Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

[Third Ring Spell - High Illusion!]

[Advanced Illusion: You create an image within a 120-meter radius, the image of which is derived from an object, creature or other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a cube with a side length of 20 meters, and lasts for a maximum of ten minutes.]

It looks completely real and even has corresponding sounds, smells, and temperatures. You cannot create extreme heat or cold that can cause harm, nor can you create sounds loud enough to cause thunder damage or deafen creatures, nor can you create smells that will make creatures nauseous (similar to the stench of the War Lizardmen).

While you are within the casting range of this illusion, you can use your actions to move the image to another location within that range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance to make the movement more natural.

Because the image cannot be touched, any physical interaction with it will reveal its illusory nature. When a creature investigates the image with its actions, it can make an Intelligence check against your spell saving DC.

Lance's chosen target was the location of the three elite professionals.

He wanted to create an illusion of "everything being normal" there to cover up the battle that was about to take place.

The illusion unfolded silently, like a transparent film covering the area.

From the outside, the convoy was still moving forward normally, the soldiers were still on guard, and the three elite rank members were still in their respective positions.

But in reality, that area has been isolated by illusions, and nothing that happens inside can get out.

"Little Black," Lance said softly, "when I put you down, you should also prepare to cast your spell."

"Use the [Secondary Spirit Bomb] on that woman. Aim for her vitals and try to kill her in one shot."

Lance thought for a moment, then said, "...To be on the safe side, use [Invisibility] to get closer before casting the spell, and then immediately follow up with [Holy Slash]."

"No problem!" Xiao Hei said confidently.

Lance checked the illusion's effect again, and after confirming there were no problems, he began to descend.

He landed on the side of the convoy, less than twenty meters from the three elites, and put Xiao Hei down.

Lance, who used the [Mist Concealment Ring] to become invisible, was like a wisp of transparent air.

Hans Hammer was riding his horse, yawning.

"Damn it, this lousy job," he muttered. "I'm supposed to be an elite-level rank, and they made me escort grain supplies."

Gray Iron Mountain, standing beside him, ignored him and simply walked on silently.

Lina Swift Shadow emerged from the shadows and scoffed, "Hans, stop complaining. At least escorting supplies is safe. If you were sent to the front lines, you might get riddled with arrows from the Erilandians one day."

"Bullshit!" Hans glared at her. "If I were on the front lines, I'd definitely kill a few Erilanders and earn merit! Then I'd get promoted and make a fortune, unlike this pathetic state I'm in now!"

"Supplies are also very important, and we're all only level 5, barely making it past the elite tier, so of course..."

"Level 5 is still an elite-level professional!"

Hans retorted, "Isn't a rotten egg still an egg?!"

Lina shrugged, too lazy to argue with this uncouth warrior.

Just then, Hans suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

That's a soldier's instinct—the alertness when danger is approaching.

He turned around abruptly.

There was nothing there.

Only the darkness of night and the slowly moving carriages.

"What's wrong?" Gray noticed his unusual behavior.

Hans frowned and shook his head: "It's nothing, I was probably just too nervous."

He turned back and continued yawning.

But the next second, he never had another chance to yawn.

Lance made his move.

[Second-level spell - Lesser Spirit Bomb!]

After successfully casting the spell, he quickly tore open a scroll of [Secondary Spirit Bomb].

Two blue energy balls flew out from in front of him, hitting Hans and Gray in the back of the heart almost simultaneously.

The energy ball pierced through the leather armor, seeped into the flesh, and then—

"Pfft!" "Pfft!"

Two muffled explosions rang out almost simultaneously.

Hans and Gray froze, their eyes wide and mouths agape, but they couldn't utter a sound.

Their mouths exploded with two fist-sized holes, and blood and bits of flesh gushed out, splattering onto the horse's back and the ground.

The two fell off their horses and landed on the ground with a thud. They twitched a couple of times and then lay still.

[Defeat 2 Level 5 Human Warrior, gain 400 experience points!]

At the same time, Xiao Hei also made his move.

Lina Swift Shadow reacted extremely quickly. The instant Hans turned around, she sensed something was wrong.

She was a wanderer, with a more acute sense of danger than any warrior.

In that instant, every hair on her body stood on end.

Without any hesitation, she rolled to the side.

But she couldn't completely dodge it.

Xiao Hei's [Secondary Spirit Bomb] is too fast.

A blue energy ball flew out of the void, heading straight for her face.

Lina's pupils constricted sharply, and her body twisted violently in mid-air—

The energy ball flew past her shoulder, exploding into a bloody mess. Her left shoulder was instantly mangled, her entire arm hanging limply, and part of her heart was also injured.

But she's not dead yet.

She rolled several times after landing, managing to brace herself with one hand.

Look up in the direction from which the energy ball came.

"...A kitten?"

"Enemy—" she opened her mouth to shout.

But the first word was suppressed by "Higher Illusion," and the second word hadn't even been uttered yet.

A golden light slashed out from the darkness.

[First-level spell - Holy Slash!]

A small black cat leaped into the air, its right paw extending into a three-foot-long golden blade of light, its edges gleaming with a sacred white light.

It waved gently.

The light blade sliced ​​across Lina's neck.

The head rolled to the ground, its face still bearing an expression of disbelief, its eyes wide open, its mouth agape, the word "enemy" forever stuck in its throat.

The headless corpse twitched twice, then finally stopped moving.

Blood gushed from the severed neck, splattering on the ground and quickly spreading into a large dark red patch.

Little Black landed back on the ground, shook the blood off its claws, and looked down at the corpse.

"Hmph." It snorted softly, a hint of smugness in its tone, "You still want to shout."

[Slayed 1 Level 5 Human Wanderer, gained 200 experience points!]

The panel prompts flashed through Lance's mind.

The kitten's attack was beautiful and swift.

Lance breathed a sigh of relief.

The whole process took less than five seconds.

Three elite-level individuals died silently.

Meanwhile, the soldiers around them continued to walk forward, completely unaware of anything unusual.

The effect of the higher illusion was too good—in their eyes, Hans was still yawning on horseback, Gray was still walking sideways, and Lina was still wandering around.

everything is normal.

Xiao Hei also emerged from the darkness, taking small steps to his feet, looking up with a plea for praise.

"Master, how did I do?"

Lance bent down, scooped it up, and rubbed his head.

"Not bad, Xiao Hei is really amazing."

Little Black's eyes lit up, and its tail swung like a propeller.