Chapter 134

The great chaos and its aftermath in Amimone City gave the Theistic Order more than enough room to conceal their presence.

With one Proper Tower having fallen so perfectly, and the current power struggles over its remains ongoing, the internal situation within the magical community is too unstable to assemble a wide-reaching investigative force.

Furthermore, since the tracking teams searching for traces of the Theistic Order are only active in Algus City, it will be difficult for the Ten Towers to locate the Order’s main base anytime soon.

The high priest of Glaupicos, the goddess of war strategy, analyzed that the reason for staging the decisive battle in Algus City was part of the Ten Towers’ strategy to facilitate the search for suspects.

Even though the attempt to take over the Amimone Magic Tower failed, Argeyirion would not retreat easily. They might try to erase evidence or even legally acquire the remnants of the fallen tower under certain circumstances.

They calculated that by pursuing those covertly influencing the candidates, they could uncover collaborators between Argeyirion and the Theistic Order.

However, the Ten Towers were unaware that the Theistic Order had no connection with Argeyirion. The relics planted in Algus City had already been fully drained as part of the Pope’s plan, leaving them mere husks.

Though it was somewhat frustrating to be lumped together with Argeyirion’s apocalyptic faction, the Theistic Order accepted this as part of their strategy to divert the attention of the Ten Towers.

“While the Ten Towers dig around in Algus City, we will consolidate our forces…”

Members of the Order were adapting to the blessings of the Great Temple and new powers. Among them, Demos was particularly enthusiastic.

Although Demos remained neutral in the factional disputes between the Pope and the Holy Maiden within the Theistic Order, both sides shared a common belief: “One day, we must fight the Ten Towers.” Whether this fight would result in the annihilation of one side or a decisive battle leading to negotiation depended on individual perspectives, but the approach of war was undeniable.

And Demos was a priest of the war deity.

He had already accumulated the most combat experience against the tracking teams of the Ten Towers, even losing his younger sibling in the process, deepening his enmity.

Still, with their current strength, they couldn’t confront the Ten Towers yet, so they patiently waited. One day, while testing his newfound divine power, Ortes contacted him.

“Ah.”

Unlike other cautious members of the Order, Demos deeply trusted Ortes. Just as the god Enyalius symbolized straightforward and resolute strength rather than cunning strategies, once Ortes granted his trust, he pursued it unwaveringly.

Thus, when other deities’ factions questioned Ortes’ methods, the followers of Enyalius could focus peacefully on their training and devotion.

“It’s been a while. What’s the matter?”

“I need your help.”

While the Theistic Order often assisted Ortes, it was relatively rare for Ortes to seek help from them, given his numerous resources and hidden cards.

Demos was pleased at the opportunity to repay his ally.

“What do you need?”

However, his expression quickly hardened as Ortes began explaining about information from old records of the Theistic Order regarding the ‘Heretic Sects’ and the shocking revelation that someone was behind them.

“Surely you remember the sects that were excommunicated after suddenly failing, right? Well…”

“Yes, we called them the Heretic Sects. Their backers?”

“That’s right. Those heretics invariably summoned false gods through relics in their final stages. Someone prepared the ground for these false gods to emerge.”

“How did you find out?”

“A false god’s life form appeared in Algus City. It possessed a single consciousness but multiple bodies, wielding abilities beyond what any one person could handle alone.”

Demos realized this was an issue beyond his personal decision-making ability. To suppress these false gods, which had repeatedly inflicted lasting damage on the Order, required a pan-sect alliance.

“Even if it hasn’t fully matured yet, it’s still dangerous. I’ll convene an emergency meeting to discuss this.”

“Thank you. If you need me, send word through the Tabning faction participants in the Amimone Magic Tower Master selection.”

Demos marveled at Ortes’ influence, even amidst the succession struggle for the Amimone Magic Tower.

***

The trials for the Magic Tower Master selection organized by the Ten Towers were quite traditional.

They largely followed the criteria seen in previous tower master selections, such as magical energy supply capabilities and evaluations conducted during the upper-level examinations.

Of course, the first announced trial was less of a proper test and more of an elimination round for unqualified candidates.

In other words, anyone who seriously considered themselves a candidate for Amimone Magic Tower Master shouldn’t fail.

Surprisingly, many candidates were eliminated in this supposedly easy trial.

The backers of the candidates began actively interfering, starting from the pre-selection ceremonies.

Cnemon watched as a candidate in front of him collapsed, clutching his stomach with a cry of “Aaaaargh!” He would likely be sent to the hospital and disqualified.

“Honestly, they’re all reckless.”

“True. But compared to the first night when people were being randomly attacked, this is quite restrained.”

When Ortes, the pioneer of such “random attacks,” said this, Cnemon’s headache worsened.

“Is it okay to just indiscriminately eliminate candidates like this?”

The candidate who had just fallen was clearly poisoned. Yet Ortes nonchalantly ate snacks provided at the examination venue as if he wasn’t concerned.

“It’s fine. We have ways to figure everything out.”

He added quietly, “Besides, I need some excuse to wander around and look for that guy.”

Ortes had already secured the initial pawn set up by the parasitic entity but hadn’t detected any further moves from the entity itself. Thus, he was busy searching the exam venue for whoever was exercising influence.

Cnemon doubted that whoever had suffered losses last night would reveal themselves so easily, but he trusted Ortes had his own plans.

“Things are going completely opposite to my expectations. I thought they’d try to interfere with the selection by influencing the candidates.”

Ortes rubbed his chin as if troubled.

‘He’ll probably come up with a solution in a few hours.’

Dismissing Ortes’ apparent concern, Cnemon headed to the exam venue. His goal remained unchanged: to become the master of Amimone Tower.

After waving goodbye to Cnemon, Ortes resumed his search. If he couldn’t find prey immediately, he should at least strengthen his traps.

His terminal then received a message from Demos.

***

Nothing in Algus City went according to Argeyirion’s—or rather, Nastiorn’s—expectations.

Sprigo, whom Nastiorn had at least expected to survive, was dead, and none of the Drachma soldiers deployed with Sprigo returned. They should have immediately retreated to the main base upon the death of their commander.

Perhaps they had been captured, but the Drachma units were designed to self-destruct if rendered powerless.

All forces dispatched to Algus City had vanished. Nastiorn found this reality humiliating.

However, neither Haltoz nor the other senior officers of Argeyirion blamed Nastiorn.

“There’s definitely a powerful enemy.”

“But there’s no proof.”

“Do you still not see? The lack of proof is the proof!”

“No.”

Nastiorn was perplexed, but the officers had their reasoning. If the Ten Towers had dispatched a mage capable of so precisely targeting Argeyirion, there would surely be traces left behind.

Powerful mages always leave marks of their activities.

Yet, there was no record of where or what this mage, who had seemingly obliterated Argeyirion, had been doing before arriving, nor any command structure indicating orders received.

Only a true adversary capable of hiding their tracks so meticulously—and successfully—could accomplish this.

Nastiorn felt doubt in himself for finding their argument convincing.

Given the situation, assuming the existence of an “adversary” was unavoidable. Haltoz looked around and declared,

“Our first objective is to uncover the identity of this adversary. We can’t keep chasing vague suspicions forever.”

“But we have no leads.”

“We’ll create them.”

Argeyirion was willing to endure any losses to capture this adversary’s trail—even sacrificing a few hard-won Magic Tower Masters if necessary.

This became the catalyst for the encounter between Argeyirion’s human bomb operatives in Algus City and the servants of the parasitic entity.