The rising sun cast a golden glow through the lab's high windows, painting the intricate runes on Atticus's workspace with a warm light. A satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he surveyed the completed framework – a complex web of glowing symbols etched onto the table's surface. It wasn't the final enchantment, not by a long shot. The crucial Griffon Core and other materials remained elusive, but this foundation, meticulously planned and honed through the night's unexpected collaboration, was a significant step forward.He pocketed his tools, the familiar weight a comforting reminder of his progress. His spirit transmission disc buzzed insistently in his pocket. With a sigh, he retrieved the device and tapped into the transmission."Where the hell are you?" Xu Hua's voice crackled through the speaker, laced with a sharp edge of impatience. "The taskforce has already gathered, and the deployment tokens are about to be distributed.""I'm on my way, already," Atticus replied, his voice ca
The airships, sleek and aerodynamic vessels powered by intricate spirit stones, hummed with anticipation as they lifted off from the expansive training grounds. Below, the Blue Sword Dao Academy sprawled like a miniature city, its majestic structures gleaming in the morning sun. Atticus, standing at the railing alongside his team, felt a pang of nostalgia wash over him. This place had been his haven for the past year, a crucible where he had honed his skills and discovered his potential..well not really since his potential was solely due to the system but he still his spell craft skills had improved thanks to the academy. Now, he was venturing out into the vast unknown, the weight of responsibility a heavy mantle on his shoulders for he now had a team to look out for...this reminded him so much of his previous life which he found himself forgetting about day but day.The journey to the city was a blur of rolling green hills, shimmering rivers, and towering mountain ranges. As they sai
Excitement crackled in the air as Team Onyx stepped out of the Demon Hunters' Guild. The weight of their newfound responsibility settled comfortably on their shoulders, mixed with a thrill for the adventure that lay ahead. Atticus, ever the leader, addressed his team, a mischievous glint in his eyes."Alright everyone," he announced, "let's get down to business. We would have to scout a bit for information and also get a map of the town we would probably be taking out or mission. Time to stretch our muscles."Xu Hua, ever the firebrand, snorted. "About time! Let's get this show on the road. Who knows, maybe we'll even crack the top ten on that fancy board of."Li Wei, still clinging to a sliver of nervousness, offered a hesitant smile. Chen Yi simply nodded once more, his hand already reaching for a worn scroll tucked away in his pack – no doubt containing vital information on demon slaying tactics and broader Information on the spectrals."I just hope Xu Hua doesn't start getting all
Taking a deep breath, Atticus adjusted the straps of his backpack and set off in the direction of the warehouse district, a desolate section of the city notorious for its abandoned buildings and criminal activity. The once vibrant warehouses now stood like skeletal sentinels, their windows gaping maws in the fading light. As he ventured deeper into the district, the air grew thick with a shroud of decay and neglect. The only sounds were the occasional creak of a rusty door hinge or the skittering of unseen vermin in the shadows.His mind raced with strategies. He needed a plan to infiltrate the warehouse undetected, to steal the vial of Dreamweaver's Essence without alerting the Razor Claws, a ruthless gang known for their brutality and bloodthirsty reputation. Brokk's words echoed in his mind – "They have two spirit sovereign experts." This piece of information remained stuck in Atticus' mind, he was a little curious on how quickly he would be able to defeat a spirit sovereign. Tec
As Atticus was about to start going towards the tavern to hand over the vial to Brokk he felt the unmistakable sensation of demonic qi, heightening his senses. He followed the eerie energy to a dimly lit alley. And then it happened.A burst of crimson light flashed before him, distorting space itself. A red portal materialized, its edges shimmering with otherworldly energy. Atticus sensed the presence of several spectral demons on the other side.He knew that when demons emerged from such portals, their first order of business was to find a suitable host body. But that didn't mean they lacked offensive capabilities. Atticus had learned that not only spectrals crossed over; fleshly demons could breach the divide as well. Although these lesser demons were weaker than the demon kings, they still possessed strength comparable to core formation realm cultivators. Now, Atticus could feel the presence of several of these formidable beings emanating from the portal.Drawing his communication
"Atticus!" Atticus turned back to see Xu Hua and the others jogging towards him, their faces flushed and clothes dusted with grime. "You guys got here pretty fast," he remarked, surprised by their swift arrival."Well, the apartment we rented wasn't far, and we bumped into several hunters on the way. Seems like they were already alerted about the breach," Xu Hua explained, catching her breath. Her explanation seemed to contradict their earlier exhaustion, and Chen Yi and Li Wei both looked pale, their robes clinging damply to their bodies. It must have been a frantic dash to reach him, for cultivators of their level to expend so much stamina."With the way the hunters arrived so coordinated, I figured they had a system in place for such emergencies," Atticus replied, wiping sweat from his brow."But why were there so few?" Chen Yi questioned, his eyes scanning the scene. He only saw a handful of Spirit Sovereign hunters managing the perimeter around the now-collapsed portal, keeping
Atticus finally found his way to the new apartment. Exhaustion gnawed at him, a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil he'd just endured. Apparently, it was an inn, and his team had secured two rooms.He'd communicated with Xu Hua on his way, requesting her arrival to get past the entrance barrier – a room token was the only way in. When she arrived, she simply stared at him, her brow furrowed in a way that sent a jolt of unease through him."Are you injured?" she asked, her voice laced with concern."It's not my blood," he replied curtly."Do I even want to know?"Atticus offered a tight smile. "I doubt it."Xu Hua didn't press for details. As far as she was concerned, Atticus's well-being was all that mattered. They made their way up to the inn rooms, and it was there that Atticus truly registered the living arrangements Xu Hua had seemingly chosen at random."So, you're saying we're sharing a room?" Atticus raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his voice."Uhh, yes?
Li Wei who had been in thought finally broke the silence that had descended. "Okay, so the Crimson Blades are our main target, but I guess we can't neglect our official duties as response team members. How do we propose to juggle both?""Good question," Atticus acknowledged, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We need a strategy. The breaches in the neighboring town are our top priority, at least initially. But we can use those missions as a cover while we discreetly gather information on the Crimson Blades."Xu Hua chimed in, her voice laced with concern. "The problem is, how discreet can we be? Investigating a dangerous organization isn't exactly a low-key operation. We're bound to attract attention, especially if they're actively hunting you, Atticus."Atticus nodded grimly. "You're right. We need to be smart about this. Gathering intel from the shadows will be crucial. We can't afford a full-frontal confrontation yet, not until we know more about their numbers, their capabilities