The Wizard’s voice dropped, laced with a chill:

"I have already placed Whispering Echo Runes in several key locations within the town. When he’s focused on clearing out those low-tier dregs, or when he pushes into the town’s core to try and stabilize the situation... the runes will be remotely activated."

He paused before adding, "The fluctuations these runes emit resonate faintly with the residual aura of a certain Lord Level being from the depths of the Deep Red Wilderness. This resonance... will likely draw some more ’hungry’ and ’curious’ things to creep out from the shadows of the nearby wilderness."

The Observer fell silent for a moment, its dark gold, fiery eyes fixed on the Wizard. [You mean to... use him as bait? To test the limits of his strength, while simultaneously luring out and pinpointing any ’wild’ or ’rogue’ entities that might be lurking nearby, entities not yet fully under our control?]

"Killing several birds with one stone, is it not?" the Wizard said with a slight nod. "If he isn’t strong enough and dies there, it’s no loss to us. In fact, it would eliminate a potential obstacle. But if he is strong enough to endure the initial drain on his strength and the subsequent ’surprises’..."

"Then our assessment of his true combat strength will be far more accurate, which is crucial for our future plans. Besides, regardless of the outcome, the destruction of Ximu Town and the potential demise of a Peak Mortal Knight will be enough to sow greater panic in the rear, further distracting and demoralizing the people of Blackstone Fortress."

[The risk is, what if his strength far exceeds our estimates? What if he destroys your runes, or... attracts some ’big trouble’ we can’t handle?] the Observer questioned.

"That is why I am here myself." The Wizard’s tone grew colder. "I will monitor the entire process from a distance. I laid the runes myself and can sever the connection or detonate them at any moment. As for the ’big trouble’ we might attract... isn’t that one of the very purposes of this excursion? To observe, record, and collect data on how the Church Court reacts under true pressure. Regardless of whether the outcome is directly advantageous to us, the information itself holds value."

The Observer was silent once more, apparently weighing the options.

A few seconds later, its mental transmission resumed: [Plan approved. I will simultaneously record the Energy Fluctuations and the target’s behavioral patterns from the pre-established secondary observation point. Be sure to maintain a safe distance. Your ’Concealment’ state may not be enough to completely evade the senses of an individual of that caliber. Additionally, the resonance intensity between the Whispering Echo Runes and the residual Lord-level aura needs to be controlled more precisely. Avoid triggering an uncontrollable ’massive problem’ prematurely.]

"Don’t worry. I know where the ’line’ is better than anyone," the Wizard’s voice returned to its previous calm. "In that case, we proceed as planned. It’s time for your ’eyes’ to move to a more suitable position."

The Observer said nothing more. Its dark red figure took a step back and melted into the darkness of the tunnel entrance. The intense stench of sulfur and parched heat dissipated along with it, as if it had never been there at all.

Once again, the Wizard was alone in the tunnel.

He turned back to the stone dais, his gaze fixed on the flickering red dot on the map that marked Ximu Town. Beneath the shadow of his hood, something cold seemed to stir.

"Governor of Melfield..." he muttered, a cold chuckle escaping his lips. "Since you’re so eager to obey the edicts of those old relics and rush to your death... let’s see just how many courses you can last through in this little banquet I’ve prepared for you."

...

「Southwest of Blackstone Fortress, Ximu Town.」

The night was torn asunder by fire and screams. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Low wooden palisades lay shattered and burning in several places. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, carrying the vile stench of sulfur and charred flesh.

The once-peaceful town had been reduced to a hellish battlefield.

Terrified screams, dying groans, the frenzied shrieks of monsters, and the jarring clang of steel on carapace all wove together into a chaotic symphony.

Sporadic resistance continued as surviving militiamen, using still-intact houses and barricades for cover, futilely attacked the cheetah-sized red figures flooding the streets with spears, pitchforks, and crude crossbows.

They were swift, their maws dripping corrosive saliva. They easily pounced on lone civilians or tore through flimsy cover.

To add to the despair, several medium-sized Scorching Beasts were mixed in amongst the smaller ones. They were significantly larger—the size of tigers—with carapaces so red they were almost black, and they exuded a far more dangerous aura.

Not only were they better defended and faster, but they even displayed a primitive tactical awareness, knowing to flank their enemies or focus their attacks on the weakest points of the defense.

A few juvenile Earth Rock Worms plowed charred furrows through the streets, periodically spewing small clouds of scalding, toxic fog to sow chaos.

At the edge of the town square, behind a makeshift barricade of overturned carts and debris, the last few dozen townsfolk still able to fight, several wounded Knight’s Attendants, and a single Official Knight were desperately holding their ground.

Dozens of human and monster corpses lay strewn before the barricade, yet more medium and small Scorching Beasts were pouring out from the shadows on all sides, their eyes burning with a cruel fire.

The Official Knight leading them, a rugged man whose helmet had been sent flying and whose face was streaked with blood, roared in desperation, "Hold the line! Reinforcements from Blackstone Fortress will come! For our families!"

But his voice was swallowed by the shrieking of the monsters, sounding utterly frail.

A medium-sized Scorching Beast suddenly leaped, ramming into the barricade’s weakest corner. The sound of splintering wood was deafening as several militiamen were sent flying with agonized screams.