Several days had passed since the raid on the strongholds.
Su Lun and Ryuu walked side by side down the streets at dusk. Having patrolled together every day for the past half-month, many things had become second nature. Their shoulders would brush without either of them making a conscious effort to pull away; when handing things to one another, their fingers might touch, only to be withdrawn naturally.
That "thin sheet of paper" separating them was still there, but it had become so thin that light could pass through it. Su Lun knew in his heart that now wasn't the time to break it. Ryuu likely felt the same, which was why she maintained a position half a step behind his shoulder—a distance from which she could provide cover at any moment without appearing overly intimate.
As they reached the Fountain Plaza, Finn approached them with a brisk pace, his face devoid of expression. It was clear the "fishing" operation was about to begin.
"I was looking for you," the Pallum Braver said, getting straight to the point. "The ones we swept up before were just the ones on the surface. There are still two or three hidden deeper—more concealed, and far more dangerous."
Su Lun stopped. "Location?"
"The nearest is the old warehouse in the Northwest District." Finn pulled a worn sketch from his vest, the edges of the paper frayed. "Reports say it's an abandoned food warehouse. The traffic in and out is too suspicious, and there have been sightings of monsters."
Ryuu took the sketch, her jade eyes scanning the simple markings. "Olivas?"
"It's highly likely," Finn nodded. "Olivas Reef, the 'White-Haired Ghost.' An Evilus tamer, Level 3. He likely has several Level 2 core members under him. I'd like the two of you to make a trip there. Though it's bait, I will have reinforcements surrounding the area. You can proceed with confidence."
Finn's voice dropped low, audible only to Ryuu and Su Lun.
"Now?" Ryuu asked.
"The sooner, the better," Finn replied, his expression turning contemplative. "I've stationed backup on the perimeter, but inside the warehouse, you're on your own. Remember, Olivas's danger doesn't lie in his personal strength, but in his taming techniques. He can command over a dozen monsters simultaneously, coordinating them like an army."
Half an hour later, the four of them stood before an unremarkable building in the old warehouse district.
The warehouse looked long-abandoned; large patches of wall plaster had peeled away, and the iron doors were so rusted their original color was a mystery. The characters on the wooden sign by the door were blurred, barely readable as "Grain Storage." The windows were boarded up tight, and the silence was heavy.
"Oh boy, it's too quiet," Alise whispered, her hand already resting on her sword hilt.
Kaguya said nothing, her black attire allowing her to blend almost perfectly into the building's shadows. She stared at the ground near the side of the warehouse, noting several fresh drag marks—deep grooves, as if heavy objects were repeatedly moved in and out.
Su Lun raised a hand, signaling them to wait. He pulled four small cloth pouches from his waist bag and distributed them to the others. Before starting a fight, one must always apply buffs.
"Enhancement scrolls," Su Lun explained. "Blue is Jump, green is Expeditious Retreat, yellow is Longstrider, red is Magic Weapon, and white is Bless. Tear them open before we engage; the effects last for half an hour. Oh, and finally, there's a Misty Step scroll—in case the enemy gets desperate, use it to get out immediately."
Ryuu took the pouch, her fingers noting the number of scrolls inside. "So many..."
"Better safe than sorry." Su Lun tore open a set of scrolls for himself.
Faint light shimmered across his body. His footsteps became weightless, his breathing steadied, and the longsword Pale Justice in his hand began to glow with a pale gold aura. He could feel power surging through his veins, his reaction speed significantly heightened.
Alise and Kaguya followed suit. The red-haired girl's longsword ignited with a faint flame, while Kaguya's blade shimmered with a dark purple light.
"Let's go."
The four of them slipped into the warehouse as silently as shadows.
The interior was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside. The scent of aged grain mixed with dust hit their senses, and high wooden racks were piled with burlap sacks. The floor was covered in a thin layer of chaff, crunching softly underfoot.
"Wait." Su Lun suddenly crouched down. He brushed his finger against the floor; in the gaps between the stone slabs were tiny granules—not dust, but magic stone fragments. He looked toward the depths of the warehouse, his gaze sharpening.
"Go straight in," he whispered. "He's waiting for us."
After bypassing seven or eight rows of shelves, they reached a wall. The drag marks on the floor vanished here. Ryuu stepped forward softly, tapping the wall. On the third brick, the sound changed—it was hollow. She pressed the edge of the brick, and with a bit of force, the entire wall slid inward silently, revealing a descending staircase.
As they went deeper, the air grew strange. The moldy smell of grain disappeared, replaced by a cocktail of scents: rusted metal, damp earth, and the heavy, musky stench of monsters. At the end of the stairs was a massive underground space.
There were no shelves or sacks here, only scattered wooden crates and iron cages. Some cages were empty, their bars stained with dark red blotches; others held living things, their crimson eyes flickering in the darkness as low whimpers echoed from the depths.
"So, you've come."
A gentle voice rang out from the darkness. As Olivas stepped forward, his trademark smile was fixed on his face. But when his gaze landed on Su Lun, that smile gained a touch of genuine pleasure—the look of a hunter spotting a prized trophy.
"Su Lun of a Thousand Faces... a ten-million Valis bounty..." Olivas spoke softly, his right hand already rising.
At that exact moment, every cage door in the basement burst open!
Minotaurs, Hellhounds, Silverback Apes, Armadillos, Boarmen—a highly trained horde of monsters surged out like a tide, instantly assuming a tactical formation. Six Minotaurs split into two groups for a pincer charge, while eight Hellhounds provided fire suppression with their breath. Four Silverbacks took the high ground, three heavy-armored Armadillos advanced like mobile fortresses, and twelve Boarmen formed a shield wall.
Six Level 2 Evilus elites appeared simultaneously, sealing off all escape routes.
"Divide the battlefield," Olivas commanded, his voice laced with cruel excitement.
The beast horde moved on command. Alise, Ryuu, and Kaguya were instantly separated and surrounded. They fell into individual skirmishes, but thanks to the prior buffs and their superior equipment, they actually held the upper hand.
Su Lun stood in the center of the battlefield, fifty meters away from Olivas. Between them stood a final defensive line of five monsters: two Silverbacks and three Hellhounds.
"Now," Olivas smiled, "let me see if your worth matches that bounty."
Hehe! A mere Level 2... watch me slaughter you!
Suddenly, his thoughts came to a screeching halt.
Su Lun had raised his left hand, pointing his index finger directly at him. Multicolored magical light swirled at the tip of his finger. Olivas had never seen such a casting stance.
"Tasha's Hideous Laughter."
Su Lun's voice was soft, but the moment the incantation was completed, Olivas felt something burrow into his brain. It wasn't pain, but an uncontrollable, utterly absurd sense of euphoria!
"Pfft... Hahahaha!"
Olivas suddenly burst into laughter, doubling over as tears began to stream down his face. He tried to control himself, to stop this inexplicable madness, but his body refused to obey.
"Wh-What is this... Hahaha! Stop it... Hahaha!"
The tamer's fingers trembled, and his previously precise command over the monsters developed a fatal flaw. The horde's movements began to falter. The Minotaurs' charge lost its formation, the Hellhounds' fire breathing became erratic, and the boulders thrown by the Silverbacks lost their aim.
"Now!"
Su Lun barked the command, raising his left hand again. This time, his palm was open, aimed at the entire monster group.
"Crown of Madness—Metamagic: Twinned Spell!"
It wasn't a sound, but a magical whisper that acted directly on the mind. The multicolored light rippled outward, sweeping through the consciousness of the monsters. Ethereal crowns appeared above their heads, and their strictly trained killing instincts were thrown into total disarray.
The Minotaurs stopped their charge in confusion before turning to hack at the monsters beside them. The Boarmen threw down their shields and began tearing at anything nearby with their teeth. The horde was in total chaos!
"Impossible..."
Brand of the Broken Axe widened his eyes. This Level 2 warrior had never seen such bizarre magic. "He's controlling multiple monsters at once?!"
"No!" Samuel of the Poison Fang shouted, his face turning pale. "He's not controlling them, he's interfering with them! Lord Olivas is trapped by that laughing spell; the horde has lost its central command!"
Three archers tried to aim at Su Lun, but it was too late. Su Lun's third spell had already taken shape. He gripped Pale Justice with both hands, the tip pointing at his enemies as searing fire energy gathered wildly around the blade.
"Aganazzar's Scorcher—Metamagic: Empowered Spell!"
A line of fire erupted at a terrifying speed. The flames instantly engulfed Brand and two of his Level 2 subordinates on the left side of the battlefield! They didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to cinders in the intense heat.
"Brand!"
Samuel's eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he hurled a poisoned dagger at Su Lun. But Su Lun didn't even glance at him. The moment the dagger was about to strike, Su Lun's figure blurred—not a dodge, but a total disappearance from his spot!
Misty Step!
A second later, Su Lun reappeared ten meters away, much closer to Olivas. The consecutive use of short-range teleportation allowed his position to leap in impossible ways.
"Protect the Lord!" Samuel hissed, charging toward Olivas. The remaining two archers fired frantically, arrows raining down on Su Lun.
But Su Lun's trajectory was impossible to predict. Misty Step allowed him to flicker across the battlefield like a ghost, each appearance bringing him closer to his target. Olivas was still laughing hysterically, his face a mess of tears and snot, but the terror in his eyes was unmistakable. He wanted to run. He wanted to order the monsters to protect him, but the effects of Tasha's Hideous Laughter made it impossible for him to even form a complete thought.
Samuel finally caught up to Su Lun, thrusting his poisoned dagger toward the mage's back. "Die!"
Su Lun didn't turn around. He simply swept his left hand backward.
"Eldritch Blast!"
An invisible force hit Samuel in the chest like a sledgehammer. The Level 2 assassin was sent flying like a broken kite, smashing through a row of shelves and failing to get back up.
The last two archers gave up on shooting and turned to flee, but they were caught in the crossfire of the Hellhounds' flames. The confused monsters no longer distinguished between friend and foe.
Only three meters remained between Su Lun and Olivas. A Silverback Ape stood in his way, roaring as it swung a massive claw.
Pale Justice was unsheathed.
The blue light on the blade transformed into a blinding platinum radiance the moment it left the scabbard.
"Divine Smite!"
The Silverback was instantly cleaved in two by the terrifying Smite. The extreme light caused the monster to burst into flames, and even its blood was vaporized into steam.
Su Lun stepped over the remains of the final monster. The holy power held a natural advantage over evil creatures, and the thick, blood-stained evil aura radiating from Olivas served as the perfect fuel.
"Divine Smite!"
The sword light was like a falling galaxy.
At the very last moment, Olivas managed to shake off the effects of the laughter. He leaned back desperately, trying to wrap his taming whip around the blade to parry.
Squelch! Squelch!
Two dull sounds of flesh being severed echoed. The first was the whip snapping like a hot knife through butter. The second was the sword light flashing through his arms.
Olivas watched as both of his arms were severed at the shoulder, tracing two arcs of blood through the air before hitting the ground. The wounds didn't spray blood immediately—the holy power of the Divine Smite had cauterized the stumps, turning the flesh to black char instantly.
Silence. Then came the delayed agony.
"AAAAAAAGH!!!"
Olivas's scream was a shrill, inhuman wail. He stumbled backward, blood finally beginning to seep from the stumps, though the volume was low—the holy energy had sealed the major vessels.
But he wasn't dead yet. I can't die! You damn brat!
Driven into a corner, Olivas's eyes turned feral. He kicked a detonator on the wall. It was his fail-safe—a mechanism designed to turn the entire warehouse to ash with two crates of Fire Stones!
"Die... with me!" he shrieked, pressing the button with his toe.
Su Lun's eyes filled with mockery. He had expected this. To prevent them from taking everyone down with them, he had already prepared the Misty Step scrolls.
"Get back!"
The four of them retreated at full speed. Throughout the basement, the planted Fire Stones glowed with a piercing red light. There were two full crates—over fifty stones. Olivas had spared no expense to ensure total destruction.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The chain reaction was like the end of the world. The first shockwave sent Olivas flying—he was tossed like a ragdoll toward the entrance of the escape tunnel, his body charred. Su Lun used Mage Hand to snatch the severed arms from the floor as they ran.
As for his horde, the monsters he had spent years training were obliterated in the blast. The Minotaurs were vaporized, the Silverbacks turned to charcoal, and the Hellhounds were shredded by the shockwave. The six Level 2 subordinates didn't even leave behind bones.
The warehouse began to collapse. The ceiling rained down, walls shattered, and the floor buckled. Su Lun and the others sprinted for the exit. The short-range teleports of Misty Step were crucial here—Su Lun flickered three times in succession, dodging the most lethal falling debris.
Alise paired her Misty Step with the flames of her Red Order rapier, cutting through the blocking rubble. Kaguya's Higanbana cleared a path with a flurry of blade strikes and teleportation. Ryuu's Luminous Wind led the way, her light orbs shattering falling pillars.
They burst out of the warehouse just in time. Behind them, the entire building caved inward, and the soaring flames dyed the sky a dark crimson.
When Finn arrived with his men, he saw four young people covered in dust and soot, sporting various burns but still standing, set against the backdrop of a warehouse reduced to ruins. Su Lun stood tall, the platinum glow of Pale Justice not yet fully faded.
"He got away," Su Lun's voice was raspy. "But he left this."
"Where is Olivas?" Finn asked, his thumb against his chin.
Su Lun untied a cloth bundle from his waist—something he had snatched off the ground with Mage Hand before the explosion. The bundle fell open to reveal two charred arms, the wrists still wearing the tamer's specialized gloves.
"Both arms severed, heavily wounded and near death," Su Lun stated calmly. "Even if he survives, he'll never tame a beast again."
Finn stared at the severed arms for a long time before slowly exhaling. "So the Evilus forces in the Northwest District... are wiped out?"
"Wiped out," Su Lun nodded. "Twenty-eight trained monsters, six Level 2 elites, Olivas's life's work, and his two arms."
Gareth walked back from the edge of the ruins, his expression grim. "I found blood and drag marks at the escape tunnel. He did flee, but with those injuries... whether he lasts until morning is a real question."
Ryuu walked to Su Lun's side, her jade eyes reflecting his pale face and the wounds on his arms.
"O song of the distant forest, O melody of past life. Grant thy mercy of healing unto the one who asks."
She began her chant, and a pale green light enveloped his injuries. The healing was slow, but the bleeding stopped and the pain began to fade.
Alise leaned against a piece of rubble, her Red Order planted beside her. Her red hair was scorched at the tips and her face was smudged with soot, but her eyes were full of curiosity.
"That laughing spell just now... what was it?"
"Tasha's Hideous Laughter," Su Lun said. "It forces the target into uncontrollable laughter. It's very effective against enemies who need to concentrate to cast spells or give commands."
"And that multicolored flash?" Kaguya asked. Her black clothes were torn in several places, but her blade was pristine.
"Crown of Madness. A spell that interferes with the mind," Su Lun said, flexing his healing left arm. "When dealing with groups, it's more effective than a direct attack."
Finn listened to these unfamiliar spell names, his thumb unconsciously rubbing his chin. He had never heard of such magic, and there were no records of it in the Guild's archives.
In the distance, the Guild's rescue teams began clearing the scene, but they wouldn't find any intact bodies under the rubble—the explosion had been too thorough. The night wind blew, carrying the heavy scent of smoke and the faint metallic tang of blood.
Su Lun clenched his left hand, feeling his mana reserves—nearly depleted. Using Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Crown of Madness, Aganazzar's Scorcher, Misty Step, and Divine Smite in succession... even a Level 2's mana pool couldn't sustain that indefinitely.
But it was worth it. Olivas had lost his arms, his monsters, and his men. Even if he survived, he was now a broken man. And the Evilus would realize that some people were not to be trifled with.
"Let's get back for treatment," Finn said finally, his voice colored with complex emotions. "After tonight, I expect the Evilus will be quiet for a while. There were some surviving materials in the warehouse; I'll have someone bring them to you."
Su Lun nodded and, supported by Ryuu, turned to leave.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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