The sound of colliding metals clashing against each other rang out very loudly and deafeningly inside the enclosed cave.
However, when Wolvin pulled his weapon back, the iron bars remained standing firmly. The metal rod was not split or bent at all, only leaving a shallow scratch on its surface.
Clang!
Once again, Wolvin swung his arm, trying to slash the same spot from a different angle. Yet, the result was the same. His dagger slash still could not destroy the thick bars.
"Ugh, this iron is so strong!" Wolvin complained in frustration. He then looked back, staring at his husband's face with a gaze asking for a solution. "This iron cannot be slashed. What should we do to free them from here?"
Seeing the failure, the atmosphere inside the cave slowly changed. Both Wolvin and the dozens of people tied up on the cell floors began to be struck by a minor panic.
The hostages, who a few seconds ago had already imagined freedom and breathing fresh air, now began to groan restlessly. They felt afraid that in the end, they would starve to death inside that prison.
Amidst the frustration that began to creep in and grip the atmosphere inside the damp cave, Calian remained calm. His expression did not change in the slightest.
Instead of feeling panicked, the purple-haired youth stepped forward. He raised his right hand, then touched the top of the Night Wolf youth's head, stroking his spouse black hair slowly and very gently.
That sudden, warm, affectionate touch instantly melted the tension in Wolvin's shoulders. He enjoyed his husband's caress so much that he unconsciously leaned his head into it and closed his eyes, letting his frustration evaporate.
"Thank you for your hard work, Wolvin." Calian said softly, his voice flowing soothingly into his spouse's ears. "Let me try it now."
Hearing his husband's words, Wolvin slowly opened his eyes again. He gazed at Calian for a moment, then gave his consent with an obedient nod.
"Yes, Darling!"
Calian lowered his hand from Wolvin's head, then turned toward the thick iron bars that still stood firmly in front of him. With a flat expression, he reached out and grasped one of the iron pillars.
Progression! Calian said inwardly.
At that very second, the flow of time in the area around the iron bars touched by Calian's palm was accelerated to an absurd degree.
The strong iron rapidly corroded. The process of rusting and weathering, which should have taken decades, occurred in mere seconds, and it happened in utter secrecy without a single eye noticing amidst the dim torchlight.
With the flow of time spinning so fast and focused on the material structure, the thick steel pillar instantly became porous and brittle down to its core.
Deeming it sufficient and absolutely not wanting the [Time Loop] blessing he possessed to be known by the people there, Calian immediately canceled his time magic.
Then, relying on his physical strength, he gripped and pulled the corroded iron bar forcefully.
Crack!
The sound of breaking iron echoed inside the cave.
The thick iron bar snapped very easily, creating a gaping hole wide enough for an adult human body to fit through.
However, Calian's act was not over. While his right hand still tightly gripped the broken piece of iron bar, Calian swiftly restored the object's condition back to its original state using 'Reversion'.
Due to the reversal of the time flow on the object in his grasp, the iron bar that was previously rusted, porous, and brittle instantly became solid, dense, and hard just as before.
Clang!
Calian deliberately dropped the thick piece of iron onto the rocky cave floor. The sound of heavy metal crashing that echoed throughout the room successfully made the captives widen their eyes.
Calian deliberately acted like a human possessing extraordinary physical strength capable of snapping iron bars barehanded, purely to conceal his [Time Loop] blessing from the dozens of pairs of eyes watching him with a mix of awe and horror.
"Wolvin, please free them all!" Calian requested in a tone as calm as still water. Then, he turned his body, walking toward the other row of prisons across from them. "I will break the other iron bars."
Hearing his husband's request, Wolvin, who had also been briefly mesmerized by Calian's flawless acting, immediately nodded in understanding. "Okay, Darling! I will free them all."
Wolvin quickly slipped in through the gap in the bars that Calian had just broken.
Once inside the stuffy cell, he moved nimbly. Using his sharp black dagger, Wolvin cut all the thick ropes that bound the bodies and hands of the hostages one by one.
His movements were extremely fast and precise, so it did not take long for him to remove the ropes shackling the hostages.
The people who were finally freed from those torturous bindings felt incredibly relieved and happy. Their bodies slumped weakly to the floor; some of them even sobbed profusely in gratitude because their lives had been saved from a tragic end.
"Thank you very much, Mr. adventurer." said a middle-aged woman whose clothes were severely worn out, bowing her head deeply with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"It is our duty to help, Madam!" Wolvin replied softly and sincerely, returning the gratitude with a nurturing smile.
Right after Wolvin ensured that everyone tied up inside the first cell had been successfully freed...
Clang!
The sound of dropped heavy metal was heard echoing again from across the prison area.
Wolvin immediately knew that his husband had successfully breached the second cell. He hurried away, leaving the first cell and heading toward the other prison to free the rest of the hostages who were still bound in helplessness.
However, when the Night Wolf youth arrived in front of the breached door of the second prison, Calian instead stepped forward and stood blocking the entrance into the cell. Spontaneously, Wolvin stopped his steps so as not to crash into his husband's body.
"Why are you suddenly blocking my path, Darling?" Wolvin asked in wonder, tilting his head as he looked at his husband's face standing before him.
"I'm going to the very end of this cave to inspect the area there." Calian replied casually, explaining his intention to Wolvin. He glanced toward the dead-end corridor deep within the cave. "Once you have successfully freed them, meet me there."
Wolvin did not ask many questions. The Night Wolf youth simply nodded in understanding and let Calian do what he wanted to do.
After his husband left toward the end of the cave corridor, Wolvin immediately slipped into the second prison to untie the ropes shackling the hostages.