bookandnovel Chapter 182 What kind of monster is this?
Chapter 182 What kind of monster is this?
Chapter 182 What Kind of Monster Is This? (2-in-1)
"Is Lord Kane alright?"
In a private residence on the outskirts of the southern city of Susas, Arundel and Asler hid in a side room, both with wounds on their arms.
The two were carefully bandaging each other and sprinkling medicine powder on each other, their movements revealing their exhaustion.
In the corner of the side room, the half-elf male head of the household lay on the ground, his breathing steady.
Arundel shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a forced certainty: "He managed to escape from that heavily armored warrior, then came to rescue us from being trapped by two Molten Wax Demons, and even lured the enemy away—"
"He should be fine; he'll definitely meet up with us."
Even so, his brow remained furrowed, and his face betrayed an undeniable uncertainty.
After all, these two orthodox mages fought with all their might against the Wax Demon, almost exhausting their potions, scrolls, and spell slots, but were ultimately restrained and captured by the demon.
Kane, however, is merely a self-taught arcanist who prefers close combat with a scimitar. Even with his considerable strength, can he truly escape unscathed from the cunning and troublesome Molten Wax Demon?
In Asler's view, Kane's ability to draw away the enemy and buy them breathing room was already extremely commendable.
Time passed in silence, and the worry on their faces deepened.
"Could he have been arrested? Let's go rescue him?"
Asler proposed.
Arundel looked conflicted, but finally gritted his teeth and said, "—Let's go. But we can't rush to rescue him blindly. We need to prepare first, otherwise even if we find Kane, we won't be able to fight off the enemies that follow."
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from above, sounding somewhat relaxed: "Thank you for your concern, I'm back."
"What?"
The two mages were startled and looked up abruptly, only to see Kane hanging upside down on the ceiling like a spider.
He was watching them quietly, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Arundel immediately showed delight, while Asler was so startled that he took a half step back.
Kane flipped over and landed lightly, his gaze falling on the fallen half-elf, his tone filled with doubt: "What happened to him—?"
Arundel explained, "When we infiltrated, he suddenly screamed. To avoid alerting the enemy, we had to knock him unconscious."
Kane nodded, took out five silver coins from his pocket, and gently placed them inside the male resident's clothes.
"Lord Kane, what about those Wax Golems?" Arundel asked.
"Resolved."
Kane spoke in a flat tone, as if he had only done a trivial thing.
"Is it resolved?"
Both of them were stunned, their faces showing disbelief.
Previously, in order to deal with those two Wax Demons, they had almost exhausted all the potions, scrolls, and spell slots they carried.
The opponent's unpredictable movements and cunning long-range arrows completely suppressed the two mages' coordination.
Kane, an unorthodox arcanist, single-handedly killed two Molten Wax Golems with just a scimitar and a few spells.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and disbelief in each other's eyes.
Kane didn't continue the topic, instead turning to Asler with a calm gaze: "Lord Asler, regarding the exposure of our previous hideout—do you know anything about it?"
He had previously used the mercenaries' movements to largely rule out Ashlan and Ella as suspects.
Arundel had been with him for days, and if he wanted to inform on him, he would have had the opportunity long ago.
That leaves only Asler, who recently broke free from mind control.
Asler's expression changed slightly.
Arundel immediately said, "Lord Kane, Asler hasn't been free from mind control for long, so he may not have had the opportunity to inform on us."
"Just because it's a short time doesn't mean there's no chance. If I'm wrong, I'm willing to apologize to you."
Kane said calmly, his gaze still fixed on Asler's face.
Asler's brows suddenly furrowed: "I—"
His words abruptly stopped, and he suddenly clutched his head, letting out a suppressed groan of pain, curling up into a ball.
"Asler! Calm down!" Arundel urged.
Kane's eyes narrowed.
This reaction indicates that the previous method of having Risa break free of control through a violent mental shock was not entirely effective.
The next moment, Asler's eyes rolled upward, his arm rose, and he uttered difficult and strange syllables!
Kane's expression changed slightly, and he grabbed Arundel, pulling him back hastily: "It's Abyssal Language!"
Whoosh! Several stone spikes suddenly shot up from the ground without warning!
Kane pushed Arundel back and charged forward like a cheetah.
You must get close; you can't let the spellcaster create distance!
Just as he was closing in, Kane met Asler's eyes.
What shone in those eyes was pure, inhuman malice.
Kane's eyes flickered slightly. He was familiar with that look; it was not human, but more like a demon's.
He hasn't escaped control yet?
No, perhaps more than that—he may be simultaneously affected by both mind control and demonic possession.
In addition to nightmares like Risa, there are many other types of demons in the abyss that are skilled at possession and bewitching, such as mind flayers, inkbinders, and whispering demons.
Before Kane could think further, Asler suddenly flicked his sleeve, and several scorching metal fragments shot towards Kane with a whistling sound!
Kane dodged to the side, simultaneously drawing his scimitar and using the back of the blade to block the metal fragments, sending them flying with a piercing clang.
Immediately afterward, he moved his feet and, using the effect of the Spiderwalking Technique, instantly attached himself to the ceiling, avoiding Asler's subsequent attacks.
Then he suddenly pounced down from the ceiling, his target Asler!
Asler's expression changed, and the abyss incantation in his mouth condensed even faster as he attempted to cast another spell to stop it.
But before he could utter the next syllable, a muffled thud rang out as Kane delivered a heavy chop to the back of his neck.
Asler didn't even utter a sound; his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Arundel looked at Asler lying on the ground with a grim expression, his voice filled with worry: "Is he—is he alright?"
"I just knocked him unconscious."
Kane withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Take him back to the mage academy and let the deans help him deal with the demon possessing him."
Although I could use magic to protect against evil spirits to forcibly dispel them, that would easily cause irreversible damage to his spirit.
Moreover, the demon within him is also one of the pieces of evidence of the demon cult's involvement in the turmoil in Sussas.
"7
Arundel nodded, quickly crouched down, and after confirming that he was alright, said, "I understand. I'll tie him up now to prevent him from losing control again when he wakes up."
"it is good."
Kane nodded, his gaze sweeping out the window.
"Once we're done, we'll leave as soon as possible. We must hurry to the mage academy. The enemy's repeated attacks are enough to prove that they don't want us to enter the academy."
"In that case, we should get in as soon as possible; only the academy can provide us with protection."
After resting for a while, as evening approached and the streets became less crowded and darkness fell, the two quietly went out.
Kane supported the unconscious Asler, while Arundel stood guard nearby.
Even so, the three of them together still stood out.
They had to take secluded alleyways, hiding in the shadows when they encountered patrolling sheriffs or soldiers, and continuing on their way only after the patrols had gone far away.
They proceeded cautiously, and after spending a considerable amount of time, they finally arrived at a mountain forest on the outskirts of the mage academy.
Standing at the edge of the forest, you can see a cluster of buildings in the distance, surrounded by a long stone wall.
Inside the walls stood eight towering spires, their destination—the Mage Academy.
Located at the intersection of the southern and western districts of the outer courtyard of the Royal Court, this is the only way to enter the college.
Just then, Kane suddenly stopped and looked warily toward the academy gate.
"What's wrong?" Arundel asked in a low voice.
"There are people at the gate, not just the academy's on-duty monks."
Kane's gaze fell on the distant courtyard gate.
Arundel squinted and saw that in addition to two mages in robes on duty at the gate, there were three sheriffs in more refined uniforms standing around the perimeter.
One of the black-haired half-elfs stood out.
"He's an elite sheriff," Arundel said, his expression grave, as he tightened his grip on Asler. "At least at the second tier."
"Second-tier—Captain level?" Kane's mind raced. "Can we use illusion magic to conceal our entry?"
Arundel looked troubled and shook his head slightly: "No, my spell slots haven't recovered yet. After the damage from dealing with the Molten Wax Demon, I can only cast some simple tricks now, and I can't hide the figures of three people at the same time."
"It can only conceal two people at most, and for a very short time. Once the second-tier sheriff's senses detect it, we'll be in dire straits."
Kane nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
He knew that most regular spellcasters relied on magic networks and spell slots, and their strength would be greatly reduced once their spell slots were exhausted.
He paused for a moment, then looked back at the academy gate and said slowly, "We can't go in directly, but perhaps we can find another way."
"You meant that as long as we could enter the academy area, we would receive the academy's protection, and the sheriffs wouldn't be able to arrest us arbitrarily, right?"
"Yes, the Mage Academy enjoys a superior status in Sussas. As long as we step into the academy's territory, we are safe."
The problem is, we can't get close to the gate at all, and after what happened before, I'm not sure if Asler and I have been falsely accused of anything.
"Okay. I'll distract them, you guys go in while I have a chance to slip away."
"But,"
Kane waved his hand, turned around, and walked towards the gate.
Arundel watched his retreating figure, gritted his teeth, and chanted a spell in a low voice. His and Asler's figures began to fade rapidly.
transparent.
Outside the academy gate, three elite security officers stood in a triangular formation, waiting.
The leader was a black-haired half-elf with a resolute face, indicating that his other half of his bloodline came from the Nords.
He carried two rather heavy scimitars at his waist. The other two elven colleagues looked at him with complex expressions, a mixture of scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible disdain.
A blond sheriff spoke up, "Alec, His Highness Grayson only instructed us to assist in defense and prevent unauthorized personnel from entering. Is it necessary to stay stationed at the entrance the whole time? The outer perimeter also needs to be patrolled."
Alec, a black-haired half-elf, glanced at the end of the road and said in a flat tone, "This is the nearest entrance. Our duty is to prevent unauthorized entry."
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Moreover, two mages are also on the wanted list in the latest order.
It would be a dereliction of duty to let them slip in right before our eyes.
The other sheriff snorted and did not refute further.
Although the three are of the same rank, Alec is the strongest.
Just then, clear footsteps came from the gravel road.
A figure emerged from the forest, stopped directly in front of them, and spread his hands: "Excuse me, gentlemen, I have urgent business at the academy. Could you please grant me entry?"
The three sheriffs immediately stopped arguing and turned their gazes to Kane, their eyes instantly becoming wary.
The blond sheriff frowned, about to say something, when the black-haired Alec had already gripped the hilt of his knife and said in a deep voice, "He's not an ordinary resident. He's a dangerous individual on the wanted list, named Kane."
He is said to have committed multiple murders and has connections to the wanted Finafenne family, making him a prime target for His Highness's manhunt.
Kane shrugged. "Is it possible that this is a slander?"
"Whether it is defamation or not, the court will make its own judgment."
Alec slowly drew the two curved swords from his waist, their blades gleaming with a cold, icy light.
"Please give up resistance and come back with us. You will have a chance to defend yourself."
The other two blond sheriffs also immediately went into battle mode.
One man drew his bow and arrow, aiming it directly at Kane; the other raised his shield, gripped his longsword, and prepared to defend and attack.
"What if I refuse?"
"Then kill them on the spot."
Kane's eyes flickered slightly as he quickly calculated in his mind:
These three second-tier elite sheriffs were, after all, official forces of the royal court, and they were clearly unaware of the inside story, simply following orders.
It seems the only option is to use hit-and-run tactics to buy time until Arundel and the others safely enter the academy, and then figure out a way to escape.
He sighed and gripped the hilt of the scimitar with his right hand.
Almost the instant he made the decision, the blond sheriff with his bow drawn launched the first attack.
He released the bowstring, and the arrow, whistling through the air, shot straight toward Kane's chest.
Instead of retreating, Kane advanced, sidestepping the arrow, drawing his scimitar, and precisely parrying the sheriff's longsword as it swung at him, then taking a step forward.
He stepped onto the edge of the opponent's shield with the sole of his boots and leaped up, his blade flashing as he barely managed to block Alec's double swords that were about to strike him down!
The two blades clashed, sparks flew!
Kane's arm sank slightly, and he felt a chill run down his spine: This force—it's approaching Oliver's level.
No, it's the effect of combat skills.
In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged blows several times.
Alec's blade strikes were heavy and fierce, while the other man's sword and shield worked in perfect coordination, and cold arrows kept coming from afar.
Whoosh whoosh!
The scimitars clashed, the ear-piercing sound of metal colliding rang out continuously, and sparks flew everywhere.
Under the combined attack of three Tier 2 elite sheriffs.
Kane retreated step by step, sustaining several more wounds, but his eyes grew increasingly sharp.
But even more horrified than Kane were the three sheriffs.
All three were elite sheriffs, each leading a small team, and rarely worked together.
If this weren't a special mission, we would never have fought side by side.
At this moment, the three of them joined forces to attack a human, and almost twenty breaths had passed, yet they still hadn't managed to defeat him.
This human, with only a scimitar and unpredictable movements, was able to hold off the three of them for so long, which was beyond their expectations.
Just then, a soft creaking sound came from the heavy iron door behind us as the hinges turned.
"Oh no! Someone's gone in!"
Alec was startled and turned his head sharply. He saw Arundel supporting the unconscious Asler as they were being led into the academy by two mages on duty at the gate, and the iron gate was slowly closing.
"You!" Alec glared at Kane.
Kane deflected the longsword thrust at his side, retreated several steps, and smiled, "Excuse me, I should take my leave too."
"Trying to leave?!"
Kane said no more, and whispered, "Cloud Mist!"
Although there were no rivers nearby, the woodland surrounding the academy was damp and full of moisture, a fact Kane had already taken into account.
The moment the incantation was cast, a thick fog rapidly spread out, instantly enveloping the entire battlefield. "Shoot the arrow!"
Alec shouted, but he was a beat too slow. The mist dispersed faster than the arrow, and Kane disappeared into the mist.
"He must have run towards the gate!" a sheriff shouted.
Alec's face turned ashen, he crossed his twin swords in front of his chest and let out a low growl.
The scimitar was swung out with great force, and a powerful gust of air swept forward, tearing a gap in part of the mist.
However, after the fog cleared, the path leading to the gate was deserted.
"In the tree!" another person exclaimed, looking up.
Kane leaped among the branches of the ancient tree, like a giant spider moving through its web.
In just two or three leaps, he used the momentum to jump high into the air and headed straight for the academy's high wall!
At this moment, he was in mid-air, still several feet away from the top of the wall.
The blond sheriff seized the fleeting opportunity, the bowstring twanged again, and the arrow shot swiftly into Kane's vest!
Whoosh—the arrow, carrying a strong gust of wind, swiftly struck Kane's back.
Just as the arrow was about to strike him, Kane made a nimble turn in mid-air and lightly tapped the arrow with his scimitar.
Using the force of the arrow, he slightly turned in mid-air, then leaped into the closing iron gates of the academy.
The two monks on duty acted as if they hadn't seen anything, and closed the iron gate on their own, blocking the sheriffs' view.
The fog gradually dissipated.
Outside the door, only three sheriffs remained standing, their expressions ranging from silent and angry to solemn.
After a long silence, a blond sheriff finally spoke in a deep voice.
"What kind of monster is this?!"
Alec's gaze turned serious.
"Trouble is brewing. Next, we need to negotiate with the Mage Academy—"