Sacrifice's Rise: I Became Invincible After Entering Godslayer Temple

Both the Mystery Protector and Shatras were taken aback by the current situation.

Despite employing various methods, the Mystery Protector found himself unable to break the seal at the door.

"Why is this happening?! With such formidable power at my disposal, why am I sealed here?!"

A mix of pain and astonishment echoed from the twisted form of the Mystery Protector.

Nearby, John observed the scene with a serene demeanor.

Realizing John's composed expression, the Mystery Protector suddenly grasped that this might have been a trap deliberately set by John.

"Is this a trap you set?! Did you intentionally plan to confine me here? You damned adventurer, I should have eliminated you the first time we met!"

The Mystery Protector's furious voice reverberated throughout South Harbor.

Even the NPCs within the buildings of South Harbor felt the wrath of the Mystery Protector, opting to stay inside their homes and not venture out.

Upon hearing the angry outburst of the Mystery Protector, Twilight and Hammer grew concerned.

However, their trust in John prevailed, and they deduced that the Mystery Protector must be in a predicament to express such rage.

John maintained his calm facade while facing the Mystery Protector.

"You seem to overestimate my capabilities! You had an overly high estimation of my strength from our first encounter. I'm merely an adventurer; how could I possibly set a trap for you beneath the magus tower of the Ocean Sage?"

John's words were indeed very reasonable.

The Mystery Protector could somewhat understand that this trap was indeed not set by John.

If not by John, then the most plausible architect was the Ocean Sage himself.

Given the understanding between the Ocean Sage and the Mystery Protector, why would the former set a trap for the latter?

The Mystery Protector mulled over this conundrum for an extended period without reaching a conclusion.

It was then that John unexpectedly interjected, "Did you genuinely believe the Ocean Sage had complete trust in you? Before his demise, he confided in me that he harbored not the slightest bit of trust towards you. He was convinced that after his fall, you would attempt to take control of South Harbor by any means necessary. Had he not laid this trap here, you might have already claimed dominion over South Harbor by now."

John's revelation led the Mystery Protector to a point of resignation, recognizing the trap as a collaborative effort between the Ocean Sage and John, one he couldn't escape through his own power alone.

Thus, he proposed a negotiation.

"Even if I can't escape this seal, you also can't enter it! This means you can't obtain the power I possess!"

The Mystery Protector asserted, to which John responded not with words but by calmly listening on.

"Therefore, I propose we collaborate! Release me from this seal, and I will bestow upon you all the power I hold!" No sooner had the Mystery Protector made his offer than Shatras immediately objected, "We cannot trust his words! He will surely break his promise. It would be better to keep him sealed here indefinitely!"

Shatras's vehement response infuriated the Mystery Protector, who was about to retort angrily when he heard John's voice, "I think it's not entirely out of the question. Cooperating with you would indeed be very difficult for me. But for the sake of gaining greater power, it's not impossible."

John's reply was unexpected for both Shatras and the Mystery Protector.

However, the Mystery Protector didn't readily trust John's acquiescence.

"If you agree to cooperate with me, you should follow my plan. First, you need to lift the seal at the doorway, and then I will return my power to you," proposed the Mystery Protector, his suggestion making John chuckle.

"Do you seem to be misunderstanding the situation? Your predicament is the more significant one here; what position are you in to negotiate terms with me? My willingness to cooperate is already a form of assistance to you," John calmly stated before laying out his own proposal.

"I can open the seal and let you escape from here. However, you must first surrender all the power you wield to me. Moreover, after you leave the seal, you must never set foot in Storm City or South Harbor again."

Mystery Protector found John's offer troubling.

Accepting it meant a significant loss of power, but without cooperation, escaping the seal was impossible.

After much deliberation, the Mystery Protector slowly nodded in agreement, "No problem, but before we proceed, you must sign a contract with me!"

He knew well that adventurers were bound by contracts, ensuring John wouldn't renege on the agreement.

John smiled, unopposed to the idea, "Of course, that's not a problem. Since I've chosen to cooperate, I'll certainly sign a contract. I've already prepared it; take a look and if there are no issues, we can finalize it."

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Once the contract was created, he handed it over to the Mystery Protector.

After a quick review to ensure everything was in order, the Mystery Protector signed the contract, which was immediately validated by the system.

The Mystery Protector stripped away all his powers, reverting to his human form.

The powers he relinquished converged into a white candle, which the Mystery Protector then tossed to John.

"The power I possessed is contained within this candle, found by the Ocean Sage in the deep sea. It seems to harbor the power of the Sea God and other unknown forces. The Ocean Sage once used this candle to fend off an invasion from the Northern Myst Empire. However, the power of this candle can erode members of the Order Faction. I would never have resorted to its power had you not driven me to such a dire situation."

Having fulfilled the terms of the contract by handing over the candle, the Mystery Protector also shared its origin.

Holding the candle, John felt an odd sensation, neither cold nor warm, a mix of chill with an undercurrent of warmth, and vice versa.

"Enough with examining the candle! I've kept my promise, now you must fulfill yours. Should you break the contract, you will suffer the consequences of its backlash," the Mystery Protector urged John, pressing him to uphold his end of the agreement.

After pocketing the candle, John looked at the Mystery Protector with a smile, "Of course, I'll lift your seal. But, I'll do so 100 years from now."

With those words, John turned to leave.

Shatras was quite surprised by John's actions but delighted to see the Mystery Protector meet such a fate.

"John, come back here! You dare deceive me? Aren't you worried about the backlash of the contract?!" The Mystery Protector's voice echoed from behind the barrier of the door.

John, already at the entrance of the tunnel, turned back with a smile and addressed the Mystery Protector, "Indeed, I am deceiving you. And deceiving you costs me nothing! I haven't violated the contract, as it doesn't specify when I must lift your seal. As promised, I will remove the seal binding you in 100 years. As a Legend Magus, you should be able to live for another century, right?"

After these words, John, accompanied by Shatras, left the magus tower of the Ocean Sage.

Behind them, the Mystery Protector's roars of regret continued, lamenting his misplaced trust in John and his failure to scrutinize the contract thoroughly.

If the Mystery Protector had scrutinized the contract more carefully, he wouldn't have found himself in this predicament.

"John, I will make you pay! You cannot defeat a Mystery Saint! The Saints of Mystery and the Devils of the Dark Realm will surely come to my rescue!"

The Mystery Protector abandoned all pretense.

Given that most already knew of his allegiance to the Mystery faction and the Dark Faction, he resorted to using these affiliations to threaten John.

Although his attempts were ultimately unsuccessful, he still managed to instill a sense of unrest in John for a time.