The time read 7:21 AM, a moment when the rising sun should cast its light and purple aura to the east. However, what lay before them was a thick fog that obscured the sunlight. Looking up, they could only see the low, swirling mist, with the sky resembling a slowly rotating gray-black vortex.
Gray and white buildings loomed in the fog, appearing faint and lifeless, so desolate and empty that it felt like a dead zone.
The six of them exchanged glances, their expressions grave.
The guards at Fishing Fire Manor were not powerful; compared to the academy, they were worlds apart. But they were still significantly stronger than this apprentice team. Within the manor were many retired professors, including several high-level mages, knowledgeable and experienced. If they were in danger and sent a distress signal, could their team really handle it?
Qianjue couldn't help but feel regret. "I underestimated the situation. I thought Fishing Fire Manor was merely surrounded by some unknown force, with the external teleportation array damaged, temporarily cut off from the outside world. Now it seems the situation is more complex than we can handle. I suggest we abandon the mission, return to the academy, and report the situation, requesting to upgrade our team mission and bring more people over."
Leon pondered for a moment. "I support your idea, but relying solely on this magical mirror from this vantage point probably won't convince the academy. We need more information. At the very least, we need to understand what has happened here. Why is Fishing Fire Manor so silent? Where have the people inside gone? Who should be held responsible? Moreover, we still have a way out; as long as we have the badges, we can teleport back to the academy at any time."
Theresa suggested, "How about this: we turn the rescue mission into an investigation mission. If we find any clues, we leave immediately. This way, we can minimize our risk."
Qianjue nodded. "I agree. Let's take a vote! Raise your hand if you support Theresa's suggestion!"
Unsurprisingly, it passed unanimously.
Leon said, "Everyone, get ready! We must be prepared for any unknown enemies."
Charlie opened his backpack and suddenly said, "I have some Eagle Eye potions. Why don't we all take one? They can enhance our vision range and provide some dark vision; it should be useful."
Qianjue laughed, "I forgot you're an apprentice alchemist and have plenty of potions on you. We won't be polite; we need them now. One for each person!"
Leon smiled broadly, "Thanks, Charlie. We'll keep track of this expense and reimburse you later."
"Don't mention it; I'm also benefiting from everyone's company, broadening my horizons."
After each of them drank an Eagle Eye potion, their vision pierced through the fog for nearly 50 meters further, yet they still found nothing.
"Stay alert, everyone, and keep up!" Leon said, shouldering his shield as he led the team toward the manor.
As they stepped into the fog, they felt their bodies sink slightly. The air was abnormally humid, wrapping them in a cold sensation that made them shiver involuntarily.
Whether it was the sound of waves or the haunting wind, they could always hear a faint, almost ethereal singing drifting in the air, but they couldn't pinpoint its source.
"Did you hear that?" Qianjue questioned.
"Hear what?" Leon replied, puzzled. "Aside from the sound of the sea breeze, what other sound is there?"
Ophelia was uncertain about her own feelings.
Vincent shook his head.
Then everyone's gaze fell on Theresa, who nodded, "I heard a song, a vague and elusive melody, but I can't find its origin."
"Why is that? Can only mages hear it?" Qianjue murmured to himself, and eventually, everyone's eyes fell on Charlie.
"I have a similar feeling to Theresa," he said.
Three to three—half of them heard the song, and they exchanged glances.
Leon said solemnly, "Stay alert; we're entering battle mode!"
Qianjue and Theresa began casting spells. With a surge of magical energy, light blue and pale yellow magical shields appeared above each person's head, their surfaces shimmering with runes. The brightness and structure of these shields were much more stable compared to lower-tier light shields.
The fourth-tier "Light Barrier" and the fourth-tier "Magical Absorption Shield" provided a sense of reassurance under their protection.
The team stepped onto the vast sandy area in front of Fishing Fire Manor. Another 500 meters ahead lay the manor's outer walls, constructed with large stones, very sturdy.
"Analyzing environmental anomalies," Charlie commanded in his mind.
The chip began to operate at full speed, amplifying Charlie's senses as it collected data from his sight and hearing and continually refined its analysis.
"Search complete; no abnormal sound sources detected, and no signs of life were sensed."
"Analyze the cause of auditory discrepancies," Charlie prompted the chip to shift its focus.
After a thorough investigation, the chip suddenly issued a warning in his mind: "Non-natural magnetic field detected; could cause auditory hallucinations."
"Describe the magnetic lines."
Soon, smooth arc-shaped curves appeared before Charlie's eyes, indicating a strong magnetic source beneath the manor, which was quite abnormal.
Charlie cautioned, "I have a strange feeling that this sound is coming from below the manor."
"Are you sure?" Qianjue asked.
"Sure."
They exchanged uneasy glances; the unsettling thought of the Arcane Circle's dark and sealed underground environment sent chills down their spines.
Leon said, "Let's not focus on the underground for now; we should check the surroundings first."
As they neared the manor, the tension grew stronger. Their breathing became barely audible, but the sound of their pounding hearts echoed in their ears.
When Leon's metal boots stepped onto the stone path leading to the manor, a loud clang sounded, as if it were a signal.
The ground beneath them suddenly revealed pale white magical symbols that covered the sandy area surrounding the team for hundreds of square meters. As the runes flickered, a chilling wind swept through, releasing countless gray-white gases from the ground, coalescing into swirling gray-white wisps around them.
The air became thick with a fetid odor, as if the lid of a long-sealed coffin had been lifted, releasing the stench trapped inside for a century.
Amid the swirling chaos, a semi-transparent spear materialized out of thin air, its ornate tip and spiral-patterned shaft clearly defined. It was hurled through the air by a powerful arm, spinning violently yet silently, aimed directly at Theresa among the group.
Holy light repels the stench of decay, making it the target of the enemy's hatred.
Leon let out a low roar and raised his shield to intercept it.
"Don't take it head-on! It's a wraith!!" Qianjue shouted a warning.
No wonder the chip couldn't detect any anomalies; it turned out to be an extraordinary type of creature. Charlie commanded in his mind, "Establish a new biological model: wraith, and collect its data."
"Yes, modeling has begun..." the chip responded.
As Qianjue shouted reminders, he executed a complex series of hand gestures, chanting incantations. A raging inferno burned in his hands, the flame's temperature exceeding that of any third-tier fire spell, and the center of the blaze revealed a blue flame core.
In the split second the spear flew toward him, Qianjue let out a furious roar, pushing his hands forward. A massive blue flame dragon head shot into the air, meeting the spear with a burst of searing fire.
Fifth-tier spell "Dragon's Breath."
The blue fire seemed to be the spear's natural nemesis, melting it in mid-air. However, the battle didn't change due to Qianjue's powerful spell.
The wraith continued to coalesce within the massive rune formation, surrounding the team with warrior-like figures—crocodile-headed, human-bodied, and serpent-tailed beings wielding tridents.
"It's the wraiths of the Naga tribe!" Qianjue's face turned serious.
So, this was the Naga? The gigantic serpents from the deep sea! The legendary beings that the Gustar brothers had spoken of countless times were finally visible today.
Standing nearly two meters tall, their snake-like whiskers were as agile as snake tails. The crocodile heads were filled with rage; their upper bodies were muscular human forms, while the lower halves were long serpent tails—regal and powerful. This was a race filled with strength and intelligence, incomparable to mere fish-men.
"What are wraiths?" Charlie couldn't help but ask.
Qianjue was about to respond when he saw the wraith warriors launching their next round of attacks. Spears and arrows flew from all directions, while a small squad of Naga warriors armed with tridents charged at them.
The dense firepower from behind kept them under pressure, while the manor remained eerily silent, as if it were part of a conspiracy. But right now, there was no choice.
Leon shouted, "Quick! Let's get inside!"
As they tactically retreated, Qianjue took the opportunity to explain what wraiths were.
Wraiths were a type of spiritual being and were not uncommon in the Warglan continent. They usually emerged from the indomitable will of powerful lives. These beings had strong obsessions before death, and the newly born wraiths carried that obsession, exhibiting extreme madness.
The strength of a wraith is determined by the soul power of the deceased. Their attacks operate on a spiritual level, capable of penetrating defenses, ignoring physical protection. Hence, in terms of withstanding wraith attacks, warriors are actually weaker than mages.
Wraiths fear holy light and flames, especially those from pure holy power.
The group, under the protection of Qianjue and Leon, stumbled into the manor, with Leon blocking the rear at the doorway.
Fortunately, they had activated the Light Barrier and the Magical Absorption Shield in advance; as they hastily rushed in, the shields were on the verge of breaking.
Ah?!
A pained scream came from behind—Leon's voice. The others turned back to see his magical shield had shattered, several ethereal spears piercing into him. There were no wounds, and he didn't bleed, but the damage and pain directly affected his soul, which was far worse than physical injury. If his soul were injured, recovery would be impossible, and even divine spells would be powerless.
At that moment, Leon gritted his teeth against the immense agony, leaning on his shield to support his convulsing body. He wielded his sword with one hand, cleaving through the oncoming Naga wraiths. Although physical attacks were ineffective, Leon's sword was enchanted to possess the power of "Holy Judgment," the divine light shimmering on its blade, continuously cleaving the charging Naga wraiths in half.
"Brother!" Ophelia cried out in anguish, frantic and unsure of what to do.
Both Qianjue and Charlie acted simultaneously, casting a Secondary Light Barrier and another Magical Absorption Shield over Leon.
"Nice job!" Qianjue couldn't help but praise. He realized that Charlie's spell was even faster than his own. He had originally intended to teach Charlie battlefield techniques for mages, but it seemed that this newcomer was quickly adapting to the current rhythm.
Before he could finish speaking, Vincent's panicked voice rang out, "Captain, the teleportation badge has malfunctioned! We can't go back!! What should we do?"