The battle had ended…

The sound of clashing weapons and spellcasting had now been replaced with murmurs of relief…

"Is it really over?" someone asked. His voice was still trembling with disbelief after that huge battle.

"I think it is… Look at them. The golems aren't moving anymore."

"Ha! We did it! We actually survived!"

A group of adventurers laughed as they slumped against the broken barricades. They didn't mind their dented armor or damaged robes. They were simply happy!

"Check the cores! Some of these are still intact!"

"Grab what you can! We'll sort it later, just don't touch anything glowing red!"

"Hey, this one's got a silver shard embedded in the chest. That's worth a fortune!"

"Careful! That one's still humming. Might be unstable. There's still mana in it"

Mages began casting detection spells, scanning the battlefield for lingering mana traces and salvageable materials. Knights moved among the fallen, helping wounded comrades to their feet and offering water from dented flasks.

"I thought we were done for when the wall cracked…"

"Same. If that Archmage hadn't shown up…"

"That Archmage… Who was that? She was terrifying. Did you see how fast she cast?"

"Forget fast… she crushed a Silver Golem with another Silver Golem! That's Ardania… She likes going around here. Probably because of the flowers unique in the western region."

"Did anyone record that? Please tell me someone recorded that!"

Laughter broke out among the younger adventurers, while the older ones simply sat down, grateful to be breathing.

"Start collecting fragments. Iron cores, silver shards, anything that didn't explode."

"Don't forget the reward slips. We'll need proof for the Guild."

"Already on it. I marked my kills… two Iron Golems and one assist on a Silver!"

"Assist? You mean you screamed while someone else did the work."

"Still counts!"

Rayven listened quietly as the voices swirled around him.

Relief, celebration, exhaustion… it was all there. The city had held. The wall was damaged, but it hadn't fallen. And now, the survivors were doing what survivors always did, picking up what could still be used.

***

In the meantime, Ardania descended from her position above the battlefield…

She landed with quiet grace near the command post, where Guildmaster Warren and several other leaders had gathered.

Without ceremony, she approached them.

Warren, still in his battle-worn coat, nodded respectfully. "Archmage Ardania. We're grateful for your arrival."

"I came as soon as I could," Ardania replied.

Her voice was calm, as if the battle just now was nothing for her…

"We'll discuss the aftermath inside. This Dungeon Outbreak is not simple… There are matters that need to be addressed."

The leaders of the Adventurers Guild, the Mage Association, the Magicblade Order, the Crown Prince's private army, and others, including the city's defense council all exchanged glances before falling in step behind her.

Together, they began walking toward the municipal hall, a structure near the center of Hesa City, used for emergency coordination and high-level meetings.

But before Ardania reached the edge of the plaza, she paused.

She turned slightly… Her gaze drifted across the crowd of survivors and defenders. Soon, her eyes settled on Rayven.

He hadn't moved from his spot near the rampart. His staff was lowered, his robes dusted with ash, and his expression was unreadable.

Ardania smiled.

It was brief and subtle, but Rayven knew that the Archmage had recognized him… It was the same for the others as they realized who she was looking at…

Nonetheless, no one spoke about it.

Then, Ardania just turned back toward the others and continued walking, leaving the cleanup to the remaining officers and volunteers.

The matter of rewards and compensation would be processed later once the city stabilized.

"Hmm… She still remembers me…"

Rayven watched her go, then exhaled slowly. It was not a bad thing to have a connection with an Archmage.

'Alright… Time to leave…'

He had planned to return to his shop. Eterna Mayonnaise had survived the siege, and there were likely customers waiting. But after everything that had happened, he didn't feel like opening the doors just yet.

Instead, he turned toward the estate.

But before he could leave the plaza, a cloaked figure approached him.

The man moved silently and stopped a few paces from Rayven and bowed slightly.

"Rayven…" the man said. "I am an attendant of Archmage Ardania. She wishes to meet with you later today."

Rayven raised an eyebrow then asked. "At the estate?"

"She did not specify a location," the attendant replied. "Only that she would prefer somewhere quiet…

Rayven considered for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"I'll open the shop," he said. "I mean, she can visit my Eterna Mayonnaise Shop."

The attendant bowed again. He was obviously aware of the said shop. "Very well. I will inform her."

Without another word, the man turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Rayven stood there for a moment longer, then adjusted his Adept Robe and began walking toward Eterna Mayonnaise. The shop had been closed during the siege, but it was still intact. And if Ardania wanted to speak with him, it was as good a place as any.

'I should serve her with my best sandwich then…'

He didn't know what she wanted to discuss, but he was ready to listen.

***

In the meantime, far beneath the surface, deep inside the 17th Dungeon… the silence didn't last…

The mana pressure that had once surged violently during the outbreak had calmed, yes… But it hadn't vanished.

In the lowest chamber, where light had never reached and even Tier 3 detection spells failed to penetrate, something moved.

It was humanoid in shape, but wrong in its proportions. Its limbs were too long and its torso was too narrow. Its head tilted unnaturally, as if listening to something no one else could hear.

It stood alone in the center of a cavern filled with rocks…

Then, it opened its mouth.

One by one, the figure began to spit stones… Each one was falling to the ground with a dull thud…

If one would focus on them, there were actually five sets of stone! The first was crude and wet, barely holding shape. It was a Mud Golem Core.

Then came a heavier one, the Rock Golem Core, and it was followed by the Iron Golem Core.

There was also a polished silver sphere or the Silver Golem Core.

And finally… two golden cores.

The moment they hit the ground, the surrounding mana began to warp… It was as if it was testing the Dungeon's protection, threatening to remove whatever was restricting them from going out!

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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