The Author's POV

348 Planting the seeds of chaos [2]

BANG— BANG—

A loud metallic sound rang as an energy blast shot towards a large metal door.

The sound rang in the air for a brief moment before it disappeared completely. What followed after was the cacophonous sound of several alarms ringing, completely drowning out the banging sounds that ensued after repetitive attacks towards the metallic door.

"Step to the side."

Seeing that the attacks were not working, a duergar stepped up.

Holding onto a large metallic barrel in-between his armpits, the duergar channeled his mana towards it. Soon, spherical orbs of mana agglomerated towards the center of the barrel, forming a concentrated ball of energy.

The threatening energy expanded in the hall as it steadily increased in size.

Before long, once the ball reached a certain size, the duergar firmly planted both of his feet on the ground and discharged the energy.

BOOOM—!

What followed after was a terrifying blast that shot towards the massive metal door. A colorful trail of mana traced behind the attack.

Once the attack connected with the door, a thunderous sound rang out, and smoke diffused in the air.

"Did it work?"

The duergar who shot the attack wondered out loud as he tried to see through the large cloud of smoke.

"It's no use. The door is designed to withstand the impacts of ranked individuals. All you're doing is wasting mana."

Before the duergar could get a proper look, a cold and apathetic voice spoke from behind.

Turning to the direction where the voice came from, the duergar's face paled considerably.

"L-Lord!"

"Stay put."

Scanning the metal door, the mood of the duergar elder sank.

"Damn it."

Placing his palm on the door, the elder circulated the mana inside of his body towards the palm of his hand and closed his eyes. He was trying to gauge what was going on inside the room.

While the elder was busy, the duergars behind him stood silently with their backs straight, not daring to mouth a single word.

After a while, opening his eyes, the elder's face relaxed a little.

"He's still alive…"

After having scanned the internal structure of the room, although he wasn't able to tell what exactly was going on inside, he could tell that there were two people alive.

Out of the two, one was a demon and the other was Karl.

Recognizing Karl's mana signature, the elder was able to tell that he was still alive. At this revelation, he felt a lot more relaxed. As long as he was alive, all was good.

"Hm?"

However, apart from those two energies, he felt no other energy. This meant only one thing.

Every single researcher inside had been killed.

'Why did a demon betray us?'

The elder wondered as his brows tightly knit in consternation.

For the perpetrator to be a demon, no wonder the Duergars assigned to Karl had failed to protect him. Nobody would have seen it coming.

—How is the situation going on your side?

It was then that a voice suddenly entered the elder's ears.

Completely unfazed by the voice, the elder tapped on his ear and responded in a calm tone, "Karl is still alive. However, he is currently being held hostage inside of the room with a demon."

—A demon?

The voice sounded a bit surprised. It quickly followed up with a question.

—So you're saying that the one responsible for this is a demon?

"That is correct."

The elder darkly replied.

is the situation on your

artifact testing room, the elder had naturally heard a large

curious, he still chose to pursue his role, which was

we under attack?" The elder

a brief moment of silence,

compromised. We're currently under siege by

words, the

location has been breached? That's impossible! Our dampening system has made it

the elder as he

—Unless what?

in the elder's

the elder thought for a moment before replying with a deep

the one that exposed

—…That's impossible.

voice spoke after a brief moment of

know full well just how much Karl hates the dwarves. His hatred runs even more deeply than some of us present in the council. How can it be him? Furthermore, he is also responsible for

"…You might be right."

realized the validity of the

fact that he hated dwarves with a passion, the probability of him being the culprit

scorned due to the various ideas he had proposed in the past. Each dwelling in the neurological field and memory extraction area. Something that was considered taboo to the dwarves. As such he

not for them, he

hatred he saw in Karl

He was there.

witnessed the

that he also took down two beacons was a testament to his possible innocence… That was, of

been faking it for so long...the

elder massaged his forehead

could it

the beacons? Since the dampening system was turned off

be that either. No one except Karl ever entered that room.' The elder shook his head in confusion. He couldn't make heads

already

that? Why are you telling me this

head in surprise, the elder

I just got a live feed of what happened prior

moment. The elder could feel a tone of malice emerge

that asked for us

elder's brows knit at those

it related to

—Yes.

voice in the

our location. Moments after they appeared, we were suddenly attacked.

don't think

elder's face

the elder trembled with

those incompetent bastards

—…BANG!

loud explosion rang

"What is going on?"

instantly

I'm currently under attack. The dwarves

off, and the

to say that someone has infiltrated

not last for long, calming down, the elder tried to make out the last words that the voice in his ear was trying to

WIIIIIING—

hesitating, the elder raised his

Clang—

sound rang out. What followed after was a circular, pressurised wind that expanded from the point of

"Khhh…who!?"

steps back, the elder stabilized his body and lifted his

and getting a closer look at who had attacked him, the elder immediately identified the perpetrator

"Human…"

narrowed into

"Guess that didn't work."

Waylan raised his broadsword and once again slashed down.

of the blade. What followed after was a terrifying attack that shot out from the broadsword, headed straight for the

WIIIIIING—

in the

bracer, a thin transparent shield materialised in front of

BANG—

the shield formed. Connecting with the shield, ripples formed around its surface as it completely absorbed the energy of Waylan's attack. Before

any time. Extending his hand towards the right, a

on the handle of the hammer,