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n?For fifteen years, the Eternal Flame has spread its influence across the southwestern territories of the Avala Continent, secretly taking lives all the while.

nTheir operations have always been marked by caution.

nThe major nations in the southwest have never been able to catch them red-handed, which is why they’ve remained rooted.

nIndeed, it was somewhat surprising for the intelligence corps to provide such precise information on the Eternal Flame this time.

nNula even considered the possibility of it being a trap laid by the enemy.

nYet, when faced with the potential loss of human lives, Nula chose to take the risk.

nIf Rodel were truly to fall to the monster tide, the death toll would be far more than just one or two.

n…

nNula carefully rounded a corner, encountering neither enemies nor any divergences in the path until the next bend.

nThe cave sloped continuously downward, and given the teleportation entry, she had no real sense of her distance from the surface after traveling so far within.

nPerhaps a hundred meters? Two hundred? Or even deeper? Why would they hide so far underground? What exactly are they planning to do here?

nNula had no answers to these questions, but she believed that once she found the Eternal Flame members within this stronghold, she would learn everything.

nEven if they were unwilling to talk, Nula had ways to make them speak.

nWhen it comes to tormenting someone, not even the most skilled interrogators could compare to a magus.

nWith the aid of mana, Nula could even interrogate a person’s soul, extracting information directly from their memories.

nAfter advancing another two hundred meters or so, Nula noticed clear signs of maintenance on the cave walls, and the torches appeared to have been recently replaced.

nThis indicated that she was nearing areas where enemies had begun to operate.

nNula heightened her alertness, wrapping herself in another layer of Invisibility.

nAmidst the distortion of light, Nula’s figure vanished from sight.

nConcealed beneath a thin membrane of mana, she continued forward, picking up the sound of conversation.

nIt sounded like idle chatter, devoid of substance.

nNula moved along the wall, edging closer to the source of the voices. 𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ

nIt was just around the corner, seemingly a few cultists on guard duty, indicating that the stronghold of Eternal Flame was ahead.

nIn such a confined environment, only areas close to the stronghold itself warranted guards.

nThe only entrance was a spell matrix, which hadn’t been activated in a long while, leaving Nula to wonder how long these individuals had been underground.

nOr perhaps they had another way in?

nNula listened carefully to the cultists’ banter.

nAlthough no significant intelligence was gathered, she gained a rough understanding of this subterranean Eternal Flame stronghold through their conversation.

nOne word, in particular, kept coming up in their talk. .𝒎

n“Exile.”

nThe frequent mention of “exile” suggested it was a critical yet unattained objective.

nThe presence of Eternal Flame’s members here was for the sake of “exile,” to the extent that this underground stronghold was established with that purpose in mind.

nNula was unsure how Eternal Flame had constructed this underground stronghold, but it was evident that its creation was neither a recent endeavor nor something that could be accomplished with just a million or two gold coins.

nLurking behind the corner, waiting, the idle chat of the cultists finally came to an end, and footsteps receded.

nIt sounded like a shift change.

nNula pondered for a moment, then lifted her hand, allowing a wisp of mana to dissipate into mist, spreading out.

nThe thin mana feedback provided a vague sense of perception, outlining the approximate positions of three individuals.

nBut that was sufficient for Nula, who didn’t intend to leave any survivors.

nAs long as she could eliminate them all before an alarm was raised, her mission would be accomplished.

nTaking a deep breath, a short dagger appeared in Nula’s hand.

nPulling up her hood, she moved away from the corner, guided by the flickering shadows cast on the cave walls by the torches, and laid eyes on the guards around the bend.

nThere were three in total.

nNula exploited a momentary blind spot in their vision to cross the corner, advancing through the shadows.

nIf she could get within five meters, Nula was confident she could kill them all in an instant.

nThree more meters to go.

nNula noticed one of the guards’ gaze beginning to shift.

nInvisibility merely distorted light, much like how the air looks when it’s warped.

nAir itself isn’t visible, but if it appears distorted for some reason, even the human eye can clearly see it.

nThat was Nula’s situation now.

nDespite being cloaked in spells, no one could guarantee that among the three guards, there wasn’t one with keen enough eyesight to detect the distortion of light in this dimly lit space.

nIf her stealth was discovered midway, it would be better to have charged in with a dagger drawn.

nAdding the agility of a cat and the strength of a bear to herself and going berserk would be far more sensational than sneaking in.

nBut that approach would also lead to the quickest death.

nNula had no intention of falling on what was neither a major nor minor mission.

nAs one of the guards’ gaze began to shift, Nula didn’t hesitate; she accelerated instantly, charging forward while still under the cloak of invisibility.

nHer right hand gripped the dagger in reverse, and her left hand clenched a handful of “blinding powder.”

nThis so-called blinding powder was actually a mix of silver dust and quicklime, not only reflecting light when scattered but also doubling its effect if it landed directly in the eyes.

nIf they reacted in time, the blinding powder would ensure their demise amidst panicked white light.

nOf course, it wouldn’t be without pain.

nOne of the prerequisites for joining the Eternal Flame cult was participating in a live sacrifice, meaning there wasn’t a single person within the sect whose hands weren’t stained with the blood of others.

nThey deserved more than death.

nNula surged forward silently, her blade covered in mana for invisibility and enhanced sharpness, effortlessly slashing across the throats of two guards before stopping in front of the third.

nNula then dispelled her invisibility.

nThe two guards fell, blood spurting from their throats, their eyes bulging and mouths slightly open, dying without even realizing what had happened.

nFor some, such an end might be considered a merciful release.

nThe reason for leaving a survivor was not a sudden change of heart to keep a hostage; Nula had questions.

n“I ask, you answer, or you die. Understand?”

nNula’s icy gaze locked onto the surviving guard like a coiled snake eyeing a mouse or frog.

nUnder such a nearly predatory intimidation, the surviving guard had no chance to resist.

nShould he make any dangerous move, Nula was ready to strike!

nAs the surviving guard hesitantly nodded, his gaze drifting to his fallen comrades, the fear in the depths of his eyes was unmistakable.

n“Where are we?” Nula inquired, clarifying, “I’m not asking for the name of this stronghold but the geographical location. What place on the surface does this correspond to?”

n“I’m just a lowly cultist; I know nothing!” The guard shook his head, his demeanor on the verge of tears.

n“I only heard something from a rotating priest once, something about a guild above us, but what guild specifically, I have no idea!”

n“Fine, next question.” Nula, having received a non-answer, shifted her focus.

n“What is this place, this stronghold, built for? What are you doing here!”

n“I know even less about that!”

nThe face of the surviving guard twisted in distress.

n“I’m just a low-ranking follower who joined to get by! Please, lady, spare me! I’ve never killed anyone, truly!”

nNula frowned, a cold laugh escaping her lips: “If you’ve never killed anyone, why are you so afraid?”

n“If you have no guilt, why can’t you look me in the eye?”

nShaking her head, Nula sighed, “A person accustomed to covering one lie with another, even the most merciful deity wouldn’t choose to forgive.”

nThe blade flashed, and the last survivor’s eyes widened before he slumped down, a raspy gasp escaping his slit throat.

nNula had severed his throat, a fatal wound, yet not one that would grant a swift death.

nBefore death took him, he would feel his body gradually grow cold, the dull pain of his gashed throat lingering in his mind, yet incapable of even a scream.

nFor those who willingly joined the cult, even at the cost of others’ lives, no death could be too painful.

nBeyond the three guards were two passages, the first divergence Nula had encountered in the cave after following a single path all this way.

nUnsure of the guards’ shift change intervals, Nula chose not to deal with the bodies.

nEvery second was precious.

nAfter carefully examining the footprints on the ground, Nula discerned which passage the departing footsteps had taken.

nRegardless of what lay ahead, it beat returning empty-handed.

nWith her direction confirmed, Nula pressed on.

nThis time, she didn’t move slowly but quickly advanced, cloaked in Invisibility.

nHaving penetrated the stronghold, there was little need for stealth; her intent had always been to cause havoc and leave.

nAnnihilating the opposition would be ideal, but even falling short of that, disrupting their operations would suffice.

nReinforcements were already en route; as long as she thwarted their immediate plans, the arriving forces would sweep through, capturing these shadow-dwelling vermin in one fell swoop.

nThis content is taken from 𝘪𝘦.𝘤𝑜

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