Tick... tick...
For an instant...
Belphegor could sense nothing. No touch, no smell, no sight.
The entire world seemed to have stopped.
The only thing he could hear was the ticking of the Hour Hand, echoing endlessly beside his ears.
It was terrifying, as though something were walking deeper and deeper into his soul.
"No! Ah!"
He roared.
The frozen time around him shattered. Everything returned to normal, and he could feel his heart beating in his chest again.
"Again! You're doing it again! I'm not your Test Subject! Let me out! Let me out!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He hammered at the wall of chains formed by the Magic Array. Through the gaps, Belphegor stared with crimson eyes at the expressionless face beyond, despair filling his gaze.
"You Demon! You really are a Demon! Kill me! Just kill me!"
He struggled to summon the energy within him, but it was futile. Er Dongsheng had sealed it away, and any ordinary attempt at suicide would take longer than Belphegor's body needed to heal.
"Hmm. I've gathered nearly enough data. It's time to build the Third Clone. I wonder how powerful a clone will be with a Taboo Object as the vessel for its soul?"
Er Dongsheng murmured to himself. Looking over the data he had collected in his mind, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Stay here and tell me everything you know. If you cooperate, I'll let you go."
His voice was indifferent. His figure gradually vanished from the array.
A month had passed since he left the Mutant Furnace.
After capturing Belphegor, Er Dongsheng had taken the opportunity to leave. He had neither the inclination nor perhaps the ability to explore the other parts of the Mysterious Land yet, so he had set them aside.
The expedition had been full of