Chapter 115: Amidst the Storm (2)
The moment Gorgov flinched at those ominous words, Orthes acted swiftly.
‘Staying here would be suicide.’
Getting engulfed by the waves of the extradimensional storm wasn’t just dangerous—it was often fatal.
‘I may not have magic, so my risk of mutation is lower, but…’
Extraterrestrial mutations usually happen because of magic, but magic isn’t the only trigger. Even plants or rocks exposed to an extradimensional storm can turn into monstrous weapons of destruction. So the idea that a human without magic would somehow be immune was a fantasy best forgotten.
Orthes needed to find the optimal way to survive immediately.
*Clunk!*
He decided to barge straight into Amimone Tower.
“Summon all the mages in the tower at once.”
“Who are you…”
Orthes raised his hand. He clutched the identity card he had received from Niobe, disguised as part of Blasphemia’s Panoptes Special Investigation Unit.
“Who else would come at a time like this?”
“Blasphemia…!”
The gatekeeper of Amimone Tower gasped. From his reaction, Orthes could deduce a few things.
‘Hmm. Looks like the Tower Master has briefed them well.’
The executives of a formal mage tower like this would naturally know about the secret Panoptes divisions, but for a low-level mage like this young gatekeeper—who seemed to have only recently entered as an official apprentice—to also be aware of this was significant.
‘His name was Danao, wasn’t it? It seems like the Tower Master has made sure all the mages here understand the gravity of the situation.’
The fact that the Tower Master, Danao, was taking the situation so seriously, even informing low-ranking mages about who was really pressing down on Amimone Tower, was telling.
The second impression Orthes noted was the raw confusion on the face of this young mage.
‘On the other hand, he doesn’t seem to have any ties to Argyrion. He’s like a university student who simply follows orders—no lofty ideals here.’
When Orthes scanned the mage’s thoughts, he saw no grand notions of truth or cause—just modest desires, like looking forward to a snack after his shift.
If there were a strong pro-Argyrion faction, they would’ve ensured that a gatekeeper was in place to prevent a surprise Blasphemia raid.
‘If the Tower Master himself were a collaborator, he would’ve fortified the gates. He’s not a collaborator. And there’s no well-organized pro-Argyrion faction secretly operating behind his back.’
Though the Tower Master was confident that there were no traitors within the tower, Orthes knew that it wouldn’t be difficult for real collaborators to plant agents throughout the tower without the master’s knowledge.
But from seeing Gorgov, Orthes realized that the collaborators in Amimone Tower weren’t well-organized enough to act systematically yet.
Sensing the atmosphere within the tower, Orthes began to formulate his plan.
‘The Tower Master and the Ten Magic Towers’ loyalists—no, the status quo supporters—are the majority. The pro-Argyrion faction, led by Gorgov, is a small minority.’
‘But with a disaster like this, even the Tower Master will start to harbor suspicions.’
‘If I can harmonize the Tower Master’s doubts with Gorgov’s ambitions…’
Orthes could finish the job before the extradimensional flood fully hit.
With a friendly smile, Orthes aimed to appear as non-threatening as possible. The mage, however, shivered, feeling an inexplicable chill.
***
It didn’t take long for the mages to gather. Thanks to the ominous energy detected above Amimone Tower, an emergency alarm had already been raised.
Gorgov kept glancing at the man who had introduced himself as a “Panoptes agent.”
‘Didn’t he mention truth and the cause?’
“We have less than five minutes before the extradimensional flood hits. If we push the tower’s mana core to its limits, we can protect the surrounding area from most of the extradimensional effects.”
“But we’ll be isolated from the outside.”
Danao muttered grimly.
“Yes. Once you’re cut off in this contaminated zone where the extradimensional and this world have merged, there’s no telling how long you’ll last or how long rescue will take. But rest assured.”
The man with his eyes half-closed spun around with exaggerated gestures, spreading his arms wide.
“The highest-ranking Panoptes officer in Algoth City has already fled and is requesting reinforcements. The time needed for rescue will be minimized!”
The mages of Amimone Tower didn’t react much. After all, weren’t these the same people who had been pressuring their tower for the past few days? Sensing their skepticism, Orthes carefully chose his next words.
“Hmph. Let me put it differently. You all already know, don’t you?”
“Let’s drop this Panoptes Special Investigation Unit nonsense and talk plainly, shall we?”
Orthes clasped his hands together. All eyes turned toward him.
“Blasphemia is going to take this opportunity to declare that you’re in league with Argyrion. A rescue team? More like a purge squad.”
His voice was devoid of coldness or harshness. He simply spoke as if he were stating a fact—a calm explanation of what was to come.
“You’re all going to die.”
“The Amimone Tower is a recognized mage tower! You think they’ll allow such tyranny?!”
“You’ll be labeled as Argyrion’s conspirators and traitors to the truth. The moment that storm began to form above your heads, your tower’s fate was sealed.”
Danao’s eyes narrowed. His instincts, honed over decades, told him that this Blasphemia agent wasn’t provoking them without reason.
“Enough of your taunts. Get to the point. I know your kind. You don’t throw insults without reason. You’re not some masochist with a death wish, hoping to be blown to bits.”
“Haha. Such sharp insight, Tower Master. Yes, of course, I have a purpose.”
Orthes began to walk slowly, stepping out from the center of the gathered mages.
“But for now, let’s pray to the Mage King. I’m sure none of you want to be swept up by the extradimensional flood and turned into mindless monsters.”
One, two, three…
The sound was strange, layered, as if it were both glass shattering and a massive bell ringing at the same time. It echoed across the sky above Algoth City.
The sound of reality crumbling. The garbled fragments of extradimensional information finally poured into the city like a violent storm.
A massive hemispherical barrier expanded from Amimone Tower. The translucent barrier glowed faintly as it collided with the extradimensional fragments, saturated with indescribable colors. As the extradimensional mana was repelled, it spilled over the surroundings, eroding the fabric of reality.
The ground liquefied, and water flowed downward, while chunks of the fallen sky sprouted mouths that moved to devour whatever came near.
Algoth City was now surrounded by an extradimensional contamination zone.
Those who lived on the weaker outskirts of the city, or those who had fled but hadn’t gotten far enough, were dissolved by the extradimensional rain.
Niobe clenched her teeth as she watched the multicolored chaos unfold in Algoth City.
She had to make it to the next city as fast as possible and request aid.
***
The air was filled with a cacophony of tremors, screams, and polluted mana currents. But more terrifying than the sound or the shaking was the strange mana wave that seemed to scrape at the very bones of the mages.
Even with the barrier shielding the tower, the nauseating presence was palpable. After a brief but intense moment of suffering, Danao was the first to raise his head.
He saw the Blasphemia agent—still standing steadily—calmly walking toward the window, seemingly unaffected by the tremors.
Eventually, the man looked up at the sky beyond the glass.
“So, it’s come to this.”
“Get to the point.”
Danao stood up, struggling to maintain his composure. Taunts usually had a purpose. Since this man had already spoken of death, he would likely offer a way to avoid it.
“Even though you’re a recognized mage tower, if the collective will of the Ten Magic Towers aligns, dismantling your tower will be easy. But it would be such a waste.”
“A waste? Argyrion has never moved this boldly before. There’s much to gain from interrogating such deeply connected collaborators.”
‘I can guess what this man is suggesting.’
Danao’s expression twisted. This man was essentially telling them to “start killing each other.”
“I’m offering you an opportunity. Find the vile traitors among you who have disobeyed the Ten Towers. Before Blasphemia’s purge squad arrives, you must sort the wheat from the chaff.”
Orthes shrugged.
“Ah, and if you want to kill me and silence my mouth, be my guest. But the moment you act on it, you’ll lose your last chance.”
The mages looked at each other, eyes full of suspicion.
“Tower Master Danao, could you spare a room? I’d like to begin personal interviews with each of the mages.”
Orthes gestured toward a few mages, pointing as if he had randomly selected them.
“You, you, and you. One of you come inside first, while the others wait outside.”
Among the chosen was Gorgov.
***
“Truth and the cause.”
‘W-what…?’
Gorgov was thrown into confusion as he watched Orthes whisper Argyrion’s motto.
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