The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

"To Watchful Shore? Are there more secrets?" Godfred couldn't fathom what mad scheme Alavin was hatching, but unable to resist Alavin's command, he had no choice but to take to the skies and fly toward the distant Watchful Shore.

"Do you understand what he has said?" Hamund didn't have time to object.

Eyla appeared contemplative, remaining silent.

Celesse said, "No one is more concerned about Stormcast than he is. There must be a reason for his actions."

"You go on ahead. I'll draw off Lord Viperbane and his lot." Hamund didn't quite grasp Alavin's plan, but he had to let it unfold.

"Be careful!" Celesse was worried for her mentor, for leading off Lord Viperbane's forces in Cloudveil Woods was no easy feat. Once surrounded, her mentor could indeed meet an untimely fate. "Go!" Hamund channeled his energy, launching them out of the deep valley, and he departed in the opposite direction, deliberately leaking a trace of his essence to draw Lord Viperbane's attention. In the dead of night.

Lord Viperbane, the Grand Elder, and Tobin-the three hunting parties converged without wasted words. At the command, two thousand troops and two thousand Magi-Monsters spread out like a flood, racing wildly through the dense forest. They scrambled over branches, humans gritted their teeth, and beasts howled, their eyes red with a nearly insane determination to hunt.

Leading the charge was the Grand Elder, with Lord Viperbane striding through the air and Tobin lurking in the shadows. The three mighty Archmages unleashed their overwhelming Mindfulness, sweeping across vast mountain ranges and ancient woods, sending shivers through the Magi-Monsters and mercenaries in the forest.

Mercenaries and solitary mages practicing in the woods fled in panic.

Was this the force of Cobalt Strike?

Who had provoked them?

Were they hunting a person? Even the Magi-Monsters had been unleashed.

The nocturnal forest awoke in alarm. Not only mercenaries and mages fled in fear, but uninvolved Magi-Monsters also escaped in packs.

Hamund raced through the ancient woods, doing his utmost to create diversions, disrupting the search. It would take about eight days for Celesse and the others to return to the Stormcast and spread the news, which meant he had to hide in the boundless forest for eight days. Was that even possible? Looking back at the holy might surging through the sky and feeling the vast hunting parties in the woods, he had not an ounce of confidence.

Regardless, run he must, doing all that a man can. Little did Hamund expect that he would face such a day!

Deep in the clouds, where thick mists roiled, Godfred beat his wings furiously, stirring a fierce gale, and carried Alavin swiftly through the sky. "Lord Alavin, are you truly confident you can withstand the siege of the Northlands' champions?"

"About fifty percent certain."

"What?" Godfred groaned inwardly. Was Alavin taking such a gamble with only fifty percent certainty?

"Success or death, let's take the chance." Alavin had considered this before, but it always seemed too risky, and he lacked confidence. But now, with the situation suddenly changing, he could no longer hesitate. "The Grand Elder, oh Grand Elder, you've truly taught me a lesson-to achieve one's ends by any means, no matter how ruthless." The Grand Elder had actually conspired with Lord Viperbane and even bought off assassins. If Elder Hamund hadn't returned to the Organization in time and discovered the anomaly, Cobalt Strike might have already fallen under their control.

Godfred clenched his teeth and beat his wings more fiercely, flying at full speed. No matter what, it was time to risk it! After holding on for eight years, what was there to fear? Three days later.

Hamund shook off the hunting parties for the fifth time, retreating deeper into the woods.

Grima and the others finally neared the forest's edge.

The Grand Elder's orchestrated hunting frenzy caused a severe stir. Flocks of birds took flight, countless Magi-Monsters hid and sought refuge, and many mercenaries and mages retreated in panic, watching the massive search parties with shocked and fearful eyes. They couldn't imagine what had enraged Cobalt Strike to initiate such an extensive hunt. Their momentum was an unbridled steamroller, with any Magi-Monster too slow to dodge being slain and any mercenary in the way being annihilated. Trees fell, mountains trembled, and the uproar continued to grow.