“Worry about yourself, stupid wolf! And stop throwing death flags around so randomly!!” Neloph shouted, his face flushing with heat, as the wolf flew away.

“The two of you never change,” Sahvus chuckled, his voice returning to its detached, almost robotic tone.

“And neither do you,” Neloph answered, mimicking his tone, gaining him a morbid grin from Sahvus.

But suddenly their heads snapped toward the opposite direction Kamus and Sienna had gone, their brows furrowing.

Sahvus muttered to himself. “What is this?” His fingers twitched. “How is it bypassing my barrier?”

“Dammit, I’ll go check it.” Neloph stepped forward, but Licarus stopped him.

“I’ll go. That thing might be trying to lure you.” Licarus motioned to Ginully to follow him.

But just like Sienna, the mage opted to fly instead.

“FUCK! I HATE FLYING!” Licarus shouted, enraged as they flew away toward the other side of the forest.

“How long until you can cast that spell?” Neloph asked Sahvus as he remembered Kamus’s previous observation about the Kasulla luring them there on purpose.

“You think Kamus was right, too, hm? About something feeling off with the Kasulla choosing this place.”

Sahvus cast a knowing glance at Neloph as he sat cross-legged to meditate and recover some of his mana.

“Yes, I feel like the Kasulla is stalling us. What I wonder is why… Do you think…”

A chilling clatter of bone and steel echoed through the forest, cutting his words short.

A Death Knight riding a ghostly horse, followed by a few hundred undead warriors, appeared in an organized march announcing their approach.

The hollow thud of the ghostly horse’s hooves marked the rhythm of their march as the Death Knight on its back led its army.

“Undead? So that’s how the Kasulla was bypassing the barrier, hm? Interesting.”

Sahvus observed unmoved by the numerical advantage of their enemies. With a glance, he could tell that none of the necromancers controlling these undead were above True Existences.

“What I don’t understand is why bother showing themselves…”

As soon as the undead left the barrier, they were able to see the worms of the Kasulla inside the bodies of the dead.

“They are using Death Energy to shield the worms from the barriers, a 3 out of 100 success rate, quite ingenious.” Sahvus nodded approvingly.

Neloph smirked, “See, you never change either.”

He turned his gaze to Lythor and the other mage behind them, a frown deepening on his face.

“What are you waiting for? Get to work, or are you going to make your elders take the trash out?”

“Yes, Grand Arch-Magus!” Lythor and the Gamilly said without hesitation, knowing the fame and influence these two powerhouses of Eversnow carried.

Besides, all it took for Lythor to take down the Death Knight was a simple slash of his spear, while Gamilly annihilated the rest with a wave of white fire.

The worms, squirming out of the fallen corpses, were a minor nuisance at best, easily incinerated by Gamilly’s white flames.

“Very good,” Neloph nodded while waving his hand, and two sparks of green light shot toward their heads.

“Now, get to the other side of the barrier and kill the worms that are trying to get through.”

Lythor opened his mouth to ask if they would be alright without a warrior type, but closed it before a word could escape.

He knew the answer already; it was unnecessary.

Soon after, Lythor and Gamilly were flying toward the other side of the barrier.

Seeing their figures disappear, Neloph looked back at Sahvus, “How long until that spell you’re changing is ready?”

“A couple of hours if I remain unbothered. It’s a two-kilometer radius spell. I doubt that will be possible, however. The necromancers are weak, but that thing isn’t,” Sahvus answered, pointing at a three-headed black wolf ambling toward them.

“That’s why I hate dealing with Kasullas, no matter their Level of Existence. One worm in the brain is enough to control even the strongest monster in the wild. But one with three different brains? Fuck that slug!” Neloph complained like the old elf he was.

But at the same time, he began gathering his mana for a spell, and with a thought, his spell materialized.

‘Swords of light!’

A hundred golden-light blades fell from the sky like bombs, their descent a chorus of piercing whistles that ended in thunderous cracks.

The explosions sent a blizzard of glowing needles flying in every direction.

Even when the beast dodged or the attack missed, the needles hit the target, causing devastating damage.

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The three-headed wolf continued advancing, its march unbothered by the barrage of attacks.

It was as if the gashes, deep wounds, and blood spilling on the ground meant nothing.

When it was a few meters from the barrier, it fell to the ground, skidding toward the two old mages.

Just as its body stopped, the mana around it converted into Death Energy and invaded its body.

The three-headed wolf stood up, and it started advancing again.

“Fuck! I hate Necromancers, I can’t even find them inside that fucking barrier!”

Neloph cursed aloud, shaking his head in frustration.

Yet neither of them was worried; they were just a couple of very old elders who hated troublesome tasks.

With another wave of his hands, a wave of white fire full of Vital energy rushed toward the wolf, ‘Fire of Resurrection!’

And just like that, the monster Sahvus said not to be weak, was felled.

Sahvus just sighed, “I need to advance soon. I should’ve accepted Sokram’s offer.”

“True, but Kamus was right. Why are they trying to stall us here?” Neloph thought again, but then realized something as he rushed Sahvus.

“We need to take care of things here fast; the city might be their real target.”

Meanwhile, in Winterheart, the Royal city of Norwinter.

In the main audience room of the Royal Palace, Hannah sat lazily on a comfortable sofa among the audience seats.

She sighed loudly, her annoyance obvious to all, until a sudden shift in spacetime made her senses scream.

A long-distance teleportation had just finished within the Royal City.

Hannah stood up abruptly, her gaze locked on the southeast of the throne.

Lucien was in the middle of an audience between two minor lion-kin nobles when he noticed Hannah's strange behavior.

“Grand Duchess Dracony, is there a problem?”

“Didn’t you forbid teleportation within the Royal City? Why was there a long-range teleportation in Vicount’s estate just now?”

Hannah asked rhetorically with a deep frown.

With a wave of Hannah’s hands, the luxurious dress she was wearing dematerialized and was replaced with her usual black, white, and golden mage robes. But this time, they concealed a set of scaled light armor, the fine, interlocking plates gleaming with a soft, silver light.

Using her usual movement technique, disappearing from the halls of the palace, only to reappear floating above the Royal City.

Her eyes darted toward the estate of the Viscount right beside the palace, and with a flick of her wrist, a shining Mithril sword appeared in her hand.

Instead of rushing, she waited.

Hannah knew her presence in the sky had not gone unnoticed.

Whoever had teleported in was on the same Level of Existence as her, a Tier 10 Semi-Perfect Existence.

Inside the enormous estate of Viscount Blueheart, in the underground levels, three men in dark, armored robes and ninja-like masks stepped out of an open portal.

Viscount Blueheart, a tall and stocky man who appeared to be in his seventies with sleek gray hair and deep blue eyes, and a greedy-looking face, dressed in regal clothes, greeted them.

“I greet the Sun and the Star of the new Northern Empire.”

The Viscount bowed toward the King and the Prince, and their right-hand man, who was also a general of Whiteland.

“We’re not an empire yet, Cusmar. Maybe our plan will be delayed due to Marcel’s failure.”

The King replied, motioning the Viscount to rise, but just then his head snapped toward Hannah’s direction.

“It seems the Duchess has sensed me already. It's been a long while since I fought against someone on the same level, and longer even since I fought a dragon. Heh, I can’t help but feel excited about this.”

King Alonso's words didn’t carry an ounce of fear, only sheer excitement.

Turning to his son, he ordered, “Go, get Marcel and his daughter. No one else. And try to dispose of the other two Generals. I’ll entertain Lady Hannah until then, but do not dally.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” His son and the other general rushed out of the estate, clearly familiar with the layout of the property.

“Your Highness, there is only a single charge in the energy crystal. It won’t be possible to teleport you all at once.” Viscount Blueheart warned sheepishly.

“Worry not, instead worry about getting out of the city while I cause the distraction. I’ve already planned my exit strategy,” Alonso tapped the Viscount on the shoulder, another loyal spy of Whiteland, a man he didn’t want to lose because of how close he was with the other nobles in Norwinter’s court.

Yet, because of his Oath to Marcel, he had no other choice but to close this door.

In the next instant, King Alonso, using his own movement technique, appeared in front of Hannah in the skies above Winterheart.

“Oh, King Alonso in the flesh. I would offer you a bow, but you’re wearing no crown, Your Highness.”

All it took was one glance, and Hannah recognized the man behind the mask.

“Ah… the famed Dragon Sight. I suppose there’s no hiding from a millenary dragon’s gaze. An honor, Duchess of Dracony.”

King Alonso saluted her respectfully before summoning his bladed staff.

Seeing his weapon of choice, Hannah smirked, “It seems my nephew was right about your class, you are an Arcane Warrior.”

“Yes, but that was before my Evolution. Now I’m a Grand War Magus.” Alonso answered sincerely, showing no intention of attacking as if he were enjoying their chat.

Hannah’s gaze narrowed slightly, having also noticed his easy-going demeanor.

Another thing she caught on to was how his eyes would sweep below them as if waiting for something.

“Worried about the spectators? Or worried about those that came with you to rescue your spies, the Steelhearts?”

Hannah’s words caused Alonso’s gaze to snap back to her with suspicion.

“It seems I’m caught, but you don’t seem too worried about it.”

A flicker of uneasiness crossed Alonso's face.

“Well, why would I be worried about a spy when the enemy King and greatest powerhouse delivered himself to me on a silver platter? Would your country and Frostaxe dare cause trouble after you're dead?”

Hannah met his gaze, flashing him a murderous grin.

And as her killing intent flared up, her Vital Magic energy crackled with power, mirroring her intent.

“Oh, so you truly believe you can kill me? You got me worried there for a moment.”

A cold laugh escaped his lips.

King Alonso answered with his own killing intent, a wave of Spirit Magic surging from him.

“Spirit Magic?!” The pieces clicked together in Hannah’s mind, explaining his confidence.

“It seems your relationship with the Southern Feral Clans is deeper than we believed.”

“Just a small gift from a Tiger-kin from the south to keep the Tigers in the north in check, haha. Well, shall we begin?”

Alonso didn’t wait for her response and lunged at her, swinging his bladed staff.

Hannah easily deflected his attack with her sword.

But his movements were quick and evasive, offering no real openings, a clear indication that he was merely probing her strength.

But this was a fight between two of the strongest powerhouses of the Northern Continent.

The clanging of their weapons created powerful gusts of wind.

Each clash was a metallic scream that echoed across the city, followed by a low, guttural boom as their magic collided, attracting the attention of those below them.

In the palace gardens, Lucien kept his gaze locked on the duel above, unmoving, as if even blinking might break his focus.

With a wave of his hand, one of his shadow guards appeared behind him, kneeling as he gave his orders.

“Find the teleportation formation and crush it. And send people to the gallows; it seems the Duchess's guess was right, there are many more traitors in our midst.”

Meanwhile, Sokram had just mixed the third of thirty combinations he intended to test.

He knew which of the combinations would work to achieve what he wanted.

But with Mentyr and Nhiria watching him so tentatively, he needed to be careful with what he decided to show from then on.

Since this was a formula he was creating, a controlled experiment could justify it just fine.

But just then, the city’s alarm bells rang.

“Claaaang! Claaaang! Clang!”

Sokram's head shot upward, his eyes widening in confusion, “Two long and one short...invasion?”