Out of the six districts, four were overtaken by the forces of the cultists, and now, a brutal war raged on as both sides fought to claim control.

Surprisingly, the collateral damage borne from the violent battles was not as disastrous as one would have guessed. Of course, the destruction of civilian properties was great, but injuries to the civilians themselves and even accidental deaths were relatively minimal.

This was because in the months leading to the Grand Magus Tournament, the Council had subtly encouraged the mundane residents—and even Magi families, for that matter—to build and make use of safe, underground bunkers.

Despite all these precautions, there were still deaths. This was war, after all. And even the existence of reinforced underground bunkers did not guarantee complete safety when Mana Core and Mana Vortex Magi were involved.

While the four districts were embroiled in spells, steel, and blood, the Harbor Quarter was the only district that was under the full control of the city's armed forces.

Despite securing a stronghold in this district, the armed forces were not completely safe yet, though. Towards the east, the naval battle against the Cult's fleet thundered across the waves.

From the west, the cultists surged in from the Market Quarter, putting immense pressure on the armed forces. Meanwhile, from the northwest, those advancing from the Downtown Quarter threatened to encircle them in a deadly pincer.

Maintaining the stronghold in the Harbor Quarter was absolutely critical. It served as the city's last reliable point of supply and retreat, with direct access to the sea for reinforcements or evacuation if need be.

If the armed forces of Ravenfell lost control of it, they would be cut off, surrounded on all sides with no escape route.

Moreover, the Harbor Quarter's elevated terrain and fortified structures made it a natural defensive bastion. Losing it would not only cripple morale but also hand the cultists a strategic high ground to launch their final assault.

But herein lay a crucial problem…

Ravenfell's forces were stretched precariously thin. The vast majority of it was entrenched in fierce battles across Uptown, Downtown, Northern, and Market Quarters, where the scums of the Cult fought with unrelenting madness and ferocity.

Meanwhile, the remaining troops were scattered across the coastline, fending off against the Cult's advancing naval fleet. Although with the help of the Brotherhood's Magi, their chances of naval victory seemed quite high, victory would take time, and time… was a precious commodity, especially in war.

With resources divided and reinforcements dwindling, the Harbor Quarter stood on the brink. Though it was the last bastion of the city's defence, if the situation remained unchanged… it, too, would soon be overrun, and with it, Ravenfell's final hope would collapse to the sea.

It all came down to the performances of the Mana Vortex Magi on both sides. That would determine the scales of war.

Unlike wars fought in the mundane world, where victory hinged on discipline, coordination, and strength of the collective, a war between Magi played by entirely different rules.

Here, the battlefield could be reshaped by a single will, a single spell, a single moment of brilliance or devastation. In such conflicts, the actions of even one Magus could shatter armies, turn tides, or reduce strongholds to ashes.

The forces from the Cult of Bones knew this.

The forces of Ravenfell knew this.

And the Dark King knew this as well.

After leaving his estate—or rather, what was left of it—Adam silently prowled the entire city, concealed in layers of illusions. Although prolonged use of concealment spells was slowly burning through his mana reserves, it had to be done.

He needed to survey the battlefield all over the city to determine what plan of action to take. By now, he had a general idea of how everything was going to play out.

But the one district he was most worried about was the one infested with zombies: Corvid Quarter.

Damned those bastards, Adam thought to himself furiously as he entered a dark alley and cancelled the concealment spells.

He turned south, in the direction of the Corvid Quarter, with a grim look on his face.

The only thing stopping that horde is the Dell River, he thought.

But for how long?

Damn it! We need to secure the Harbor Quarter and focus our forces towards the Dell River. As for the other quarters… I'll think of something else.

Once again, concealed under illusion spells, he moved towards the Harbor Quarter, vaulting from one rooftop to the other. His priority right now was to ensure that the forces of Ravenfell weren't defeated on the dockside.

His plan wasn't to take on the entire army by himself.

No, his plan was to assassinate the key Mana Vortex Magi on the Cult's side. That was sure to change the tide of battles in Ravenfell's favor.

But, just as he was planning to eliminate the key fighters within the enemy ranks, the Cult was orchestrating a similar strike of their own, targeting the vital pillars of the city's resistance.

The question was…

Who would strike first?

And more importantly…

Who would come out on top?

It was hard to tell.

Ravenfell had become a storm of madness. Hundreds of Mana Vortex Magi tore through the streets, their auras blazing like miniature suns, colliding in violent bursts of mana.

Spells of terrifying magnitude, lightning arcs, earthy chains, walls of flames, burned through buildings and bodies alike. The air trembled with mana, distorting vision and warping sound.

It was as if… the very fabric of reality was bending beneath the immense strain of so much unleashed magic. It was complete and utter chaos.

Thousands of Mana Foundation and Mana Liquefaction Magi battled in the crumbling streets. Spells flew like arrows, illuminating the smoke-choked air. Blades clashed in alleys, and the public squares were slick with blood.

The cries of the wounded were drowned out by the roar of collapsing towers and the thunderous deafening of powerful spells.

Corpses piled high, sometimes indistinguishable in the soot and gore. Civilians who hadn't taken shelter in time now lay cold and lifeless beside armored soldiers and dark-robed cultists who battled one another.

Entire districts were reduced to rubble, and the familiar cityscape of this grand city now lay unrecognizable.

And above it all, the war between elite Magi continued, each duel causing devastating damage to the city, and each death slowly shifting the scales of war.

The city was dying.

Fire and death… Old Ani's prophecy was slowly but surely coming to fruition.

In the midst of the chaos, Adam moved through the battlefield like a phantom, reaping life after life and easing the burden on the city's forces defending the Harbor Quarter.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, a mighty and powerful individual from the Cult hunted for him. And the aura he gave off was that of a…

Mana Core Magus!

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