At the spot where the pillar of light struck, a massive, ancient altar exuding endless traces of age and deathly stillness emerged from the void, as if forcibly dragged out from the silt of time's river.

The entire altar was constructed from a type of pitch-black stone, presenting a twisted, desecrating yet powerful multi-pointed star structure.

The surface of the altar was covered with numerous dark red runes that had been eroded by time into obscurity, yet still emanated a soul-trembling aura of oppression.

Under the stimulation of the blood light from the witch array, these runes began to light up with a scarlet glow from the bottom, like awakening blood vessels.

The core of the altar was not solid but a slowly rotating shadow vortex, deep as if leading to hell.

An ancient, purer, and ancient-smelling aura, even older than the energy condensed by the witch array, was spreading from the depths of the vortex.

Bell's vertical pupil on his forehead burst with unprecedented light, staring intently at the vortex at the altar's core.

He could feel that the long-desired Blood of the Dark was hidden in the deepest part of the vortex.

The power of the witch array was resonating with the altar's seal, forming a connection between the two, as an ancient Bronze Box appeared within the vortex on the altar.

"Mine! It's mine now!" Bell's eyes were fixed only on the Bronze Box containing the Blood of the Dark, and he threw all his Spirit and Magic Power into sustaining the witch array and guiding it.

The shadowy bat wings behind him, due to excessive consumption, appeared somewhat illusory, and his forehead's vertical pupil was filled with bloodshot lines.

At this most critical moment, when Bell was at his weakest and most focused, a sudden mutation occurred.

A shadow, silent yet swift as black lightning, shot out without warning from the shadow of a huge crystal pillar behind Bell.

The timing, angle, and speed of this shadow were extremely cunning and vicious, targeting directly at Bell's back.

A terrifying aura, cold, condensed, and filled with pure killing intent, suddenly erupted, with the killing intent so strong that even Duke, several kilometers away, could sense it.

He had been watching the movement there through the Eye of Darkness, but even he hadn't noticed when this black shadow had been lurking until it appeared, revealing there was a third person present.

Bell's vertical pupil suddenly shrank to pin size, the deadly warning like icy water poured over his head.

He had no time to turn his head, nor to make any effective defensive actions.

Barely managing on instinct from his bloodline, he desperately channeled all accessible Magic Power toward his back, while the shadowy bat wings behind him closed inward in a final attempt to block.

A sharp Shadow Blade was already stabbing toward his back, with incredible speed.

At this moment, a burly figure suddenly appeared behind Bell; he had no time to employ any technique, using only his own body to block this attack.

Reid, this silent servant, had already sensed the deadly intent targeting Bell at the moment the assailant's aura erupted, responding even a step earlier than Bell did, thanks to his instincts honed through countless life-and-death experiences.

The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out, as the Shadow Blade, composed entirely of shadow energy condensed to the extreme, with edges carrying serrated space ripples, penetrated Reid's hastily gathered, thin protective black aura without any hindrance.

Then it deeply and completely embedded into his chest, piercing from the back, protruding through the front, bringing with it a spurt of scalding blood mixed with black energy.

Reid's body suddenly stiffened, letting out a muffled hum.

He looked down at the blade composed of pure killing intent and shadow piercing through his chest, the violent red light in his eyes instantly replaced by the gray white of intense pain and rapidly depleting Life Force.

Yet his burly body stood like the finest monolith, steadfastly pinned to the ground, using his body as the final shield, firmly protecting Bell behind him.

The terrifying force of the Shadow Blade carried him backward, slamming into Bell, sending the two tumbling out in disarray.

After landing, Bell didn't care about Reid's life or death beside him but immediately turned to get a clear look at the attacker.

Upon recognizing who stood before him, his face showed fury and hatred.

It was a blond youth in casual clothes, with a slight naivety on his face, appearing no older than sixteen.

"Samuel!" Bell practically roared the name, his voice carrying immense hatred, showing the deep-seated enmity between them.

Samuel was also a direct member of the Crawford Clan, Bell's half-brother.

From a young age, Samuel was extremely talented, surpassing Bell in every way, leading to frequent clashes and a mutual desire to eliminate each other.

The situation within the Wizard Clan is very complex, especially in a powerful, ancient family like the Crawford Clan, where the internal factions are just as numerous as those of any other wizard force.

For direct members like Bell and Samuel, each represents a faction behind them.

The family's resources are limited; giving to one means less for others, and striving for more inevitably leads to conflicts.

The Blood of the Dark originates from the Dark race, an ancient and powerful race in the Shadow Space, with every adult Dark growing into a Level 4 Life.

They need not put in much effort, merely following a set path to maturity to possess such power.

This is an extraordinarily powerful Bloodline Power, and Bell's lineage had paid a great price to learn of this Blood of the Dark drop.

As long as he acquired this drop of Blood of the Dark, he could return and transform his bloodline, skyrocketing his capabilities, making Samuel insignificant before him.

However, it now seemed the information had leaked, and Samuel got wind of it and had been lurking along, likely following Bell in secret all this time.

At the moment the altar appeared, when Bell focused all attention on that box, Samuel showed himself to deliver a fatal strike.

Just a pity that this deadly blow was blocked by Reid; otherwise, Bell would already be a dead man.

"My dear brother." Samuel's face bore a smile of cold mockery and confidence, sharply contrasting with his youthful appearance.

"I really must thank you for bringing me here and opening this buried altar for me," Samuel's voice was crisp yet carried a piercing coldness, "This drop of Blood of the Dark I shall claim. I'll remember your contributions; when I lead the Crawford Clan to new glory in the future, I'll consider recording your efforts in the clan's history. No need to thank me, it's well deserved."

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