Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

The raft slowly descended onto the open ground inside the fortress.

They were immediately blocked by a group of fully armored warriors.

Betty stepped forward and showed the badge of the North Wind Caravan.

After the guards checked the documents, they waved for them to pass.

Led by Betty, the ghost of the forest propelled the raft.

We drove into the interior of this massive fortress, which stands majestically in the northwest of the capital.

Inside the fortress, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Everywhere you look, you see fully armed soldiers and mercenaries, their expressions solemn.

Organized adventure groups gathered in their respective areas, exchanging hushed conversations.

The equipment prepared for war was piled up like mountains.

The gleaming alchemical cannons, barrels of oil, heavy chariots, and forged barricades...

The entire fortress resembled a fully drawn bow, permeated with a sense of oppressive tension.

Led by Betty, Lin Gui and his group arrived at the North Wind Caravan's encampment.

Before we even got close, we saw a huge vehicle.

It was a huge train consisting of 10 carriages.

But it is not a train in the traditional sense.

Instead, they were huge steel carriages connected together without wheels.

The joints between the carriages are wrapped with thick rubber to absorb vibration and noise.

The steel shell is decorated with many intricate magic circles that shimmer with a faint light.

Lin Gui recognized this thing; it was a vehicle specifically designed for large transport fleets, known as a "wheelless train."

Its advantages include strong concealment and huge internal space, which can be used for both storage and living.

At this moment, the door of the first carriage is open.

You can see members of the North Wind Caravan inside.

Upon seeing Lin Gui and his group arrive, the people inside came out one after another.

The vice-captain of the North Wind Caravan was a sprightly old man named Aubrey.

He greeted them warmly, his face showing apology.

"Master Lin Gui, you've finally arrived."

"We sincerely apologize for not being able to notify you in time regarding the last-minute change of the caravan's itinerary."

Lin Gui also exchanged a few polite words with him skillfully.

Both sides introduced themselves.

The caravan members were a diverse group.

Besides Freya, Betty, Scout Alvin, and Assassin Duru, whom Lin Gui had already met.

There was also a male priest named Silas.

Barton, an exceptionally burly barbarian warrior from the far north.

Two taciturn orc brothers, Grom and Maggro, who carry totems on their backs.

A scholar named Elie, wearing glasses and carrying heavy books.

And a cool and aloof female elf ranger named Lysa who carries a longbow.

Ryza has green hair and two red and green graffiti painted on her pretty face.

It is clearly a forest elf.

When Shia saw the forest elf Lysa, her body instantly stiffened.

She instinctively shrank behind Lin Gui, trying to avoid his gaze.

Lin Gui immediately noticed Xia's unusual behavior.

Clearly, Shia knew the forest elf and didn't want to be recognized.

With a thought racing through his mind, Lin Gui casually made up a fake name for Xia, "Vera," during the introduction.

When introducing the saint Eve, the pseudonym "Emily" was also used.

After the introduction, Lin Gui got straight to the point.

"When do we leave?"

"It might take a while, at most half a day."

Vice-captain Aubrey explained the situation to him.

Twilight Fortress is the only passage to the northwest of the capital.

If you want to get to Shield City, starting from here is the fastest route.

If we detour through Eagle Fortress, it will take at least another month.

However, the current situation is...

The front line of Twilight Fortress was breached by demons after Duke Sam, who was stationed there, was assassinated.

Meanwhile, the army in Carter's capital is struggling to hold out on the second line of defense.

So they can't leave for the time being.

The situation seems very serious.

But everyone in the North Wind Caravan was very relaxed.

"When the demon breaks through the second line of defense and arrives here."

"The captain will handle everything."

Aubrey smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat out of place in the somber atmosphere.

"Then, we can set off."

"So, you won't have to wait too long, Master Lin Gui."

His gaze fell upon Freya, who was standing on the distant city wall.

Lin Gui followed his gaze and nodded.

"Alright, can you tell me about the arrangements for us?"

"Where will my companion and I stay, and where will we put our things?"

"How are the arrangements for this trip?"

Aubrey smiled and said, "Of course. But before that, could you please give it a try?"

He pointed to the massive, wheel-less train.

"This behemoth is loaded with nearly a hundred tons of cargo; it's nothing like your little raft."

"This mission is dangerous; we need to confirm the limits of your abilities."

Lin Gui nodded without saying anything more.

He picked up his oak staff and pressed the tip against the cold steel plate of the train.

My mind sank in, and I began to feel the weight as heavy as a mountain.

One hundred tons... This was the first time he had ever tried to float something that heavy.

The dramatic increase in weight means a sharp rise in the precision required for levitation and the amount of magic needed.

What was originally the cost of a basic spell is now comparable to that of a transcendent spell.

Unlike before, when one could float with a mere thought.

At this moment, Lin Gui's movements were unusually slow, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

The members of the North Wind Caravan surrounded him and watched him silently.

Aubrey walked over to Betty and asked in a low voice.

"Little Betty, do you think he can do it?"

Meeting the probing gazes of her teammates, Betty gave a soft hum, her tone filled with certainty.

"Don't worry, you're much better than me."

As a fellow mage, she was well aware of the limitations of levitation magic.

The speed at which Lin Gui chanted the incantation in a single second back then already said it all.

The only problem now is whether his magic reserves are sufficient.

Even if the other party is just a high-level mage.

Time passed slowly, but neither the train nor the ghost in the forest made any move.

Some members of the North Wind Caravan frowned and began to have doubts.

Just when some people thought that the young mage was powerless to shake the steel behemoth.

Lin Gui slowly lowered his staff.

He turned to Aubrey and calmly asked, "Is this alright?"

Aubrey and the others looked puzzled and were about to ask.

The forest elf Lysa took the lead, crouching down on the ground and looking at the bottom of the train.

Then, she raised her head with a strange expression and said to everyone.

"It's floating, about one centimeter off the ground."

Upon hearing this, the others all lay down to check.

The bottom of the massive, wheel-less train was indeed perpendicular to the ground.

A tiny, almost imperceptible crack appeared.

Everyone stood up, and their gazes toward Lin Gui became somewhat strange.

Aubrey coughed and said to Lin Gui.

"Could we... go a little higher? When crossing the Silent Sea, we need to be at least twenty meters above the surface."

Lin Gui frowned slightly.

Maintaining this hundred-ton weight in levitation is currently costing him nearly fifty points of magic power per second.

In addition, the limitations of the fortress's internal architecture made it quite difficult to carry out the operation.

"Do you need any help?" Saint Eve's gentle voice came from behind.

Lin Gui nodded.

Then, a clear and solemn chanting sounded.

The soft glow of the [Magic Restoration Spell] enveloped the Forest Ghost.

Feeling the rapid recovery of his magical power, Lin Gui took a deep breath and said loudly.

"Excuse me!"

The crowd gathered around the train instinctively took a few steps back.

The next moment, the silent steel train seemed to be injected with life.

Guided by the Forest Ghost Staff, it emitted a deep hum and steadily ascended.

Like a giant dragon awakening, it coils and soars straight into the sky!

This stunning scene instantly drew the attention of almost everyone inside the fortress.

The previously dull and oppressive atmosphere was broken.

Soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers flocked to the open space.

Looking up at the enormous creature soaring freely in the sky.

On the fortress walls, the Guardian Knights watched the train moving nimbly through the air.

She couldn't help but admire Freya beside her.

"Your caravan is truly full of hidden talents! Such exquisite levitation skills are the first I've ever seen."

"As expected of your outstanding student, Lady Freya!"

Freya, standing beside him, frowned slightly.

A promising student?

If Betty could do that...

She would no longer be his apprentice, but his teacher.

Freya narrowed her eyes, her heart filled with horror.

This control distance...

This has already far exceeded the limit of the Levitation spell's range set by the Thousand Towers City.

Just how outrageous is this kid's understanding and mastery of levitation?

Lin Gui's unintentional display made Freya realize something.

You may have unintentionally recruited an extraordinary person.