Chapter 479 480-Going All Out


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


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


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


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


    Watching the back of the clown mask and then ncing at the towering followers moving around the hall, N took a deep breath.


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


    Silently passing through the temple, N trailed far behind the clown mask as he exited the temple.


    Observing the clown mask enter a pitch-ck passageway, N hesitated for a few seconds before quietly following.


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


    ...


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


    As N entered the passageway, she saw the clown mask stopping within a particrly dark section.


    "What are you doing here?"


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


    How was she discovered?


    The clown mask hadn''t even fully deployed his mana sensing.


    "What is your purpose?"


    N didn''t respond.


    The clown mask slowly turned around, his gazending precisely on N''s face.


    Despite N''s properly functioning Invisibility, the clown mask urately pinpointed her location.


    "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.


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


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


    That was mana, condensed to its utmost limit.


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


    This is one of mana''s inherent properties.


    The index finger halted at the level of N''s forehead.


    "Yourst moments to hesitate, ten seconds," the voice of the clown mask maintained a constant, mild tone, devoid of any fluctuations, yet it sounded to N like the whispers of a devil.


    "Ten!"


    ...


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


    He 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.


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


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


    No one had the spare energy to care for others; everyone was struggling on the edge of death.


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


    "If only there was someone reliable by my side at a time like this."


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


    But not all right decisions lead to the right oues.


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


    Thor hasn''t perished, but his condition appears dire.


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


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


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


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


    Just don''t die.


    "Shift change!"


    A unfamiliar voice calls out from behind Howard.


    Turning, he sees a young face.


    "I''m Zachro, a centurion of the city guard. You''ve worked hard!"


    Feeling his feet wobble, Howard takes a deep breath and nods: "Just don''t die."


    That''s the only blessing he can offer.


    Once on the battlefield, that remains the sole wish.


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


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


    Both professional guilds have begun to rally their members.


    Even so, the situation remains grim.


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


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


    The situation with the magus guild was even more dire.


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


    In the face of suchrge-scale battles, magi could only be dispersed, serving as emergency forces.


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


    Descending 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.


    He began to consider escape routes.


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


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


    But clearly, this was not the case.


    Not just him, in fact, many adventurers had already started thinking about their exits, contemting their retreat.


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


    What future awaited this city?


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


    He needed to find N.


    If she was around, perhaps there was a way.


    ...


    "Nine!"


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


    N''s body tensed, and cold sweat started to form on her back.


    "Eight!"


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


    "Seven!"


    What to do?


    Show myself?


    Run away?


    If I flee now, what will happen to Rodel?


    "Six!"


    Negotiate?


    Is there a chance?


    I don''t have a single card in my hand!


    "Five!"


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


    Through the eyes of the mask, N saw his pitch-ck gaze, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like a deep, bottomless well.


    N raised her hand, dispelling the Invisibility.


    Cloaked in her wide cloak, N materialized from thin air.


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


    "Do you know the biggest difference between humans and beasts?"


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


    "When that priest told me about the strange mana fluctuation, I knew your intention wasn''t reconnaissance but to lure me out."


    "Apetent scout wouldn''t expose such a w, and if you weren''tpetent, you wouldn''t be here."


    The clown mask locked eyes with N, his crimson pupils unwavering.


    "Now, tell me, who do you work for!"


    "Do you think I would tell you?" N scoffed coldly.


    "Moreover, what made you think that my revealing myself meant surrender!"


    N made her move.


    The 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 N''s figure vanished amidst the surge of mana.


    Thunderstorm! N''s initial assault was a potent mana attack.


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


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


    Releasing dozens in such an instant was no small feat for N.


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


    Thus, even before her attack could strike, N began preparing her second spell.


    A simplified elfnguage spilled from N''s lips, one rune after another taking shape under her precise mana control, swirling around her to form a ring-shaped matrix.


    This was an attack N herself had not fully mastered.


    She didn''t know if it would seed, but it was the only method she could think of.


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


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


    Ten seconds?


    Perhaps even less?


    N pushed herself to hasten the formation of her spell.