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n?Nula tried to grasp the key terms in the words spoken, but the clown mask was cautious, not divulging anything superfluous.

nFrom what he revealed, it was impossible to draw any significant conclusions.

nAfter speaking, the clown mask whispered something to his followers before hastily turning to leave.

nHowever, his followers remained, scattering to different corners of the grand hall.

nWatching the back of the clown mask and then glancing at the towering followers moving around the hall, Nula took a deep breath.

nConfirming the status of her Invisibility, she began to move, quietly following the clown mask’s steps.

nSilently passing through the temple, Nula trailed far behind the clown mask as he exited the temple.

nObserving the clown mask enter a pitch-black passageway, Nula hesitated for a few seconds before quietly following.

nUnbeknownst to her, as she followed the clown mask, one of the three masked followers had already set their gaze upon her.

n…

nIt was a poorly lit corridor, the distance between the torches on the walls so vast that darkness filled the space between two flames.

nAs Nula entered the passageway, she saw the clown mask stopping within a particularly dark section.

n“What are you doing here?”

nThe clown mask seemed to be questioning the air, yet Nula understood she was likely exposed.

nHow was she discovered?

nThe clown mask hadn’t even fully deployed his mana sensing.

n“What is your purpose?”

nNula didn’t respond.

nThe clown mask slowly turned around, his gaze landing precisely on Nula’s face.

nDespite Nula’s properly functioning Invisibility, the clown mask accurately pinpointed her location.

n“My patience is limited, you’d best answer me quickly. Otherwise, if I make my move, things will get messy,” the clown mask said, taking a step forward, lifting his left hand.

nThe index finger extended, the rest of the fingers retracted.

nA faint yet captivating pearlescent light pulsed as if breathing, impossible to look away from.

nThat was mana, condensed to its utmost limit.

nLike an overstretched rubber band, such intensely concentrated mana would unleash tremendous destructive power once it slips from control.

nThis is one of mana’s inherent properties.

nThe index finger halted at the level of Nula’s forehead.

n“Your last moments to hesitate, ten seconds,” the voice of the clown mask maintained a constant, mild tone, devoid of any fluctuations, yet it sounded to Nula like the whispers of a devil.

n“Ten!”

n…

nOn the blood and gunpowder-scented city walls, Howard struggled to pull his sword from flesh, collapsing to the ground, his chest heaving violently, his gaze flickering with each breath.

nHe didn’t know how much time had passed since the monster tide began, only that after facing that wolfrat, countless beasts and spellbeasts had nearly overwhelmed everyone.

nThere was no pause, only fight, fight, fight, and fight!

nFailure to wield a sword meant death, failing to dodge an attack meant death!

nNo one had the spare energy to care for others; everyone was struggling on the edge of death.

nHoward looked up at the sky, swallowed the blood-mixed saliva, tried to pull a smile but couldn’t manage it.

n“If only there was someone reliable by my side at a time like this.”

nHe regretted leaving everyone behind, even though it was the right decision.

nBut not all right decisions lead to the right outcomes.

nOf the six adventurers originally guarding the checkpoint, only four are still breathing.

nThor hasn’t perished, but his condition appears dire.

nStruggling to his feet, Howard sees the reserve forces busily dragging away the bodies of spellbeasts, transporting the wounded, and repairing the damaged city walls.

nHoward walks to the edge of the city wall, his gaze reaching into the distance where shadows that signify death reappear.

nWhich wave of the monster tide is this? Howard can no longer recall.

nHe also can’t remember how long he’s stood upon the city wall, with only the accumulating wounds on his body serving as a reminder.

nJust don’t die.

n“Shift change!”

nA unfamiliar voice calls out from behind Howard.

nTurning, he sees a young face.

n“I’m Zachro, a centurion of the city guard. You’ve worked hard!”

nFeeling his feet wobble, Howard takes a deep breath and nods: “Just don’t die.”

nThat’s the only blessing he can offer.

nOnce on the battlefield, that remains the sole wish.

nZachro doesn’t speak, merely nods and organizes his soldiers to escort Howard and the others down from the city wall.

nThis monster tide has far exceeded everyone’s expectations, and Rodel’s city guard is now fully mobilized, including the adventurer and magus guilds.

nBoth professional guilds have begun to rally their members.

nEven so, the situation remains grim.

nThe truly capable adventurers had already ascended the city walls when the adventurer guild issued a time-limited quest.

nThe adventurers left in the city who are in good condition are either novices or those nearing retirement, whose combat effectiveness may not even surpass that of the well-trained city guard.

nThe situation with the magus guild was even more dire.

nMagi inherently are not suited for city defense but are more effective in small, targeted strikes.

nIn the face of such large-scale battles, magi could only be dispersed, serving as emergency forces. 𝘪𝘳.𝒸𝑜𝑚

nIf monster tides of the initial scale were to hit two or three more times, Rodel City would likely fall.

nDescending from the city walls, Howard sheathed his sword and, after collecting some food, found a spot at the base of the wall to sit and eat slowly.

nHe began to consider escape routes.

nHoward never saw himself as the kind of person who would selflessly risk his life for strangers.

nIf the situation were better, of course, he would be willing to lend a hand.

nBut clearly, this was not the case.

nNot just him, in fact, many adventurers had already started thinking about their exits, contemplating their retreat.

nHowever, unlike Howard, who was purely an outsider, it would be difficult for them to simply walk away on their own.

nWhat future awaited this city?

nHoward silently finished his food, stood up, and headed towards the inn.

nHe needed to find Nula.

nIf she was around, perhaps there was a way.

n…

n“Nine!”

nThe clown mask began the countdown without a hint of hesitation.

nNula’s body tensed, and cold sweat started to form on her back.

n“Eight!”

nThis person was serious! How did he manage to see me?

n“Seven!”

nWhat to do?

nShow myself?

nRun away?

nIf I flee now, what will happen to Rodel?

n“Six!”

nNegotiate?

nIs there a chance?

nI don’t have a single card in my hand!

n“Five!”

nThe voice of the clown mask was calm and steady, echoing at fixed intervals.

nThrough the eyes of the mask, Nula saw his pitch-black gaze, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like a deep, bottomless well.

nNula raised her hand, dispelling the Invisibility.

nCloaked in her wide cloak, Nula materialized from thin air.

n“How did you discover me?” The clown mask retracted his finger, and the person beneath the mask seemed to smile.

n“Do you know the biggest difference between humans and beasts?”

n“Humans think, weigh options, set traps,” the clown mask pointed to his head, “But beasts do not!”

n“When that priest told me about the strange mana fluctuation, I knew your intention wasn’t reconnaissance but to lure me out.”

n“A competent scout wouldn’t expose such a flaw, and if you weren’t competent, you wouldn’t be here.”

nThe clown mask locked eyes with Nula, his crimson pupils unwavering.

n“Now, tell me, who do you work for!”

n“Do you think I would tell you?” Nula scoffed coldly.

n“Moreover, what made you think that my revealing myself meant surrender!”

nNula made her move.

nThe moment her foot stepped forward, a ferocious burst of mana erupted, blinding bolts of electricity filling the clown mask’s entire field of vision as Nula’s figure vanished amidst the surge of mana.

nThunderstorm! Nula’s initial assault was a potent mana attack.

nVast amounts of mana poured out from within her, coalescing into countless lightning bolts aimed at the clown mask!

nEach bolt was equivalent to an attack from a level 3 magus.

nReleasing dozens in such an instant was no small feat for Nula.

nHowever, Nula was well aware that such a level of attack would be insignificant to the clown mask, serving only to buy time.

nThus, even before her attack could strike, Nula began preparing her second spell.

nA simplified elf language spilled from Nula’s lips, one rune after another taking shape under her precise mana control, swirling around her to form a ring-shaped matrix.

nThis was an attack Nula herself had not fully mastered.

nShe didn’t know if it would succeed, but it was the only method she could think of.

nThe clown mask was likely a level 1 magus, and if he truly was, then this was the only move Nula had that could potentially harm him.

nNula stared at the expanding flicker of electricity, uncertain how much time these minor tactics could buy her.

nTen seconds?

nPerhaps even less?

nNula pushed herself to hasten the formation of her spell.

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