Chapter 162: Salvation (2)

The sky grew dark as a fierce storm began to crackle overhead. Gusts of wind carried through the desolate landscape, kicking up swirls of sand and debris.

Admist the chaotic atmosphere, a large group of people began their perilous crossing of a two-kilometer-long bridge.

Normally, such a number would have caused the structure to crumble under the strain. But this bridge had long since been rebuilt with stronger, enchanted metals, allowing it to bear their weight with ease.

They had already passed the halfway mark when the first droplets began to fall.

"Ah, for heaven’s sake," someone grumbled as the drops began pouring down with an intensifying ferocity.

"Perhaps we should consider turning back?" a young, timid voice belonging to a child, suggested.

But the eldest shook his head. "No, we’re almost there. It’s merely a bit of rain."

They quickened their pace, their steps becoming more urgent, but the rain showed no signs of relenting.

Soon, the cold seeped into their very bones, bringing shivers and chattering teeth, amplified by the relentless wind and crackling storm.

Yet, they pressed on, until finally, their weary feet touched solid ground once more.

As they drew closer to the imposing mountain, many in the group were visibly shivering. They huddled together, their eyes scanning the dark, formidable structure as they silently assessed their options.

"What now?" one of them finally asked.



All eyes turned to the eldest. He surveyed the former mountain.

"We can climb it and seek shelter in one of those caves," he suggested. "It has roads, after all."

The thought of climbing, especially in their current state, sent a fresh wave of dread through them, but they knew deep down, that there was no other choice.

Unbeknownst to them, a lone tower situated on the side of the formidable mountain had been observing their every movement, right from the moment they had come within sight.

They had barely ascended through half of the mountain’s path when a speeding metallic figure emerged from the stormy sky, approaching them with incredible swiftness.

His blue cape billowed wildly behind him, a stark contrast to his pristine white hair that streamed in the wind.

A brilliant glow emanated from his feet, illuminating the dark, turbulent sky above, casting light on their desperate ascent.

"Look!" one of them exclaimed, pointing a trembling finger at the approaching figure.

But in the very next second, Adrian was before them.

They recoiled instantly and their faces was a mixture of shock and fear. Some stumbled backward, while others gasped.

A few brave souls tried to scramble away, but their exhaustion and the icy grip of the storm rendered their efforts futile.

Adrian didn’t utter a word. He simply observed them, his gaze taking in their shivering forms, their haggard expressions, and their considerable number. His eyes, though assessing, held no judgment.

"I’m here to assist you," Adrian stated, his clear voice cutting through the howling wind. "I own this place, so you may share your predicament with me."

They hesitated for a moment before the eldest among them, gathering his courage, stepped forward.

"It’s the Elves..."

Adrian’s ears perked up with a shift in his demeanor as he listened intently.

The man recounted their tale: how they had received a desperate warning that the Elves were coming for them, and how, driven by fear, they had made the drastic decision to flee their homes, leading them to where they were.

Adrian listened to their account with an unreadable expression. While the story seemed unbelievable, he could perceive the undeniable fear emanating from their hearts. He knew they were not lying.

He didn’t speak. Instead, he decided to do something he hadn’t done in weeks.

Adrian tapped into his secondary ’eyes’, and in an instant, a torrent of visions and sights flooded his mind. He saw through all his marked inventions simultaneously, a dizzying array of perspectives coming into his view.

The visions were overwhelming, yet they posed no challenge to Adrian’s extraordinary mind.

He easily categorized each perception, properly arranging them as he searched for any clue regarding the state of the kingdom.

Most of the visions depicted everything as normal.

This was because the majority of town residents couldn’t afford Adrian’s magical inventions. But eventually, Adrian managed to find some.

He witnessed a woman, her back to a magic heater, diligently preparing food, when a faint chant reached her ears from behind.

Before she could react, a concentrated burst of water slammed into her, knocking her out cold.

She was then tied up by several figures, lifted from the ground, and carried away, vanishing from the view of the heater.

Adrian then cycled through multiple visions from Communicators tucked away in bags with obstructed views.

But one particular Communicator lay abandoned on the ground.

From what he could discern, a chaotic battle raged around it. Humans and Elves alike clashed, and magic flew everywhere.



Adrian’s eyebrows furrowed as he processed everything.

The fragmented visions coupled with the tale, though not providing a complete picture, led him to an undeniable conclusion: all was not well.

As he tried to piece together the exact nature of the problem, a specific name surfaced in his thoughts, a name that brought with it a fresh wave of concern:

’Serena.’

Adrian felt an immediate urge to investigate the problem, to fly off and ascertain the full scope of the unfolding crisis.

However, he knew he first had to address the desperate people before him. They looked at him expectantly with a hope. So Adrian concluded his internal musings and turned to face them.

"I’ll get going. But I’ve arranged for all of you to be picked up. You’ll be on your way in a few minutes, just be patient."

They didn’t fully grasp the specifics of his plan, but their relief was evident. They offered their heartfelt appreciation.

Yet, hidden beneath their gratitude, Adrian could discern a deeper emotion in their eyes: fear.

The thought of being left alone, even for a short while, in this desolate, storm-battered place, terrified them. He also considered the biting cold that still permeated their very beings.

’They won’t arrive for another twenty minutes,’ he thought to himself.

When he had been informed of the presence of people in the mountains, Adrian had immediately instructed that a Trailblazer be dispatched for pickup.

This wasn’t the first time individuals had stumbled upon the striking mountain; and typically, they were seamlessly integrated into the society.

However, given that the Trailblazers were still quite a distance away, Adrian changed his mind.

"Follow me... I’ll stay with you until they arrive."

Their eyes shone with genuine happiness this time, and their gratitude deepened, expressed in more fervent thanks.

Adrian led them to a large, dry cave within the mountain. Once inside, he set up a fire to instantly warm the air. In the same manner, he also produced thick blankets to ward off the cold and soft mats for them to sit upon.

They reacted with a mix of surprise and outright terror as he manifested these items. Yet, they dared not question their savior. They simply waited in silence, their fear slowly giving way to a newfound sense of safety.

As Adrian waited with the group, his attention began to drift to other more pressing matters. What worried him most was the safety of his closest companions. Serena, above all, occupied his thoughts.

The worst part was that he hadn’t communicated with her in months. The Communicator he had given her was a basic model, designed only to pair with his own, and vice versa.

It proved costly when it got destroyed during a battle, and since then, Adrian had found no other means to reach out to her.

He regretted not visiting her sooner and could only desperately hope that she was safe.

More minutes passed until finally, the distinct roar of a Trailblazer approached.

It rumbled to a stop just outside the cave entrance and Charles and Jeffery emerged from the vehicle.

"Take good care of them," Adrian gestured towards the group. "I’ll be right back."

He was about to ascend into the sky when Charles asked, "But... Where are you going, boss?" Jeffery also looked curious.

Adrian didn’t deem it necessary to explain the details of what was happening. He simply met Charles’s gaze, and repeated his words.

"I’ll be right back."

And with that, he soared into the sky, a blue streak against the darkening storm, leaving the Trailblazer and its occupants behind.

***

Adrian flew through the stormy skies at astonishing speeds.



He had no precise coordinates for the Elves; so his only strategy was to sweep the landscape from above, hoping to catch sight of them.

The intensifying rain, now a relentless downpour, made his aerial search incredibly challenging, yet he pressed on.

His mana detector was fully activated, constantly scanning for any significant magical signatures.

There were a few false calls, instances where the detector merely led him to some regular mages, not the formidable Elves he sought. He dismissed these and continued his relentless aerial patrol.

About 30 minutes later, Adrian finally met his desired results.

On the glowing map interface projected, 15 distinctly large red dots appeared, clustered together within a single structure.

Adrian knew with absolute certainty that these were his targets. It was simply impossible for such a concentration of mages, let alone fifteen of them, to be casually assembled in one house.

He descended swiftly, landing silently on the ground before the house.

Rain streamed down his face as he walked purposefully toward the door, taking a few measured steps.

Like a decent person be was, Adrian raised a hand and knocked.

Perhaps the drumming rain deafened the occupants to the sound, or perhaps they simply had no intention of answering. Adrian didn’t know which it was.

After a final, unanswered knock, a swift kick was all it took to send the door flying, and then he saw them.