The invasion of the Kingdom of Rakia and the drama of Hestia's kidnapping by Ares ultimately had little impact on the grassroots citizens of Orario. For them, life had to go on; the hearths had to keep burning. The tensions outside the city walls felt worlds away to civilians busy hawking their wares or laborers sweating through their shifts.
The same applied to the Low-Class Adventurers. Though physically superior to ordinary humans, they were self-aware enough to know that a mob of a hundred commoners could still tear them apart. In this world, only High-Class Adventurers possessed the power to stand alone against thousands of soldiers.
That afternoon, the atmosphere of Orario was dominated by the bustle of civilians. The majority of the city's adventurers had already dived into the darkness of the Dungeon, leaving the surface defenses in their most vulnerable state.
This was the moment Enyo had calculated with surgical precision.
A group of about thirty individuals walked with steady, purposeful strides through the city streets. Pitch-black cloaks covered their entire bodies and faces, creating a stark, ominous contrast under the scorching sun. Passersby cast curious glances their way, but the cold aura radiating from the group quickly quelled any desire to ask questions.
"This is the place. This is where Solo Leveling lives." Ein said, her eyes glittering with madness beneath her hood as they arrived before the Empyrean Citadel.
"Wait a moment! I sense a dense mana anomaly around here. There is a high probability of high-level magical traps." One of the cloaked members, a Mage, tried to halt the reckless advance of his comrades.
However, his warning was met with dismissive sneers.
"Magical traps? Have you turned into a coward since we joined Evilus?" a massive, muscular man mocked, hefting his greataxe.
"Maybe this Mage has read too many books and forgotten that we have numbers on our side!" another added with a hoarse laugh.
"Just ignore the traps. At most, it's some cheap alarm spell. I'll shatter this gate in a single blow!" a third chimed in with a disparaging tone.
"Besides, who cares? If there's a trap, let the ones in front die first. We're here to slaughter, not to play detective." A fourth stated coldly.
"..."
Banshee, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke with a tone of undeniable command.
"Hold your positions. Do not attack blindly. Let the Virga handle the traps first."
Ein already impatient to spill blood, snorted loudly.
"Banshee, you're too timid! Our target is in a vegetative state. Attacking him with thirty people is already showing him too much respect. Why are we wasting time with your plant monsters?"
Banshee shot Ein a sharp, freezing gaze.
"You underestimate the situation, Ein. Solo Leveling is not alone in there. There are two humanoid Spirits constantly at his side. You should know better than anyone the sheer power of a perfect Spirit."
"History has proven that humans chosen by Spirits as partners leave their names in the annals of legends as heroes. Do you wish to die a pathetic death before even seeing your target's face?"
"Enough talk!" Another Evilus member interrupted emotionally. "Just get started! I don't care what method you use—plants or magic—do it now! My weapon is itching to taste the blood of that legendary Level 6 adventurer!"
Banshee ignored the pressure and looked at Ein with an indifferent stare.
"Enyo-sama placed me in charge of this operation. Therefore, you will be quiet and do exactly as I say."
Ein ground her teeth until they made a creaking sound.
"I've always hated that holier-than-thou attitude of yours, Banshee. You aren't that noble Elf loved by nature anymore. You're just trash, the same as the rest of us!"
Ignoring Ein's insults, Banshee began chanting in a low, sinister voice.
*RUMBLE!*
Instantly, the ground around the residential area began to heave violently. Large cracks spiderwebbed across the cobblestone streets, and from within those fissures emerged horrific monsters—giant flowers with razor-sharp petals and writhing, hungry vines.
"Monsters! There are monsters inside the city!" Screamed a citizen who was the first to notice the intrusion.
"Run! Save yourselves!"
"Quick, call the Ganesha Familia! Now!"
The peace of the afternoon vanished instantly, replaced by mass panic. People fled in every direction, abandoning stalls, carts, and belongings just to stay ahead of the reach of the spreading Virga vines. Amidst the chaos, the Evilus group stood firm, ready to launch their final assault on the Empyrean Citadel.
"Attack."
At Banshee's cold command, the dozens of Virga filling the street reacted in unison.
The monster flowers opened their petals wide, firing sprays of thick, yellow corrosive fluid toward the Empyrean Citadel. This fluid was no ordinary acid; it possessed a destructive power capable of melting adventurer armor in seconds and inflicting pain that could paralyze the nervous system. Even a veteran adventurer like Raul, a Level 4, would be rendered helpless by a single direct hit from these lethal projectiles.
However, the sight that met the eyes of Banshee, Ein, and the Evilus members was beyond their expectations.
Just as the acid was about to touch the building's walls, a thin curtain of shimmering blue light suddenly flickered into existence, enveloping the entire Empyrean Citadel. The corrosive fluid was halted in mid-air, hissing violently and evaporating as it collided with the pure energy.
"An automated barrier spell? I've never seen anything like this! Incredible... How did they construct a mana structure this complex without a caster stationed outside?" the Mage in the group muttered with wide eyes, more fascinated by the magical technique than their mission.
"This isn't the time for admiration, idiot!" shouted a burly Evilus member who had lost his patience.
He swung a massive, heavy axe, leapt forward, and slammed it against the thin barrier with all the strength of his muscles.
*BAM!*
The sound of metal clashing against energy echoed loudly through the now-empty street. Unfortunately, despite exerting full force until the veins in his arms bulged, the barrier remained solid. No cracks, no vibrations; it was as if the axe had just struck a wall of eternity.
"Don't just stand there! Break it together!"
Seeing their comrade take the lead, the other Evilus members immediately began bombarding the barrier with various weapons and spells. Banshee herself continued to order the Virga to fire their acid relentlessly, attempting to slowly erode the integrity of the barrier's energy.
Beside her, Ein finally began to move. She raised her hand, her voice rising several octaves as she chanted a spell laced with pure hatred.
"Sweep forth, holy staff of evil's destruction!"
Dark clouds seemed to gather at her fingertips before exploding in a massive flash of golden lightning. The light was so blinding it whited out the vision of anyone watching.
*BOOM!*
The lightning struck the surface of the barrier with incredible explosive force, creating a shockwave that cracked the earth beneath their feet.
The combination of the Virga's acid fire, the relentless physical strikes, and Ein's golden lightning finally began to show results. The shimmering blue glow protecting the Empyrean Citadel began to dim and flicker unsteadily.
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