Published at 15th of December 2025 8:27 am

Chapter 1343: Taking the Initiative

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"Kekeke!" A mercenary from the Tiesha Tang cackled. "A few more attacks like these and the Tsuitsui bastards won’t even reach the Kurogane Pass."

Another one chimed in as he rolled a barrel onto a cart. "It’s a pity they don’t send their daughters to war. Or else, given how beautiful each and every one of them is... hehe."

"Hey, shut the fuck up and get to work!" A Mana Vortex Magus, dressed in leather armor, reprimanded. "Our enemies are just a few miles out, and you’re talking about women!"

The Magi, who were rolling barrels, immediately shrank back. These were Mana Liquefaction Magi, after all.

"U-understood, boss!"

Their plan was simple. They didn’t even have to engage with the enemy directly. All they had to do was park the explosive barrels on top of the ridge, then detonate them when the army passed by. That way, a good chunk of the procession would be buried under earth and flames.

They’d had almost a week to prepare for the ambush, so they were quite certain in dealing a certain level of damage to the Tsuitsui Clan’s army. After all, they’d learned about the army’s movements fairly early. Their information network ran deep.

The plan was to chip away at the army’s numbers before they finally arrived at Kurogane Pass. This was just the first of many ambushes that Tiesha Tang had planned. And to ensure success in this plan, they had even sent twenty Mana Vortex Magi.

Now all they had to do was load the carts with barrels, position them above the ridge, then wait for the right moment when the Tsuitsui army passed beneath them, and finally light the barrels on fire.

But for this operation to succeed, they had to ensure that the Tsuitsui scouts didn’t find out what exactly they were up to. Once the army knew that they had explosives, the Tiesha Tang’s plan would fail miserably.

At that point, the army could just choose to take a different route, rendering the enemy’s preparations useless.

Therefore, it was imperative that their operation remained highly confidential. They had spread out a thin perimeter around their ambush point, positioning powerful Mana Vortex Magi at the edges to ensure that no Tsuitsui scouts got close and discovered their plan.

But little did they know, a ghost was already upon them.

Concealed in shadows, Adam extended his Sphere of Resonance. Drowning out the ravings of the Faceless Mask, he honed in his senses.

Ten Mana Vortex Magi are guarding the perimeter. They are armed and vigilant, he mused.

He needed to first take out these men. Dealing with the rest of the enemies and the barrels would be far easier.

Adam traversed the short distance to the perimeter and finally arrived before his first target.

Two gauntleted hands emerged from the darkness, clasping the Magus’s head from behind. The target was completely unaware that there was a person behind him.

However, by the time he realized... it was already too late.

Snap!

Adam snapped the man’s head, dislocating it from his neck.

One second. That was all it took to kill the man. He gently grabbed the body and laid it on the ground, ensuring not even the faintest sound was produced.

As he moved on to his next target, he couldn’t help but think to himself:

Magi are so fragile.

They are strong, but only if they are given time to prepare their spells.

Without completing the magical components to cast a spell, they are utterly vulnerable. That is why they’re so vigilant of Paladins, warriors so devastatingly strong that even a heartbeat of hesitation from a Magus means death.

Since time immemorial, Magi and Paladins have stood in opposition. One wields arcane powers that can reshape reality, the other relies on sheer strength that cannot be dispelled.

Magic requires time, focus, and precision.

Strength needs only a single decisive strike.

Their conflict is eternal, not just in battle but also in belief. The mind versus the body, knowledge versus strength.

Neither side yields, for each embodies a different truth of power...

I’m getting carried away again. It’s hard to focus with the ravings incessantly ringing in my head. I thought I’d learned to master it.

But I guess not...

He had already arrived behind his second target a few seconds ago. But because of how deeply he was thinking, he remained crouched behind the enemy. Thankfully, the enemy didn’t turn around in those few seconds.

I need to fix my shattered soul, he thought.

Retrieving a dagger from his ring, Adam first covered the mouth of the enemy with his free hand, then repeatedly stabbed the man in the neck until his eyes grew dim.

Adam observed the blood pooling beneath the corpse. He slipped into deep thought once again.

I was never one to engage in cruelty.

When did I become like this?

Is it because of the mask’s madness?

Or is this just... who I am?

He heaved a silent sigh, then moved to the next target. One by one, he took down all the Mana Vortex Magi standing guard at the perimeter.

At last, he moved on to the next part of the plan.

It would be exceedingly difficult, even for him, to take out all the enemies standing guard by the barrels containing explosives. One reckless—or scared—individual would be all it took to light a barrel on fire and kill every one of them, including Adam.

So he might as well take the initiative.

I need to act fast, he thought.

It won’t take long before these people realize that the ones guarding the perimeter are already dead.

His senses scanned the surroundings, taking in every little detail.

Now, how do I make these barrels explode from afar?

Dragonshit! I miss casting spells.

Finally, his senses landed on a bow and a quiver of arrows leaning against the base of a tree.

Good. That will do, he mused.

I also have several Potions of Explosion I concocted. It’s a good thing I came prepared.

It was fairly easy for him to steal the bow and arrows. The enemies wouldn’t notice them missing. After all, they were carrying out their activities in the dark of the night, without the aid of any artificial or magical illumination.

Once he crossed a safe distance, he finally took his position and knocked the arrow.

And then...

Thwock!

The arrow streaked across the sky and accurately struck a barrel, splitting it open as a dark, greasy liquid burst forth.

"W-what the hell!"

The enemy standing by the cart jerked at the sharp sound of the arrow striking its mark.

Then he watched with wide eyes as the black liquid gushed onto the ground. In the dead of the night, that sound drew the attention of every Magus present.

Before they could grasp what was going on, another loud sound split the air.

Crash!

The sound of glass shattering.

And then...

The world was set ablaze.

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