His staff erupted with a towering black light, summoning terrifying black dragons into the sky, which swiftly dove towards Baron and his allies.
A deafening roar reverberated through the heavens and earth.
The massive Desire Demon, as if agitated, unleashed torrents of black flas from its gaping maw.
The horrifying black fire began to distort the skies with its heat.
At the sa ti, its colossal tentacles wreaked havoc, striking at the barrier with relentless ferocity.
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