266 Chapter 261: Bait Part 1

After Tala finally relented, Arias said nothing more and turned around, saying, "Let's be on our way." However, Tala remained stationary and focused her gaze on the red patterns scattered all around the hall. "Alzhough you managed to break in, you vwill not be able to break me out zo eazily. Zhis place waz dezigned to hold magical beingz. To remove zhem is impozzible for ze common person." 

Arias paused upon hearing that and turned his attention to the red lines, the very ones that prevented Raven from proceeding. He had thought Tala was experienced enough to ignore them or, at the very least, dispel them after being freed from her cell, but it seemed his understanding of magic was far too limited. 

Regardless, he crouched down and placed his hand on the red lines before simply rubbing them off as if they were layers of dirt, and then stood up and told her, "Try passing through now." Arias himself wasn't sure if this would work, but at the very least, the pattern looked like a circuit, with the red patterns acting like boundaries. So, if he removed it, it was as good as solved.

Tala frowned at this nonchalant way of dealing with the pattern, but as she hesitantly put her hand over the boundary, she found she faced no attack or deflection. "Vwhat manner of zorcery is this?!" she exclaimed before looking at Arias with a narrowed gaze.

Arias only smiled and said nothing more; the less Tala knew about his power, the more inclined she would be to work for him, or at the very least, not risk betraying him.

Tala frowned at Arias's lack of response, but she didn't dare to make her thoughts known, and instead turned her attention to Slade. "Vwhat are you looking at?" she asked before clicking her tongue in irritation and following Arias. 

Upon reaching the end of the hall where Raven was currently meditating, Arias did the same for the pattern there. At this time, Raven overheard the figures approach, opened her eyes, and got out of her meditative pose, soon turning her attention to Tala. Raven only looked at Tala but said nothing. She knew they were here to get her, and for what reason, so there was nothing more that needed to be asked or said.

Tala, on the other hand, looked at Raven, who was currently hovering in the air, and asked, "Iz thiz a zervant of yours?" The question was cautiously asked, able to tell from just a glance that Raven was not what she seemed. 

Arias, however, chose to stay cryptic, at least for now. "No time for introductions. Quickly walk over the boundary, and Raven, please open us a way out of here," Arias said. As Arias said this, Raven chanted, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos," and a portal immediately opened where the elevator was. 

Tala looked at the site with wide eyes. "Incredible!"

"Let's go," Arias casually ordered before pausing to turn his attention to Slade. "When you're done, make your own way out."

Slade nodded. "No problem, I like to be thorough. I'll need to finish up some business upstairs," Slade added while getting a clip from his utility belt and loading it into his gun.

 Arias found no reason to contest this and agreed. "Sure, I'll communicate with you if anything else. For now, proceed as planned." Slade showed a knowing smile and nodded. "You got it, boss." 

Saying nothing more. Arias walked through the portal, Raven followed, and then finally Tala did so cautiously, giving one final hateful glance at Slade. 

As the portal opened, Arias, Raven, and Tala found themselves on the cliff overlooking the compound where the sirens were blaring as loud as ever. Tala looked around herself and showed a smile; she knew she was free and could now use her magic freely. 

However, she quickly threw any and all thoughts of showing hostility toward Arias. His actions alone called for her to be cautious, but with the introduction of Raven, she saw an unexpected factor. In her mind, if Arias could so casually bring her out, he had to be confident he could handle her if she attempted anything.

At this time, Arias turned to look at Tala before saying, "Now, introductions can be made. You already know who I am, so nothing more needs to be said on my part." Saying this, Tala could immediately understand what Arias meant, and she took the initiative to face Raven and introduce herself. "I am zhe zorcerer Tala, and who might you be?"

Her tone was neither superior nor lesser; as of now, she didn't know just how proficient Raven was in magic, but from what Raven had chanted earlier, Tala knew that Raven was educated in the arts of another plane, so she couldn't treat her lightly.

Raven introduced herself less enthusiastically. "I'm Raven." 

This statement made Tala frown in confusion. At this time, Arias turned to Raven and said, "And who are you, exactly?" Saying this, Raven could get what meaning Arias was trying to put across, so she introduced herself again. 

" *sigh* I'm Raven, daughter of the demon Trigon."