"This is the map for the place where it is currently located. It is being used by them as a core component of a Formation. As soon as you get it, they will be alerted about it"
Arland handed me a paper scroll which depicted a detailed map. Fleur walked over and looked at it with me.
In this quick heist, she will go with me. I already told her that there's no need to but she insisted. Talking about how she didn't want to risk losing a new reliable ally.
I only intended on swiping the artifact before concealing myself again. Even if they were alerted after I got it, I would wait for the Orb to cooldown first before escaping. By then, it would be easy... Now that she'll come with me, she will find how boring that will be. There won't be any action or if there is, I will end it quietly.
The artifact that Arland wanted to steal was a possession of his late wife. As it turns out, her wife was another Zenith Magus and a Headmaster of a Magical Academy that was at the forefront of the battle against the Dark World during the early days of their invasion.
Unfortunately, she was ambushed and died under the hands of the two Noxian Transcendents. She's supposed to be stronger than Fleur but without any reinforcement, she got cornered by her opponents.
Arland at that time was too busy reinforcing the Formation for this city that by the time he noticed her distress call, it's already too late.
That's the reason why he was always on the lookout. Not wanting to have a repeat of what happened back then.
"That's the previous capital of the Noxians. It had 3 key structures that we have to pass through to reach the location of the artifact."
Fleur pointed at the three marked structures in the map. A gate, a bridge and lastly a tower.
Hikari and the 19 with her that were sent by Arland to steal it managed to reach the bridge undetected. However, that's when the Grand Magus responsible for teleporting them out met an accident implicating the Grand Magus responsible for their disguises. Losing the two at the same time, the remaining 18 immediately decided to retreat before things got even worse.
In the end, 12 more Magus and Grand Magus died before Hikari summoned me here.
"That artifact is being used by them powering up an Energy Gathering Platform."
Energy Gathering Platform. My previous guess about the Dark World denizens depleting their energy was long proven wrong. Like everyone, they could convert a Level 1 Energy to replenish their used Dark Energy albeit, they probably need more units of a Level 1 Energy to convert it to a Level 2 Energy. And those converted energies can only be used by themselves. They couldn't put it inside a container unless they brought something which could do that for them.
That platform was gathering the Elemental Energy in the surroundings and similar to the Absorption Room, there will be an enclosed space wherein the Elemental Energy will be pooled.
"I see. That platform is on top of that Aristocrat Tower? It sounds like it's important for them, how would Hikari and the other steal that? It should be well-guarded, right?"
"Those twenty. I picked them not because of their strength but of their specialty. If everything went according to the plan, they would be able to leave unscathed."
He trusted his plan too much that he didn't account for an accident.
This guy. He's probably a split between a smart and a fool. He also didn't account that his wife would be calling him when he's busy reinforcing the Defensive Formation of the city.
Also, that's what he's showing on our sparring. He can focus on one thing but forget another. That's a serious flaw. When he was fully focused on the offensive, he became full of openings that once I used the Void version of Air Bullets, which cut through his weaker Spells, he couldn't switch to defensive at once. Maybe if I didn't come here, he would probably make a critical mistake like that sooner or later.
I have to train Arland to fix that flaw in the following days. As for Fleur, she's already almost out of flaws, her spells were destructive just that her mentality is already leaning to escapism, I also have to get rid of that.
"I see. Accidents do happen."
"No. It was my fault to not think of back-up plans."
At least he's aware. That's a start.
"Don't beat yourself to it."
"He's right, Arland. No plan will be perfect. Leave this to us and wait for our return."
Fleur stepped forward and patted Arland's head like a child. Surprisingly, Arland's fuse didn't lit up at what she did this time. Despite how they looked there's a huge age difference between them.
I guess they're like a master and disciple before.
After going over the things that we will do, Arland went back to his Magus Tower while Fleur and I took the sky and flew over to the nearest river. The Teleportation Spell she will use needed to be cast when she's inside a body of water.
It's a 10-nodes Elemental Spell that only an Elemental Fusing Realm could attempt to cast.
By using the Water Elemental Energy and the water itself it could connect one place to another.
In the middle of the night, Fleur's body glowed in a brilliant blue color of her Water Element. Add the moonlight which coincidentally as bright today, she once again appeared like a Water Goddess which made the river part through her influence.
In the middle where her staff pointed, a deep-blue portal opened up.
As soon as that appeared, Fleur turned around and grabbed my hand.
"We're jumping in, Daisuke. Please, do not let go of my hand. Otherwise, you will become lost inside the passage made from the Water Element and be teleported somewhere random by getting washed away by the current."
She reminded as she tightened her grip on my hand. I nodded at her and stepped forward.
I don't know if I can control that current if ever. To be completely sure that I wouldn't let go of her hand during it, I adjusted my hold on her by crossing our fingers together.
Fleur didn't reject it and even tightened her grip once the gaps in our fingers became filled up by each other.
Right after that, we jumped down and dived down into the blue portal leading to another river just west of the previous Noxian capital.
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As I felt ourselves travelling down a tube-like passage, Fleur kept her hold as she guided me down this passageway. With the speed at which the current was taking us, the surroundings turned into a blur where there's nothing to see but the woman in front of me.
1 minute later, the passageway switched direction upwards revealing the exit portal from the surface.
Splash!
Like a fish jumping out of the water, Fleur and I appeared above a tranquil river. Even if we came from inside it, the river remained still without any disturbance.
I looked around the place and from a distance, on higher ground, various black structures could be clearly seen.
Right. It's all black as if they used coal as a building block
Compared to the red brick houses and structures in Selenia, the previous capital of the Noxians were dotted with these black houses and buildings which somehow gave off an eerie feeling.
After observing it from the river we appeared from, further inside those black structures, activities from the current inhabitants were apparent.
It's still early into the night so most of them are still awake.
Apart from the Dark World denizens who're dressed in all black, the capital is once again being inhabited by the previous owners.
The Noxians.
They have already completely betrayed this world and have been accommodating the foreign invaders ever since they appeared. Maybe it was the decision of their Transcendents and those lower didn't have any choice but to follow them, however, that doesn't matter anymore. Those unwilling and those forcibly drafted in the military during a war were common. Besides in a world where strength rules they have no choice but to obey.
The Noxians apart from their slightly dark skin and black wings which grew from their hips, their appearance was also close to the Human Race.
Apart from that race traits, their Main Elemental Cores were also fixed to the Darkness Element. However, there's a chance for them to form a Secondary Core of a different element.
"The Noxians have enhanced vision when it's night, we have to move carefully if we want to infiltrate it without alerting them."
Fleur reminded. She was already on high alert with her staff ready to cast a spell any minute.
"Don't worry. You already experienced the effect of this, right?"
I took out the Orb of Concealment. Without waiting for her answer, the Aura on Concealment has already covered us both.
"There's no hurt in being extra careful."
Before the Aura of Concealment fully covered us, Fleur cast a spell which created a bubble which covered both of us.
Just feeling the effect of it, it's also a concealment but lower in effect compared to the orb.
"I see. Thanks for reminding me not to be overly confident, Fleur."
No matter how powerful the Orb is, there will surely come a time where its effect will be seen through. Like she said, it doesn't hurt to be a little careful.
And here I am trying to train them when I also have this kind of flaw...
"Don't be... Please lead the way, Daisuke."
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