A subtle tremor vibrated through the ground beneath his feet, some mysterious power spreading outward from deep below.
Bai Xuan looked down. In the gaps between the loose stones, lines of dark-gold patterns slowly lit up, gradually spreading and stretching like water flowing back into a dried riverbed.
Centered around the town gate, these golden patterns extended outward, continuously spreading along predefined paths.
He looked up and scanned his surroundings. The inner side of the town wall also lit up with the same patterns, climbing up the stone surface and connecting end-to-end at a height of about ten feet, forming a closed, dome-like barrier resembling an inverted bowl.
As the barrier's magic circle fully took shape, the light from the dark-gold patterns grew increasingly brilliant. The halos of light surging from underground stacked layer upon layer, growing denser and richer.
The boundary of the magic circle slowly contracted, the light at its edges becoming dazzlingly bright. The patterns flowed and circulated at high speed as golden light surged back and forth along the ground and walls, finally stabilizing and completely sealing off the entire area.
Behind the enemy ranks, the Mage held a crystal ball aloft with both hands. The dim light on its surface pulsed in and out like a slow, rhythmic breath.
“Mr. Bai Xuan, I have heard much about you,” Zane's voice echoed through the crystal ball, cutting through the humming of the magic circle to ring out clearly in the air.
“It is a true pity for an outstanding talent like you to wander aimlessly outside. The Cross family has always been eager to recruit capable individuals. We are willing to offer you the most generous treatment and the finest platform.”
Bai Xuan planted his staff firmly on the ground, his tone calm with a hint of playfulness.
“You went to all this trouble to set up such a grand formation just to recruit me?”
A cold, brief chuckle came from the crystal ball, completely devoid of warmth.
“Recruiting you is only part of the goal. What I truly want is the item you took.”
Zane's tone slowed, carrying an overbearing weight. “That ‘Gemstone’ is a treasure the Cross family went to great lengths to acquire. Since you stole it, it is only natural that I retrieve it myself.”
Bai Xuan did not reply immediately. He raised his hand and retrieved the Secondary Core that the Grand Duke had given him in the tomb from his storage ring, lightly tossing it in his palm.
“Are you talking about this?” He raised his hand toward the crystal ball. “I did indeed bring a core out of the dungeon, but I am not sure if this is the Gemstone you are looking for.”
The crystal ball fell silent for a brief moment. When Zane's voice rang out again, his tone had turned icy and grim.
“It looks like a gemstone, but that is not it. You have hidden the real one away.”
“Mr. Bai, I do not have the patience to play games with you. Hand over the Gemstone, and I can act as though this never happened.”
“Then I wouldn't know,” Bai Xuan said, putting away the Secondary Core with an indifferent expression. “I'm afraid you've got the wrong person.”
Blackcreek Town.
Inside a room in the manor, the four walls were carved with twisted runes, and dark-red patterns crept along the corners, winding all the way across the ceiling.
Several maps were spread out across a wooden table, their corners held down firmly by bronze paperweights.
The room was sparsely furnished; aside from a single chair and a wooden shelf, there was only the crystal ball secured on a metal stand atop the table.
Zane sat upright at the table, his eyes locked onto the surface of the crystal ball. A hazy image floated upon the sphere, offering only a faint glimpse of a white robe's hem.
His voice was bone-chillingly cold, carrying an undisguised threat: “The barrier has completely stabilized; you have nowhere to run. Once I capture you, I have plenty of ways to make you spill all your secrets.”
No sooner had he spoken than the image on the crystal ball suddenly distorted. The projection on the sphere's surface tore like fabric, instantly filling with white static before plunging completely into darkness.
Zane's fingers, hovering over the edge of the table, froze mid-air, his intended movement coming to an abrupt halt.
From the other side of the crystal ball, spanning an unknown distance, intermittent sounds faintly drifted through.
First came the crisp clanking of metal, followed immediately by clear commanding shouts. Soon after, a chaotic chorus of gasps and agonizing screams erupted one after another.
The brief screams were abruptly cut off as if choked in the throat, leaving only the frantic, disorganized patter of retreating footsteps. In the blink of an eye, a sharp whistle pierced the silence, closely followed by the dull, sickening thuds of shattering bones.
Zane pressed his hand against the crystal ball, continuously channeling mana into it. A faint glow flickered briefly on the sphere's surface before quickly dimming, leaving behind a shallow crack.
“What happened?” he asked in a low, solemn voice.
Only static hissed from the crystal ball, with no response whatsoever. He surged his mana once more; the sphere flickered, and the crack deepened.
“Answer me!” His tone now carried a hint of urgency.
The sounds from the other side gradually faded into silence. The sounds of fleeing footsteps vanished entirely, and the remaining shouts were snuffed out mid-syllable.
A heavy thud of something falling to the ground echoed, after which only the wind whistling through the cracks remained, rustling the papers on the corner of the table.
Zane kept his fingers pressed against the crystal ball, hesitating to pull them back. He waited silently for a moment, but no further sound came.
Fine cracks continued to spread, soon spiderwebbing across the entire crystal ball.
Meanwhile.
On the open ground outside Calais Town, the battle had already drawn to a close.
The tip of Bai Xuan's staff held the heavily armored Greatswordsman aloft.
The man clutched the tip of the staff that had pierced his shoulder with both hands, his feet dangling in the air as he kicked wildly. Covered in cold sweat, his stamina drained rapidly, leaving him too weak to struggle.
Bai Xuan stood in place, slightly turning his head to cast an indifferent glance at the group of adventurers behind him.
The cat-eared archer squatted beside a captured enemy, skillfully pulling out a rope. She wrapped it around him multiple times, tied a secure knot, and gave it a hard tug to ensure it was bound tightly.
On the other side, the young dog-eared adventurer pinned down two struggling Mages, keeping them firmly subdued on the ground.
An experienced adventurer stepped forward, standing respectfully by Bai Xuan's side as he reported, “My Lord, all enemies have been subdued and bound.”
Bai Xuan nodded slightly. “Well done.”
With those words, he slowly lowered his staff. The Greatswordsman's shoulder slid off the tip, and he crashed heavily to the ground, letting out a painful groan.
Bai Xuan didn't spare another glance for the fallen enemy, turning his gaze instead to the cracked crystal ball.
Faint, intermittent voices crackled from the crystal ball, the signal distorted and unstable: “...What's the situation... Answer me...”
Bai Xuan raised the crystal ball to his eyes, his voice calm yet clear enough to carry over to the other side.
“This is all your men are capable of? It seems it wouldn't make much of a difference even if you came in person.”
The voice from the crystal ball paused abruptly before suddenly spiking in pitch.
“Ever since you stepped into Blackcreek Town, you have been opposing the Cross family! You stole my ‘Gemstone’ and ruined my plans—how on earth did I offend you?!”
Bai Xuan looked down at the distorted, blurry light within the crystal ball, the fractured glass reflecting like a warped mirror.
“If you want to know, I will make you understand in person.”
With that, he brought his foot down heavily. A sharp shattering sound rang out. The crystal ball burst into fragments that rolled in all directions, completely cutting off the remaining curses from within.
Bai Xuan retrieved his staff and walked toward the limp Greatswordsman on the ground.
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