n

n

n

nAs they were speaking, before even Sam could reply to the question a guard came into the room and made a report.

n

"Sir, there has been a hit on the west side of the crystal dome.

nThe barrier in that space fluctuated a bit with the red dots all over, but it is absorbing slowly. But the operators are saying that if it is bombarded at different places, at the same time, it will create a hole in its operation.

nThat time gap can be used to infiltrate the city.

"

n

"Well, that gives a temporary answer to my question. What about a more permanent one?

"

n

"I will think of something. The best thing you could do now is to capture the person that is shooting these things. I don't know if they had sent a team with multiple launchers or a single one.

"

n

"How can we find that out?

"

n

"Shot interval.

"

nSam said as he paused and turned to the guard.

n

"Notify the operators to maintain the stability of the formation. I want them to time the third and fourth shots. Also, make sure that they mark the direction and the point of contact on the crystal dome.

nI need the measurements to be as precise as possible.

nAs long as we get precise about the locations, I can confirm how many shooters are there.

nThe location would be a bit difficult though.

"

n

"Don't worry about it. I and Gamin will scout by ourselves. Just make sure you find a remedy for this cracker.

nIf these things come in a bunch, things would be extremely problematic.

"

nGail said and let with his brother.

nSam immediately went to work. He first noted down the timing and the locations of the first two shots and started estimating a rough distance.

nBefore long the third shot came and from the people who are keeping a watch through the telescopes, he managed to guess how long the cracker stayed in the sky after it was visible.

nSam knew how fast it is and he calculated how far the cracker must have come from and what angle.

nHe then estimated the first three locations from which the shot could have been fired and noticed the time difference.

nAfter the fourth one came, he quickly made some calculations and made speculations.

n

"There is a good chance that there is the only shooter and they are moving very quickly from one spot to another. But I cannot estimate how many people the shooter is with.

"

nThis is the final speculation he came to and gave the answer to Gail and Gamin through the communication network.

nGail and Gamin went on to scout the locations Sam has guessed and managed to find out some places with traces of people's activity there.

nThere are some traces of a tripod being placed there and impressions left behind because of the recoil of the shot.

nThey understood that Sam's guesses could be right and started looking in different directions.

nBut it is very hard for them to track the person by themselves as they moved around. From the distance that was covered in such a short time, they also figured that the opponent is on the same level as them.

nIf they really play a game of cat and mouse, it would be hard for them to keep proper track of them.

nThey just have to find a way and pull through it though.

nWhile the Gaja city is being tested by an annoying problem and everyone is working just to make sure that it doesn't collapse their system, something else is happening in the Mari clan's territory.

nPhilip, Watt and Jack are waiting are a grand elder to show up based on what the leader of the city said, but the Mari clan only sent a team of Late stage Astral Plane Consummate cultivators.

nEight of them to be precise.

nAnd they didn't make a move on the captured city directly, instead, they went to the evacuated cities first.

nThey separated themselves into four groups of two and decided to investigate the cities.

nBut as soon as they arrived there, every one of them realized that it is a mistake immediately.

nAnd the first pair learned the hardest way.

nWhen the pair arrived in the city, all they could see is abandoned buildings that are completely destroyed and the main building which is completely unscathed.

nThe brightly lit black pillar has attracted their attention.

nBoth of them are wearing white cloaks and white masks. Their steps are quite like that of a cat as they jumped from one building to another.

n

"Why did the team leader want us to investigate these cities? We only need to capture those brats.

"

nOne of them asked the other.

n

"He said it is the order from the clan's leader. That brat Sivan has some very huge claims to make about the trio we are about to capture. But he is unwilling to provide any evidence.

nHe is so adamant about making sure that the trio doesn't die.

nBut the grand elder is adamant about killing them.

nThe Clan's leader doesn't want to be stuck with the wrong side.

nSo, now we need to investigate what these brats are really capable of. We need to investigate, the damage they could have caused to this city and form a report.

nFrom these claims, the clan's leader will form an opinion. If they really have something that is worthy of what Sivan claimed, he will pick his side.

nIf he doesn't, he will pick Grand elders and just kill him.

"

n

"Why doesn't he just stick with the grand elder like he always did?

"

n

"This time, he is a bit careful because of the things that Sivan is offering. The Divine league's deal is very precious.

nAlso, he doesn't want Grand elder to get his hands on the equipment these brats have. It is all just a bunch of political hot **.

"

nAs they were talking they reached the front yard of the main mansion.

nThere, they saw the black pillar with a myriad inscription and then tried to scan it with the spiritual sense. Then they started looking at the main mansion. Inside, all they could see are a bunch of corpses all laying on the floor, tables and some even in chairs.

n

"What the ** is up with this? Why do they all look like they lost their lives abruptly and some look like they are battered?

nLook at the city lord, his body is half charred.

"

n

"Something is really wrong here.

"

n

"I think it has something to do with that pillar. Let's check it out.

"

nBoth of them went back to the pillar and one of the two hesitated before finally touching it.

nAs soon as he did that, he realized that they made a mistake.

nA black barrier appeared around the whole estate and a vent opened on top of the pillar.

nThe person who touched the pillar felt something hit him. But there is no physical damage whatsoever, so he is a bit confused.

nAs he was thinking of what is happening, all of a sudden, the vent that opened up started giving out some small metallic flies that looked like bees.

n*BUZZZ*

nThe buzzing sound brought them back to their senses and both of them stepped back.

nThe flies are numerous and they all zoomed at them.

nBoth of them blocked their advance with barriers.

nBut as soon as the flies touched the barriers, a series of small explosions started occurring on the barrier surface and dark elemental energy is seeping into the barrier and in turn into their energy network.

nWith every extra explosion, the speed of the spread kept on increasing.

n

"We cannot defend them like this, we need to destroy them.

"

nOne of them yelled and started throwing flames at the bees. They exploded immediately and black smoke started coming out as it floated up before merging with the barrier.

nThe bees are not strong, but they are extremely numerous. There are tens of thousands of bees before they even knew it.

nThey started attacking the barrier, but it is durable enough to take some hits.

nAnd the backside of it is that the bees are relentlessly attacking them while they focused on the barrier.

nBut that is not all of it.

nThere is one more thing that they didn't expect.

nA few of the corpses they saw inside are coming out of the estate as undead creatures and as soon as they appeared, the bees stopped attacking the two guys and went for those corpses. They directly entered their bodies or injected the bodies.

nThe undead creatures immediately had a huge energy boost and they grew stronger and stronger by every second.

nThe two elites could sense the increasing energy.

nThey decided to make a move before the process could be finished, but as they gathered their energy, they suddenly realized something.

nThe whole area is sucking their vitality, bit by bit and they are weakening.

nThis only made them quicken their pace of attack.

n

n