"Commander Lucas, I think that we're dealing with Dark Arts Practitioners. It would be too dangerous if we don't have a single Holy Arts Practitioner here." One of the Elementalists working for the Blueglades Mercenery Group reminded their leader.
"It doesn't matter. We have plenty of Shamans on our side." Lucas answered.
Lucas Treadway was the one and only Commander of the Mercenary Group. He didn't just inherit this position, but he fought for it for several years. As a matter of fact, a gunshot left a mark on the left side of his face, and although this could be healed with alchemy, he decided to leave it there to remind him of his fortunate survival against his strongest foe.
Right now, he was looking at the factory emitting a strange fluctuation of energy. He had just ordered his best scouts to check the situation inside.
He was clenching his fist in worry as the items they were protecting might've been damaged already, causing this strange fluctuation. Those items are extremely expensive, and it could be said that it was more than half of the Baron's wealth.
Losing those items wouldn't just affect the Baron, but also their Mercenary Group.
"Hmm?"
As he was waiting for his scouts' report, he suddenly felt something ominous as he looked at the sky.
He wanted to warn the others, but as soon as he felt a powerful energy striking at them, he had to shift his priority and trigger his life-saving treasure.
Boom!
A powerful lightning struck the factory! The building collapsed, and fire started to spread.
Luckily, most of his men weren't too near the strike zone and were only injured. As for the unfortunate ones, they could only blame their luck.
'No… It doesn't seem a natural phenomenon…' Lucas realized something was off.
He immediately looked at his Vice Commander, who was an Elementalist.
"Helen! Is it possible for an Elementalist to cast a Lightning Strike?!" He asked in worry.
If their enemy summoned that lightning, they would have to reconsider their plans! None of them has the confidence to stop that kind of powerful attack.
Helen squinted her eyes as she understood the Commander's concern.
She may have stopped her studies at Rakmiths Academy in her sixth year, but she knows very well that Spell Models containing lightning's power could only be found in old books that could no longer be practiced or recorded for some reason.
"It's impossible, Commander. However, the enemy might be in possession of a Mystical Artifact with such power."
"Do you think they have it?"
"If it's not a natural phenomenon… Then it's most likely the enemy's Artifact. However, we shouldn't be worried too much. That attack is powerful that could destroy a terrain. It probably only works once a week, or perhaps, it requires a long ritual to complete."
Helen replied with confidence.
Lucas nodded at this as his worry had lessened after hearing her explanation.
He wanted to give a command to clear the rubble and find the entrance to the basement when suddenly, he heard his men crying in pain…
"Aackk!"
"D-don't get closer to rubbles!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Several men started convulsing before collapsing to the ground.
At this time, Lucas realized that the Lightning Strike had just now left some remnant energy!
Those who don't have strong Arcane Energy protecting their bodies would be electrocuted to death!
Helen also realized this as they immediately warned their members…
Many of them immediately retreated as they had no confidence in resisting the deadly static left by the lightning strike.
Nevertheless, their unfortunate encounter didn't end there.
"C-commander… I think… I want… to sleep for now."
"Me too…"
"I'm getting tired. Wake me up tomorrow, Commander."
Suddenly numerous members of the Mercenery Group felt their eyelids closing. They felt tired and wanted to take a long sleep.
Obviously, the Commander was alerted since so many of them wanted to sleep at the same time. It doesn't make sense!
He didn't know what was happening, but he could tell that sleeping in this situation was dangerous.
Suddenly, Lucas felt tired as well, but he also felt a chill on his back after sensing this. It feels like he would die if he really closed his eyes at this point!
He resisted the urge to sleep with everything he got as he gathered his energy in his chest before roaring out loud.
"Don't! Sleep! Open your eyes!"
His roar created a powerful wave of energy as it broke the Curse that was slowly killing his members.
Crack… Crack…
Two of his silver bracelets suddenly broke apart as he kneeled to the ground.
"Commander!" Helen shouted as she quickly went to Lucas' side.
"I'm fine… I just used too much energy." Lucas said as he looked at the low-grade Noble Rank Mystical Items that were broken just now.
Those two silver bracelets had the power to strengthen his Mystic Arts.
During his roar, he activated two Mystic Arts to help him clear the static left by the Lightning Strike and the strange Curse that was making them sleep to their death.
Unfortunately, the power was too strong, and he had to rely heavily on his Mystical Items. This caused too much stress on the item as they broke after finishing their task.
"W-what kind of Spell did you just break? How come two Noble Rank items were used up?" Helen asked in shock after seeing the broken bracelets. She knows the power of those bracelets really well.
She was aware that even her strongest Spell, the Firestorm, wouldn't even require a fourth of the bracelet's ability to break it.
Seeing two of those bracelets breaking at once, she couldn't imagine what kind of Spell their Commander tried to break!
Nevertheless, thanks to the Commander's action, the Curse was broken and the deadly static lessened. This allowed his members to stay awake and move closer to the rubbles.
"L-look! Someone's up there!"
"It's the enemy!"
"You dared show up?! You're courting death!"
"Commander! Give us the command to attack!
Suddenly, a figure wearing a demonic mask and black trench coat appeared standing atop the rubbles. They didn't have to ask, and they knew that this person was the culprit to all of this!
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