Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Elvia struggled to pull a magic scroll from her backpack.

That was the scroll of the Night Gauze Robe that Lin Gui had given her.

Her fingers trembled, her nails digging into the seal of the reel, trying to tear it open.

However, the extreme blood loss caused by multiple serious injuries began to blur her vision.

The world before my eyes seemed veiled by a layer of mist; the moonlight became blurred, and the outlines of pebbles and withered trees swayed and overlapped in my vision.

She blinked hard, gritted her teeth, and forced herself to stay awake.

The smell of blood emanated from her and drifted in the night wind.

In the distance, pairs of blood-red eyes lit up in the darkness.

The first one.

The second one.

The third one.

They poked their heads out of their nests, their nostrils flaring as they sniffed the fresh, bloody scent in the air.

Deep growls came from all directions, rising and falling, as if they were confirming the __cpLocation of their prey.

A hero-level demon emerged from behind the rock, on all fours, its back arched, saliva dripping from between its fangs.

Its gaze was fixed on Elvia, as if it were staring at meat on a chopping board.

Then came the second one, and the third one.

More demons poured out of the lair and surrounded it from all directions.

Their footsteps were light, but in the desolate wilderness, those faint sounds pierced Elvia's eardrums like needles.

But those aren't the worst things.

In the distance, deep within that dark, dense forest, where even moonlight cannot penetrate.

A suffocating sense of oppression is awakening.

It's not moving, it's not getting closer.

It is a gaze.

The legendary demon that rose to power opened its eyes.

Those eyes pierced through the dense forest and the darkness of night, landing on Elvia.

It felt like a mountain pressing down on her chest.

Elvia's breath hitched for a moment, and her face paled even more.

The open space she chose was originally her last resort.

Those clusters of demon lairs were her bargaining chips to keep Arthur in check.

But now, Arthur has run away.

The demons' attention was entirely focused on her.

She no longer had the strength to run.

My whole body was in excruciating pain; every bone in my body seemed to be screaming, and my muscles felt like they were being torn apart. Even raising my arm was difficult.

Even if the scroll of the Night Veil is torn open, the duration of the Night Veil is not enough to protect her from escaping in this state.

The gravel will crack, the withered branches will break, and the bloodstains will run all the way.

Those demons will find her by following the scent of blood.

Elvia crawled on her stomach, using her elbows to support herself on the ground, and slowly moved to the side.

With every inch of movement, the wound is torn open, and the blood flows out even faster.

She gritted her teeth, her nails digging into the mud, and dragged herself forward.

A demon rushed out from the side.

Its speed was astonishing, its limbs flying, and its fangs gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

The target is clear: Elvia's throat.

Elvia's pupils trembled violently.

She instinctively raised her hand, her fingers digging into the seal of the reel, preparing to tear it open.

But it was too late.

The demon had already pounced on them.

A foul stench filled the air, and fangs were almost within reach.

"boom--"

A dark shadow descended from the sky, without slowing down at all, and crashed directly into the demon.

The bow of the airship slammed into the demon's body, and the sound of bones cracking exploded in the night sky.

The demon's body flew like a thrown stone, traveling more than ten meters before crashing into a rock and splattering a pool of dark red blood.

At the moment of impact with the demon, Lin Gui grabbed Eileen's arm with one hand.

The speeding airship was then stored inside the space.

The flying boat vanished into thin air, and Lin Gui jumped down with Eileen.

His knees bent slightly as he landed, his robes billowing in the night wind.

His gaze swept over the surrounding demons, over the oppressive aura in the distant dense forest, and finally landed on Elvia.

His long golden hair was scattered among the rubble, his armor was almost completely destroyed, and he was covered in blood.

Lin Gui's expression changed.

He crouched down, placed his hand on Elvia's shoulder, and spoke urgently.

"Elvia!"

Elvia's eyelids twitched, and she managed to open them a crack.

When she saw Lin Gui's familiar face, the corner of her mouth twitched.

It wasn't laughter, it was insults.

Her voice was so weak it sounded like it was being squeezed out of her throat, and it carried a hint of annoyance.

"You son of a bitch... why are you only getting back now?!"

Lin Gui's lips moved slightly, and a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

"Something unexpected happened."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the approaching demons around him.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let me take you away first."

He reached out, supporting Elvia's back with one hand and slipping the other under her knees to lift her up.

Elvia shrank back slightly in his arms, her brows furrowing.

"No...don't rush..."

Her voice was broken and intermittent; she had to catch her breath after each word.

She raised her hand, her fingers weakly gripping Lin Gui's collar, her golden eyes fixed on him.

"That guy... we can't let him get away..."

Lin Gui frowned slightly.

"Who?"

Elvia's breathing became more and more rapid, and her face was as pale as paper.

Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth and from the cracks in his armor, dripping onto Lin Gui's arm.

"That...that...that..."

"Arthur".

Her voice grew softer and softer, more fragmented.

"...There's...there's..."

She pointed to the spot where Arthur had been standing.

"His blood...tissue...and..."

Her voice trailed off here.

"Mo..."

Her lips trembled slightly, and she didn't finish saying the name.

His gaze began to glaze over, and the light in his pupils gradually dimmed.

Lin Gui lowered his head and looked at her pale face.

His fingers gently caressed her cheek, his palm pressed against her cool face, his voice soft and steady.

Don't worry.

"Leave it all to me."

Elvia's eyelids twitched.

She looked into Lin Gui's eyes. There was no panic or fear in his dark eyes, only a reassuring and calm light.

A slight smile finally appeared on her lips.

Then, I closed my eyes.

Her breathing became steady, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Lin Gui withdrew his gaze, picked up Elvia, and boarded the airship.

Eileen was already sitting in the back, her expression serious, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt.

The flying boat took off, transformed into a streak of light, and disappeared into the night sky.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at Deadwood Town and the Seven Copper Coin Post Office.

Lin Gui placed Elvia on the soft bed.

Eileen immediately took over from Lin Gui and began to cast a water therapy spell on Elvia.

A pale blue light emanated from her palm, covering Elvia's wound.

Lin Gui stood by the bed, watching Eileen's busy figure, and said something.

"Please take good care of her for me."

Eileen didn't turn around, she just nodded.

Lin Gui looked at her, at the black-haired girl who hadn't uttered a sound the whole way.

Starting from Deadwood Town, head north to the hunting grounds to reunite with Freeman, hunt down the scattered members of the magic family, and then return.

She vomited repeatedly along the way, her face was as white as paper, and her lips were completely bloodless.

But she didn't utter a sound, nor did she call for a stop.

Lin Gui was silent for a moment, then finally said something.

"Thanks."

Eileen paused for a moment, but still didn't turn around.

Lin Gui turned around, went through the window, boarded the flying boat, and flew out of the town of Kumu.

The flying boat transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the night.

Third-floor bedroom.

Eileen stood by the window, watching his departing figure, her expression complex.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on her pale face.

She turned her head and looked at Elvia, who was sleeping soundly on the bed.

Her long, golden hair was scattered on the pillow, and there was still blood on her face that hadn't been wiped clean. Her breathing was steady and even.

Eileen sat down on the edge of the bed, her gaze falling on Elvia's face.

She recalled how the blonde woman had tried to sell her man to her when they first met.

To be honest, Eileen disliked the other person's tone from the very beginning.

That tone always reminded her of the marriage proposals used by powerful people in the City of a Thousand Towers.

The words contained no mention of individuals, only the complementarity and acquisition of power, money, and influence.

Elvia said the same thing.

They say he has more money than he can spend.

It is said that he has a transport fleet and a powerful position, which is praised even by legendary mages.

It is said that he has amazing magical talent, and many powerful families in the Thousand Towers City want to win him over.

Eileen was extremely disgusted at the time.

She thought this was yet another naked exchange of interests, another cold calculation that treated people as bargaining chips.

She didn't realize at the time that the other person deliberately omitted any description of the man's abilities in their speech.

After traveling north with Lin Gui, Eileen finally understood why Elvia acted that way.

After just a few hours of hunting northwards, Eileen was quite certain—

She will never forget it in her lifetime.

It's impossible to forget that death-like, high-speed pursuit.

The Grim Reaper is not that legendary assassin.

Freeman is the Soul Scythe, the scythe in the hands of Death that reaps lives.

And Death...

It's that high-ranking mage.

His stealth technique made him undetectable to all his prey.

His levitation ability allowed the flying boat to reach speeds exceeding epic levels across the wilderness.

His spiritual vision left no fleeing enemy with a chance to escape.

They caught up with one and killed him.

Those extraordinary mages who swaggered around in the City of a Thousand Towers didn't even have time to react in front of him.

Eileen's fingers began to tremble again.

It's not fear.

It's excitement.

It's the kind of uncontrollable tremor that comes from blood surging through the veins.

soul……

Hidden...

Levitation...

She repeated the three words softly, her voice as light as a sigh.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at Elvia's sleeping face, Eileen whispered something.

"Miss Elvia, I may have to disappoint you."

"I have not developed any romantic feelings for Lord Lin Gui."

"But I'm very interested in his magic."

"I hope he doesn't mind having an apprentice of higher rank than him."

the other side.

North of the town of Kumu, in that huge mud pit.

Morgan stood on the rocky platform, his hands gripping his staff tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The magic surged into the ground like a flood bursting its banks, and with each second it lasted, the magic core became dwindling.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and beads of sweat slid down his nose and dripped onto the staff.

Cass and Victor were stuck in the mud, like two statues, motionless.

They have stopped struggling.

Cass crossed his arms, his feet sank into the mud, a calm, cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Lord Morgan, how much longer can your magic last?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word pierced Morgan's ears like nails.

"Ten minutes?"

"Five minutes?"

"Or... is it almost empty?"

Morgan did not answer.

His breathing grew heavier and heavier, his chest heaving violently, and his robes were soaked with sweat.

Cass's gaze swept across his face, landing on the slightly trembling staff, and his smile deepened.

He took a step forward.

The mud was bubbling and gurgling, but his steps were much steadyer than before.

The suction of the mud pit is weakening.

Morgan's magic is fading.

Victor also took a step forward, without saying a word, but his hand was already on the hilt of the dagger at his waist.

The two men's gazes were like two knives, fixed on Morgan.

Morgan gritted his teeth, pressing his hands firmly against his staff.

His gaze involuntarily drifted northward.

Cass saw his gaze and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Stop looking."

"That legendary rise of Avalon is not coming."

"Then the knight lady won't be coming back either."

"No one will come."

He paused for a moment, his tone carrying a victor's contempt.

"Mr. Morgan, you have lost."

Morgan's fingers trembled slightly.

The light on the staff began to flicker, like a candle dying in the wind.

The edges of the mud pit began to dry up, and the light barrier of the barrier grew fainter and fainter.

Cass's eyes lit up.

"Now—"

His feet were pulled out of the mud, his body sank slightly, and he prepared to exert force.

Just then.

A voice suddenly rang out.

Calm, indifferent, even with a hint of nonchalance.

"Sorry I'm late."

Cass's pupils contracted sharply.

He looked in Morgan's direction.

A black-haired mage suddenly appeared behind Morgan, his robes fluttering slightly in the night breeze.

No one saw when he arrived.

There were no magical fluctuations, no footsteps, and no warning whatsoever.

He just appeared out of thin air.

Like it grew out of the darkness.

Morgan's pupils dilated violently.

He turned his head and looked at the black-haired youth standing behind him, his lips trembling slightly.

"you……"

His voice was hoarse, filled with an irrepressible, overwhelming joy surging from his chest.

"You're back..."

Lin Gui nodded, his black eyes as calm as a stagnant pool.

"There was an accident during the rescue, which caused a delay."

His gaze passed over Morgan and landed on the two assassins in the middle of the mud pit.

Cass and Victor stood in the mud, their composure completely gone.

Instead, there was a solemn, palpable sense of vigilance, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Cass's hand rested on the hilt of the dagger, his knuckles turning white.

Victor lowered his body slightly, his center of gravity lowered, like a fully drawn bow.

The two men stared intently at Lin Gui, as if he were a venomous snake peeking out of the darkness.

Perception is like an invisible tendril, extending silently into the distance.

Then--

It's come to a standstill.

Cass was stunned.

His brows furrowed sharply, and he scanned the area with his senses once more.

The result was the same.

He turned his head and looked at Victor.

Victor also completed his perception at the same time, his expression mirroring Cass's—doubt, disbelief, and absurdity.

The two people looked at each other.

Cass's voice was squeezed out of his throat, with an incredulous, dry tone.

"High-ranking...upper-level?"