Chapter 763: Perceptive Eyes Like Pearls 4k
Thus, the group split into three.
Professor Shylph and four others divided themselves among flying dragons. After taking off, they concealed their presence. Half an hour later, they silently landed on the West City Gate.
Unable to distinguish who within the city had been replaced by demons temporarily, they chose to act covertly, even not notifying the West City Governor.
After landing, Professor Shylph drew a Mana Summoning card and silently invoked the spell: “By the name of Sarah Shylph, Mana Summoning — [Wind Domain]!”
The large-scale domain magic that usually required extensive preparation was instantly released from the center of the [Wind Domain] field card.
In an instant, a fierce wind suddenly swept across the sky, then swirling back after reaching a certain range. Both the sound and aura were encapsulated within a floating sphere, with no leakage.
Four professors floated in the air, gazing out over the city. The west gate was half-open,人流依旧来往不息.
Looking at the busy adventurer teams, Professor Shylph couldn’t help but sigh, “If we could stabilize for a few more years, this Free City should have developed greatly.”
Professor Jones stood at the forefront, hands crossed, a mountain-like figure standing firm: “If today’s matter is mishandled, it will lead to a great calamity.”
Professor Shylph nodded and said, “Protect me, I need to listen to the winds.”
The other three nodded, but did not cast any spells or summon Mana Summoning cards.
Strong magical currents would disrupt the winds. At this moment, they only needed to prepare.
Professor Shylph stood in the middle of the team, crossing her fingers, slightly lowering her head, closing her eyes, in a posture of youthful prayer.
Moments later, pure wind elements quietly gathered. A wind elemental sprite leaped out of the air, flapping its wings in a circular dance before her.
A natural breeze devoid of any magic quietly blew out of the [Wind Domain], heading towards the city outskirts.
That natural breeze merged with nature, guiding the winds in all directions. Countless pieces of information flowed through the natural breeze into the mind of the wind elemental sprite, then汇聚到了Professor Shylph的脑海中。
很快，Professor Shylph的脑海中便呈现出了城外数里的无数画面。
有初出茅庐的冒险者在西城门附近追砍着移动缓慢的【铁皮树】。
有小心谨慎的冒险者队伍在密林之间弯腰穿行，一条能够随着环境变色的巨蟒正盘绕树梢，森冷的目光紧紧凝视着他们。
再远些，还有实力较强的冒险者依靠着团队配合之力，在与庞大魔兽拼死搏杀。
“没有二号的踪迹。”
Professor Shylph的眉头微微皱起。
风声更大了一些。
顿时，花草树木，飞禽走兽，昆虫游鱼，无数或生或死之物的声音汇聚而来。
Mana of Professor Shylph surged into her brain, thoughts accelerated rapidly, swiftly analyzing all information, attempting to find the hidden anomalies.
…
On the other side, Professor Metia rode in a Pumpkin Carriage, rising up but not heading to the West City. Instead, she stopped in the center.
She flicked her fingers, holding a Mana Summoning card between them.
As Mana flowed in, the Mana Summoning card activated, immediately releasing countless crystal balls from its surface, which then flew in all directions under her control.
These crystal balls gradually became invisible during their flight from the carriage, each with a pupil in the center, capable of viewing scenes within a kilometer radius.
After deploying all the crystal ball monitors, Professor Metia controlled the Pumpkin Carriage to fly quickly toward the West City Administrative Building.
Ophelia sat inside the carriage, holding red and green button switches, ready to call out Number One to inquire about Number Two’s direction.
…
At the City Lord’s Mansion.
Dark and five others also boarded a carriage heading to the West City, protected by Commander Tyger of the City Guard.
Above them, flying dragons followed.
The carriage was spacious enough for three people comfortably, five people without crowding, but Dark summoned another [Magical Beast: Goddess of Heartful Eyes].
Tyger personally drove, ensuring smooth passage.
During this time, more and more city managers walked down the main road under the City Lord’s command, converging from all directions.
Both [Goddesses of Heartful Eyes] had their bangs pushed aside, revealing their horrifying third eye, looking left and right.
Their gaze penetrated the carriage, leaving nothing unseen inside or outside.
“Found one!”
Just three minutes into the journey, one of the [Goddesses of Heartful Eyes] discovered a person replaced by demons.
“Third carriage from the left, marked with a Minotaur emblem,” the [Goddess of Heartful Eyes] said calmly.
Her voice was light, but carried clearly to Tyger through wind magic.
This half-tiger man immediately picked up a palm-sized stone, whispering quickly into it.
Two minutes later, that carriage turned and exited the main road.
Waiting for him was the City Guard stationed on the small path!
…
No matter how much their appearance changed, they could not conceal their thoughts.
Whether replaced by [Phantom Magi], [Amilo Worms], [Shape Shifter Demons], or [Brain Devourer Magi], none could escape the scrutiny of the [Goddesses of Heartful Eyes].
Unless they possessed a second consciousness, hiding demonic thoughts behind their thoughts.
Together, the two [Goddesses of Heartful Eyes] efficiently cleared the hidden bugs within the management.
Despite fifteen minutes passing, nearly ten people had been identified.
Facing such results, Tyger showed no joy on his face.
Unlike those parasitized by [Brain Fluid Demons], those replaced by [Phantom Magi], [Amilo Worms], [Shape Shifter Demons], or [Brain Devourer Magi] were beyond salvation.
Each discovery meant the death of someone.
And these individuals were familiar to him.
Some were elders who had existed since the founding of the city, and he had even shared drinks with them just days ago.
But life is unpredictable; the dead cannot be brought back. Only the acceptance of fate remained.
Tyger struggled to maintain his composure, continuing to drive the carriage.
From the City Lord’s Mansion to the West City Administrative Building, if traveling by carriage on the main road, it would take roughly an hour. Slowing down the pace would require longer.
At a rate of ten people per quarter-hour, by the time they reached the Administrative Building, nearly fifty could be identified.
“This is too many people.”
Dark spoke up.
“The number of people replaced by demons is far greater than expected. If this continues, it will become too obvious. If we encounter any tough opponents that the City Guard can’t arrest, it will expose us directly.”
“We need to change strategy. Mark them first, don’t arrest.”
He was not seeking opinions but issuing orders. Upon hearing this, Tyger immediately relayed the order through his communication stone, halting the disappearing carriages on the main road.
The two [Goddesses of Heartful Eyes] continued generating reports.
“Sixth carriage from the right, green carriage, lizard emblem.”
“Behind, Lilac emblem, both are.”
“Black carriage, lion-head emblem, female servant inside.”
“Brown carriage, banana emblem, owner of the carriage…”
Halfway through the journey, Tyger’s expression finally became uncontrollable, increasingly grim.
In the report, each carriage’s emblem alone revealed the identity of the owner, making it clear who had been compromised.
Suddenly, he forcefully pulled the reins, causing the horse to whinny and pull the carriage faster.
The horse’s whinny snapped him back to reality, and he hurriedly slowed down.
Dark peered out from the carriage, frowning: “Uncle Tiger, what happened?”
“Nothing,” Tyger said sternly. “I just discovered an old friend whose brain was eaten by demons, almost losing my composure.”
Dark fell silent for a while before speaking: “Uncle Tiger, though past events can’t be changed, we can try to prevent future occurrences. Stay calm, don’t show any weakness.”
Tyger replied, “I know, but I can’t control it.”
Dark said, “I have a feeling that what awaits us next is a major battle.”
Afterward, he ceased further conversation and retreated back into the carriage.
The more management personnel were replaced by demons, the greater the danger.
Once these people were gathered, a major battle was inevitable.
But since they chose this method, they must bear the corresponding risks.
After returning to the carriage, Dark quickly pondered how to mitigate the risks.
After some time, he told Tyger, “Using the process of elimination, we should first compile a list of trusted individuals, then assign them tasks… We need to try and separate them…”
…
West City Administrative Building.
Mayor Montiel Farley arrived early to oversee things.
She knew very well that she lacked the qualifications to be a commander. While the [Sun Warrior] could be a general, she could not be a strategist.
However, this Free City was built by her, so she had to take the position of mayor.
Under such circumstances, her ability to manage the city to this level relied on her original team that had followed her from the beginning.
Yet, the establishment of the Free City was not smooth, facing dangers from demons and frequent attacks from those who did not want the city to thrive.
Over the past decade, her original team had suffered continuous losses, losing half of its members.
Therefore, every remaining elder held a significant place in her heart.
Because of this, upon hearing their deaths, she felt even more grief.
With more names being reported, the cracks in her heart widened.
At a certain point, she realized she had been deceiving herself.
She actually had solutions. If she had sought help earlier from Saint Maryann Academy and the Duke’s Mansion, perhaps she could have mitigated the situation before it reached its current state.
But when she discovered the management being replaced by demons, the situation had already become severe, beyond her ability to confront.
So her measures had not been fully effective. She had been deceiving herself, unwilling to admit the severity of the situation.
If not for Dark and others appearing, she might have continued suffering for another ten days or two.
She never considered herself a qualified mayor.
She had always thought this way.
…
But now was not the time for melancholy.
Sona Montiel Farley rose from her seat, her mind filled with vivid memories of war.
They had reached a desperate situation; it was time to draw the sword.
She took a deep breath, picked up the trust list, and began rapid deployment.
…
Another half hour passed.
Outside the West City Administrative Building, carriages parked neatly, hundreds of people stepped down and entered the building.
Some managers who had been waiting inside greeted them with smiles, directing them to different rooms.
Those guiding the groups were all on the trust list.
Among those directed to the same room, there were both trustworthy individuals and those marked as demons.
But inside the rooms, seats were arranged to cleverly separate them.
Originally planned to hold an emergency meeting in the Grand Hall, it was divided into five sections, each with a clearly stated theme. Most of those entering were relevant to the themes.
Moreover, the tense atmosphere within the city was evident, known by everyone.
This meeting was an “emergency meeting.”
Once it involved “urgent measures,” it could increase psychological resilience.
Though such arrangements still raised suspicions, they did not cause major issues.
…
Another half hour passed.
Under the City Lord’s mandatory summons, most of the managers arrived.
Dark and his five companions, led by Tyger, entered and changed into disguising attire.
…
[To be refreshed]
Among those directed to the same room, there were both trustworthy individuals and those marked as demons.
Inside the rooms, seats were arranged to cleverly separate them.
Originally planned to hold an emergency meeting in the Grand Hall, it was divided into five sections, each with a clearly stated theme. Most of those entering were relevant to the themes.
Moreover, the tense atmosphere within the city was evident, known by everyone.
This meeting was an “emergency meeting.”
Once it involved “urgent measures,” it could increase psychological resilience.
Though such arrangements still raised suspicions, they did not cause major issues.
This meeting was an “emergency meeting.”
Once it involved “urgent measures,” it could increase psychological resilience.
Though such arrangements still raised suspicions, they did not cause major issues.
This meeting was an “emergency meeting.”
Once it involved “urgent measures,” it could increase psychological resilience.
In the gathering grounds, the prevailing wind had always been one of “might makes right.”
Therefore, the proportion of strong individuals among the upper-level administrators was extremely high.
Among these people, if any were parasitized by the Brain Fluid Demon, it would be a significant trouble.
“How many?” Dark whispered and asked.
Tyger lowered his head to look at the seating chart in the hands of the Goddess of Heartful Eyes, and said with a gloomy face, “The first three rows are all key targets, marked as Brain Fluid Demons. There are already four!”
Dark replied, “Tell me about their identities.”
Tyger listed them off, saying, “The half-breed owl-man in the middle of the first row has rare magical talent among half-orcs, specializing in large-scale mental illusions combined with eye techniques. He can drag hundreds of people into his environment at once and has been called the Nightmare.”
“The half-breed rock rhino on the left side of the second row has incredible strength, and he can turn stones into armor, charging through battles without obstruction.”
“The half-breed fire eagle on the right side of the second row has innate control over wind and fire, but his magical talent isn’t high. He can only attach wind and fire to weapons, yet he is still very troublesome.”
“The half-breed gray elf on the right side of the third row is a natural assassin who can infiltrate shadows and perform stealth assassinations. His mind is exceptionally sharp, and he knows dark magic, making him possibly the most difficult to deal with here.”
After hearing this, Dark nodded and said, “I’ve noted it down.”
Those parasitized by the Brain Fluid Demon were the only ones who could be saved. There was still hope for saving these four high-ranking strong individuals.
But once the battle truly began, any hint of mercy could increase the variables in the situation.
Though Tyger had countless thoughts in his heart, he didn’t voice any plea for those four individuals.
Even though they were comrades-in-arms who had fought alongside him before.
…
Time trickled by, and the seating chart in the Goddess of Heartful Eyes’s hands gradually filled up with markings.
As dusk approached, the atmosphere in the grand hall became grim.
Just as the detection in the grand hall was still ongoing, a sudden sound came from the first meeting hall being checked.
Tyger quickly picked up the short-range communication stone, and the voice of the messenger soldier suddenly rang out, “Commander, we’ve been discovered!”
Tyger frowned and immediately said, “Immediately activate the internal barrier, seal off the passage between the first and second meeting halls, and eliminate the demons within the first meeting hall! Prioritize marking the Shape Shifter Demons!” “Received!” came a crisp response, and the battle started early on the other side.
Tyger put down the communication stone, about to speak, when a sound came from inside his clothes, with red light seeping out.
He quickly took out another communication stone hidden in his clothes, which had a “west” character engraved on its front.
He activated the communication stone, and a hurried voice emerged, that of the west city governor.
The message was concise and to the point.
“Wild beasts, attacking the city!”
…
Wild beast attacks on the city, also known as “wild beast tides,” have been a phenomenon since the founding of the Free City in its second year.
And as time passed, the frequency of wild beast attacks increased.
Last year, there was a sudden surge in both the strength and number of wild beasts, causing significant losses to the Free City before they could react.
Afterwards, with the establishment of the Adventurer’s Guild, a large number of adventurers flooded into the Free City. Under the guidance of guild missions, they repeatedly cleared out the surrounding wild beasts, which somewhat reduced the intensity of the wild beast attacks.
However, the wild beast tide appearing outside the city gates today made people wonder if the previous reduction in the intensity of the wild beast attacks was actually to prepare for today’s assault.
Outside the west gate, thousands upon thousands of wild beasts gathered, charging madly from ten miles away.
Dust rose, and the ground trembled.
Many adventurers exploring outside the west gate noticed the anomaly and fled back into the city in panic.
The guards at the city gate watched the fleeing adventurers nervously, shouting desperately, “Quickly, quickly,” urging the adventurers to return to the city as soon as possible.
Once the beast tide approached, they would have no choice but to close the gates, leaving those adventurers trapped outside!
On the city walls,
Professor Shylph’s expression was extremely grim.
She had recently locked onto a campsite outside the city where demons were gathered amidst numerous rumors.
But as soon as her wind tendrils reached there, they were instantly severed.
She immediately contacted Professor Metia, asking for specific directions to the site.
Professor Metia quickly provided a relatively accurate direction but also warned, “It’s getting dark soon!”
It’s getting dark soon!
Many races among the demons could gain power from the night, becoming stronger during the evening.
Humans, however, who work from dawn till dusk, feel fatigued after nightfall.
More importantly, Wit’s second consciousness—the connection between One and Two—gradually fades after nightfall!
Once the connection fades, the professors can no longer lock onto Two’s position.
This massive beast tide before them might just be a temporary measure for Two to escape.
But would Two really run away?
Life is unpredictable.
Based on past experiences, it might be hard to predict the outcome accurately.
…
Dark’s heart stirred, and he quickly asked, “Wild beast attack? West gate? Or north-south?”
Tyger replied, “It’s a message from the west. Don’t worry, I’ll send messages to the governors of the other three sides of the city to strengthen their defenses, to prepare for potential sneak attacks.”
Dark looked at him and added, “Be cautious of internal and external cooperation.”
Tyger said, “Almost all senior managers are in this administrative building.”
Dark said, “Almost, right? And you should know that various subordinate institutions within the city are already unmanaged.”
He then raised his head and murmured, “I wonder how Professors Shylph and Metia will handle this?”
…
At the same time.
Inside Professor Metia’s pumpkin carriage, more than twice as many crystal balls flew out compared to before, instantly blending into the approaching night and flying towards various locations outside the city.
She planned to stay in the city, using these thousands of crystal balls to gather information. Then, with her magically enhanced brain, she would rapidly analyze and process the information, and relay orders via Aurora, taking full control of the entire city during this period when all administrators were confined in the administrative building.
Throughout this process, Metia frequently glanced at Aurora.
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed that this twelve-year-old girl held such a high natural status in this vast metropolis.
Those who initially rejected her voice quickly changed their stance upon hearing Aurora’s voice.
The guards responsible for defending the west gate were even invigorated by her few words.
The effect was so obvious that Professor Metia wondered who the true ruler of the city was.
…
At this moment, the true ruler of the city — Suona Montiel Farley — had already learned about the wild beast attack from the communication stone.
Her heart was extremely anxious, but she didn’t show it.
As the saying goes, one must stabilize the inside before dealing with the outside. Since the internal cleanup had progressed this far, it couldn’t be abandoned halfway.
If she couldn’t finish handling things here decisively, she might not have such an opportunity again in the future.
“I can only temporarily entrust the safety of the city to the professors of Saint Maryann Academy…”
Her anxiety was palpable, and even her hair seemed to emit sparks.
“How much longer until things are settled with Dark?”
…
She didn’t have to wait long.
Three minutes after receiving news of the beast tide, Dark Demon entered the hall.
The atmosphere in the hall had become very tense.
Mayor Montiel Farley continued the meeting as if nothing had happened, but the higher-level managers each held short-range communication stones limited to the city, and the number of people aware of the incoming wild beast tide was increasing.
The four high-ranking administrators in the front row, parasitized by the Brain Fluid Demon, were becoming more impulsive due to the demon’s influence.
Among them, the rock rhino half-breed and the fire eagle half-breed, unable to understand the mayor’s intentions, slammed their fists on the table in frustration.
At that moment, the front door of the hall opened, and a golden-haired youth strode in.
Oddly enough, the high-level administrators of the Free City were mostly familiar with this suddenly appearing golden-haired youth.
But despite it being their first meeting, it still required some time to recall and digest the information.
Meanwhile, Dark Demon quickly ascended the stage, smiling brightly as he greeted the audience below:
“Ladies and gentlemen, good evening! Tonight, we shall enjoy a wonderful evening together. I am Dark Demon, son of the Valkyrie.”
…
…
[geigei, donate some moon tickets!]
Chapter 765
It was undeniable that the title of the Valkyrie was quite satisfying to use.
When Dark claimed to be the Valkyrie’s son, the originally restless atmosphere in the hall due to his sudden intrusion quickly subsided.
Dark successfully took control of the situation afterward.
He quickly gave a signal to Sister Carrian, who lightly touched the Feast Card concealed in her sleeve. Three seconds later, the aura of mana spread outward like breathing, enveloping the entire hall.
Some sensitive individuals detected the mana fluctuations, but before they could react, pots of tea appeared on the tables, followed by cakes, biscuits, and small fruit platters.
Thus, the rich aroma filled the room, and the hall was filled with sweet scents.
Although the Feast Card was common knowledge at Saint Maryann Academy, the reaction of the first-year students at their first academy banquet still hinted at how outsiders would respond.
Indeed, the people in the hall quickly focused on the tea and desserts, altering the atmosphere throughout the hall.
Dark took the opportunity to look at Mayor Montiel Farley, who blinked and understood.
Then, a seating chart marked with personnel identities floated in front of her.
She picked up the seating chart and quickly examined it.
Meanwhile, Dark lightly tapped his toe, and the Magical Beast: Ibut (Gluttony II) following him received the command and silently executed the ultimate skill—Tea Party!
The interval between releasing the Feast Card and the Tea Party wasn’t long, and with the Feast Card already in play, it didn’t cause much tension.
Suddenly, a touch of allure appeared within the sweet range in the hall.
Under the effect of the Tea Party, emerald green vines climbed the walls, and vibrant roses bloomed in the air, spreading their fragrance.
Everyone covered by the Tea Party felt intense hunger and thirst, subconsciously reaching for tea or tasting cakes… The entire hall was truly enjoying afternoon tea!
Even though it was already dusk.
…
While the people in the hall were captivated by the Tea Party, a group of people quietly entered from the back door. The guards with tracking spells simultaneously cast their spells, and a blood aura appeared above every marked demon.
Despite the hall having the largest number of people and the strongest among them, no one reacted. Almost all the demons were marked instantly.
What remained was merely cleaning up.
Dark then produced a Mana Spirit Card.
“In the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning—Phantom Worm!”
He quickly chanted, and in just three seconds, a glowing larva flew out of the card, wobbling toward the center of the hall.
The surface of this Phantom Worm was translucent, with faint transparency. It had a pair of tiny transparent wings on its back, emitting light.
When it reached the center of the hall, it immediately released its core ultimate skill—Piercing Sight!
The eyes of the Phantom Worm instantly widened, and two enormous pupils appeared before it, suddenly emitting intense white light.
The light illuminated everyone enjoying the tea party in an instant. The Phantom Magi, disguised by illusions, immediately sensed something.
But their hands were still uncontrollably stuck to the sweets and teacups, watching as the illusions covering their bodies melted away like snow under the Piercing Sight. They were affected by the Tea Party and couldn’t react in time.
Meanwhile, the guards who had prepared beforehand poured in, rushing toward the exposed demons!
Phantom Magi were special demons specialized in illusion magic. They had ugly appearances and weak constitutions. Once their illusions were broken, they were easy targets.
In military formations, Phantom Magi were usually protected.
Now, exposing themselves so openly was quite rare.
However, the remaining demon remnants possessed very limited resources. Even if Number Two had complete memories as the Demon King, it was difficult to produce many demons with such limited resources. Their plan against the Free City was to occupy the city and increase their resource acquisition routes.
In times of urgency, even vulnerable Phantom Magi had to join the fight.
Of course, if this emergency meeting hadn’t been called, a few Phantom Magi would have been stationed around these demons.
But since they wanted to “play their roles,” they had to follow the mayor’s orders and enter the administrative building alone today.
…
The guards rushed into the crowd without hesitation, directly killing the Phantom Magi to prevent them from casting any illusions.
Among the Phantom Magi, Amilo Worms, Shape Shifter Demons, Brain Devourer Magi, and Brain Fluid Demons, the Phantom Magi were the weakest in terms of physical constitution but also the most troublesome. Therefore, it was the most appropriate choice to eliminate the Phantom Magi first.
Humans and demons had deep-seated enmity, and half-breeds were no exception.
Seeing the exposed Phantom Magi, the guards’ eyes turned red, and they exerted themselves fully. In just two or three minutes, they cut down more than a dozen Phantom Magi like cutting grass, reducing the scene to silence.
During this brief interval, Dark summoned a Trash Slime, evolved it into a Greed Slime II with Greed III, and then used Division and Conquer to split it into seven-star slimes. He then used three of these star slimes and the body of the Greed Slime II as sacrifices to summon the third-tier Mana Spirit—Draconic Ballet!
At the same time, Eve had already used Shadow Step to slip into his shadow.
Olivia and Angrey stood on either side of him, like guardian deities, protecting him.
For the maids, protecting the young master’s safety was their top priority.
Assisting the Free City in hunting demons was not within their scope of duties.
“Draconic Ballet, aim your dragon arrows!”
…
As the Phantom Magi were completely eliminated and the effects of the Tea Party gradually weakened, more guards poured in from the back door, targeting the demons with blood auras floating above their heads.
At this moment, the mayor of the Free City—Suona Montiel Farley—also leaped forward like a rocket into the crowd.
Her target was the owl-human half-breed parasitized by the Brain Fluid Demon—Lolomi. Lolomi sat in the first row, looking old with deep wrinkles, sunken eyes, and a few feathers near her shoulders. Apart from these, she bore little resemblance to an owl-person.
When Mayor Montiel Farley’s eyes flashed with fury, she felt immense relief.
Lolomi had been her comrade-in-arms for over twenty years, a war-time ally. Her illusions were incredibly powerful, having helped their team execute multiple infiltration missions and escape death many times.
The trauma of war and the passage of time had weakened Lolomi’s physical condition. She had considered retiring in recent years.
But Mayor Montiel Farley relied on her and didn’t want her to retire.
However, this stubbornness led to her being targeted by the demons.
Fortunately, the demon parasitizing her brain was a Brain Fluid Demon!
“We can’t let her release illusions!”
Flames of determination blazed in Mayor Montiel Farley’s eyes!
The bloodline of the Sun Giant surged within her, causing her eyes to glow like the sun, releasing intense light.
Lolomi was the first to break free from the control of the Tea Party, emitting a piercing scream. Swirling patterns appeared in her eyes, directing a spiral wave at Mayor Montiel Farley.
But Mayor Montiel Farley was well-prepared, and the power of the sun shattered her illusion.
“Bang!”
As the illusion shattered, Mayor Montiel Farley’s right hand seized Lolomi’s neck.
“Quick!”
Mayor Montiel Farley lifted her up abruptly, urgently shouting.
On the other side, Sister Carrian concentrated light at her fingertips and pointed forward. The spell’s light pierced through space, striking Lolomi’s forehead, instantly penetrating her brain and the Brain Fluid Demon inside.
Lolomi’s eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness immediately.
Mayor Montiel Farley threw her forcefully backward, and Angrey stepped forward, catching Lolomi and placing her beside him.
Next, Mayor Montiel Farley charged toward the rock rhino half-breed in the second row.
Seed!
The battle has fully erupted!
…
The dragon arrows of the Draconic Ballet in the air were specifically aimed at those whose brains had been hollowed out by the Brain Devourer Magi.
The Brain Devourer Magi’s physical form was not powerful enough to withstand the might of the dragon arrows.
Each dragon arrow shot out precisely took away one Brain Devourer Magi, with extremely high efficiency.
Dark did not continue summoning but stood on the platform, overseeing the entire situation.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the demons who realized they were exposed rise up to attack, saw the people marked by the city guards join the fight with roars, saw the Shape Shifter Demon reveal its body like a large slime after deforming, saw the stalemate between Mayor Montiel Farley and the rock rhinoceros half-breed, and saw… two more half-breeds parasitized by Brain Fluid Demons charging over!
“Good!”
Dark’s eyes shone, retreating not even a step.
He stood here to make himself sufficiently noticeable.
Among all the threats in this grand hall, the four half-breeds parasitized by Brain Fluid Demons posed the greatest danger.
The owl half-breed was the most dangerous but also the easiest to deal with; it was now unconscious and captured.
The rock rhinoceros half-breed had the greatest strength and defense, could transform into a small giant four to five meters tall, and dealt lethal damage with each wave of its hand. Even the “Sun Warrior” couldn’t take it down in a short time…
In fact, most of the elders who built the Free City alongside Mayor Montiel Farley were heroes active in wars. Their mixed blood made it difficult for them to receive their due glory, but their achievements wouldn’t be forgotten. They were among the strongest!
If these four half-breeds parasitized by Brain Fluid Demons joined the rear battle, even if everyone in the Free City’s management was a warrior, there would still be considerable losses.
But now, these remaining two half-breeds were successfully lured, which was the best result!
“Fire Hawk half-breed and Gray Elf half-breed?”
Dark said excitedly, “Sister Carrian, which one do you want?”
Sister Carrian smiled seductively and pointed to the Gray Elf half-breed emitting a dark aura.
Light and darkness were mutually destructive. As a former nun of the Church of the Saints, she naturally handled such Gray Elf half-breeds easily.
“I’ll…” Dark looked excitedly at the Fire Hawk half-breed engulfed in flames, pulling out three mana cards from his deck.
“Angrey, quick victory.” But Olivia standing beside him spoke coldly.
Dark’s expression froze as he saw Angrey stepping forward.
As a qualified maid, she would never allow her master to enter danger.
Angrey slightly raised her head, her delicate face illuminated by the blazing firelight. Her eyes were large, her reddish-brown hair intricately braided, exuding the unique coquettish charm of the Pisces Palace.
But that was just her appearance. Angrey was an anomaly within the Pisces Palace.
“Dress!”
After a low chant, water droplets condensed around Angrey, absorbing the terrifying mana from seven Underworld Fires in an instant.
A blue fish shadow appeared behind her, and she donned water-based armor engraved with intricate diamond patterns, tightly fitting her slender figure.
The moment she stepped into her boots, Angrey’s figure turned into a phantom.
The Fire Hawk half-breed, stimulated by the Brain Fluid Demon, became hideous and akin to a berserk state, suddenly flying backward, crashing into the ceiling and smashing the magical lamps.
Angrey’s figure appeared briefly, then vanished again. Punch marks appeared on the Fire Hawk half-breed, flames scattered everywhere, and screams echoed incessantly, as if it had no power to retaliate!
“Gyaa—”
After enduring half a minute of torment, the Fire Hawk half-breed finally let out a piercing scream, emitting a wind-fire resistance halo that pushed Angrey back slightly.
Its eyes turned red, and it grabbed the wind-fire weapon in its hands!
But before it could act, a massive water elemental python emerged from Angrey’s vortex, opening its mouth wide towards it!
…
…
[Please vote for me ▄█▔▉●]
Chapter 766
“Roar!”
The roar reverberated through the hall.
The Fire Hawk half-breed swallowed by the water python struggled in the water, its flames flickering out.
Such attribute clashes were inherently deadly.
Moreover, Angrey’s mana was vast, even ranking among the top in the duchess’s maids’ team.
Upon completing this mission and returning, she would even qualify for the Golden Sanctuary, where she could attempt the Golden Trials to gain recognition of the remaining Golden Armor.
Angrey floated in the air, her slender arms surrounded by swirling water, forming armguards several times thicker than her arms.
Her figure surged again, and that punch penetrated the water python’s body, sending the Fire Hawk half-breed flying out from its abdomen.
“Pffft!”
A long trail of blood streaked through the air.
The Fire Hawk half-breed was sent flying, spewing blood!
“Newman!”
Mayor Montiel Farley, engaged in battle with the rock rhinoceros half-breed, suddenly cried out in alarm, then was smashed away by a giant fist covered in rock layers.
The rock rhinoceros half-breed seized the opportunity to roar loudly and charge forward.
This momentum was much stronger than that of the Fire Hawk half-breed.
At this moment, a white light descended from the sky, entering Newman’s body.
The Fire Hawk half-breed received treatment and finally caught its breath.
But Angrey’s armored petite figure attacked again!
“Hold back!”
It was Dark’s first time seeing Angrey’s combat capabilities. He hurriedly reminded her, standing next to the Adorable Beast blinking its eyes.
Dark had summoned it to treat those in danger, but没想到第一个受益的会是被脑液魔寄生的炎鹰混血种纽曼。
他心中无语，继续看向安格瑞。
安格瑞得到少爷的提醒，攻势一缓，那条水元素巨蟒瞬间化为水流，缩回到她的身后漩涡之中。
而后从那漩涡之中，又有八条章鱼触手再次钻出，使她仿佛化身了触手怪，造型惊悚。
下一瞬间，那八条水元素凝聚的触手骤然伸长，朝着炎鹰混血种缠绕过去。
“风！”
炎鹰混血种在倒飞的途中急声喝道，翅膀上的羽毛根根立起，顿时化为风火缠绕的箭矢，密密麻麻地射向安格瑞。
但那安格瑞仅是双眼一眯，竟是毫无防御地冲入了箭矢之中，那些箭矢射中她的武装铠甲，却只发出一连串“叮叮咚咚”的声响，连一丝痕迹都无法留下。
炎鹰混血种的双眼顿时通红。
脑液魔会刺激寄生者的欲望，炎鹰混血种此刻被求胜欲彻底支配，而这般连对方防御都无法击破的现实，令其尤为难受。
然而时间的流逝是如此可怕。
属于他的时代，已经落幕了。
…
眼看这边已经毫无悬念，达克的目光终于转向了卡莉安修女。
卡莉安修女在学院里不显山不露水，如果不是几次事件都有她参与，达克对她的了解恐怕也仅止于她是被圣教除名的大修女。
总之，无论她是在圣教当修女时就已经如此强大，还是转职校医之后才变得如此强大，对现在的局势而言，都没有任何区别。
卡莉安修女并没有提起皮鞭就冲上去鞭打灰精灵，而是采用了魔导师的标准战法——她首先召唤出了魔导精灵！
达克并非没见过卡莉安修女的魔导精灵，她在医务室忙不过来的时候，偶尔会召唤出几只魔导精灵帮忙，必要时也会召唤魔导精灵对学生进行紧急治疗。
达克偶尔从萝丝口中听到一些医学课的内容，知道绝大部分治疗法术都会在一定程度上透支被治疗者的生命力，浅显的影响可以通过进食、药物与休养等手段来弥补回来，但一旦透支过重，就会导致被治疗者生命力永久缺失，造成诸如“减寿”之类的后果。
因此，这个世界上的医生虽然也需要学习治疗法术，但都是能不用就不用。
倒是魔导精灵们，并不用担心会被治疗法术透支生命。
…
卡莉安修女先召唤出了一阶的魔导精灵阻住了灰精灵混血种的脚步，再以其为祭品献祭召唤出了二阶的魔导精灵，继续与其周旋。
然后她又使用了献祭召唤术，很普通地献祭召唤出了三阶的魔导精灵。
那是一只大约八星级的光系天使种！
看到那只天使种时，一个达克一度放弃去思考的问题不禁又涌上心头。
卡莉安修女到底违背了什么戒律，才会被圣教除名？
一个炼成了天使种的大修女！
那只以脚尖沾地方式低空漂浮着的天使种，有着奶油色方块果冻般的外形，但有整整两米高。它的双眼和嘴巴长在果冻的正面，双手双脚极为纤细苗条，就像是将整个身体都隐藏在果冻里的少女。
而它头顶之上，漂浮着白色的光环，背后则漂浮着两只小小的鸡翅。
非常可爱！
如果不是有一只灰精灵混血种被它一拳拳殴打的话，真的非常可爱。
达克眨巴着眼睛，半晌后才看出来。
这个方块天使头顶的光环不断释放白色光束，那白色光束能驱散阴影，让灰精灵混血种完全无法潜入影子。
而一旦被白色光束照到，灰精灵混血种会有将近半秒的迟滞，就像是一段帧数突然被抽掉一般。
而方块天使的拳头，就会在那一刻挥出，使其躲无可躲。
方块天使的拳头虽小，但上面包裹着一层光属性能量层，每一拳轰在灰精灵混血种身上，都像是出了暴击。
这灰精灵混血种偶尔也会倔强地发挥自身能力，想要扭转局势，但每每出现兆头，就会被方块天使打落。
如此一来，竟也形成了几乎一面倒的碾压态势！
…
而在这种情况下，卡莉安修女已经在为下一张使人晕厥的魔法卡积蓄魔力。
一旦灰精灵的魔力与体能下降到一定程度，她便会立刻发难，将其彻底抓住。
…
“这么一看，反而城主那边有些麻烦？”
达克目光一转，又看向了蒙蒂尔法莉城主。
此时，礼堂内魔族与人类之间已经出现了一条较为明显的界线。
战斗力较低的人在泰格的呼喝下理智后退，战斗力较高的人则在那些魔族显出本体后毫不犹豫地扑杀上去。
在有心算无心的情况下，人类这边呈现出明显的优势。
蒙蒂尔法莉城主与岩犀混血种之间的战斗，几乎成为最后的变数。
那个岩犀混血种名叫加德纳，和泰格一样，是建城之初便已存在的元老，而且他在自由之都的威望比泰格还要高一些，现在担任的是军团长一职。
自由之都虽然占地广阔，但城中只有两支军团，分别以日月命名。
加德纳是其中炎日军团的最高长官。
顺便一提，另一支冰月军团的军团长是猫头鹰混血种——洛洛米奇。
而那个灰精灵混血种则是冰月军团的副军团长。
不出意外的话，等到洛洛米奇退休，灰精灵混血种就会接任军团长一职。
而自由之都的军队除了这两支军团外，只剩下泰格率领的城卫军。
换句话说，魔族实际上已经控制了自由之都半数的城防！
如果没有今天的这场会议，自由之都必然会遭受重大损失。
无论如何，她必须出去。
“走吧，去西城门。”
达克从台上走下，来到蒙蒂尔法莉城主身边。
尽管他的身体发育已经相当迅速，但在蒙蒂尔法莉城主身边，依旧如同孩童一般。
“欧若拉会长到这么高吗？”
他心中不由浮现出这一念头，立刻掐灭了它。
如今的西城门虽然有希尔芙教授等人镇守，但教授们并不具备最直观的识别魔族伪装的方式，在战争激烈时，未必不会被扎冷刀子。
因此他必须前往。
“我会留下一个‘心眼的女神’，让它持续开启‘心眼’，配合你们继续检查。”
他让那只没有灵智的‘心眼的女神’暂时跟随泰格，自己则在三位女仆的护佑下朝门外走去。
“蒙蒂尔法莉阿姨，外面需要我们。”
…
但离开政务楼的过程并不顺利。
结界屏蔽了部分感知，他们专注于战斗，并未发现政务楼外已被混入城内的魔族包围。
这些魔族没有伪装变形之法，但魔族中多有人形，只需稍加遮掩异于常人的部位，就能简单混入城中。
自由之都不设门禁，亚人种频繁出入，对于这些人形魔族自然也不设限。
这群魔族数量庞大，实力层面也明显高于幻魔、阿米洛虫、食脑魔和变形魔。
它们本应作为那些被置换之人的部署，在自由之都的暗面活跃。
然而大批混入高层的魔族被一道命令诱入楼中，当有魔族察觉不对并传出消息时已
Late as it was, the barrier around the Administrative Building prevented timely assistance.
When Dak and others appeared at the door, they were preparing to charge through the barrier.
Although demons outside the city had already controlled monsters to besiege the city, these demons that had infiltrated the city should have worked in tandem with those outside to quickly breach the walls. However, the demons inside this building were crucial for taking control after breaching the city walls.
Humans would never allow demons to take over the Free City; thus, they needed those demons who successfully disguised themselves as humans.
…
Dak stood at the door, separated from thousands of demons by just a barrier. Behind him were the tall Mayor Montiel Farley and a group of Free City officials preparing to head to the West City Gate.
“I’ll clear a path,” Mayor Montiel Farley said as she walked past, her fiery red hair swaying in the wind. Despite her rugged appearance, her face radiated heroism.
Her battles with half-breeds of rock rhinos had cleared her mind, dispelling all her accumulated gloom.
In times of peace, people could not bear to see death.
They had come through days of war, where every day saw companions disappear forever.
She should not be hindered in such a situation.
But a hand stopped her.
“I’ll do it,” Dak raised his hand and said.
Before the meeting began, the humans outside the Administrative Building had been moved away by the city guards. Now, all he could see were demons.
He had never seen so many demons gathered together before. His mind filled with images of various demon types from books.
His first thought was that it was very diverse.
The demons blocking the Administrative Building were extremely diverse in their composition.
Moreover, their behavior did not resemble that of the demon remnants who had successfully evaded detection under the alliance of the hundred races.
“Are these made by Number Two? How many are complete? How many are incomplete?”
Dak’s mana surged to his brain, his perception rapidly spreading out. From nearly a thousand demons, he sensed many with power comparable to that of a Salamander, even surpassing it with the strength of seven or eight-star mana spirits.
Dak pondered briefly and drew two mana spirit cards from his deck.
No one obstructed him.
His movements were swift.
For a duelist mage, drawing and summoning cards could feel instantaneous, like the spells of old-time wizards.
“By the name of Dak Diemon, Mana Summoning — [Primordial Dragon Egg]!”
In just three seconds, a brilliant light of summoning illuminated his face.
The demons outside the building suddenly became alert.
“Kill him! Stop him from summoning!”
They shouted in a language foreign to humans, but Dak understood them. Waves of killing intent rose like a tidal wave.
Mages of this era constantly displayed their power through mana duels.
The execution ritual of the Demon King earlier had shown that even hidden demon remnants were learning mana technology.
However, advanced mana technology was limited to a few schools. The gap between inside and outside the schools had formed a technological barrier.
Graduates of these schools often struggled to fund their experiments, resorting to participating in mana duels for research funds… This showed how meager their lives were.
Mages were strongest within schools; only after leaving could they truly appreciate their student days.
Demon remnants lacked the most advanced mana technology, yet they still had a basic understanding.
And with their guidance, these demons now knew the best way to deal with a mage.
That was to crush them before they could summon any mana spirits!
Yet, achieving this was extremely difficult.
A qualified mage’s summon took only three seconds. Killing a mage before they completed the summon was nearly impossible.
Light flashed.
A massive dragon egg appeared before everyone.
Without Dak’s command, Olivia summoned a light attribute shield several meters wide, protecting the dragon egg and those behind it.
Olivia was a mage, specializing in [Armed], but she also had more than just [Armed Card].
This [Guardian Light Wall] had the strength equivalent to a six-star mana spirit with 3000 defense and 2000 mana.
It could withstand attacks below 3000 strength.
Withstanding this once, the [Baby Blue-Eye Dragon] would naturally break free!
“Roar~”
A young yet long dragon’s cry burst from the egg. A baby blue-eyed dragon with silver scales spread its wings and flew out.
A second summoning light followed, appearing beside it.
“By the name of Dak Diemon, Mana Summoning — [Magical Beast: Fusion Mark Creature · Dragon]!”
[Magical Beast: Fusion Mark Creature · Dragon]!
▼
[Fusion of Dragons: Including [Fusion Mark Creature · Dragon] as fusion materials, offering this set of fusion materials as a sacrifice can special summon a corresponding dragon-type mana spirit.]
▲
The [Magical Beast: Fusion Mark Creature · Dragon], which recorded the information of [Curse Cage: Agumon], could fuse with the [Baby Blue-Eye Dragon] without needing a [Fusion] card!
Dak held the mana spirit card, his mana flooding into it like a flood, filling the container in seconds.
A giant light ball depicting the [Dragon’s Curse Mark] shot towards the [Baby Blue-Eye Dragon], drilling into its body!
The [Baby Blue-Eye Dragon]’s feet emitted a large and intricate fusion summon array as the immense dragon aura released upon breaking the shell turned wild.
Its body underwent dramatic changes after fusing with the [Magical Beast: Fusion Mark Creature · Dragon].
“Roar!”
Amidst the terrifying dragon roar, the raging dragon aura ruthlessly crushed forward toward the demons ahead.
The immense disparity in rank caused lower-ranked demons to suffocate severely.
Above the sky, oppressive energy condensed into heavy clouds.
Darkness descended, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
The [Baby Blue-Eye Dragon]’s wings turned into a yellowish-green glow during the fusion process, and the beautiful silver dragon scales took on a dark, metallic hue.
Yet, despite the oppressive and heavy aura, it still emanated light.
Like the last glimmer of light in the darkness.
The young tyrant was summoned in just ten seconds, manifesting in the world.
Compared to traditional dragons, the [Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon] was not large, with a round and adorable appearance that contrasted with its violent aura.
But it was still a tyrant.
…
“Roar!!!”
Facing the malice of many demons, the [Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon] roared in anger.
Blood-red and dark tides surged in its eyes. Its attack, originally at 3500 points, skyrocketed to 7000 points in a fit of rage.
“Release the dragon’s aura — [Crimson Eyes’ Radiance]!”
Dak calmly issued the command.
The dragon aura, far more terrifying than before, burst forth like a flood.
Demons rushing toward the Administrative Building’s entrance, those casting spells from afar, and those controlling monsters to swarm in…
In an instant, the dragon aura overwhelmed them, pressing them down as if by a mountain, causing immediate fear and retreat.
Nearly a thousand demons gathered outside the Administrative Building, trembling and unable to move or attack.
Dak raised his hand at this moment, pointing straight up with his index finger.
“Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon — [Annihilation Bursting Gale Bullet]!”
“Roar!”
The tyrant dragon’s roar echoed across the sky. Countless lights converged, forming a highly compressed energy ball in front of its mouth.
Surrounding light seemed to vanish, leaving only the bright light around the energy ball.
From the energy ball, a terrifying wave of destruction emanated.
Even the high-ranking officials of the Free City behind Dak felt a chill like facing a dragon from the abyss.
— Annihilation Bursting Gale Bullet!
When the energy ball compressed to its limit, the [Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon] unleashed it.
Like the sun stealing the moon’s light, the energy ball exploded among the immobilized demons!
“Boom!”
With the [Tyrant]’s boost, the [Annihilation Bursting Gale Bullet] with 8000 attack points inflicted devastating damage on the tightly packed thousand demons.
True powerhouses had stronger life force than ordinary mana spirits, but they also had drawbacks.
Without a head or heart, they died.
Without hands or legs, they lost combat effectiveness.
After this [Annihilation Bursting Gale Bullet], even if some demons could recover, they were no longer a concern.
Dak did not show much reaction to the carnage before him. He stood there for about half a minute, waiting for the aftermath of the [Annihilation Bursting Gale Bullet] to dissipate and for the [Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon]’s thirty-second “stun” to pass.
When the chaotic energy inside the [Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon] stabilized after releasing the [Annihilation Bursting Gale Bullet], he swiftly climbed onto its back.
Despite the [Baby Blue-Eyed Tyrant Dragon]’s narrow back, it was enough for him.
“Let’s go, to the west!”
The tyrant soared into the sky.
…
In the next moment, the wyvern circling above the Administrative Building swooped down, carrying Olivia, Angrey, Eve, Sister Carrian, and Mayor Montiel Farley.
The heavily burdened wyvern flapped its wings fiercely, heading west.
The high-ranking officials left behind did not hesitate. Some rushed to eliminate the remaining demons, while others rode horses to their posts. Others flew off, chasing the mayor to the west.
The battle on the western front was intense.
…
Since the discovery of the monster siege, over half an hour had passed, and the monster army had already arrived.
The guards responsible for the city gates tried their best to let adventurers enter, but when the monsters approached dangerously close, they had no choice but to close the gates, forcing the adventurers to flee through the side and possibly enter through the north or south gates.
The Fire Sun Corps of the Sun and Moon Legion had already gathered at the West City Gate, but without their commander present, they remained on the defensive.
The Ice Moon Corps, however, split into two, guarding the north and south gates.
During this half-hour, the true defenders were Professor Shylph and others floating above the city gates.
Sarah Shylph, Pavar Jones, Lily Laplace, Steve Harvey.
These four professors undoubtedly had the highest combat abilities in Saint Maryann Academy.
The tide of monsters, which seemed capable of crushing the entire city, was stubbornly halted outside the moat.
When thousands of monsters entered view, countless people were terrified. However, Professor Lily Laplace smiled with extreme excitement.
Her laughter was like a fairy in the night — she was an imp!
Even without moving a finger, a monster broke free from some kind of restraint, charging towards other monsters.
Those beasts, which had been turned traitors by the natural charm of the imp, reversed the tide, leading the first wave of monsters into chaos.
Professor Lily quickly fluttered her dragonfly wings, flying in an excited “8” pattern in the air.
Professor Sarah Shylph wanted to pull her back due to the danger, but her reins were broken, and no one could stop her.
Professor Shylph could only ask Professor Jones to cover for her while she quickly drew a mana spirit card amidst the monstrous roars and summoned calmly.
“By the name of Sarah Shylph, Mana Summoning — [Column of Wind]!”
Not a mana spirit card, but an item card.
The [Column of Wind], which required immense mana to summon, was twelve meters tall.
Professor Shylph placed it on the fifty-meter-high wall, making it particularly eye-catching.
The [Column of Wind] had a circular air hole running through each meter of its body, with twenty-four holes centered around it, engraved with radiating circular arrays.
At the top of the [Column of Wind], an equilateral triangle was carved, with a circle hole at each corner.
After summoning the [Column of Wind], Professor Shylph raised her hand, pinching her thumb and index finger, and plucking at the golden strands of hair.
Three [Wind Spirits] rolled out, dancing happily around her fingers.
She flicked her fingers, tapping each of the three [Wind Spirits].
The three [Wind Spirits] immediately understood, flying swiftly to the top of the [Column of Wind] and sitting in the three circles of the equilateral triangle.
As the three [Wind Spirits] took their positions, the arrays on the [Column of Wind] instantly lit up, and twelve powerful air currents erupted from the holes.
Professor Shylph pressed her hand against the [Column of Wind], changing the direction of the air currents to flow from east to west — in the next moment, a fierce gale howled!
The terrifying strong wind, dividing at the wall, suddenly appeared outside the West City Gate.
The tide of monsters rushing from west to east was flipped over by this gale!
The leading monsters desperately clawed the ground, but they only left deep scratches and were blown backward like balls.
Monsters with larger surface areas were even lifted by the wind.
Those bulky monsters, weighing tons, probably never experienced such a “weightless” treatment.
In this terrifying wind, they were like paper kites, flying higher and higher…
Lily covered her small belly, laughing joyfully.
Even Professors Jones and Harvey were infected by her joy and couldn’t help smiling.
But Professor Shylph remained serious, her gaze fixed on a demon camp behind the beast tide. Her wind tendrils had been severed there.
…
At the city gate, adventurers who failed to enter the city were in a panic. This terrifying beast tide, never seen before outside the Free City, dominated them with fear.
As the beast tide rapidly approached, adventurers saw themselves being crushed into pulp.
But just before death, a sudden gale swept through their ears. They suddenly opened their eyes, and the tide of beasts was reversing, moving further and further away from the gate…
This miracle-like scene would be etched in their memories forever.
Then, an upward current rose beneath them, lifting them into the air.
In this dreamlike state of floating, countless adventurers who failed to enter the city were saved by the rising current and carried to the fifty to sixty-meter-high walls.
Awakening adventurers leaped onto the wall and fell to the ground, exhausted.
May the wind god protect us!
…
“Roar——”
Six minutes into the reversal of the beast tide, a terrifying roar came from another direction.
A massive creature, twenty meters tall, emerged with mountainous steps!
Chapter 767
“What is that?”
Adventurers slumped on the wall were suddenly awakened by the heavy footsteps and stood up, looking in disbelief.
The creature had the body of a bear and the head of a tiger, with a tail like a giant python.
It ran on all fours, reaching a height of twenty meters. If it stood upright, it could easily reach the top of the wall!
The Free City had faced many waves of monster tides, and this super-giant was not the first.
Previously, a giant standing at twenty meters was considered enormous. Today, this giant was twenty meters tall even lying down!
Such a massive monster rendered the city walls useless. Every step shook the ground. It was unknown how it had remained hidden outside.
Under countless eyes, the giant pushed through the terrifying wind, charging forward relentlessly!
Its presence was like a stabilizing needle in the storm, calming the panicked beasts behind it.
Almost immediately after, a giant bird with a thirty-meter wingspan flew in from afar. Its speed created sonic booms, accompanied by a violent storm, akin to thunder.
The intense air currents in the world were disturbed after its appearance.
…
“It’s the [Earth Bear] and [Thunder Giant Eagle]!”
Even Professor Shylph could not help but furrow her brows when she saw these two giants.
She wasn’t afraid of them but realized that the scale of this monster assault was unprecedented.
Whether it was the [Earth Bear] or [Thunder Giant Eagle], they were merely appetizers.
Combined with the chaos inside the city caused by the infiltrating demons.
If not for their timely intervention, the Free City would have
There was a threat of annihilation!
Of course, the source of this upheaval might very well lie with them.
Thus, even for the sake of resolving the cause and effect, they should take action.
“Pavar.”
Professor Shylph softly called out the name of Professor Jones, who only gave a brief response before beginning the summoning.
With the pillar of raging wind, she blew up strong winds to block the enemy, but it was merely a temporary measure, aiming to forcibly resolve the first wave of attacks from the beast tide.
And when one’s spirit is high, it wanes after the first charge, and declines further after the second. Even this tide of magic beasts couldn’t continuously launch such fierce assaults as the first wave.
Once they seized back the initiative, the advantages of being a Magus would manifest one by one.
“By the name of Pavar Jones, Mana Summoning — [Survival of the Fittest]!”
As the light of summoning appeared, a circle of fences suddenly emerged behind Professor Pavar Jones.
This fence was half a meter tall, mostly ceremonial in nature.
Within these fences, one meat-eating livestock after another leaped out from the light of summoning.
These livestock were of various sizes, but each one was as fat as a domestic pig, and some birds were so plump that they couldn’t fly, sporting six or seven pairs of wings on their backs.
Professor Jones paused slightly before drawing another Mana Card of the same name.
The previous [Survival of the Fittest] was a legion-type Mana Spirit Card, while the latter was an extremely rare Secret Rite Card!
Under the effect of the [Survival of the Fittest] Secret Rite, one “weak” livestock after another collided within the magic array, fusing into larger mountains of flesh.
These “weak” livestock transformed from two stars to four stars, and then from four stars to eight stars.
In the blink of an eye, the largest livestock had already sprawled like a small mountain in the center.
Afterward, Professor Jones used these “weak” livestock as sacrifices, initiating a sacrificial summon.
“With one eight-star [Survival of the Fittest] and one two-star [Survival of the Fittest] as sacrifices, sacrificial summon — [Stoneclad Great Bear]!”
In front of this battlefield, flamboyant summoning methods were far less reliable than stable and productive summoning methods.
Professor Jones’ [Survival of the Fittest] was her exclusive Mana Card, perhaps not ideal in Mana Duels, but very overpowered in a protected arena.
She held the Mana Card of [Stoneclad Great Bear] across her chest, squinting at the rapidly approaching [Earth Bear], a hint of a smile forming on her lips.
The demon army led by the second Demon King was plotting in a camp somewhere behind the beast tide, while they stood atop the city wall, facing each other from afar.
The vast expanse between them seemed to become the battlefield for a duel.
If viewed this way, there was indeed a semblance of a Mana Duel.
Standing fifteen to sixteen meters tall, the [Stoneclad Great Bear] materialized from the sacrificial summoning array in front of the city wall and moat.
The power of the earth actively surged towards its body as its feet touched the ground.
Rock armor as hard as steel formed on its body.
Professor Jones drew another Mana Card named [Enlargement] from her deck!
“In the name of Pavar Jones, Mana Summoning — [Enlargement]!”
A flood of Mana poured into the [Enlargement] Mana Card in her hand, taking a full half-minute to fill it completely.
A crimson circular array appeared beneath the [Stoneclad Great Bear].
Massive energy surged into the [Stoneclad Great Bear] through [Enlargement], causing its already massive body to swell further.
Sixteen meters, seventeen meters, eighteen meters… all the way to thirty-six meters!
The height of the [Stoneclad Great Bear] more than doubled, and its size increased several times over. From afar, it was no weaker than the [Earth Bear] opposite it!
Both were giant bears with ground attributes, truly evenly matched.
Professor Jones restrained her impulse to rush onto the battlefield and engage in close combat with the giant beast, extending her right hand to command the [Stoneclad Great Bear] to charge!
“Boom—”
The [Stoneclad Great Bear] slammed the ground fiercely. Over ten thousand points of attack after the [Enlargement] shattered the ground, but the rapidly converging earth power quickly sealed the cracks.
Excited, it roared and charged directly at the [Earth Bear] opposite!
[Enlargement] doubled its attack but also reduced its defense proportionally.
However, with the [Rock Armor], the reduction in defense was compensated for, and it gained rapid self-healing abilities from the constant influx of earth power.
Though its health bar might not match that of the [Earth Bear], its resilience was absolutely formidable.
“Hu—”
Gale howled.
The [Thunderous Great Peng] hovered three kilometers away in the sky, flapping its wings and letting out a sudden cry.
Suddenly, thunder rumbled in the night sky, and the gale reversed.
The wind from the [Pillar of Gale] was nullified, and the magic beasts regrouped under the pressure of the two giant beasts, charging again toward the city gate.
Against the seemingly unstoppable tide, the [Stoneclad Great Bear] advanced, trampling countless magic beasts until it finally intercepted the [Earth Bear] two kilometers from the city wall.
The two giant bears collided head-on, like mountains crashing and the earth splitting apart. The thunderous sound from the [Thunderous Great Peng] was drowned out.
The energy waves generated by this collision obliterated the vitality of nearby magic beasts.
The pressure of earth power caused oceanic whirlpools of energy to surge on the ground.
Instantly, within hundreds of meters around them, a desolate area devoid of any living beings was created.
…
On the city wall, the flow of air suddenly stopped spewing from the [Pillar of Gale] and began to suck inward instead.
Above Professor Shylph’s head, a visible vortex of wind formed.
The fluctuations of wind element energy gradually spread, becoming increasingly terrifying.
She floated above the city wall, facing the [Thunderous Great Peng] from afar, slowly raising her right hand.
At the tip of her finger, wind elements gathered, and a golden-haired elf, as if cast from the same mold, slowly opened its eyes in the vortex of wind elements.
The flow of wind ceased.
…
Twelve-star Mana Spirit — [Wind Element Lord Shylph]!
…
Floating above Professor Shylph’s head, the Wind Element Lord Shylph had bare white jade-like feet, with a gentle breeze swirling around, emitting a pale blue glow.
It wore traditional elemental race clothing, yet its chest was anything but traditional.
Its long hair was a light gold, with long ears protruding from it, longer than those of Professor Shylph, resembling a pure-blooded elf.
Except for its ears, all other features were identical to Professor Shylph, delicate and graceful.
A glowing, blue wind rune adorned its forehead.
Its demeanor was gentle and refined.
From an appearance standpoint, it resembled a pureblooded version of Professor Shylph.
But this impression was instantly overturned when it raised its right hand, palm facing the sky!
A pure gun made entirely of wind elements instantly formed in the sudden storm.
Without any hesitation, the spear, over ten meters long, shot out!
“Bang!”
The sound of a sonic boom exploded in place.
A blood hole suddenly appeared in the chest of the [Thunderous Great Peng].
Blood did not even have time to spill.
“Grr—”
Delayed pain transmission through nerves caused the [Thunderous Great Peng] to let out a mournful roar.
The adventurers and soldiers watching from the city wall had not yet realized that the [Thunderous Great Peng] had been severely wounded; they only felt it was about to attack after its roar.
Surprisingly, it suddenly turned and fled in panic just as its roar reached the sky!
At that moment, the second [Wind Element Spear] had already condensed in the Wind Element Lord Shylph’s fingertips.
It frowned slightly, glancing at the [Stoneclad Great Bear] and [Earth Bear] engaged in fierce combat in the center of the beast swarm, its slender fingers turning and lightly pointing in a different direction.
The [Wind Element Spear], spinning at high speed, vanished once more amidst the sound of a sonic boom.
…
In a hidden place unseen by anyone.
A tall demon floated with its toes off the ground.
Its skin was dark and glossy, with long black hair that was smooth and casually draped. Its face was ruggedly handsome.
Two devil horns protruded from its head like ram horns, a pair of bat wings half-open and hanging behind it, and a long tail like a lizard’s coiled around its waist, radiating a faint aura of authority.
Alastair Aldridge.
That was its name in life.
…
Unlike what everyone who guessed its existence thought, Alastair Aldridge clearly knew that it was dead.
The word “death” had no meaning to it.
But it indeed was dead.
Because it was born from a corpse as the Demon King.
…
No one could have imagined that Alastair Aldridge knew very clearly that it wasn’t the original body.
It was created as a Demon King by the Church of the Saints through a special ritual from the corpse of the original body.
Alastair Aldridge was certain that it had never considered the possibility of this happening during its lifetime.
Several months ago, it completed its “rebirth” in a container hidden in the territory of the demons.
Because it was created from a corpse and pulled into the Underworld Gate—dying a second time!
Needless to say, this was also something Alastair Aldridge never anticipated before its death.
But it did come back to life and, upon sensing the presence of the original body thousands of miles away, confirmed its “identity.”
It was born from a corpse as the Demon King, a shadow of the true Demon King.
It could not, nor should it, replace the true Demon King.
…
So, it gave itself the name “White.”
Of course, this was a name it used only for itself during its contemplation.
In front of outsiders and the few remaining subordinates, it remained Alastair Aldridge, a successfully reborn Demon King.
It was a shadow, known only to “One” and “Two.”
…
Therefore, when it sensed “One” arriving from thousands of miles away in the Free City, it knew it had a new mission.
“One’s” aura was very weak, unlike its own, which had recovered to a relatively complete state.
Despite some unknown reasons causing differences in certain aspects and a flaw in the most important “demon cultivation,” its current state was clearly much better than “One’s.”
Was “One” not accumulating, hiding, and plotting at that distance, but captured again?
Thinking this, it led to today’s events.
As “Two,” it must rescue “One,” at any cost!
…
Behind Alastair Aldridge stood eight demons.
These eight demons had different forms and auras, but they all wore black robes and masks, concealing any part of their bodies that could be exposed.
This was not a requirement of Alastair Aldridge but a habit developed over more than a decade.
They were extremely cautious, thus surviving until now and waiting for their king as they wished.
Next, they would build walls, stockpile food, and delay claiming kingship.
The Free City already had existing walls and a continuous supply of food.
So, they needed to plot the Free City, attempting to infiltrate and replace it through a “substitution” method, quietly eroding and swallowing the mixed-race home surrounded by high walls.
Occupying the Free City was a crucial step in the revival of the demons.
On this point, their king and they had a completely unified understanding.
Although their king had forgotten many things, and the demons cultivated with the blood of the Demon King had significant defects, they regarded this as the price of rebirth and the negative impact of insufficient resources.
“As long as we occupy the Free City, we can obtain sufficient resources to make up for those deficiencies and allow the noble demons eradicated by humans to reign supreme once more.”
Thinking this, they offered their loyalty to Alastair Aldridge.
…
But everything changed abruptly today.
Without any buildup, this sudden shift left them caught off guard.
At noon, their king suggested activating the hidden agents in the Free City and mobilizing humans replaced by demons to search for someone with no information.
For the first time, they opposed their king.
Because a large-scale personnel movement would render their careful planning futile.
Even if the mayor of the Free City couldn’t do much to them, they had long been closely monitoring the Free City, knowing that this ostensibly isolated city was actually at the center of attention for major powers.
So, they were always very cautious in their plotting.
Unfortunately, the inherent defects of the demons bred by Alastair Aldridge exposed their plans, leading the city lord to discover traces of their scheme.
But these flaws were still within an acceptable range under the current circumstances.
Moreover, the progress of the plan was actually quite good.
Even the two corps commanders of the Sun and Moon Corps had been parasitized by the [Brain Fluid Demon] and were subtly influenced by it.
They were not in a hurry, meticulously plotting to transform the Free City into the first stop for the revival of the demons without drawing attention.
But their king suddenly became aggressive today.
To prevent their meticulous planning from going to waste.
They argued vehemently.
Fortunately, their king was someone who listened to opinions.
After Alastair Aldridge’s suggestion at noon, it accepted the advice of its subordinates and withdrew the impulsive orders it had given.
But Alastair Aldridge’s calm period lasted only until three in the afternoon.
At that time, “One” was released again and sent out a distress signal.
So, Alastair Aldridge could no longer hold back.
It knew it had to do something, even if it meant sacrificing all the accumulated efforts, to save “One”!
Thus, it demonstrated what it meant to be a “Demon King” in front of its subordinates.
Thus, it overruled objections and launched a total offensive without any buildup at dusk!
…
Alastair Aldridge’s subordinates were forced to demonstrate their loyalty to the king, though unwilling, they prepared the tide of magic beasts with full effort.
Before dusk, an unforeseen event occurred in the Free City.
The city lord convened an emergency meeting, gathering eight-tenths of the management staff into an administrative building.
Then, the cleanup of the Free City began in a manner so powerful that they could not have anticipated.
When they realized that their plans were on the verge of collapse, they finally agreed with Alastair Aldridge’s plan to besiege the city from the heart.
—Since the plan was destined to fail, they might as well break through the city with overwhelming force, rescue the trapped comrades inside, plunder the city’s resources, turn the cowardly humans into slaves, and push deeper into the territory as quickly as possible, hiding again.
No one would be foolish enough to propose that the Demon King announce its return at this time.
Any demon that proposed such a thing was already dead.
…
Thus, the war began without warning.
…
Just like that [Wind Element Spear] that suddenly appeared in front of them, without warning!
“Sire!”
One of the demons suddenly looked up, fear showing in its red eyes upon sensing a hint of wind.
Before the demon could call out, Alastair Aldridge Number Two had already raised its hand.
It attempted to grab the [Wind Element Spear] at the first opportunity and throw it back forcefully, ideally piercing the half-elf floating on the city wall!
Saint Maryann Academy maintained a neutral stance on the surface, so even during the most intense parts of the war, few professors ventured out to the battlefield.
Although Professor Shylph possessed strength comparable to the Golden Generation even in that era, she had never appeared on the battlefield.
And almost none of the demons that invaded the academy, attempting to cut off humanity’s future bloodline, returned alive.
Therefore, Alastair Aldridge did not know that such a powerful half-elf existed in this world!
Its right hand, which quickly extended to catch the [Wind Element Spear], was almost immediately swept away by the gale, crushed, and the Mana covering its right palm disappeared as if it had never existed.
After crushing its right hand, the [Wind Element Spear] continued unimpeded, piercing through its right chest!
“Puh!”
Alastair Aldridge spat out a mouthful of blood, looking down to see a huge blood hole in its chest, revealing disbelief.
Behind it, two demons quickly scattered along the straight path of the [Wind Element Spear].
The [Wind Element Spear] pierced the ground, exploding violently after penetrating deep into it.
The spell barrier of the hidden place was torn apart instantly!
“Sire!”
Several demons who reacted quickly rushed forward.
Alastair Aldridge raised its left hand to stop them.
“It’s the Wind Element Lord Shylph!”
It gritted its teeth and said the name of the Wind Element Lord, its crushed right hand and chest healing rapidly before their eyes.
“Rumble!”
The fleeing [Thunderous Great Peng] sped past overhead, leaving a rumble of thunder.
