Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1681: The North Falls (Part 2)

The others had reached their designated Guilds and found themselves in a situation very similar to the one Raze had faced. The air in the North was thick with the scent of spent mana and cold steel.

In particular, Liam had just finished a grueling encounter. He stood in the center of a large, theater-style room, his sword gleaming with a faint residue of Qi. One of the local guilds used to hold their formal meetings in this place, but the rows of velvet seats were now shredded and scorched. All of the guild members had already been eliminated before he arrived, and Liam had only just managed to take down the three Noble Guild members responsible for the massacre.

"These guys are tough... really tough," Liam panted, wiping a streak of blood from his forehead. "They had an artifact that could create after-images of themselves. They were so perfect that not even my system could tell which one was the real body and which was just light."

He looked down at the fallen mages. "I was fast enough to strike them all at once to find out which one was solid, but it’s no wonder they were able to deal with the local Guilds so easily. Normal mages wouldn’t stand a chance against tricks like that."

It was a grim reminder of the enemy’s resources. Idore was known as the best enchanter in the land. Because he was personally enchanting these items, just like how Raze had given his own group special equipment, the quality was top-tier. However, there was a large difference between the two types of items. Raze’s items often came with heavy prices or dark requirements, but Idore’s enchantments weren’t cursed.

There was no drawback to using them; the Noble Guild mages could spam their abilities as they wished without fear of losing their minds or their lives to their own gear. Liam could only imagine that those with the strongest enchantments hadn’t even been sent out yet and were still guarding the Noble lands.

"I just realized as well, we didn’t really come up with a meeting place because we rushed to all of the guilds so quickly," Liam muttered to himself, looking at the exit. "I’ve already been to two of them, and there aren’t many others close by. I guess I should just go check the neighboring territories. If I run into the others and they need help, I can step in."

Meanwhile, Alen, Kelly, and Londo had arrived at their first target. They had run into some trouble, but thankfully for them, the Guild leader there hadn’t been killed yet. He was putting up a good fight against the invaders, though a large amount of his members had still perished in the opening assault. With the trio providing a strong amount of support and combat skill, they managed to defeat the Noble Guild representatives and secure the area.

After helping them stabilize, the trio moved to the next guild on their list. But things were different at this one. As they approached the perimeter, there appeared to be no signs of fighting at all. No broken walls, no bodies, and no lingering smoke.

When the three of them asked about entering, the guards at the door were surprisingly polite. They were led directly into the Guild house. This particular Guild wasn’t located in a traditional stone building; instead, they had occupied a large, modern shopping mall. They had placed members on the outside as sentries, and mages were stationed behind several of the shop’s glass windows to watch the surrounding streets for anyone coming in or out.

There was plenty of space for the Guild members as well as the civilians they had decided to look after. The shops had been turned into living quarters and storage rooms. At the very top floor, where the cinema and arcade were located, the Guild leader had oddly decided to make his main office.

"Did the Noble Guild not reach here yet?" Kelly whispered as they ascended the escalators. "I guess we need to inform them as soon as possible that there could be trouble on the way."

They found the Guild leader near the cinema entrance. He was using the ticket purchasing stand as his desk, leaning against the counter while his subordinates stood around him. They formed a defensive line, making sure the three visitors didn’t get too close to their leader.

"We have come here with a warning," Alen said, stepping forward with a serious expression. "The Noble Guild are sending representatives to each guild in the north. Those who decide to not comply with them or those who go against them are being eliminated! We’ve seen the bodies ourselves."

The mages in the room were silent for a long while, staring at the trio as if they were weighing a heavy decision. Finally, the Guild leader spoke, his voice calm and steady.

"I see... but we have already decided not to join the Noble Guild, and they are currently thinking of giving us a second chance. I guess it’s because of all of the mess that is taking place elsewhere that they haven’t moved on us yet," the Guild leader said. "But... with how things are, I wonder what choice do we really have? Who are you guys? Are you from one of the other Guilds, maybe the River Moon Guild? How do you know of this information?"

As the Guild leader spoke, Londo felt a chill run down his spine. Although Alen and Kelly were focused on delivering the warning and completing the task, Londo felt like something was strange about the man’s tone. The lack of panic, the lack of urgency, it didn’t make sense to him. If a massacre was happening nearby, why were they so relaxed?

"We... are planning to unite the Guilds of the North," Alen explained, trying to sound persuasive. "We want to attack the Noble Guild together and stop this madness before all of Alterian is under their control. We came to warn and help out the others to show our trust and our strength. And if you don’t believe in us, then there is someone else you should believe in."

Alen took a breath, hoping the name would carry the weight they needed. "On our side, we have the Dark Magus. He is the one planning to go against the Noble Guild!"

"The Dark Magus... I see," the Guild master replied, a small, knowing smirk playing on his lips.

That’s when it finally clicked in Londo’s head. He looked at the mages standing by the arcade machines and the theater doors; they weren’t guarding the leader from an attack, they were waiting for a signal.

"Alen, we have to retreat! Now!" Londo shouted, grabbing Alen’s shoulder and pulling him back toward the escalator. "It’s not that these guys haven’t met with the Noble Guild yet... it’s that they’ve already decided to join them!"

The Guild leader’s smirk widened into a grin as his mages began to raise their staves. The trap was sprung.

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