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nOpening his eyes, the chaotic battlefield came back into view.

nHoward took a deep breath, the air filled with the unpleasant smell of blood and gunpowder.

nYet, Howard felt no revulsion.

nThis was a pure environment, free from excessive concerns and constraints, where one could only rely on the weapon in their hand.

n“Come on.”

nHoward’s gaze locked onto the wolfrat struggling to rise in the distance.

n“Come on!”

nThe wolfrat let out a low shriek, blood pouring from its nearly severed hind leg, its crimson eyes, shimmering with golden light, fixed on Howard.

nFrom those eyes, Howard read killing intent, anger, and excitement!

nExcitement!

nHoward was surprised to find a sense of excitement in the wolfrat’s gaze.

nWhy was it excited?

nBecause it had met a strong opponent?

nBecause it had challenged its limits?

nCould a mere spellbeast like the wolfrat harbor such complex emotions?

nFor a moment, Howard hesitated.

nHe began to ponder a question he had never considered before.

nWhat exactly are the spellbeasts of this world?

nThe prevailing explanation is that wild beasts living in mana-rich environments can transform into spellbeasts.

nThis seems akin to a genetic change, for once an animal becomes a spellbeast, its offspring are also likely to be spellbeasts.

nIf they survive in the wild, a new species emerges just like that.

nThroughout this process, the influence of mana plays a crucial role.

nThe simplest way to determine whether a wild beast is a spellbeast is to observe if it can produce mana fluctuations when it acts.

nIf it can, it’s a spellbeast or a spellbeast subspecies.

nIf not, it’s neither.

nThe so-called spellbeast subspecies are those beasts not yet fully transformed into spellbeasts.

nThey can use mana but cannot actively increase the mana within their bodies, with their strength varying with age.

nSo, what exactly is a spellbeast?

nSpellbeasts are recognized by the vast majority for their high intelligence.

nSome communities even worship certain spellbeasts as deities.

nYet, at the same time, spellbeasts are the targets for high-level awakened hunters who seek materials from them to enhance themselves, only to hunt more spellbeasts.

nTo humans, spellbeasts are both gods and prey, their identity shifting with human sentiments and the balance of power between the two.

n“How capricious,” Howard chuckled, his breath calming as his gaze fixed on the wolfrat.

n“Then, let me give you a funeral of sufficient weight, even if you are an invader.”

nLife and death are often unrelated to other matters; they are not usually commodified.

nHowever, when they do become commodities, it signifies that turbulent times have arrived.

nWith a shriek, the wolfrat howled, its three good legs powering its movement, the electricity on its body dimming, its form wobbling.

nIt was indeed at the end of its strength after berserking.

nWhen it chose to berserk, it chose death.

nBut Howard remained vigilant.

nUntil the battle was over, anything could happen—an insight he had gained through his own blood and flesh.

n…

nIn Rodel City, on an unnamed street, a slender figure hurried along.

nWhile Howard was engaged in a bloody battle atop the city walls, Nula had vanished.

nBut her disappearance was not out of fear, nor was it an act of confusion hiding in the shadows to protect Howard.

nA single dinner, though touching, wasn’t enough to compel Nula to such extents.

nShe had left because of a mission.

nA sudden task, deeply intertwined with the current monster tide siege.

nLogically, a monster tide shouldn’t appear so readily.

nAlthough Rodel had faced several monster tides before, those were instances of either a single type of beast or spellbeast population explosion, not like this time, where countless different types of wild beasts and spellbeasts congregated to form a monster tide – a first of its kind.

nEach species of beast or spellbeast has its habits, not to mention many are natural enemies of each other.

nWithout a significant external force at play, their gathering would be an impossibility.

nMoreover, it’s highly unlikely for the beasts to initiate an attack on Rodel of their own accord; this place is neither a migratory route for any creature nor does it sit atop any special mineral veins.

nTherefore, the most plausible explanation is that certain individuals orchestrated this monster tide.

nBut what could their intentions be?

nThat was the purpose behind Nula’s action.

nThe alarm bell of the Rodel branch guild of adventurers had not yet ceased.

nThe streets were now devoid of pedestrians, save for the occasional army or adventurer rushing by, perhaps carrying blood-stained weapons or bearing groaning wounded.

nEven within Rodel City, Nula could clearly hear the shouts of battle and the stench of blood permeating the air.

nThis was hardly good news.

nThe escalation of the conflict meant only more deaths would follow.

nHaving been on the battlefield, though not on the front lines, the widespread death had profoundly altered her views on life and death.

nIt was after her experience on the battlefield that Nula undertook the mission to investigate and guide Howard, conspiring with Dorek on the Lorinda incident.

nIndeed, the Lorinda incident was orchestrated by her and Dorek. .𝒎

nThis truth had yet to be disclosed to Howard, and depending on circumstances, she might never tell him in her lifetime.

nNula’s steps momentarily faltered, concern prompting her to glance back at the city walls.

nGathering her focus, she continued forward.

nHer hands held ample intelligence, including the suspected orchestrators of the monster tide’s locations, names, and physical descriptions, except for details about their strength.

nEven Nula’s direct superior couldn’t grasp the exact capabilities of the gang.

nThis didn’t mean Nula couldn’t overcome them, but it implied complications might arise.

nNula was uncertain whether eliminating the perpetrators would halt the monster tide; otherwise, Rodel would need to consider evacuating its populace.

nAccording to the latest intelligence from her sources, the monster tide seemed to be expanding, with a second wave potentially amassing.

nUndoubtedly, this was bad news.

nThe current monster tide was already stretching Rodel’s city guard and adventurers thin.

nIf the scale of the monster tide were to double or more, Rodel’s chances of holding out were nearly impossible.

n“Never thought it’d be my turn to play the savior of the world. Nobody said anything about doing a Savior’s job when I signed up!”

nMuttering to herself, Nula caught sight of her destination.

nShe looked up at the large stone building in front of her, not much different from the neighboring inn, and stroked her chin thoughtfully.

n“Time to get to work. Howard better not die on me during this time!”

nPushing open the stone building’s door, Nula proceeded with light steps.

nEntering the first-floor lobby, Nula was greeted by a scene resembling ruins.

nTables and chairs lay overturned on the ground, covered in a thick layer of dust, looking just like any abandoned building that had undergone drastic changes in a very short period, to an extent that was hard to believe.

nFaced with this situation, Nula was not surprised, or rather, she was past the point of being surprised.

nHer intelligence had led her here, and so far, her information had never been wrong, which meant there had to be something she hadn’t noticed.

nShe made her way through the second floor, then the third and fourth floors, and even the attic.

nNula searched nearly every room in the building but still found nothing of note.

nReturning to the first floor, Nula observed the ruin-like scene of the lobby, her brows furrowed in frustration.

nIn a city like Rodel, where space was at a premium, for a building to remain vacant for such an extended period was abnormal in itself.

nIf it weren’t for some power shielding it from the covetous eyes of hungry wolves, this building would have transformed beyond recognition long ago.

nSo, where could those unnoticed mechanisms be hiding?

nVisit .

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