Chapter 105: Phantom..... |
.......
A cold glint flashed in Jonas's eyes.
Like a phantom, he appeared amidst four guards, his sword tracing four perfect arcs. The guards fell into pools of blood before they could even make a sound.
The runes on the stone gate meant nothing to Jonas. He passed straight through it into a long corridor lined with dozens of cells holding prisoners of various races.
In the deepest cell, a frail woman was bound by chains. She bore similar features to Veldeline but appeared more mature. Her wrists were bloodied from the chains, her face terrifyingly pale.
"Miss Lise?" Jonas called softly.
The woman jerked her head up, alert. "Who's there?"
"Veldeline sent me to rescue you."
At her sister's name, hope flickered in Lise's eyes before fading again. "No... impossible... The Sand Tribe is too powerful... Leave now before you get yourself killed!"
He grasped the chains, and as magic surged through him, the sturdy restraints crumbled like flour.
Lise stared in shock. "You... who are you?"
"Jonas Regin, City Lord of Giant Spirit City," he answered briefly. "Can you walk now?"
Lise nodded, struggling to stand. "Yes... but there are other Hive Network members in these cells..."
Jonas considered briefly. "I'll get you to safety first, then return for the remaining guards."
As he helped Lise into the corridor and prepared to open other cells, his expression suddenly changed.
"Someone's coming."
Footsteps approached from the corridor's end - at least six people. From their magical fluctuations, two had reached Frost Silver-level.
"Oh no..." Lise's face turned deathly pale.
Jonas, however, grinned excitedly. "Perfect. I'll eliminate them all at once."
He hid Lise in a corner and melted into the shadows.
The footsteps grew closer, led by a towering Sand Tribesman whose sand particles gleamed metallically - the mark of Frost Silver-level.
"Strange. Why didn't the outer guards report?" he frowned.
"Probably slacking off again," another Frost Silver-level Sand Tribesman dismissed. "His Highness said we're launching the full assault on Giant Spirit City tonight. Everything must be secured."
"Is that blind girl's information reliable?"
"Of course. Her abilities never fail. Reports say Giant Spirit City is already plagued. Jonas must be overwhelmed..."
Before he finished speaking, a cold light flashed. The speaker's head flew through the air, his face frozen in shock.
The extreme heat made the scattered sand particles glow faintly white, like melting snowflakes.
"Ambush!" The remaining Sand Tribesmen immediately entered combat stance, their sand rapidly forming armor.
But Jonas was faster.
Like a specter, he weaved through them, each sword strike landing with lethal precision. Two Copper-level guards fell before even seeing their attacker.
"Damn it! An assassin!!!" the lead Frost Silver Sand Tribesman roared, sending sand arrows flying in all directions with a wave of his hands.
Forced to reveal himself, Jonas showed no fear.
"Jonas Regin?!" The Sand Tribesman recognized him, face paling. "Aren't you supposed to be in Giant Spirit City?"
"Seems your intel was wrong."
The two Frost Silver Sand Tribesmen exchanged glances and attacked simultaneously. One formed a giant sand hand to crush Jonas while the other turned the ground into quicksand to trap him.
Jonas didn't dodge. His sword suddenly ignited with ghostly blue flames.
"Break!"
With one slash, the sand hand split cleanly.
The quicksand solidified upon contact with the blue fire.
The two Sand Tribesmen gaped as they lost control of their sand.
"Impossible!"
Jonas gave them no time to think. His figure suddenly split into three, attacking from different angles. The two Sand Tribesmen struggled to defend, soon covered in wounds.
"Retreat! We must inform His Highness!" one shouted.
"Leaving?" Jonas snorted coldly as his sword flew like lightning, piercing the escapee's chest.
Seeing the situation dire, the last Sand Tribesman suddenly crushed a hourglass-shaped object.
Instantly, the entire underground space shook as sand surged from all directions.
"Let's die together!" he laughed maniacally.
Jonas's expression changed. "Self-detonation spell?"
Jonas's pupils contracted sharply as his magic surged like a tidal wave. He plunged both hands into the ground, ghostly blue flames spreading from his palms to weave a burning barrier amidst the quicksand and rubble. Wherever the flames touched, sand instantly vaporized, creating a chaotic clash of scorching heatwaves and howling sandstorms.
"Thinking of taking me with you? Too naive." Jonas smirked coldly as three fire runes materialized in the air. The runes shimmered with eerie blue light, transforming into chains that dragged the self-detonating Sand Tribesman toward Jonas. The tribesman panicked as he realized the runes were suppressing his rampaging magic, briefly halting the detonation spell.
Seizing this moment, Jonas moved like a phantom between cells. His fingertips brushed the locks, leaving flaming runes that made all cell doors swing open simultaneously. The imprisoned Hive Network members stared dumbfounded at this legendary City Lord. Before they could react, Jonas had already shielded Lise behind him while erecting a firewall separating them from the raging sandstorm.
"Stay close!" Jonas's voice cut clearly through the roaring flames. He manipulated the fire runes to form a massive dome overhead, incinerating all falling debris. The dome's edges writhed like living flames, precisely intercepting every dangerous projectile.
Trapped in the fiery cage, the Sand Tribesman let out a despairing roar, struggling madly to accelerate his detonation. Jonas's eyes flashed as his flames surged violently. The rune-chains tightened abruptly, dragging the tribesman into the barrier's center. "Since you're so eager to die, let me help you do it thoroughly."
Ghostly blue flames engulfed the Sand Tribesman. At the moment of detonation, the rune-barrier contracted sharply. The massive explosion was contained within the fiery prison, its shockwaves reduced to scorching air currents that crashed against the stone walls. The wall runes trembled violently but couldn't breach Jonas's firewall.
As the explosion's aftermath faded, Jonas dispelled the barrier. Though his clothes were tattered and hair disheveled, he stood tall and composed. Lise gazed at him with awe. "You..."
"Let's leave first." Jonas interrupted, scanning the group. "If the Sand Tribe is preparing an assault, reinforcements will arrive soon." He summoned several floating fire carpets. "Everyone on. I'll take you to safety."
As the group boarded, Jonas cast one last glance at the devastated underground prison, his lips curling into a dangerous smile. "Sand Tribe... this game has only just begun."
....
He took out a communication crystal. "Katdera, prepare for extraction."
Soon, Katdera emerged from the woods. Seeing Jonas, she visibly relaxed. "My lord, thank goodness you're safe."
Noticing the weakened Lise, she immediately went to support her. "This must be Miss Veldeline's sister?"
Jonas nodded. "Take her to the temporary base to rest. Also, inform Charis to prepare defenses. The Sand Tribe might attack sooner than expected."
Katdera departed on her mission. Jonas turned back toward Luyuns City - he had one final matter to attend to.
In Veldeline's cottage, the anxious girl suddenly stiffened, sensing something through her Hive Network.
"Jonas?"
The door opened, revealing Jonas bearing signs of battle. "Mission accomplished. Your sister is safe."
Tears welled in Veldeline's eyes. "Really? Lise is..."
"She's injured but not life-threatening." Jonas stepped closer. "Now it's time to fulfill your promise."
Veldeline wiped her tears and nodded solemnly. "I pledge myself as your retainer. But... the other Hive Network members..."
"I'll do my best to rescue them," Jonas promised. "But now we must relocate immediately. The Sand Tribe will find this place soon."
Veldeline quickly gathered essentials, including an exquisite small box. "This contains my parents' clues about the Spirit Ripple Clan."
Jonas's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Exactly what I need."
As they prepared to leave, Veldeline suddenly froze. "No! Sand Tribe pursuers are coming - at least twenty, led by..."
Before she finished, the wall exploded inward. A massive figure covered in golden sand particles entered.
"Molten Gold-level!" Jonas's pupils shrank.
The figure removed his hood, revealing an imposing face. "Jonas Regin, I've heard much about you."
Jonas shielded Veldeline. "Retifus?"
The man smiled. "No. I am Grand Elder Saphir of the Sand Tribe. His Highness is very interested in you and sent me to... invite you."
Jonas sneered. "Invitation? Like this?"
Saphir remained unperturbed. "You attacked our outpost, killed our elites - these are capital offenses. But His Highness is merciful. Surrender and hand over the blind girl, and you may live."
Veldeline trembled behind Jonas, sensing Saphir's overwhelming power.
Jonas laughed. "Interesting. I actually wanted to speak with your 'Highness.' Why don't you lead the way?"
Saphir narrowed his eyes. "Don't try anything."
Jonas shrugged. "What could I possibly try against a Molten Gold-level expert?"
Saphir snorted and gestured to his subordinates. "Tie them up."
As the guards approached, Jonas suddenly moved. His sword shot at an impossible angle straight for Saphir's throat!
"You dare!" Saphir bellowed as golden sand instantly formed a shield.
Yet Jonas's blade abruptly changed trajectory, carving an uncanny arc around the shield toward Saphir's heart.
"What?!" Saphir barely dodged, the sword leaving a deep gash on his shoulder. "You wounded me?!" Golden sand seethed violently around him. "I'll make you wish for death!"
The entire cottage began collapsing under Molten Gold-level pressure.
Golden sand boiled around Saphir like lava, distorting the air with heatwaves. With a casual wave, three golden sand blades tore through space, leaving three charred trenches where they passed. Though Jonas dodged rapidly, one grazed his shoulder - the excruciating pain made his pupils contract sharply. This was the terror of Molten Gold-level - even casual strikes contained world-shattering power.
"Your struggles are meaningless against absolute power!" Saphir's voice boomed like a bell, making ears ring. He raised both hands as countless golden particles formed a massive palm smashing downward. The entire space trembled under this pressure - Veldeline covered her mouth in terror, feeling her breath stolen away.
At the critical moment, Jonas plunged both hands into the ground.
As magic expanded outward...
Instantly, all light vanished as if swallowed by an invisible black hole, plunging the space into pitch darkness.
Saphir's pupils contracted slightly. Relying on his heightened senses, he quickly formed dozens of glowing golden sand spheres around himself, ready to attack any approaching threat.
"Pathetic trick!" Saphir snorted, maneuvering the spheres to illuminate areas briefly, yet failing to locate Jonas. His frown deepened with growing unease - he could sense Jonas nearby yet couldn't pinpoint his position.
Unbeknownst to him, Jonas had activated Shadowmeld the moment darkness fell. Merging perfectly with the blackness, his presence completely concealed, he moved like a stalking panther awaiting the perfect strike. Holding his breath, he carefully circled behind Saphir, each step a dance on knife's edge.
Finally finding his opening, Jonas gripped his glowing blue sword and thrust silently toward Saphir's back. Yet just before contact, Saphir suddenly turned, eyes flashing with alarm - his battle-honed instincts sensing danger.
"Too late!" Jonas shouted, accelerating his blade. Saphir barely raised a golden sand shield in time. The tremendous impact cracked the shield and numbed Jonas's hands from recoil.
Enraged, Saphir's golden sand erupted violently, forming a massive vortex. "You've angered me now!" The golden maelstrom surged toward Jonas, fracturing the ground in its wake. Knowing this attack carried Saphir's full wrath, Jonas gathered all his magic into his blazing blue sword. "Break!" He charged headlong into the vortex.
The collision of blue fire and golden sand created a blinding explosion. As smoke cleared, Jonas had vanished again, while Saphir scanned warily in all directions.