The Chanis Gate at Enmat Port was also located underground and hadn't suffered direct damage from the explosion.
Though it had sustained some damage from the shockwave, it was still within manageable limits.
Daly had already retrieved one sealed artifact from inside earlier to help with the rescue.
Now Edward descended underground again, using his captain's authority to retrieve a staff from behind the Chanis Gate.
The staff was pitch black throughout, yet upon closer inspection appeared translucent, like obsidian crystal. Its handle was particularly unique, shaped like an open palm that could perfectly clasp with whoever held it.
"You two from Tingen, and Ms. Grela, I need you to evacuate with our wounded and notify the Church of Steam and the Church of Storms.
Have them send people to the dock district immediately."
Edward addressed Leonard, Klein, and Grela.
"What about Silas?"
"Unfortunately, I need him to guide us. I can only do my best to ensure his safety."
Edward said in a heavy voice.
Klein and Leonard exchanged glances and volunteered, "Then we're coming too."
"I must refuse."
Edward shook his head.
"Captain Edward, after everything that's happened, you're still trying to create divisions?!"
Leonard shouted somewhat angrily.
"That's not it at all."
Edward replied, his face bearing a solemn expression. "What happened before was indeed my narrow-mindedness, plus I had some other thoughts.
But asking this of you now is entirely for the sake of justice. This is Enmat Port.
As the Nighthawks protecting this place, I must take responsibility. But my teammates are critically injured and need care. I can only entrust you, as fellow Nighthawks, to ensure their safety..."
At this point, this narrow-minded Nighthawk captain, a Sequence 6 Soul Assurer, bowed his head to them.
Leonard fell silent for a moment, then said, "Then once we get them to safety, we'll come back to help you."
"Acceptable."
Edward nodded.
Without further words, he led Silas and the others outside, stepping over the dead and wounded without looking back, striding onto the street with large steps.
"Rumble..."
The carriage raced at breakneck speed, rolling over Enmat Port's road surface.
The streets here had long been uneven from transporting all kinds of cargo, and with the carriage's alarming speed, the ride was so bumpy it felt like they might take flight.
But no one in the carriage complained. Instead, they huddled together, discussing their next move.
"According to Aurora Order conventions, a city of Enmat Port's level would be assigned a Sequence 6 envoy.
The enemy we're about to face is very likely a mid-sequence Beyonder of the Secrets Suppliant pathway, a Rose Bishop."
Edward briefed them.
"Rose Bishops excel at various forms of flesh magic, have tenacious vitality, and are extremely troublesome."
Flesh magic? Could that turn people into bombs?
Silas recalled the earlier scene and thought with some understanding.
"So this time I've directly brought out Enmat Port's strongest sealed artifact, aiming to eliminate the enemy as quickly as possible.
For the upcoming battle to proceed smoothly, we need to introduce our abilities to each other."
Edward said, these words mainly directed at Silas. "First, me. I'm a Sequence 6 Soul Assurer. Beyond the abilities mastered by Nightmare, I have even stronger control over spirit bodies.
I can act directly on a target's soul, keeping them calm while greatly enhancing the dream effect. It works on those of equal sequence and below. For higher sequences, the duration becomes uncertain."
After he finished, it was Daly's turn.
Daly was a Sequence 7 Spirit Medium who could manipulate undead spirits to achieve various mystical effects. Her abilities were fairly comprehensive, though she had fewer direct attack methods.
Besides these two, the team included a Sequence 8 Midnight Poet, the Nighthawk who had reported casualties to Edward earlier. His injuries were light, so he'd come along.
"Leon Bethoth. Just call me Leon."
This Nighthawk smiled at Silas.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
Silas looked at the other man's smiling face, which seemed somehow familiar, and asked with puzzlement.
"My brother was the receptionist at the club who greeted guests."
Leon said, his expression darkening somewhat.
Silas recalled that among the wounded and dead, he hadn't seen the receptionist. This meant Leon's brother probably hadn't even left a body behind.
After a moment of sympathy, they still had to discuss business. "I'm a Sequence 9 Secrets Suppliant with fairly high spiritual intuition. I can sense hidden powers and presences.
I'm also skilled in various ritual magic, especially numerous madness-inducing rituals related to the True Creator."
He didn't reveal his trump cards, like how his wounds could heal rapidly, or the two mystical items he carried, much less the mysterious tide in his mind that could resist mental pollution.
Those could be used at critical moments, but it was best not to expose them.
After everyone's introductions, Edward shared the function of the staff he was holding.
Sealed Artifact 1-114, the Staff of Chaos. Its primary functions were "chaos" and "distortion." By gripping it and striking the ground, one could activate its powers.
"Chaos" could disrupt the order in the area around a target, causing their attacks and defenses to miss their intended positions and creating errors.
"Distortion" could alter an opponent's will, making them change attack targets, harm themselves, and so on.
Additionally, using the Staff of Chaos to directly attack enemies could cause tremendous destructive effects, with force comparable to a direct hit from a small artillery shell.
Imagine this: an opponent launches an unstoppable powerful attack, but due to the "distortion" effect, that mighty strike turns back on themselves. What a ridiculous yet terrifying scene that would be.
However, such powerful effects came with severe side effects. Anyone who used the Staff of Chaos would become reckless and unrestrained.
The staff would tempt them to continuously use its power. Each use increased the craving to keep using it, like a thirsty person drinking massive amounts of saltwater. This process was uncontrollable.
Unless someone intervened, the user would exhaust their spirituality until they lost control and became a monster, enslaved to the staff.
"With my abilities, I can probably use it three times. If I use it a fourth time, I might become unable to distinguish friend from foe, attacking indiscriminately, and ultimately becoming the staff's slave."
Edward explained seriously.
"If you see me reluctant to let go after using it three times, stop me immediately. If there's really no other way, you can shoot me directly."
Shoot him directly, sure...
Silas unconsciously touched the hidden pocket at his chest, where the white bone flute and Servant's Bell were stored.
With the carriage racing at full speed, they reached the port district extremely quickly.
"Head that way!"
Silas pointed toward the center of the red cloud mass.
Warehouses began appearing more frequently around them, and the roads became winding.
People on the street frantically dodged the racing carriage, cursing loudly with vulgar language.
Silas paid no attention, only sensing the ever-closer aura of evil and corruption.
Once they were close enough, Edward and Daly also detected the abnormality, becoming restless and uneasy, their expressions turning grim.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of a building with a warehouse.
The building's sign displayed some trading company's name, but the doors and windows were tightly shut.
It clearly wasn't operating. Looking at the building before them and feeling the overwhelming evil energy, they knew they'd come to the right place.
"Don't rush in yet."
Edward said, "Let me try to pull her into a dream."
With that, he lowered his head slightly, and an invisible current dispersed from his body.
In an instant, Silas felt as if he were in the middle of night. A sense of tranquility replaced the evil aura and rapidly spread toward the inside of the trading company.
"Crack!"
Accompanied by a crisp sound like shattering glass, this tranquility was broken. Edward stepped back, his eyes snapping open.
It had failed.
He shook his head at the others.
"Creeeak..."
The trading company's main door slowly opened, as if welcoming them. Looking inside, they could only see pitch darkness.
A thick, suffocating stench of blood slowly wafted out from within.