Ch.213Chapter 213: Dark Ash (2).

# Chapter 213: Dark Society (2)

The sight of malevolent magi energy tearing through the night sky unfolded before their eyes.

When the leader of the Dark Society gave his order, the military commander began deploying troops.

“Kukuk, I wonder how they’ll respond to this.”

The leader chuckled softly. His voice was laced with satisfaction.

“Indeed, Leader.”

The commander replied.

“The magi has been properly released. As expected, Kwan will have initiated immediate containment. The confusion will reach its peak.”

“Commander.”

“Yes, Leader.”

The leader asked without turning his gaze.

“Is the plan flawless?”

“Of course. There was an unexpected variable named Valt Geringtura, but ultimately, he only accelerated our plans. The ‘fruit’ has ripened a bit earlier than our calculated timeframe.”

The commander reported coldly. His eyes showed not the slightest hint of wavering.

“Now, before Kwan’s experts fully understand the component, and before he moves to control the magi, it’s time for us to retrieve the ‘fruit.’ All systems within the fortress will be temporarily contaminated or malfunction due to the magi, and Kwan’s forces will be preoccupied with identifying the cause and containment. At that moment, our forces will infiltrate and secure the target.”

The commander paused briefly.

“However… Leader, I still have concerns about directly provoking Kwan. He is the absolute ruler of the South. Although he may be unfamiliar with otherworldly powers, his capabilities are among the strongest on the continent. His wrath… might be difficult to handle.”

The leader’s gaze turned toward Gerongtia, where the magi was surging. A chilling smile spread across his lips.

“Your concerns are unfounded. Kwan… he is strong. I acknowledge that. However.”

Absolute conviction filled the leader’s voice.

“When our plan is complete… Kwan will be nothing more than an insignificant existence not worth our attention. Even his power will be mere dust before our purpose. The price… the price for daring to defy the will of the Dark Society. He will pay for it. The so-called absolute ruler of the South is merely laughable.”

“I apologize for expressing unnecessary concern!”

“Hehe, it’s understandable. Secure the target without fail.”

“Yes!”

As the commander bowed his head, the elite forces of the Dark Society, hidden in the shadows of the rocky mountains, began to move endlessly.

It was questionable where they had prepared such a large force.

Their eyes were filled with darkness and madness.

This was the moment when the massive conspiracy of the Dark Society finally began its action.

Their goal was singular.

To steal the “Life Water Storage Core” from which the magi was erupting.

***

Terrifying magi energy spread fiercely throughout Gerongtia Fortress.

The cold chill felt like it was tearing through skin, and bizarre auditory hallucinations lingered in the ears along with the pungent smell of ozone.

It felt as if the entire fortress was letting out a massive scream.

The peaceful daily life transformed into hell in an instant. Emergency alarms blared deafeningly, and all communication networks were cut off or malfunctioning due to the magi’s influence.

Soldiers rushed chaotically toward the central laboratory, the source of the magi, but their steps were filled with fear and confusion.

Citizens trembled with anxiety, screaming or collapsing. Screams, roars, and strangely distorted sounds mixed from all directions, creating utter chaos.

The magi energy had not only physical effects but mental ones as well.

The weak collapsed screaming with sudden fear and despair, while some suffered from auditory and visual hallucinations.

Magitek devices installed throughout the fortress were contaminated by the dark red magi, glowing ominously and becoming uncontrollable. Some automatic defense systems even began attacking allies in a horrific turn of events.

A nauseating smell, like otherworldly filth swirling about, spread through the air.

Valt and his companions, who had burst out of the quarters area, also gasped at this terrible sight.

They were among the few beings who knew what magi was or could instinctively sense its malevolence.

Especially Princess Lati of the Fairy Kingdom, whose face had turned deathly pale.

“Magi… this concentration of magi… is among the worst even in the history of the Fairy Kingdom that I remember!”

“Damn it! Things have really gone south!”

Professor Liman growled, drawing his sword. His aura fluctuated unstably, repelling the magi covering the entire fortress.

“The component… that’s the cause! Those Dark Society bastards… that’s what they were after!”

Valt’s face was a mixture of self-reproach and anger.

The item he had delivered had caused all this. He hesitated no longer. In his mind, there was only one goal: ‘destroy the component.’

“Everyone listen! To the laboratory! The source of the magi! We must destroy the component! Before the Dark Society gets their hands on it!”

Valt shouted as he rushed ahead.

Compressed wind aura erupted from his entire body, adding to his speed.

Despite the boiling self-reproach in his eyes, they burned with resolute determination to prevent a terrible catastrophe.

The team members followed Valt without hesitation.

A desperate dash through the chaotic fortress interior began.

Moving along the corridors, they directly witnessed the terrible influence of the magi. Soldiers convulsing on the floor, citizens bleeding against walls while muttering in strange languages, even magitek devices transformed into ominous forms.

The terror was even greater because the southern people were unfamiliar with “magi.”

They called this horrific energy a “curse,” “plague,” or “otherworldly erosion.” Sometimes, indistinct shadow figures seemed to flicker at the end of corridors, and an unpleasant sensation like cold hands grabbing ankles raised goosebumps.

The paths inside the fortress were maze-like and complex.

But Professor Liman’s experienced knowledge, Yuria’s beast-like intuition, and Liris’s spatial awareness found the way.

As they got closer to the laboratory, the magi energy grew stronger, and the movements of the fortress forces became more desperate and chaotic.

As if Kwan had issued containment orders, Southern Alliance forces had set up barricades on the main routes to the laboratory, blocking passage. While trying to block the magi, they were also wary of “suspicious outsiders” like Valt’s group approaching them.

“Move aside! We need to get to the laboratory!”

Valt shouted.

“By Lord Kwan’s order! No one may approach!”

The southern forces blocked them.

Their eyes mixed fear with fanatical loyalty. They wanted to avoid unnecessary combat, but there was no time.

“Damn it! We’re breaking through!”

Valt charged toward the soldiers. His purpose was to subdue, not kill.

He filled his fists with aura, breaking shields and denting armor to clear a path.

Solphin struck soldiers unconscious with the blunt side of his claymore, while Yuria burrowed through with beast-like speed, striking pressure points to knock them out.

Airin disabled soldiers’ weapons with sword strikes or broke through defense lines.

Lati and Liris used magic to slow the soldiers’ movements or obscure their vision. Lamrepo followed the team, trembling with fear.

After barely breaking through the clash with Kwan’s forces, they faced another threat.

Beings appearing silently from the shadows in the corridors or from ceiling vents. Dark Society agents in black robes.

Unlike the fortress forces, they seemed less affected by the magi and were infiltrating toward the laboratory with clear purpose.

“It’s the Dark Society bastards!”

Professor Liman shouted sharply.

“Stop them! We absolutely cannot let them take it!”

The Dark Society agents attacked without hesitation upon discovering Valt’s group.

Their movements were fast and deadly, using ominous attacks seemingly mixed with magi.

Valt’s group now had to fight against three threats: Kwan’s forces, Dark Society agents, and the magi covering the entire fortress.

“No time! Subdue them all and move forward!”

Valt shouted. The battle intensified. Solphin, Yuria, and Airin engaged in fierce close combat with the Dark Society agents, while Lati and Liris provided magical support.

Valt directly confronted the strongest Dark Society agents, clearing a path.

There were more Dark Society agents than expected, and their resistance was tenacious. They too were moving with a clear goal: “component theft.”

After a desperate breakthrough, Valt’s group finally approached the area where the magi energy was surging most fiercely, the Magical Engineering Laboratory section.

At the end of the corridor, they could see the laboratory’s massive blast door, in front of which a large-scale battle was raging between Kwan’s elite forces and the Dark Society infiltration team.

It was a chaotic scene with flashes of aura, magi, and magitek weapons. Kwan’s forces were desperately blocking Dark Society agents trying to enter the laboratory, while the agents fiercely attacked to break through the blockade.

The laboratory entrance was literally a slaughterhouse stained with blood and magi.

Their goal was solely the laboratory interior, where the magi was erupting.

“Damn it…!”

Valt held his breath. The area in front of the laboratory was literally a battlefield.

A clash between those trying to contain it as per Kwan’s orders and those trying to steal it as per their leader’s orders. And in the midst of it all, the magi continued to surge fiercely.

‘I must take responsibility. I have to destroy it!’

Valt had to break through the chaos before him and enter the laboratory.

Before the Dark Society got their hands on the component and started something dangerous.