Chapter 1442: Taking control of the tower (II) Chapter 1442: Taking control of the tower (II) âYou little shit!â Goldker roared, his voice trembling with rage as his clenched fists glowed with Star Power.
The energy around him crackled violently, a clear manifestation of his unrestrained fury.
Cainâs smile widened, a mocking glint flashing in his golden eyes.
With a deliberate motion, the Spear of Doom materialized in his free hand, its energy radiating an oppressive force.
âIf you think my wounds make me vulnerable, try me.
Letâs see who breaks first, little man.â Goldkerâs face twisted further in anger, and his body surged forward instinctively.
But before he could take a single step, an overwhelming aura erupted from Ariel.
The crushing pressure swept across the area like a tidal wave, suppressing everyone present.
âEnough!â Arielâs voice boomed with authority, amplified by his Wind Star Power.
The air itself seemed to obey his will, growing dense and suffocating under his command.
Cainâs expression darkened as the oppressive force pressed down on him, constricting his chest.
Breathing became difficult, but he refused to back down.
His grip on the Spear of Doom remained firm as he turned his sharp gaze toward Ariel.
For several long seconds, the two locked eyes.
Arielâs Wind Star Power swirled around him like a storm, but Cainâs aura began to ignite the air.
Finally, Ariel released a small sigh, and the suffocating pressure receded.
From his space ring, he retrieved a small statuette resembling a tower.
âHand over the prisoner,â Ariel said, his tone sharp and measured, âand I will grant you control of the Tower of Power for six hours.
If that isnât enough, then bad luck.â Cain studied Arielâs expression carefully.
Outwardly, he remained calm, but inwardly, he was irritated.
If Goldker had struck him earlier, it would have provided the perfect excuse to eliminate the man.
A burst of energy to Goldkerâs head wouldâve left a satisfying shower of blood and shattered bone, but that opportunity was gone.
Shrugging nonchalantly, Cain nodded.
With calculated ease, he handed Willis over to Ariel in exchange for the statuette.
Ariel didnât spare Cain another glance as he walked toward the Night Princeâs faction.
It was clear he intended to enlist their help in extracting Willisâs memories.
The ease with which Ariel ignored Arakos and Lady Azureâs group spoke volumes about the dynamics at play.
What had appeared to be an objective and impartial stance from the Guardian of the Golden Lake Border was anything but.
Arielâs rapport with the Night Princeâs faction revealed a hidden alliance, one that explained Goldkerâs eagerness to defend him earlier.
Lady Azureâs faction wore deep frowns as they watched Arielâs actions.
Frustration simmered among them, but they were in no position to act.
Cain, however, remained indifferent to their concerns.
The petty political games of the factions held no interest for him.
Arielâs group quickly began their work, using rudimentary methods to search Willisâs mind for information.
Cain observed their crude techniques and silently judged them.
At best, they would retrieve memories spanning the last year of Willisâs life-valuable but hardly comprehensive.
Turning his focus away from the group, Cain held the statuette in his hands.
With a calm breath, he channeled his Ego Wave into the artifact.
A powerful connection to the Tower of Power formed almost instantly, and an immense influx of energy surged into his body.
The energy was so intense that, for a brief moment, Cain felt as though his body might rupture under the strain.
But his foundation held strong, and soon the power stabilized within him.
His strength rose considerably, and a faint, satisfied smile spread across his face.
As expected, the other cultivators turned their attention toward him, watching intently.
Their gazes were sharp and full of suspicion, waiting to see if he would fulfill the purpose he had used to justify his demand: healing his wounds.
Cain maintained his composure.
With a faint smile, he allowed his body to radiate vitality.
Slowly but visibly, his wounds began to mend.
The process was gradual but deliberate, giving the onlookers just enough to see progress without drawing attention to the Concept of Life, which he secretly employed to accelerate the process.
The moment the others were satisfied that he was indeed healing, their focus shifted back to their tasks.
Cainâs smile deepened, and he focused on his true goal.
âSystem,â Cain whispered internally, âhack into the Tower of Power and rewrite its configuration so I can access it at will.â [Task assigned.
Estimated time for Dimensional Quantum Hacking to rewrite Tower of Powerâs configuration: 4 hours, 35 minutes.] Cainâs grin widened.
Having unrestricted access to the Tower of Power pleased him greatly.
Though the Golden Lake had yet to present a significant threat, its volatile nature made it a ticking time bomb.
Having an ace up his sleeve could make all the difference if chaos erupted.
He maintained his façade of healing while the system worked silently.
Meanwhile, Ariel and the Night Princeâs faction remained focused on Willis.
Their memory extraction methods were clumsy.
Lady Azureâs group, on the other hand, concentrated entirely on Renan.
They poured every resource and treasure at their disposal into stabilizing her condition, working tirelessly to keep her alive.
Hours passed quickly, and as the six-hour mark approached, Ariel stood before Cain once more.
His sharp gaze betrayed his intent without the need for words.
He extended his hand, clearly demanding the return of the statuette.
A tense silence fell over the group as all eyes turned to the pair.
The weight of their attention was palpable.
If Cain refused to return the statuette, the situation would escalate instantly.
Empowered by the Tower of Powerâs energy, Cain could overpower Ariel without much difficulty.
However, such an action would label him a traitor to the Gu Sect-a risk he wasnât willing to take.
With a calm expression, Cain handed the statuette back to Ariel.
The Guardian of the Golden Lake Border accepted it silently, his gaze lingering on Cain for a moment before turning away.
Cain wasted no time retreating to a quiet corner.
Sitting cross-legged, he ignored the others entirely, focusing on his cultivation.
The factions could bicker and maneuver as they pleased-Cain had no interest in their petty games.
CREATORSâ THOUGHTS Redsunworld 3/31 Chapter: 21 weekly + 5 for super gift (Preston) + 2 for golden ranking (+70) + 3 for power stone ranking (+400)