The Amber Sword

Chapter 186 — The final moment (2)

“Scarlett.”

The call was softer than the howling wind.

The red-haired girl raised her head. Veronica was sitting not far away from her. The two of them were hiding behind a black boulder that had a depression in it, shielding them from the natural wind. It was not rare to see similarly shaped boulders in the area that was enveloped in violent winds and sand storms.

Veronica wanted to break the silence but she did not know where to begin.

The girl in front of her was deeply guarded against her. Of course, she could not be blamed when they were still enemies. Still, the female general had made the first move, and Scarlett blinked her pretty eyes to look at Veronica with suspicion. The two of them had a subtle link to each other where they relied on each other.

Though Scarlett felt her situation was a little unreal, she was mostly overwrought due to her Lord leaving her behind, and did not care about the situation she was in. Her emotions were easily shown on her face. Little wrinkles formed between her eyebrows as she knitted them together, and the corners of her eyes drooped slightly.

Veronica finally found her words: “There’s no need to worry too much. Your lord will definitely be fine.”

Brendel secretly giggled inside.

Her actions were quite visible to the others. William’s Perception stats was definitely higher than his own, and Sifrid was next to him and would eventually discover Faena’s actions. Faena was lying to herself.

“I don’t sense any creatures around, should we cast a light spell?” Brendel asked.

“Hmm. I’m sensing some kind of subtle interference, perhaps an anti-magic spell? You can try to cast a spell of light if you want to, but I doubt it will work. Even artifacts like an Everlasting Torch would probably fail.” The Archmage commented, as though he was not interested in lighting up the area: “But you can try casting a high-level spell.”

There was a dramatic pause.

“Like creating a sun.”

“…… Never mind.”

The Archmage’s joke was not exactly a lie. The spell really did exist, but it would probably blow up the area they were in as well. The darkness in the area was not exactly a threat. In comparison, he was more worried about the enemies behind him.

Just a while ago, William cast a powerful Magic spell that imprisoned Andesha and her helper in an illusion, causing the latter to go around in circles. The Archmage was indeed living up to his name; who could trap Andesha so easily? He even did so under the supposed anti-magic environment.

William caught Brendel’s expression and could not help but laugh with squinted eyes. He rubbed the top of his staff and said with a little pride: “My spell can trap them for a little while, but young man, I can’t help you any more than this.”

It was Brendel who suggested to implement a trap in the cavern in the first place. William had fought Andesha several times, but he did not know her personality very well and doubted that she would enter a suspicious place like this. The youth, however, was certain that she would follow them in order to get back at him.

“Are the Tree Shepherds not enemies of the Silver Alliance?” Brendel could not help but look back and asked: “Why not get rid of them here?”

He cast an imploring look at the Archmage, hoping for him to act so that Andesha could be rid forever.

“Continue to dream, young man,” William’s body was shaking with mirth, “though it is true that we are enemies and I would be glad to do so. However, that woman is one of the twelve leaders of the Tree Shepherds. I don’t know how you managed to draw her attention, but the chance of winning against this woman is too low for me, which is why I will not act easily.”

[Even gauging a battle’s outcome is rounded to a number. It is no wonder why the ‘Wizard Craftsmen’ never truly lost in a war. Then again, any member of the Silver Lineage is a monster.]

Brendel did not really expect William to be persuaded. He more or less kept thinking that the people in this world were somewhat game-like. At the very least, no high-level NPC would give a gamer such a chance to cheat so easily by helping them directly.

“How about a sneak attack?”

“No. That’s enough, you rogue, stop thinking about it. My spell is working because Andesha doesn’t know I’m here. If she did, the spell would be useless. She will eventually realize that it’s an illusion, though I think it will at least delay her for thirty minutes. But the true reason is that I’m running out of time.”

“You’re leaving?” Brendel was stunned. The Archmage was his greatest ally but he was leaving so soon?

“The Green Tower is about to fail in its defense. Surely you don’t wish your hard work from before to go up in flames?”

William scratched his head, soothing an itch there almost like a dog. Brendel’s eyes looked suspiciously at the Galbu’s leader.

“Oh all right, their plight has nothing to do with me; it’s Tulman who requested for my help and I can’t decline.”

[Hmm. It’s surprising to see the Green Tower’s defense fail so quickly.]

Brendel did not realize that he had been unconscious for at least two days, and he thought the reason why things progressed so quickly was the lack of gamers. If William participated in the battle against the wolves, then the Green Tower would be able to hold on.

Though he needed to hurry as well.

William patted the youth’s shoulder and took out a box out of thin air.

“I’ll give this to you, boy. There’s a cape here that will allow you to bypass Andesha’s senses—”

“Wait, there are three of us here.”

“I know, which is why you should let me finish my words. This cape is meant for a Giant.”

“A Giant?” Brendel put on a strange look. Just what sort of settings was happening here?

“Indeed, but you can only use it once per day, as it will turn into an ordinary cloak after each use.”

“Are you sure there are no other drawbacks to using it??” Brendel received the box and thought about the Galbu Wizards’ crafted items. Many of them were unpleasant.

“Hmm? It sounds like you know us very well. I’m reassured—” The old Wizard smiled, waving his staff in the air and opening a silver door out of thin air: “Don’t underestimate this cloak, when it’s working, even the Dragon King would not be able to see past the invisibility spell!”

“Dragon King? Bahamut?” Brendel stared at the box with slight skepticism.

Regardless of whether the Dragon King was referring to Bahamut or Fafnir, if the cloak did what William said, this was an item of the Gods.

And it was just given away like this?

William was already in the silver door, but he suddenly turned around and spoke with a solemn tone: “Young man, I have given you additional time, the rest is up to you—”

“Yes, yes, I know! But you haven’t told me what the keyword is needed to activate this!”

But it seemed like William did not hear the youth’s words. The door made out of light vanished as though it had never been there once the old Wizard finished speaking.

[What the hell!]

Brendel felt like he had been deceived in the worst possible manner.