Chương 149: The Enigmatic Seraph of Temporal Order
At the mercenary guild's banquet, a fierce brawl erupted, and the trio of myself, the Wolf King, and Jack were figures known to all.
However, during this period of infamy, both Guan Ling and I were engrossed in our martial training and were oblivious to the unforeseen consequences that would arise from that altercation. After receiving guidance from Mostima and acquiring the Heart of an Alchemist, my mindset underwent a subtle transformation;
the anxieties of gain and loss dissipated entirely. My nameless martial skills swiftly broke through the ninth tier, advancing towards the tenth. Just as I was poised to courageously forge ahead and shatter the final barriers, an unexpected interruption disrupted my seclusion. Instructor Miki summoned the seven of us newcomers once more.
This gentle beauty, usually adorned with a smile, now bore an expression of utmost seriousness, casting a heavy pall over the atmosphere. Gu Yali and Gao Bo were also present, their faces reflecting even greater distress.
"The Locke Group has employed the most forbidden dark magic to create an army of undead, seizing control of the Flying Cat Valley and reconstituting the Locke Mercenary Corps. A new war is imminent, and you must join the fight.
Miki's opening remarks sent a chill through my heart! Yet, Jack and the Wolf King appeared unfazed; having weathered the storms of battle, they had little fear of danger. Only Guan Ling, unaware of the gravity of the situation, loudly questioned, "What does the formation of the Locke Mercenary Corps have to do with us?
Gu Yali, demonstrating considerable patience with her disciple, quietly explained, "The Locke Group is one of the earliest conglomerates to discover Demon Island.
Their ambitions are vast, and they have repeatedly instigated wars for the unification of Demon Island.
"Each time they wage war, countless lives are lost. The last time, we, the Demon Sealing Mercenary Corps, allied with several factions and nearly uprooted the Locke Group's influence both on and off the island. To our astonishment, they have shown remarkable resilience, swiftly cultivating an army of undead.
They now control thirty percent of the island's resources and have garnered the allegiance of numerous heinous criminals, proclaiming their intent to leave no one from the Demon Sealing Corps alive."
"Hmph! Snoke's appetite is truly insatiable; his threats to annihilate the Demon Sealing Corps serve as a warning to us newcomers not to withdraw!"
I harbored reservations about Gu Yali, keeping some of my thoughts to myself, recognizing that voicing them would only be tiresome. Miki raised her hand to silence the room, quickly stating, "The portal will soon activate to send the first batch of warriors back to Demon Island, and you will join their ranks. All weapons within the base are at your disposal.
Our training camp on the island has been breached, and Weir has been captured.
However, we were prepared for this eventuality; everyone will be transported to a different magical array, so there is no need to fear encountering enemies upon arrival.
That said, this emergency array is unstable, and there may be slight deviations in your landing positions.
If you find yourselves separated from your comrades upon returning to Demon Island, you will have to fend for yourselves. Please take care."
Jack, smiling, raised his hand and, upon receiving Miki's consent, spoke in a remarkably polite tone, "Why should we partake in this battle?
We are not even official members; it would be wiser to distance ourselves from the mercenary corps!" Gao Bo's expression darkened as he conjured a black spirit snake with a mere gesture.
Jack reacted swiftly, attempting to leap out of the meeting room, but he was a moment too late; mid-air, he was ensnared by Gao Bo's dark magic, crashing to the ground.
"You have two choices: willingly join the war or be thrown into the portal, where you can plead with the Locke Group for mercy.
I regret to inform you that the Locke Group has a notorious habit of torturing their enemies. Those fortunate enough may be transformed into monstrous weapons, but you will lose your original consciousness."
"Clearly, this is a threat! But you, Gao Bo, are not enough to intimidate me!" I slammed my fist on the table, ready to retaliate, when suddenly, a profound and mysterious force locked onto my brow. A powerful sensation warned me that should I act, I would be met with immediate demise, with no hope of escape.
The strength of this individual's mental prowess dwarfed mine, and their mastery of mental techniques surpassed me tenfold. Miki shook her head slightly, apologizing, "Among the newcomers, some possess extraordinary strength, compelling me to enlist the services of the guild's foremost sharpshooter, Senrog.
Do not attempt any resistance; none have ever escaped the mental lock of Senrog."
After a pause, Miki continued, "I hereby declare that all of you are promoted to official members of the Demon Sealing Mercenary Corps.
After the war, you will receive rewards of immeasurable value; the guild will not exploit your efforts without recompense." My face turned ashen;
I had not anticipated that such a seemingly timid woman would resort to such tactics. With a sharpshooter poised at a distance, locking onto targets, even a mere ordinary sniper could pose a threat to elite warriors, let alone someone of Senrog's caliber.
Although I had never encountered Senrog, I had heard much praise of him from Miki, who lauded him as the finest marksman of the Demon Sealing Corps, attesting to his formidable prowess.
With a marksman of such caliber, failure was not an option. The Holy Barrier possesses numerous vulnerabilities and is insufficient as a reliable defense.
Attempting to predict the trajectory of a bullet using the abilities of a Temporal Order Keeper is exceedingly perilous; unless absolutely necessary, I had no intention of risking it. At that moment, I profoundly grasped Mostima's words: "Wisdom surpasses brute strength."
Regardless of how formidable one's abilities may be, under unique circumstances, vulnerabilities will always exist. The key to victory lies in adeptly leveraging the situation to maximize one's capabilities while denying any opportunity to the opponent.
"Long-range offense and defense is my weakest link; it appears I truly must craft some tools. Otherwise, I fear it will be exceedingly difficult to preserve my life in the perilous realm of Demon Island. Luck has favored me thus far, but that may not hold true in the future.
Senrog's mental prowess was extraordinary, able to extinguish murderous intent without revealing a trace.
Even my abilities as a Temporal Order Keeper could not foresee the impending danger. Now I began to comprehend Mostima's distinction between the forces of order and chaos in temporal power.
I could only predict events that were certain to occur, while the possibilities were ever-changing and susceptible to various factors, rendering the trajectory of the future unknowable.
Guan Ling, attuned to my emotional fluctuations, gently grasped my hand, signaling her solidarity. She had yet to reach the level of sensitivity required to sense Senrog's mental focus upon her; her understanding of Miki's threats did not match my own, and she remained unafraid of the looming shadow.
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