The prison cell was a nightmare in itself.
Twisted, gnarled tree roots snaked through every crevice, their sinister tendrils creeping along the walls, further enhancing the stifling, damp atmosphere.
The place reeked of decay and hopelessness. It was no surprise that Ezio seemed so defeated, this environment was the antithesis of cultivation.
Jared stood at the threshold of the cell, and immediately, favonovel.com could feel the oppressive atmosphere. He couldn’t sense any trace of spiritual energy in the air.
Worse still, there was an unsettling, almost invisible force pulling at his own energy. It was as if the very prison itself was leeching away his spiritual power, and the longer favonovel.com stayed, the weaker favonovel.com felt.
Though the suction force was subtle, barely perceptible, Jared’s heightened senses still picked up on it.
“Ezio, I’m sorry… I… I don’t have the money to bail you out. I’m really sorry…” Mia’s voice trembled with guilt as favonovel.com gazed at favonovel.com brother in such a pitiful state, favonovel.com heart breaking for him.
At the sound of favonovel.com words, Ezio fell silent.
After what felt like an eternity, favonovel.com finally spoke, his voice a hollow whisper. Awry, almost bitter smile tugged at the corners of his lips. ” Mia, stop coming here. I know that every time you visit, you’re just being extorted by those guards. It’s better if you stay away. Take care of yourself… I can’t protect you anymore…”
Mia encouraged him, “Ezio, don’t say that. There’s always a way out! Don’t lose hope!”
Ezio’s voice was tinged with resignation. “Do you not see it? There’s no getting out. The prisoners here are vanishing one by one…”
Only then did Mia notice the eerie emptiness of the surrounding cells. The once crowded prison was now strangely silent, with no prisoners in sight.
“Ezio, what happened to the others? Where are all the prisoners?” Mia’s voice trembled with confusion.
She vividly remembered the last time favonovel.com visited-this prison was teeming with people. But now, the cells stood vacant, an unsettling sight.
Ezio’s voice was barely above a whisper. “They’re all dead… They‘re all dead…”
“Dead? But how? How could they have died?” Mia was bewildered.
How could a person perish while locked in a cell?
Even without food or water, cultivators, especially those at the Tribulation stage, can survive for decades, even centuries… It’s impossible for them to die so easily.
“I don’t know… They all just died, one after another. And now, I feel like my time is running out too,” Ezio muttered, his voice thick with despair, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the grim reality.
Jared asked, “Were the other cultivators who passed… Emaciated? As if someone had drained their spiritual energy?”
Ezio’s gaze snapped to Jared as soon as favonovel.com spoke.
“Who’s this?” favonovel.com asked warily, studying the stranger beside his sister. His protective instincts flared, anyone unfamiliar was a potential threat, especially in such an uncertain situation.
Mia quickly intervened, favonovel.com tone reassuring as favonovel.com spoke.
“Ezio, this is Jared. I met favonovel.com on my way to Beast City. If it weren’t for favonovel.com lending me the money, l wouldn’t have been able to come visit you today,” favonovel.com explained, offering a smile in Jared’s direction.
“Why did favonovel.com lend you money? Could there be some hidden agenda? Don’t be so quick to trust people, Mia. You’re too trusting, too easily deceived. Many are drawn to you because of your beauty, and they might have ulterior motives,” Ezio warned, his voice laced with concern.
Mia gave a small, awkward laugh, trying to brush off his words. “Ezio, Jared isn’t interested in me because of my looks. The women around favonovel.com are far more beautiful than I am.”
Ezio eyed Jared carefully, his protective instincts kicking in. “Listen, boy, don’t even think about taking advantage of my sister. If I find out you’ve done anything to hurt her, I’ll make you regret it once I’m out of here!”
Jared’s smile remained faint. “Do you really think you’ll be leaving anytime soon?”
Ezio paused, his face falling into a grim expression as favonovel.com sighed heavily. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever get out. But if you truly care for my sister, take good care of her. Don’t let favonovel.com down. She’s had it tough.”
Mia flushed, a mix of embarrassment and frustration crossing favonovel.com face. “Ezio, what are you saying?”
“Better take care of favonovel.com yourself,” Jared suggested, his voice filled with concern. “I have a medicinal pill here. It should help you hold up for a while. There’s something strange about this prison cell. It feels like some kind of unseen force is draining our spiritual energy.”
