Chapter 40: Swift Assault

  As the group drew closer, the tower’s silhouette gradually sharpened in their vision. It was no ordinary tower; its base was a wide, domed hemisphere, like a colossal egg deeply rooted in the frozen earth. Above it rose a slender, conical spire, the entire structure resembling an ice-bound bamboo shoot growing from the land, or perhaps an inverted scepter carelessly thrust into the snow by some deity.

  The tower was constructed from grayish-blue magical stone, its surface veined with subtle patterns, as if runes pulsed faintly beneath. A pale blue aura, like a thin mist, enveloped the entire tower, a continuously operating magical barrier that completely isolated it from dust and blizzards. In this perpetually snow-covered wilderness, the tower remained eerily pristine, untouched by even a speck of snow, gleaming with a cold luster akin to metal and ice grinding together under the sun.

  At the tower’s apex, a massive, multifaceted magical crystal hung suspended. It rotated slowly, enveloped by layers of intricate magical arrays woven directly from light and mana. The array patterns were as complex as star charts, alternating between bright and dim as the crystal turned, refracting the sunlight into a kaleidoscopic halo, then drawing it into the tower. It was as if the entire structure breathed in sunlight and mana through this crystal.

  The sun grew more intense, and the crystal and its arrays operated with increasing clarity, like a cold, pulsating heart suspended at the peak of the far north.

  "Everything seems normal," Wolf said, parking the camp carriage in the tower’s shadow. Emma gently stroked her snow wolf’s neck, signaling it and the other dogs to wait outside. "Get ready, everyone, and prepare your gear," Wolf’s voice was low as he strapped his greatsword to his back. "We don’t know what’s inside, so stay alert."

  Ethan produced a six-foot staff, its blue crystal tip glowing with a faint light. Mary, lacking such a powerful staff, carefully drew out a foot-long wand, wiping its shaft with her sleeve, a look of profound care on her face. Wolf gazed up at the tower. In his extensive mercenary career, he had dealt with mages often, but had never actually entered a mage tower. A flicker of curiosity stirred within him.

  Ethan and Mary approached. The old mage stared at the tower, his brow furrowing. "This tower... though it appears to be functioning, it’s all due to pre-set runes. I don’t sense anyone actively controlling it. However... I still feel a human presence inside."

  Wolf had already circled the domed base to the main entrance. The tower’s foundation was vast, with a radius of over thirty feet. The door itself was exceptionally thick, more than five feet wide, adorned with intricate carvings that exuded a subtle, stern coldness. He raised a hand and knocked. The sound echoed hollowly within, but there was no answer.

  Wolf turned to Ethan. The mage understood, a faint golden gleam flashing in his eyes. Almost simultaneously, the patterns on the door seemed to awaken, a fleeting shimmer of light passing over them before extinguishing. Ethan shook his head helplessly, telling Wolf, "I’ve tried to send a magical signal inside, but there seems to be no response."

  "Then let’s go in and see."

  Wolf had quickly scanned the surroundings. No signs of traps, no fluctuations of magical barriers. He pressed his palms against the door, putting his shoulder into it—and the door slid open effortlessly, far more smoothly than expected. "This door wasn’t locked," Wolf said, crouching to examine the hinges. "Or rather, it wasn’t properly closed at all! Judging by the marks on the door, someone has been in and out recently."

  As the door swung open, an aura seeped out: the scent of aged wood, dust, a faint but unmistakable smell of blood, and beneath it, the silent ripple of residual magic. Just then, Wolf’s brows tightened, a sharp glint in his eyes. He stomped his right foot, his body surging forward, and kicked out with his left foot like a heavy hammer—

  Almost at the same instant, a dark shadow shot out from the gloom within the tower, lunging directly at Wolf’s face! The shadow resembled a twisted human form, yet moved silently, leaving only afterimages in the air. It used all four limbs, pouncing through the air, its withered claws aiming straight for his throat—

  "Bang!"

  A dull thud echoed. Wolf’s kick struck the monster’s sunken face squarely, the crisp sound of a fracturing skull clearly audible. The creature was sent flying by the immense force, rolling several times before scrambling back to its feet. It didn’t pause, lunging again!

  Wolf had already shifted sideways, his boots scraping sharply on the stone floor. He dodged the sweeping claws and spun to the monster’s flank, gripping his sword hilt with both hands—

  A flash of cold light!

  The greatsword sliced in from its left waist, exiting through its right ribs, cleaving the monster in two at the waist! "Annih..." The monster let out an inhuman shriek, its two severed halves still writhing wildly on the ground, black blood splattering.

  At the same time, a sharp crack echoed from the dome above! Another dark shadow was rapidly crawling along the curved dome, its claws scraping an ear-splitting shriek against the glass-like surface. It suddenly launched itself into the air, diving down from a height of over ten feet—

  Its target was Mary, at the very end of the group!

  The young girl watched in horror as the shadow rapidly grew larger in her vision. She wanted to flee, but her legs felt like lead, unable to move a single step; she even stumbled and fell. She tried to raise her wand, but her arms wouldn’t obey. A cold, paralyzing sensation shot up her spine—

  "Thud!"

  The monster’s withered claws slammed her to the ground. A putrid stench filled Mary’s nostrils, and she stared wide-eyed in terror: the face inches from hers had no eyeballs, only two bottomless black holes... yet she could distinctly feel something "watching" her from within them. Its bloodied maw opened, sharp teeth baring as it lunged for her head—

  "Get back!"

  Ethan’s roar and the explosion of a fireball erupted simultaneously. The monster’s head snapped around, and the blazing inferno slammed into its side! A smell of burning flesh instantly permeated the air. The monster was sent flying by the fireball, crashing heavily onto the snow outside.

  Wolf had already swept back to the front lines like a whirlwind. His eyes gleamed with a cold, blade-like intensity. He leaped, swung his sword—

  The blade cleaved into the monster’s skull, splitting it clean through, head and body! The remnants twitched a few times, then finally lay still.

  Just then, Emma’s face suddenly paled, as if something had struck her. Without a word, she moved swiftly, darting past everyone and rushing into the mage tower. Wolf’s brow twitched slightly, but he didn’t stop her. He turned and crouched beside Mary, who was still sprawled on the ground, her chest heaving as if she had just been dragged from deep water. Her eyes were wide, still clouded with lingering fear, her hands weakly propped on the ground. She tried to get up but only trembled, her hands utterly powerless.

  Then, she suddenly began to cry—soundlessly, only large tears rolling from her eyes, quickly wetting her cheeks and fingers. It was a silent, almost broken weeping of one who had narrowly escaped death. Ethan was already kneeling beside her, gently helping his apprentice up. "It’s alright, it’s over."

  Wolf bent down to check her shoulder. "Dislocated. Probably from when she was tackled. I’ll set it; you prepare a healing spell."

  "Okay." Ethan’s hand was already hovering over Mary’s shoulder, his palm glowing with a soft white light. Wolf caught his movement from the corner of his eye, a slight stir in his heart. From their previous interactions, Wolf had always thought Ethan was a mage rich in theoretical knowledge but lacking in practical experience. Yet, the fireball just now, and the healing spell he was preparing, were both perfectly executed. It seemed that while this mage always seemed to be lecturing his apprentice, he was also constantly watching over her, reacting instantly and correctly when she was in danger.

  A faint smile touched Wolf’s lips. Without a word, Wolf skillfully pushed and pulled. "Ah—!" Mary cried out in pain, and then her shoulder was enveloped in a warm glow. Her sobs gradually subsided, and she bit her lip, trying to appear strong. Wolf stood up, his gaze sweeping over the group, his voice solemn.

  "As the leader, I expect everyone to maintain a high level of vigilance. It’s true that an investigative mission might not be as dangerous as a direct extermination or military support operation; it merely requires us to explore a specific location and gather information. But it’s precisely because of the lack of information that we, as professionals, need to delve into unknown areas. The unknown often portends immeasurable risks. Therefore, in my opinion, the potential danger of an investigative mission might even surpass those direct combat tasks."

  He looked at Mary, his tone softening slightly. "Do you need to rest?"

  The girl shook her head, propping herself up. Her arms were still trembling, but her voice was clear. "No... let’s go in. Sister Emma is too dangerous alone." Wolf looked towards the deep corridor within the tower. He wasn’t particularly worried about Emma. The speed and posture with which she had rushed into the tower were far beyond that of an ordinary person. What concerned him more was...

  His gaze fell back to the two monster carcasses on the ground. The tattered clothing they wore bore a resemblance to Mary’s apprentice robes. Wolf’s eyelids twitched, and an ominous premonition quietly spread. "Mr. Ethan," he said, turning his attention away, "before we enter the tower, please cast some magical protection on us."

  Ethan nodded, faint golden runes appearing in his eyes. Invisible magical barriers, like thin veils, settled over everyone, subtly shimmering. "Basic protection has been applied. It should last for a considerable time, even in areas of chaotic mana."

  The four re-formed their ranks. Wolf led the way into the tower, Ethan and Mary followed closely, and Shen Jiu Yi brought up the rear in silence.