Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Intruder
After the three apprentices heard their teacher's command, they were curious about the man's intentions but didn't dare to disobey. They turned and walked back into the base.
Once their figures disappeared beyond the entrance, Sunan scrutinized the man closely and said, "Since you've come, there's no need to hide."
A strange, light laugh escaped from beneath the man's robe.
He then lifted his robe, revealing a gaunt body clad only in tattered trousers.
His upper body was completely exposed, pale skin devoid of any color, with ribs clearly visible, resembling a patient ravaged by years of illness.
However, what was even more unsettling was the clear human face that was grotesquely embedded in his abdomen.
The eyes, nose, and mouth were perfectly integrated with his belly, as if they had always been there.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Sunan."
The face slowly spoke, its features unnervingly twisted.
"My name is Heb Gilman. I apologize for meeting you in this manner, but as fellow wizard apprentices, I believe you can understand my need for caution; it's necessary, isn't it?"
Sunan remained noncommittal.
The instant he laid eyes on the man, he sensed a thick aura of necromancy emanating from him.
Clearly, this individual was already dead, and what stood before him now was merely a body controlled by someone else.
The wizard apprentice behind him was evidently well aware of the risks of venturing alone into the stronghold of another wizard apprentice. Thus, he had chosen this method of introduction.
Seeing Sunan's lack of reaction, Heb didn't seem to mind. A faint smile appeared on his face, though it looked particularly sinister in the current context.
"I represent the Marquis of Golden Rock and have come to discuss a matter with you."
"I hope you will refrain from interfering in the war between the Golden Rock Coalition and the Shimmering Territory."
Sunan raised an eyebrow.
As expected, a wizard apprentice seeking him out at this juncture could only be one of those aligned with the Marquis of Golden Rock.
"You want me to let go of my father's murderer?" Sunan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Father's murderer?"
A flicker of disdain passed across Heb's face.
"Lord Sunan, people like us have long transcended the mundane concerns of ordinary life, even surpassing knights in many ways."
"A level 3 wizard apprentice typically has a lifespan exceeding one hundred and fifty years. With physical enhancements or longevity potions, living over two hundred years is not a problem at all."
"For long-lived beings like us, the bonds of earthly kinship hold little meaning. I personally believe you shouldn't dwell too much on such matters."
"Moreover, I'm here with sincerity; as long as you withdraw from this conflict, the Marquis is willing to offer you a satisfactory compensation to make amends for the previous disrespect shown to you."
Faced with Heb's persuasive tone, Sunan maintained his calm demeanor.
"I'm curious as to why you're helping the Marquis of Golden Rock. Is it to use his influence to gather resources?"
"Indeed, such practices are quite common among wizard apprentices, aren't they?"
Sunan's eyes flickered.
Heb's words undoubtedly revealed two things.
One, he knew more wizard apprentices.
Two, there were many such apprentices cooperating with powerful nobles.
"Was the outbreak of Beastization Syndrome in the Frostflower Province your doing as well?"
Heb looked at Sunan in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to be aware of Beastization Syndrome.
"That is correct."
"Do you have access to the original beastized individuals?"
Heb's brow furrowed. "You're asking too many questions, Lord Sunan. Are you planning to extract intelligence from me?"
Sunan replied with a faint smile, "I'm just curious."
Heb snorted coldly and said, "Regardless, I have shown my sincerity; now it's your turn to demonstrate yours."
"Spouting empty words and claiming to offer sincerity—your sincerity is rather cheap."
Sunan chuckled lightly.
"Tell the Marquis of Golden Rock to clean his neck and wait for me. I will settle the accounts from before, one by one."
Heb's expression darkened, his tone turning icy. "So, you intend to oppose me to the end?"
"I'll return your words back to you."
Sunan stood his ground, a cold smile on his face.
"This is a matter between me and the Marquis of Golden Rock; you'd best not interfere."
Heb's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Sunan for a moment before sneering, "If I'm not mistaken, you haven't yet advanced to a level 3 wizard apprentice."
"Are you sure you want to confront me, a level 3 wizard apprentice?"
"As a wizard apprentice, you must understand the gap between level 2 and level 3."
"I advise you to recognize the situation and not walk down a path of no return!"
Sunan smiled faintly. "You talk too much."
"You will regret this!"
Heb nearly spat the words through clenched teeth.
In the next instant, the man's body suddenly began to swell dramatically, bursting forth like an inflated balloon, showering the area with splattering flesh and blood in a gruesome display.
The stone golems nearby were doused in a rain of gore.
Sizzling sounds filled the air as the blood and flesh that splattered onto the stone golems began to corrode them, creating pits in their rocky surfaces.
The blood and flesh that splattered toward Sunan were halted by an invisible force field.
He extended his mental sense and found that no life force remained nearby.
"Is that all?"
Sunan felt a flicker of confusion.
This wizard apprentice named Heb Gilman had come all this way just to meet him?
Was there no contingency plan after the negotiation failed?
Sunan glanced toward the direction of the Shimmering City and pondered. He then took out a communication crystal.
This item was a alchemical-grade magic item modeled after the zero-circle spell **Message**, capable of transmitting messages over a distance of up to one hundred kilometers.
Moreover, it required no mental energy to activate, making it very convenient to use.
Sunan had specifically crafted several of these, giving one to each of Sherman, Corey, and Atiel, and also providing one to Key for emergencies.
Activating the communication crystal, he quickly heard Key's voice.
"Sunan?"
"Has something happened on your end?"
Key paused, seemingly puzzled, before responding, "No, why do you ask—"
His speech was abruptly interrupted, and after a long pause, his voice returned.
"There's been an invasion!"
As expected!
Sunan's expression turned cold. "I'm on my way; be careful."
Without waiting for a response, he leaped into the air, and Yinglong appeared beneath him to catch him.
Sunan cast **Feather Fall** on Yinglong to lessen its weight, and the two sped toward the Shimmering City.
"An ambush near the lord's manor, intending to launch an attack as soon as negotiations failed, while also drawing me out of the base. Quite a clever plan."
Sunan sneered, his eyes filled with icy determination.
At the lord's manor.
The once tranquil estate was now in complete disarray.
Shouts and cries of battle echoed everywhere.
At the entrance to the conference hall, Key watched the chaos in the courtyard with a grave expression.
The enemies consisted of three half-beast, half-human figures, or rather, beastized humans.
Each of the three beastized individuals exhibited the strength of peak great knights, fiercely unyielding. Despite being besieged by hundreds of Blackstone Leopards and Stone Golems, they held their ground without faltering.
However, what truly concerned Key was not these three beastized humans, but the gray-robed man standing a short distance away.
Though he appeared slender and unassuming, he had effortlessly killed three knights attempting to ambush him, utilizing lightning and fire techniques identical to those of Sunan.
He was undoubtedly a wizard apprentice!
"This man must be the wizard apprentice backing the Marquis of Golden Rock."
Key's expression grew grim.
Aside from the Marquis of Golden Rock's wizard apprentice, no one else would dare to attempt an assassination at this time.
No, it should be said that the wizard apprentice's target wasn't Key himself.
Because aside from taking down three knights, he hadn't made any other moves, standing back as if waiting for someone.
It was evident he had no intention of dealing with Key; his true target was undoubtedly Sunan.
At that moment, Key noticed the gray-robed man's expression shift. He then turned to face the entrance of the courtyard.
In an instant, Sunan appeared within the courtyard.
He scanned the area, taking in the chaotic scene, before fixing his gaze on the gray-robed man.
Heb Gilman!
Upon seeing Sunan, a glint of triumph flickered in Heb's eyes, quickly replaced by a chilling intent to kill.
"I told you, you would regret this!"
"Today, you shall taste the bitterness of death!"
As his words fell, Heb spread his fingers, and with a swift motion, countless electric snakes crackled into existence, coalescing into a blue spear of lightning in his palm.
In the next moment, the spear shot towards Sunan with blinding speed.
Boom!
The lightning spear struck Sunan's invisible shield, both the spear and the shield dissipating in an instant!
**Energy Rune!**
Sunan's pupils constricted slightly.
This was the power of a level 3 wizard apprentice.
Having mastered the manipulation of energy particles, even a casual attack could possess the formidable power of a rune gemstone!
Even great knights were merely pawns against a level 3 wizard apprentice.
Though the Shield Spell was a first-circle spell, it could barely withstand the force of Heb's attack.
Just after launching the lightning spear, Heb quickly chanted another spell, pointing directly at Sunan.
Swish!
A bright crimson beam shot forth from his fingertip, racing toward Sunan like an arrow!
The air seemed to sizzle with heat as the beam passed, visibly warping the air around it, demonstrating the immense temperature it contained.
After casting the spell, Heb wore a smug smile on his face.
**Scorching Ray** was among the most formidable second-circle spells, and a mere Shield Spell would be utterly ineffectual against it.
But what happened next caused Heb to falter in his confidence.
As the red beam approached within ten centimeters of Sunan, it suddenly vanished as if it had collided with some invisible object, dissipating without a trace.
How is that possible?!
A flicker of astonishment crossed Heb's face, but he quickly regained his composure.
A protective magical item?
And a micro-glow level magical item at that!
Alchemical magical items couldn't silently negate a second-circle spell!
"This brat actually possesses a micro-glow level magical item!"
Heb's eyes lit up, greed evident on his face.
It was increasingly difficult to find intact micro-glow level magical items on the Starry Continent. Most were remnants from hundreds or thousands of years ago, and even when repaired, their power would be significantly diminished to alchemical level.
As for crafting one himself, that was out of the question.
Not to mention whether he had the skill; even if he did, he would need to find suitable materials.
Thus, as a level 3 wizard apprentice, he currently possessed no micro-glow level magical items.
"If I kill you, this item will be mine!"
Heb's murderous intent surged.
As Sunan observed this scene, his expression remained unchanged. He released his prepared spell missiles, but they were blocked by the invisible barrier surrounding Heb.
Seeing this, Sunan remained unfazed. He had already anticipated that first-circle spells would have minimal impact on a level 3 wizard apprentice.
He tossed out several runic gemstones to suppress Heb's assault and then shouted, "Everyone, get back! Evacuate the courtyard!"
Battles between wizard apprentices were not something knights and great knights could involve themselves in.
Key clearly understood this as well. He made a decisive command.
"Everyone, retreat from the courtyard!"
The soldiers quickly complied, ensuring the lord's safety as they evacuated the courtyard.
The Blackstone Leopards and Stone Golems also left the enemy behind without hesitation.
Three beastized humans were about to pursue them when a massive figure suddenly appeared in their path.
The colossal body, entirely composed of metal, gleamed coldly in the sunlight, exuding an overwhelming pressure.
Sunan had placed the steel golem into the magic cube in preparation for this moment when he sensed the intruder's presence.
"Steel Golem!"
Heb was taken aback, not expecting Sunan to have such a puppet.
He didn't know if it had been crafted by Sunan himself or inherited from some wizarding legacy.
Faced with the legendary knight-level steel golem, the three beastized humans immediately lost their previous bravado, quickly retreating and being completely overwhelmed.
Heb's expression darkened as he watched, and with a cold snort, he took out a scroll and tore it open.
In a flash of light, a five-meter-tall giant bear materialized out of nowhere.
This beast had long limbs, sharp claws, and appeared to have a skin composed of powerful, muscular flesh mixed with metallic armor.
"Roar!"
The moment it appeared, the giant bear lunged fiercely at Sunan.
"A magical pet."
Sunan recognized that the scroll Heb had torn open was a magical pet scroll, a disposable item used to summon magical pets.
It could carry a magical pet and release it during combat.
The beast before him was clearly modified and possessed at least the combat prowess of a high-ranking great knight.
However, Sunan felt no fear when it came to magical pets.
Without needing instruction, Yinglong had already launched an attack.
The charging giant bear collided with an invisible barrier, crashing into it and being sent flying against a wall, which crumbled under the impact.
The sounds of growling beasts echoed as the two creatures engaged in a fierce battle within the dust cloud.
Heb looked on in disbelief.
He had heard rumors from the Marquis of Golden Rock that Sunan possessed an invisible magical pet.
But at that moment, he realized it was not an ordinary form of invisibility!
No type of invisibility could erase sound, smell, or even seem to obliterate the body, allowing it to move almost undetected.
Even he, a level 3 wizard apprentice, could only barely catch glimpses of the creature's movement.
"This brat possesses a micro-glow magical item, a steel golem, and this bizarre magical pet! What other tricks does he have up his sleeve?"
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