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.

spread out from the point of contact, destroying all of the furniture around the room as dust and debris

it," A helpless voice rang

bit faint now. Yet, that wasn't much. He didn't have

Waylan.

right, Angus pointed towards Jomnuk who was currently

We'll take care of the

"On whose watch?!"

reverberated across the whole room as he took out his

blade as the mana in the air converged

at Waylan opposite, Angus pointed at Jomnuk, "Capture

"Don't you dare!"

broadsword. But just as he was about to slash down,

doing, Waylan? Attack that traitorous

shouted from behind

that reminded Waylan about where

of a mansion built

"Fuck…"

Waylan swore out loud.

put everyone at risk as the whole place could crumble

at Waylan in the distance,

Jomnuk, ignore the

waving his hand, the box lit up and the mana

black portal started

SHIIIIING—!

Waylan saw the box, he knew just what Angus was planning

in, he decided to cut down on his

air condensed onto the top of his sword and

like before, the duergars at the back tapped on their chest and formed a

—BANG!

with

Crack. Crack. Crack.

the ceiling of the room, and pieces of rocks fell towards the ground, narrowing

—Swoosh!

debris were two duergars. They directly headed for Jomnuk, who

"Hup!"

ground, Waylan put his

combat. The broadsword

Vooom!

druegar, as though the latter had been expecting him, the enemy stomped the ground. Thereafter, clenching his hand, black gas

"You sneaky bastards!"

face with his arms, Waylan stopped

it had happened all too abruptly, he was unable to completely

"Urk!"

Waylan's mana reserves took a nosedive and his

—Thud!

a small thud, the duergar that had released the poison fell

He was dead.

that they're going as far as to kill themselves to make this successful… They are

one hand on his nose and the other

CLANG—!

of metal striking something

that the

thing separating the duergar and Jomnuk was the thin barrier Waylan implemented

"Oh, no..."

He wasn't sure for

I don't have any artifacts! I need

the thin shield,

white as paper, and

"I'm… coming."

towards Jomnuk. However, the enemy chose to give

Crack!

"Argh!"

the same black fog enveloped him. Fortunately, Waylan was prepared this time. He didn't inhale anything, but the black gas

the flooring beneath him split apart and his body shot towards the duergar trying to

BANG—! BANG—!

moved, two more duergars appeared before

"Haaa!"

but Waylan was prepared to stop it this time. Waving his

was

"NOO!"