If even one of them could have ascended to the advanced wizard level, it would have been a decisive turning point for their faction's influence in this world.
But it was during this time that the infuriating Avery appeared. He began investigating them step by step, gradually uncovering their activities and coming dangerously close to exposing the entire truth.
Had it not been for Avery's lack of familiarity with technology products far more advanced than what their medieval-level world offered, they might never have realized he had infiltrated their ranks in complete silence.
Of course, in a world teeming with supernatural forces, powerful individuals can live for thousands of years. Even after hundreds more years, this world might not develop technology comparable to modern-day inventions.
No one understood how such a small, insignificant faction like theirs had managed to attract Avery's attention. However, they were certain of one thing—if he were allowed to continue, the damage he could inflict on them would be catastrophic.
If Avery knew they were not from this world, he would most likely attempt a reverse invasion of their realm.
No one wanted to be the one who led the enemy to their village.
Thus, everyone collaborated to devise a plan to eliminate him.
The process was arduous, and while their objective was technically achieved, the outcome was disastrous. They succeeded at the cost of being exiled from that world, never able to return again, which allowed them to confirm a new rule at the price of their own exile.
But once someone has witnessed a world of boundless possibilities, how can they settle for less? They had been just a few years away from possibly reaching the next stage of their journey. Now, all of that had vanished.
Conduct their own research? The accumulated knowledge of generations spanning thousands of years in that other world was beyond their reach. How were they supposed to reinvent such findings on their own? Without advancing to higher levels, their lifespans were no more than those of ordinary humans. It meant that anyone attempting advancement would face an 80% mortality rate—or worse—within their lifetime.
In this context, Avery became the object of their deep resentment for understandable reasons.
Grigori was somewhat fortunate. During the climactic battle, he had sustained severe injuries. If he hadn't advanced, he wouldn't have survived for long anyway. Thus, he decided to gamble on his progression. Luck was on his side, and he eventually succeeded. Although his injuries remained partially unresolved, not becoming one of those who failed the process was already a tremendous relief.
At this very moment, as the impending attack closed in, even though Grigori suspected Avery's power might not be as overwhelming as it once was, his mood was grim. Among their group, only two—including himself—had reached this level. Yet numbers were never the decisive factor; even within the same level, victory depended entirely on individual skill.
It wasn't that Grigori was overestimating his opponent. The truth was that Avery was an inherently formidable figure, someone whose very existence seemed crafted to dominate.
Perhaps, in the name of balance, the creator had granted him a fatal flaw.
However, that weakness had already been exploited by them in the past. Killing him again would be far more challenging. But leaving such an elusive and dangerous enemy unchecked was equally impossible; it would be nothing short of inviting disaster.
Grigori's expression grew heavy, his heart equally burdened. Wasting no time, he ordered the lower-level wizards among his group, "Return to the base immediately. Staying here will only drag us down."
"Leaving already?"
Avery's voice carried across the battlefield. After teleporting himself and Batman out of the collapsing underground chamber, he had placed Batman aside and now stood atop the golden dragon's massive head. From that vantage point, he looked down upon the ground below, his gaze lofty and commanding. His white robes fluttered dramatically in the strong winds, while his long white hair danced freely around him.
Under his control, the giant dragon let out a loud roar, and its massive tail immediately swept toward the group. Of course, the others were not foolish enough to remain still and allow the attack to hit them. They quickly cast their spells and fled in different directions.
Avery let out a light "huh" and swiftly formed a longbow made of ice in his hands. As the bowstring was drawn back, arrows materialized, and as the cold air spread, he aimed at one person who had hidden in a small alley and was preparing to flee. The arrow shot out like a meteor, speeding toward the target.
"Not good!" Grigori noticed this move and immediately deduced Avery's intent. He was trying to separate them. The subordinates who had been ordered to retreat weren't on the same escape path, making them easier targets. The arrow had already been launched, and how could he and another person reach them in time to save them?
Avery clearly intended to leave no one alive.
The arrow pierced the heart in an instant, and the overwhelming cold caused the victim to immediately lose all life. They couldn't even struggle like a decapitated chicken; they simply died on impact.
Avery continued to calmly select his next target.
However, Grigori, now realizing the gravity of the situation, could not allow Avery to continue slaughtering them. These were people they had painstakingly trained; losing them all here would be a significant blow.
"Barrier!"
He immediately cast a separation spell, cutting off the dragon's connection to the land, preventing it from drawing upon the energy of the terrain to continue powering up its magic.
Immediately after, another wizard chanted an incantation and unleashed a wind-element spell. Almost instantly, a fierce whirlwind, filled with countless invisible blades, charged toward Avery.
"Whoosh..."
Where the wind passed, it left deep gashes in everything: houses, concrete, and stone-paved roads were shredded. Street signs were torn into tiny fragments, and even passing homeless people and stray dogs were not spared, being sliced into pieces.