Chapter 60: Annihilation

As the distance closed, Gaon could clearly sense the three auras.

It became evident.

They hadn’t just faced the wall—they had crossed it.

All three of them.

Soon, the trio came into view.

Gaon checked their heads and hearts.

As expected.

As anticipated, they bore seals.

And one more thing.

Two warriors, one mage.

Through the flow of their energy, Gaon discerned their paths: two walked the path of martial arts, one the path of magic.

At that moment, the mage in the center began chanting a spell.

Simultaneously, Gaon felt a small thread of mana trying to pierce his mind.

Naturally, it failed.

The moment it touched him, it dissipated.

The mage, who had snapped his fingers, flinched.

Gaon smiled and activated all his circles.

He released Pacheongi, dominating the surrounding space.

His control, far stronger than in the 7th Circle, restrained the trio’s movements.

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Panic spread across their faces as their movements were suppressed.

“Dig.”

Gaon cast Dig.

The ground beneath them collapsed, forming a deep pit.

Unable to move properly, the three fell into it.

Gaon unleashed a barrage of spells.

“Thunder Rain.”

Crackle!

A magic circle appeared above, and lightning poured down.

Every bolt struck the pit.

It didn’t stop there.

Another circle formed, and sharp icicles rained down, all sucked into the pit.

Then flames erupted from within.

Not their doing—Gaon’s.

After the flames, more lightning struck.

Then blades of wind followed.

After the wind blades, orbs crackling with electricity exploded.

The trio’s auras weakened rapidly under Gaon’s onslaught.

When their auras hit rock bottom, he stopped.

“Levitation.”

He used Levitation to pull them out of the pit.

Their condition was dire.

Left alone, they’d die.

Once they were before him, Gaon cast, “Heal.”

He then injected Pacheongi into the red-haired warrior on the left to dismantle his seals and secret art.

In moments, he neutralized both seals and the warrior’s pain-suppressing technique.

“Ugh!”

As the technique was undone, the red-haired warrior screamed in pain.

“Silence.”

Gaon sealed his voice with Silence.

He spread Pacheongi through the warrior’s body, fully restraining him.

He repeated the process with the other two.

Having subdued all three, Gaon kept them floating and headed north to confront the two intruders from that direction.

Soon, he faced them.

“…!”

“…!”

Seeing the subdued trio, they were horrified.

As if coordinated, they fled in opposite directions.

Their escape failed.

“Mega Gravity.”

Rumble.

A deafening sound rang out, and the two were slammed to the ground.

A dazzling array of spells bombarded them.

Like the trio, their auras weakened rapidly, and Gaon stopped only when they were depleted.

Releasing Mega Gravity, he used Levitation to pull them to him.

He repeated the same process as with the trio.

Having subdued all five Abyss intruders, Gaon focused his senses.

There might be more.

But, contrary to his thoughts, no other notable presences were detected.

Only five? Or are others waiting?

Just because he sensed none didn’t mean it was over.

There could be others lying in wait.

I’ll find out.

He looked at the five floating, subdued figures.

All were likely Sikrina family members.

Having crossed the wall, they weren’t low-ranking.

They’d know a lot.

Including whether these five were all.

Gaon took them to the cultivation chamber.

As he went, he sent a message spell to Lamu.

[Caught five rats sneaking into the palace. I’ll interrogate them in the cultivation chamber. If you need to discuss anything, come there.]

***

Kareem and Belto remained silent.

Their faces were complex, subtle.

Belto broke the endless silence.

“Something’s off, right?”

He asked Kareem.

Kareem nodded.

“Yeah, definitely. It’s too quiet.”

They were waiting at the safehouse while the other five infiltrated the palace for information.

It had been nearly an hour since the five entered.

Yet the palace was eerily silent.

If things had gone well, it could be quiet.

But if so, they should’ve been contacted.

None of the five had reached out.

Something had gone wrong.

At that moment—

Swish!

A crystal orb before Belto glowed.

It was a communication from the family.

Belto infused it with energy.

Light burst from the orb, and a figure appeared.

“Oh, Arisa! I was just about to—”

Belto stopped mid-greeting, seeing Arisa’s expression.

It was grim.

“…No way, right?”

He asked.

Arisa managed the Sikrina family’s soul stones.

A grim-faced call from her meant one thing.

Belto could only think of one possibility.

“Everyone except you and Kareem is dead,” Arisa said.

“All at once.”

Her words were shocking.

Even dying separately would be hard to believe, but all at once?

They hadn’t moved together.

They infiltrated from different directions.

Simultaneous death meant one thing.

Subdued?

They were subdued.

How else could they die simultaneously?

“Is that true? All at once?” Belto asked, voice full of disbelief.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”

“Is Kareem with you?”

“Yeah, he’s here.”

“Prepare to return. I’ll report to the Lord and contact you.”

“Okay.”

Belto had no choice but to agree.

In this situation, they couldn’t investigate further.

If five were taken down, what could two do?

Swish!

Arisa vanished, and the orb’s light faded.

Belto looked at Kareem.

Having heard everything, Kareem’s face was troubled.

“Let’s prepare—”

At that moment—

Rumble…

A strange sound echoed.

Their bodies grew heavy.

Thud! Thud!

Belto and Kareem were slammed to the ground.

They struggled to rise.

But it was difficult.

It felt like a mountain pressed on them.

Belto realized it was magic.

…Gravity?

It had to be Gravity, amplifying weight.

But there was a problem.

The safehouse was intact.

Only Belto, Kareem, and the table and chairs were affected.

Impossible.

The stronger the magic, the harder it is to control its range.

To exert such force while limiting it?

Unbelievable.

Shamanism?

Not Gravity, but another spell—no, a shamanic art.

Not because it was likely, but because it had to be.

If it was Gravity?

It would be the worst-case scenario.

Step, step.

Footsteps approached.

They grew closer.

Creak.

The door opened.

Belto, lying face-down, saw the figure enter.

Shockingly, he recognized them.

Though he’d never seen them in person, he’d seen their likeness countless times.

Gaon!

***

At the Sikrina family’s office.

Bao was speechless, staring blankly into space.

Arisa was the reason, her face full of disbelief.

Snapping out of it, Bao spoke.

“If you make that face, what am I supposed to do?”

“Sorry. I can’t believe it either…”

“It’s really shattered…?”

“Yes.”

Arisa answered, and Bao fell silent again.

Not dazed like before, but deep in thought.

Everyone but Kareem and Belto dead…?

He’d known it was dangerous since Bestick’s death.

That’s why he sent all seven.

He thought they’d find out without losses.

Yet all but Kareem and Belto were dead?

“For now,” Bao said to Arisa, “tell them to return immediately. Staying there could be disastrous.”

With five down, Kareem and Belto couldn’t do anything.

Even staying at the safehouse was risky.

It was unlikely, but the safehouse might be compromised.

“Yes, understood.”

Arisa bowed and left.

Bao sank into thought.

What about the legacy?

The seven sent were among the top 30 in the family.

They were in the Bretan Kingdom to find the Sikrina family’s legacy, hidden somewhere there.

Later, others will come for it…

No other families knew of the legacy yet.

But if they did?

Even knowing it was the Sikrina family’s, they’d likely try to claim it.

As Bao pondered the legacy—

“…?”

He stopped.

Arisa was approaching at incredible speed.

What now?

It didn’t feel good.

Knock, knock.

“Arisa! Urgent report!” she called.

“Come in.”

Creak.

Arisa entered, and Bao frowned at her expression.

It was grim.

Something bad had happened again.

“Belto and Kareem are out of contact.”

“Didn’t you just contact them?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The soul stones?”

“They’re intact.”

Swish.

Arisa pulled out two soul stones—Belto’s and Kareem’s.

At that moment—

Crack!

Kareem’s stone split in half.

“…”

Bao and Arisa were speechless, staring at the broken stone.