The Author's POV

"Angus!?"

Jomnuk and Waylan cried out in shock, flabbergasted at the scene presented before them. Their disbelieving looks gave out the betrayal they felt. The shock was too great.

"Heh, surprised?"

Smirking, Angus looked at them from a safe distance.

BANG!

Before Waylan could do anything, the door of the hideout shot wide open and several blue-skinned dwarves emerged out of nowhere.

"Angus!"

In a tone full of anger, Waylan waved his hand and formed a small barrier around the few individuals who could not defend themselves. Even though he was alarmed by the sudden turn of events, he managed to keep calm.

"Don't panic. As long as I'm here, you will all be safe. Stay calm. There will be back up," At that point, Waylan was unsure if he was saying it to the rest or himself. His words felt empty to himself. He did not think that his chances of survival were high.

Not only was he surrounded by a hit squad of duergars, but the poison in his body had also begun to act fast. He wasn't sure, but it might have been due to his movements and casting. Although it wasn't anything serious, it rapidly drained his mana.

Being without mana in this situation was tantamount to suicide.

"It's no use. I've sealed all forms of communication. Your backup call will go unanswered."

A triumphant smirk emerged on Angus's face as he moved next to a couple of duergars. They each held large gun-like devices.

"You damn traitor…"

Cursing out loud, Waylan glared at Angus.

"To think that you were a spy. I'll have to be honest, you'd be the last person I'd suspect," Spitting at Angus, Waylan was incensed.

From how uptight and trustworthy he seemed, people wouldn't consider Angus a suspect at first. His cover was both simple and effective. As much as Waylan hated to admit it, Angus's acts as the mother of the group had slightly affected even him. He'd let his guard down.

Lifting his head, Waylan muttered dejectedly, "I see. So the reason why we weren't able to detect the poison in the food was because you had purposely rigged the device."

"That's correct."

Angus looked towards the few duergars that had shown up.

Each and every single one of them was extremely powerful, almost rivaling Waylan in terms of strength when put together.

"We've spent a ton of resources trying to infiltrate this place. Who would've expected that just when we thought that it wasn't possible for us, you would select our group for being a part of the protection mission? You wouldn't understand my happiness even if you tried. Ah, how happy I was…"

"Shut up." Gritting his teeth, Waylan decided to shut Angus's mouth. Permanently.

Since he knew that he was pressed for time, Waylan decided to go all out from the get go. Although he had wasted a little bit of time listening to Angus talk, Waylan had managed to grasp the situation and form a plan of action.

Small-time crooks loved to monologue.

Turning around while looking at the others, Waylan clenched his hand and a small barrier enveloped each of the individuals present behind him.

Ren and Jomnuk also had a small barrier enveloping their body.

"Don't get out of the barrier. It's the safest place you can possibly be at the moment."

He reminded.

Then, turning his attention towards the squad of duergers, Waylan punched out.

Vooom—!

Instantly, a whistling sound arose. Like a thunderclap, Waylan's fist explosively shot forward, forming a pressurized ball of wind that shot towards the duergars direction.

Staring at the incoming attack, Angus remained calm.

With his hand behind his back, he looked towards the duergars next to him and ordered in a serious tone.

"Activate the artifact."

The duergars each simultaneously tapped on their right chest. The moment their hands touched it, a small light shot out, converging in front of them.

In an instant, a thin, translucent, black barrier formed in front of them.

BANG—!

Right as the barrier formed, Waylan's attack connected, and a thunderous sound resounded across the room.

point of contact, destroying all

it," A helpless voice rang

came true. The barrier stood strong, albeit a little bit faint now. Yet,

Waylan. I've come

his right, Angus pointed towards

him. We'll take

"On whose watch?!"

whole room as he took out

enveloped the blade as the mana in the

opposite, Angus pointed

"Don't you dare!"

as he was about to

doing, Waylan? Attack that traitorous

shouted from

it was this voice that reminded Waylan about where

a mansion built underneath the

"Fuck…"

Waylan swore out loud.

everyone at risk as the whole place could crumble

in the

Jomnuk, ignore the

Then, after waving his hand, the box lit up and

long, a black portal

SHIIIIING—!

he knew just what Angus was

predicament he was in, he decided to

and a terrifying

the duergars at the back tapped on their chest

—BANG!

attack met with the barrier, the whole room

Crack. Crack. Crack.

cracks formed on the ceiling of the room, and pieces

—Swoosh!

were two duergars. They directly headed for Jomnuk,

"Hup!"

ground, Waylan put his broadsword away and shot towards

sword and focus on close combat. The broadsword put him

Vooom!

the moment Waylan shot towards the druegar, as though the latter had been expecting him, the enemy stomped the ground. Thereafter, clenching his hand,

"You sneaky bastards!"

face with his arms, Waylan stopped

he was unable to completely stop himself from breathing

"Urk!"

reserves took a nosedive and

—Thud!

that had released the poison

up. He was dead. It was a

they're going as far as to kill

one hand on his nose and the other

CLANG—!

sound of metal

that the other duergar was already

and Jomnuk was the thin barrier Waylan

"Oh, no..."

mana supply was already extremely low. He wasn't sure for how long

don't have any artifacts! I need help! Help!

shield, Jomnuk cried out

white as paper, and his

"I'm… coming."

move towards Jomnuk. However, the enemy chose to give no respite. Before he could take a step, another

Crack!

"Argh!"

him. Fortunately, Waylan was prepared

on the wooden floor, the flooring beneath him split apart and his body shot towards

BANG—! BANG—!

two more duergars appeared before him and tried to

"Haaa!"

repeat the same thing as before, but Waylan was prepared to stop it this time. Waving his hand, he pushed them back with a blast of mana and continued

he was too

"NOO!"