Gaon quickly assessed the situation.
The mutant ogres had the upper hand—if he hadn’t intervened, many, if not all, of the mercenaries would’ve died.
To them, he was a lifesaver.
“It was the right thing to do. I needed to deal with those ogres anyway, so no need to feel burdened,” Gaon said.
But he didn’t intend to gloss over his mistake.
Suppressing them was undeniable.
“Sorry for the misunderstanding. Your energy was similar to someone I’m looking for,” he apologized sincerely.
“No worries! I’m just glad it’s cleared up,” the middle-aged man replied, signaling his team.
“It’s fine!”
“Quite an experience!”
The mercenaries chimed in, some genuinely, but Gaon knew most were driven by fear.
He dispelled Ifrit’s Wall, and the relief on some faces confirmed his suspicion.
Turning to the shaman, whose flinch caught his eye, Gaon asked, “Can you tell me which sect you’re from?”
The shaman’s face darkened instantly, puzzling Gaon.
It was just a question about their sect—why such a reaction?
“I understand now why you misunderstood,” the shaman said cryptically.
Gaon was confused.
The shaman wasn’t implying knowledge of the Abyss, so what did they mean?
“As you likely know, I trained under the Latus sect,” the shaman continued.
…?
Gaon was baffled.
He’d never heard of the Latus sect.
Why did the shaman assume he knew it?
Then it clicked.
He’d suspected the shaman because of their energy’s nature.
Shamans’ energy varied by environment and training, so those from the same sect shared similar traits.
This meant the Abyss shamans he sought were likely from the Latus sect.
The reason this shaman had no restrictions?
They used the past tense—trained, not training.
They must’ve left the sect before the Abyss corrupted it.
“May I ask what the sect has done this time?” the shaman asked cautiously.
Gaon countered, “You said ‘this time,’ implying they’ve caused trouble before. Can you share what you know? It’s important to me.”
“There’s so much, I don’t know where to start…” the shaman said bitterly, recounting events.
Gaon’s expression hardened.
…It was them?
The Latus sect, based in the Nile Kingdom, was deeply entwined in its governance and was instigating war with the Varta Kingdom—clearly the Abyss’s doing.
Just wait.
Gaon resolved to destroy the Latus sect.
Lilith silently reviewed the 3rd Branch’s report on ‘Gaon,’ who killed Breck.
A bigger fish than I thought.
Initially, she planned to eliminate him at all costs, but the report changed her mind.
If he killed the 2nd Elder’s experiment, he’s no novice.
She knew Atros well—a low-tier Sword Expert turned monster through experiments, with magic resistance and recovery that let him withstand 6th Circle spells.
Even an Archmage couldn’t easily kill him if he fled.
Yet the report suggested Atros was subdued and killed, indicating Gaon was a seasoned 7th Circle Archmage, not a newcomer.
Gaon…
The name irritated her.
Who was using it?
…Would he know?
The mysterious Archmage was heading to Gardion Tower with its mages.
Lilith decided to contact ‘him’ there later and set the report down.
“Luhan,” she called.
“Yes,” Luhan responded immediately.
“He’s a 7th Circle Archmage who crossed the wall and killed the 2nd Elder’s experiment. Can you take him out?”
Luhan answered without hesitation, “Not alone.”
“With support, then?”
“Yes. I have several ideas.”
“Tell me.”
“First, the demonic sword Brutal and the magical tool Bellingham—”
“No,” Lilith cut him off.
Using demonic items in the coexistence zone or mana-dominant areas was too risky.
“Second?”
“The 7-star mana stone and Patran’s Eruption.”
“Will that suffice?” Lilith asked, pausing.
“Yes. With a 7-star mana stone, Patran’s Eruption will obliterate even an Archmage, no matter their shield,” Luhan replied.
“True,” Lilith nodded.
Patran’s Eruption’s power scaled with its mana stone, and a 7-star stone could vaporize an area, unbeatable even by an Archmage’s defenses.
“But doesn’t it take three minutes to activate?”
“I can hold out for three minutes alone,” Luhan said with a smile.
“Much better than the first. A third option?”
“Attach the 2nd Lycan Unit, and I’ll bring his head.”
Without hesitation, Lilith said, “Go with the second.”
“Understood. But…” Luhan hesitated.
“What?”
“May I use a city or village as bait?”
Lilith paused.
Using Patran’s Eruption in a populated area would kill countless people, not just Gaon.
But as bait, it ensured he wouldn’t flee.
“If it’s our territory, approved,” she said.
She didn’t care about casualties—those people would be subjugated eventually.
Their deaths would be a noble sacrifice if it meant killing Gaon.
“But not in others’ territories. They’ll make a fuss, and it’s a hassle.”
“Got it. What if he reaches the tower?”
Though unlikely, there might be no chance to use Patran’s Eruption.
“Then return. I’ll handle it another way.”
“Understood. I’ll depart immediately.”
“Thank you for your hard work,” Rotes said to Gaon, having collected all the mutant ogre corpses.
“Hard work? Hardly,” Gaon shrugged.
It was a single spell.
“Let’s go.”
Gaon boarded the carriage, followed by Rotes, and Taylor began driving.
“Who were those people earlier?” Rotes asked, recalling the group that bowed repeatedly before leaving.
“The Helli Mercenary Band, heading to Ruberic,” Gaon answered.
Ruberik, near the coexistence zone, was a frontline city Gaon planned to visit after resolving issues with Gardion Tower and Varta Kingdom.
“I see,” Rotes nodded.
“Why?”
“They seemed skilled, so I was curious. I figured they were notable.”
“Yeah, they were pretty good.”
Despite struggling against the mutant ogres, the Helli Band wasn’t weak.
Their leader, Helli, and the team were high-caliber—the ogres were just abnormally strong.
“By the way, you said Glaxios pressured you for this mission?” Gaon asked suddenly.
“Yes,” Rotes replied with a wry smile.
Gaon had told him that he and Taylor couldn’t have handled the ogres alone—a 6th Circle Master Mage would’ve been needed.
Without Gaon, they’d be dead.
“But I’m sure the Vice-Master didn’t know,” Rotes added.
The mission stemmed from Glaxios, but its difficulty was set by Maion, Rudi’s fifth disciple and Sterun’s faction’s second-in-command.
Glaxios likely didn’t know the ogres’ strength.
“Hm…”
Gaon frowned slightly.
“What’s the next mission?” he asked.
Rotes had found three missions to undertake while returning to the tower.
“Astarek Mountains, dealing with a spirit beast,” Rotes answered.
“Spirit beast? What grade?” Gaon’s eyes gleamed.
Spirit beasts often had cores, and higher grades meant higher-quality cores.
“It’s estimated at 5th grade.”
“Estimated?”
“Yes, at least 5th, possibly higher. I suspect 6th.”
“And it’s still out there?”
The Astarek Mountains were rugged and rarely visited, but a 5th or 6th-grade spirit beast was a treasure.
The mission was registered in an artifact, meaning it was public knowledge.
Yet it remained uncaught?
“Well…” Rotes hesitated, then said awkwardly, “It doesn’t die.”
“…Doesn’t die?”
“Yes. High-tier Sword Experts, 6th Circle mages, and 6-star shamans have tried, but attacks don’t work. That’s why I think it’s 6th grade.”