Alpha was nearing the city, but the constant attack below was a nuisance and annoying her, she wanted to attack but doing this might endanger the ten Guild personnel inside the wagon she was carrying, so the only thing she do was fly higher, she orders the ten to brace themselves as she ascend higher and the oxygen will be lesser,
they were nearing the city when some soldiers at the wall spotted the huge dragon carrying an enclosed wagon they thought were enemies, out of fear they started firing at them this was something that they never expected until a voice amplification spell was activated and it was Ramiel addressing the people of Strega, mentioning they came to answer the Garden Brawlers Hunters request for additional re-enforcement his voice was loaf and clear as he told the city that the dragon was familiar and part of the response help.
some were doubtful full considering they were surrounded by the undead and thinking this might be a trap, but when Haella heard Ramiels she quickly rush went up the siege tower that was blocking the main gate, the moment she recalled his voice and saw somebody was single handily fighting the multitude of undead she was sure it was him because nobody was that crazy enough to face that many enemies, Haella as Krysha to confirm if it was him, Krysha even loosing one of her eyes she was sure it was him,
Haella orders the city wall guards to stop attacking the incoming dragon, they all were shot to hear such a command the fact it was a dragon and a Wolgan breed, Haella told all of them she will be responsible if something bad happens, with hesitation they all stop firing at the Wolgan dragon until it was able to land inside, a soldier from the main Strega force surrounded the wagon with their swords and spears pointed at it open, Haella once again screams and said not to shoot they are friends, but some archer was to scare and fired at will,
to Haella's surprise, Krysha was able to cast a wind spell to block the arrows from hitting the people who were coming out of the wagon, Cynrad Brunaulf emerge first with his new weapon that Ramiel gave and after him, Mage Kessia came out, she was a little out of breath after going up high, Haella greeted them and ask if Ramiel was really with them, Mage Kessia nodded and as he if she new Ramiel that long, she smiled and said yes, she knew him even before he became a guild hunter,
Mage Kessia was now curious if Haella nows that Ramiel is the Queen's Son and ruler of the new kingdom named Arcane, Cynrad asked how long they have been in this situation, and Haella answered with a weak tone they have stuck her for 73 days, the city was running low of resources they only have a few days worth of rations and the city nobles were also losing hope as they opened al their reserve supplies to feed all the people that flock inside their walls from the undead,
and because of the rotten odour and decay the undead was spreading many children and weak people were getting sick nearly 300 thousand people had to be burned because they all died inside their homes and the nobles orders that the most effective way to maintain their survival was to burn their dead and nor wait for their remains to turn into a ghoul or part of the undead,
it was a sad and heartbreaking situation but they have no choice, they could not go out even though the escape route was blocked and magic scrolls for transport, teleportation and long-distance magic communication were being bloc by an unknown magic device, they searched every possible location but they were unable to find any signs of the artefact,
they have no idea where to look and what the actual device looked like, the Wolgan Dragon suddenly spoke and this made everybody tremble in fear, a speaking dragon was an upper-class race, knowing this they all lowered their weapons and the nobles that were there soon realised they can finally be freed from this problem, but the Wolgan dragon began to transform into its smaller version and said they were mistaken, she came here to see the artefact blocking her master's power to summon his army,
the nobles who were still in shock asked who was her master, Alpha roared and spoke his name
" my master is Ramiel the Black Battle mage of Arcane!"
the nobles looked at each other and were confused because they were trapped inside their city for many days and news outside their territory was cut off, and they sadly have no idea what the dragon was saying,
"look beyond your walls my master is the one killing the undead as he speaks,"
"he is the king of the Arcane and son of your Queen Allatou Estrith Demiurgos ."
"huh! our Queen is dead,"
" and Queen Allatou Estrith Demiurgos's son is alive, I thought the young prince was weak and dying!"
"Ramiel is a Royal, that is why he has a different energy around him,"
Haella was now also confused, everybody also had the same notion, but Alpha told them this was not the time to waste, they need to locate the device, and she can locate it by using her tracking skills, and it was under the city, Haella wanted to help but Alpha stop her, saying without her arm to fight she was a burden to the rest of the hunting team, she just needs to protect the city walls until to locate the device this made Haella mad and took out her dagger and swing it toward Alpha before it could near its skin it deflected her gagger with its aura barrier.
but the look in Haellas eyes was determined to face the danger, she was a true hunter, Alpha just told her
"It's your funereal, do what you what, but don't expect me to save you!"
Alpha turned around and prepared to leave. She told the ten hunters to divide into three teams because whoever placed these devices were smart and placed three of them in separate locations, they needed to find them quickly, Alpha gathered the volunteers and whispered that those who orchestrated this are currently watching them, so be aware that they will do whatever it takes to stop them, so do not hesitate if they will die.
Alpha emphasized the urgency of the situation, reminding everyone that time was of the essence, She stressed the importance of staying focused and working together as a team and pointed out not to trust the people in the city they are all considered a threat until proven otherwise, as they could be working with the ones who orchestrated the situation.
Alpha urged the volunteers to prioritize their safety, remain vigilant at all times, and don't be heroes, as their primary goal was to complete the mission and ensure their own survival. She warned against taking unnecessary risks or engaging in unnecessary confrontations, as it could jeopardize the entire operation. Alpha assured them that help would come soon, but until then, they needed to rely on each other and make smart decisions to increase their chances of making it out alive.
The city was deserted; most houses and establishments were closed, and many shop establishments were boarded up. The silence was eerie, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty streets. It was clear that the mission had brought them to a place where danger lurked around every corner, and they couldn't afford to let their guard down.
Haella gave the three teams a similar hand-drawn map, highlighting the potential escape routes and strategic locations they needed to secure. She emphasized the importance of sticking together and maintaining constant communication among the team. As they studied the map, they couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency to complete their mission successfully. as any misstep could cost them their lives.
They knew that their survival depended on their ability to navigate the treacherous underground terrain and outsmart their adversaries. Each step they took had to be calculated and precise, as even the slightest mistake could lead to dire consequences. With every passing moment, the weight of the mission hung heavy on their shoulders, and Alpha was right to advise them earlier because there were blind goblins, mud lindworms, and rock salamanders in the underground tunnels that were the main sewerage of the entire city.
These creatures had made these long dee catacombs their homes scavenging leftover food waste and adapting to the darkness and narrow passages, and developing the fear of and physical pain to light, so they relay sound and smell making them formidable opponents in the dark.
Their heightened senses allowed them to navigate the labyrinthine catacombs with ease, effortlessly avoiding obstacles and detecting even the slightest movements. Their sharp claws and fangs made them skilled hunters, capable of swiftly overpowering their prey in the pitch-black darkness.
Haella armed with only a dagger in her left hand, stepped cautiously into the treacherous catacombs. The echoes of dripping water and distant scurrying intensified her unease, as she relied on her instincts to guide her through the maze-like tunnels. She knew that one wrong move could alert the creatures lurking in the shadows, forcing her to rely on her agility and quick thinking to survive.
They felt and could hear the sounds of the battle above their ground, as they were already outside the city walls. The distant sounds of clashing weapons and the roaring sound of intense battle fueled their determination to complete their mission.
With each step in the darkness, they knew that the fate of their people rested on their shoulders, and they couldn't afford to falter. they endured the foul smell of the city waste, the deeper they walk the harder it was to see, the mages who were with them needed to conserve their mana which is why they only produce a small amount of magical light As they pressed on,
The weight of their armour became increasingly burdensome, slowing their progress. However, the camaraderie among the group grew stronger, fueling their resilience and pushing them forward. Poison arrows flew toward them, but they already anticipated this, and Cynrad Brunaulf and his team cleared the pathway against blind goblins with swift and precise strikes. Their training and coordination paid off as they swiftly neutralized the threat, never losing sight of their mission.
Despite the obstacles, they remained focused and determined to reach their destination toward the first artefact, while the second team was headed by Mage Kessiartifact, here engaging the Lindworms. She used her power magic to create a protective barrier around her team. The Lindworms, though formidable, were no match for Kessia's skills, and the team swiftly made their way towards the second artefact.
While Apha and Haella were facing the rock Salamanders, Alpha was not helping, she stated that her task was to locate the artefact, assess the situation, and assist if they were in danger, but she believed in Haella's abilities to handle the Salamanders on her own. Alpha focused on her task, using her keen senses to search for any signs of the artefact's presence.
As she moved stealthily through the dark terrain, she remained ready to intervene if Haella needed her assistance, but even with just one arm Haella was able to assist the other hunters to eliminate the rock Salamander with precision and efficiency.
Alpha admired Haella's determination and skill, knowing that she had made the right decision to trust her. As the hunt continued, Alpha couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her partner's abilities, confident that together they would successfully complete their mission.