Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3542

"The magic-insulating arrays are too powerful. The bad news is we can’t get a reading on how many enemies wait for us." Lith said.

"The good news is there shouldn’t be magical traps, only mechanical. The arrays would interfere with any enchantment and cripple its strength. On top of that, if I’m right and we are about to enter the production facility, the enemy can’t risk using powerful spells without destroying the machines.

"Be on guard and expect mostly close-quarters combat and toxins." A nod of his head signaled the Demons to go down first.

Lith’s prediction was actually a precise estimate based on the Eyes’ readings. From so up close, even with the insulation arrays he could still see everything ten meters (33’) deep into the complex.

’Awakened!’ Locrias warned Lith via the black chains as soon as the Demons made contact with the enemies and Lith passed the information to the Knight Guard. ’The Emperor Beasts down here are all Awakened.’

The Demons had been ambushed with toxin bullets at the end of the stairway but this time they were ready. They used a chore magic Spirit Spell to reproduce the effects of air magic and conjured a gust of wind that sent the toxic cloud back.

The stupefied Emperor Beasts failed to react in time and found their magical powers and fusion magic sealed. The Demons had no such problem, their skin burning the toxins on contact.

Between the gap in mana cores and only one side being able to use fusion magic, the first group of guards was easily slaughtered.

’No one saw us.’ Menadion held her hammer high, ready to throw it at any witness. ’Let’s keep using this trick. I hate fair fights.’

’We all do.’ Valia replied with a savage smile on her face. ’There is no honor in this battle. No enemy worthy of respect. Only a bunch of rabid monsters that need to be put down.’

Locrias gave Lith the all clear and the Knight Guard joined the Demons.

’I can’t see anything.’ Lith cursed as he, Solus, and Menadion gritted their teeth in pain. ’Too many energy signatures. It would take too long to filter the useless ones out. We’re doing this the old-fashioned way.’

"You stay here." He raised his hand to stop the assault teams’ members. "We’ll need your help to carry the hostages outside but you can’t follow us. If you use magic, this place might blow up and without spells, many of you are going to die."

"This is our job and our choice, sir." Captain Thaas said.

"And mine is to hit the beasts hard and dirty so that as many of you as possible can return home alive tonight." Lith replied.

"We appreciate your sentiment, but we are not going anywhere. Use us as bait if you see fit. We won’t turn our backs on the hostages only because it’s dangerous." Thaas said and the other soldiers nodded.

"Fine." Lith shrugged. "I’ll take you on your offer."

***

Thaas regretted his words when Lith sent the assault teams forward, each one followed by only two Demons who used the soldiers and their enchanted equipment as human cloaking devices.

Yet regret didn’t dull his reflexes nor weaken his resolve.

’Why is Verhen sending us forward? The Demons are the ones with Awakened physical abilities.’ The Life Ward mask protected the soldiers from the toxins but was no better than wet paper against the armored claws of an Emperor Beast.

The answer to Thaas’ question came after a glance at the humans with Life Vision confirmed to the Emperor Beasts that a magical barrier insulated the humans. They decided not to waste Alchemical bullets and charged forward in their hybrid form.

There was no time to secure prisoners and even if there was, the soldiers had already seen enough to have no mercy in their hearts. _{freēwēbηovel.c૦m}