Suteil looked around the forest after the disaster. The land was devastated—rocks and trees obliterated within at least a five-kilometer radius. It was as if an atomic bomb had just descended upon the area. Fortunately, there was no lingering radiation to corrupt the land.
Regaining his composure, Suteil swiftly transported the four adventurers into his mind realm.
"Evo, you can control mana, right? Can you create chains strong enough to seal these four?"
"Sure. How much time do you have left until the suit wears off?"
"Approximately three minutes, sir," Evo responded.
Without hesitation, Suteil dashed forward at lightning speed, heading toward his destination. He followed the trail of destruction left by the exploded horse carriage, his body moving like a streak of light. As he ran, he sensed something massive observing him.
A colossal creature loomed in the distance, its obsidian-dark skin glistening under the dim light. Its sharp, piercing eyes locked onto Suteil, and its jagged jaws twisted into a grotesque form. The creature's face was bizarre—multiple eyes scattered across it in a chaotic pattern.
Then, it screamed.
An inhuman, ear-shattering roar shook the air. Suteil's body froze. He couldn't move.
Shit. Evo, help!
Mana surged around him, covering his body like an invisible armor. A sudden wave of strength washed over him—it felt as though he had consumed the energy of a hundred cows. The mana flowed meticulously through his nerves, enhancing his physical form.
Regaining control, Suteil pushed forward without a second thought, running at full speed. Finally, he reached a human village.
Deactivating his suit, he conjured a simple beige tunic to blend in. As he entered an inn, a bartender greeted him.
"Hey, you look new here. Want a drink or a room to rest?"
"A drink, please."
"What would you like?"
"Just some water."
"Alright," the bartender said as he prepared the drink.
Suteil took a seat, glancing around. His sharp eyes studied the coins exchanged between customers—brown, silver, and gold, each engraved with a king's face and intricate details. Memorizing the design, he smirked. Heh, with my godlike creation ability, I can replicate these easily.
The bartender returned with the drink. "One brown coin, please."
Suteil handed over the coin and decided to gather some information.
"This is Red Hollow, right? What's popular around here?"
The bartender nodded. "Yeah, this place is the center of the Adventurer's Guild. The strongest adventurers gather here to earn privileges." Lowering his voice, he added, "But be careful—there are a lot of thugs and thieves around."
"Privileges?"
"The better the rank, the higher the rewards." The bartender eyed him curiously. "Sir, are you an adventurer?"
"No. Who said that?" Suteil replied smoothly.
"You know, if you want to be an adventurer, you need to at least have control over mana or aura. Only nobles can afford the resources to train in that."
Suteil felt relieved. Luckily, this guy's just a commoner… But he had to be sure.
"Evo, scan him. Does he have any mana connection?"
"Negative response, sir."
Sigh… good.
"What's your name?" Suteil asked.
"You can call me Ikram."
"I'd like to rent a room for a week."
"That'll be ten silver."
Suteil placed ten silver coins on the table. "Bring me to the room."
Once inside, he locked the door.
"Evo, scan the surroundings. Do not let anyone enter."
"Copy that."
Suteil sat down and entered his mind realm.
Before him stood Orim, Lirien, Ralen, and Mira—each radiating a murderous aura.
"Kekekeke… what a scary look," Suteil chuckled.
Orim glared at him. "What do you want?"
Suteil smirked. "Evo, are you sure they can't escape?"
"They can't, sir. These chains are made from anti-mana properties. I reversed the substance using the mana experiments I conducted earlier."
"That fast?" Suteil raised an eyebrow, impressed.
"Now, let's get down to business." He turned to Lirien and Ralen. "Lirien, where did you learn that strange symbol from?"
Lirien spat on the ground. "Not gonna tell you."
"As expected."
Suteil reached out, placing his hand on Lirien's head. Instantly, a device formed from thin air, ready to extract his memories