The Trident Arcana has already forgotten the number of years that it had to stay in this forsaken place.

He was an unparalleled Cursed Arcana during his time in the outside world.

​​

His control of toxic water could kill thousands of humans and probably no one would drink water unless they have someone who can purify or perhaps detoxify their drinking water… Everyone was afraid that he had somehow managed to send some of his toxins to a river, well, and even to a rain…

As far as he can remember, he has the highest kill count of that time and was already about to reach the limit of the Cursed Arcana…

Unfortunately, he didn't know that numerous Blessed Arcana has been eyeing him while he was enjoying himself in his killing spree.

Perhaps, if he acted discreetly during that time and only poisoned people little by little until he reached the required number of people he should kill, he wouldn't be noticed by the Blessed Arcana and top Arcanists of this world… and he wouldn't be trapped in this place as well.

Nevertheless, after he was trapped here together with the Arcanist who sacrificed his life to become bait, he didn't give up on getting out as he slowly corrupted the Holy Water.

He knows that the array is slowly weakening and perhaps, 5 or 10 more years would be enough to completely leave this place.

However, as he was slowly bidding his time, a group of Minotaurs being led by a Blessed Arcana came to his place…

He was told by the Sentient Arcana that he just accidentally found this place due to the minotaurs…

It was obviously a lie…

'Is Nero still alive? Did he order someone to check this place? Did he predict that I would be able to release myself?! Ugh!'

The Trident Arcana felt that the timing of this blessed Arcana was too unusual… Though he was unsure of the exact date, there should be more than a century or two that had passed when he was imprisoned here!

'Did he not forget my existence at all? Tsk. What a hateful fellow…'

The Cursed Arcana has already weakened due to the lack of Spiritual Energy supply. The minotaur that he had eaten just now only has a little more than 40 units and it wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger.

Nevertheless, as long as the Blessed Arcana overestimated itself and decided to enter his territory, he felt that he would be able to regain his strength and free himself from this confinement.

However, he suddenly saw the Arcana multiply…

'A cloning ability?! Hmph! Come at me…'

The Trident is protected by the layer of water that he could now freely control so he's unafraid of any physical attacks at the moment.

After all, he was only unable to control a small part of the water and that is where the core of the array is located. Destroying the core from the inside is still too much for him even if he has his full strength… At most, he can only try to corrode them by using many factors for several years.

Then, he saw the multiple wooden swords dive at his lake as he excitedly welcomed all of them…

"Haha! Even if they are just clones, they are still made with your Spiritual Energy! I'll be happy to take that!"

The Trident laughed but as soon as the swords reached his territory… He felt a familiar ability!

'Y-you! You're really sent by Nero?!'

There's no longer any doubt about it! The purification ability of this Blessed Arcana is the real deal!

Though it wasn't at the level of the Crown Arcana that he met before, this power is still something that would threaten most of the Cursed Arcana!

His hard work for countless years, the toxic water, has suddenly cleared in matters of seconds!

"Y-you!"

The Trident felt himself weakening again as the three cores of the Array started functioning properly!

However, as he was despairing at the sight of his hard work falling apart, he saw the submerged sword use another Arcane Magic…

Though he's getting weak, he can still control a bit of his power within the confinement so he quickly activated his Toxic Shell…

But as he was expecting an attack from the sword, he suddenly realized that they are targeting the cleaned water!

It's ice magic!

"No! How could a holy magic user use an ice element?! Just which Deity has blessed you! Aarrgh!"

The Trident felt that it was too unfair… As far as he knows, those with Holy Arcane Magic can only use Fire Magic as its complementary elemental magic.

There shouldn't be a Holy and Ice elemental at the same time! It was unless the Blessed wasn't just supported by a single Deity!

Then, he felt the water freezing… He was being suppressed!

He would be trapped within the ice and be unable to muster strength at this rate! After all, he needs that presence of toxic liquid to empower himself…

He wouldn't be able to release them if he's frozen in a block of ice made of Arcane Magic!

"You're forcing me!"

His Mystical Energy Control is being suppressed as he started weakening. However, he still has a chance…

As he realized that he's being captured, he decided to use his trump card…

'Self-Destruction!'

A technique that would spend his Durability instead of his Spiritual Energy or Mystical Energy!

Boom!

An explosion occurred inside the array as the ice that was suppressing him was completely destroyed! After that, the toxicity within the lake started spreading.

The spent durability isn't just for self-destruction but to spread his energy…

Apparently, the technique will still leave the caster 1 durability.

The Trident previously has 215 points in its durability. A total of 214 points was used to completely save himself from certain doom.

Aside from that, the trident's presence had also disappeared and hidden from Reiji…

If Reiji was a normal Sentient Arcana or perhaps Arcanist, he would think that the Trident has decided to end his life to escape from being captured.

However, Reiji is familiar with Self Destruction and he already read that skill a long time ago…

He knows that the skill would still allow him to retain 1 durability so he didn't fall for the Cursed Arcana's tricks.

Nevertheless, he didn't want it to be destroyed inside the confinement…

Apparently, he was supposedly planning to use his Sword Explosion on the three shinai clones to destroy the three array cores after he had frozen the Cursed Arcana… But he's worried now that the 1 durability that was left might be gone if he did that…

'Hmm… Let's clean it first.'

As the toxic within the lake was continuously spreading, he decided to use his Cleanse… This time, he finally felt that huge reduction in his mental strength.

[ Cleanse Successful ]

After he heard this, he felt almost blanked out as the cloning technique was deactivated.

'Ugh… I need to rest for a bit… The trident wouldn't leave anyway…' Reiji thought as he dropped to the ground… He could no longer sustain his Sword Kinesis.

Pak… Pak…

The sound of a wooden sword hitting the ground resounded throughout the cavern.

On the other hand, the Trident is already cursing Reiji as he just realized that the wooden sword's purification ability doesn't have a cooldown!

Normally, a powerful Arcane Magic like that can only be used again after a few days!

The Arcana is clearly not adhering to the rules of the Arcane World!

***

Far away from the chaotic land where Reiji is, a group of Sentient Arcana felt a familiar sensation.

These Arcana aren't actively moving as they were all placed as a decoration within a museum. Nevertheless, their group can still communicate with each other using their Link…

"Someone has discovered that prison…" A bell Arcana said within their communication network.

"Mhmm… We can't tell if they are rescuing the prisoner." A rusty sword Arcana added…

"It's bad if they released the Curse Arcana. Should we investigate?" One of the six throwing knives displayed said… The knife was still glistening and looking sharp.

"Haa~ Just let your subordinates know… We've reached our limit. We can no longer be repaired, just let the young ones handle this." Then spiral vine wand adorned with a piece of jewel on its tip said…

These Arcana are located in a museum within the Enetha Empire… It is not because they could no longer move but because of the unique trait of the museum that allows them to avoid having their durability decreased.

If they decided to leave this place, the magic that's stopping the decrease of their durability would be over. Though they will not quickly die, they would be exposed to matters that could destroy them…

Right now, even if they still have some remaining strength, they were already too fragile to be used in combat.

"Sigh~ The Execration should've felt it as well… If they're not the one who opened the prison, they would surely send someone there. We have to communicate with them quickly…" The bell Arcana said…

They then all looked at the rusty sword Arcana…

"Fine, I'll be talking to Fern… He should be the nearest Blessed Arcana…" The latter replied helplessly as he used his Arcane Magic to talk with the said Arcana.