Border Station, also a military fortress.
The soldiers on lookout duty stood on high alert, their postures straight as they vigilantly monitored their designated areas. Though all that met their eyes were the gently swaying grasslands, with no Magic Creatures daring to approach this human territory, there was no trace of the laxity and negligence common among soldiers in the inland.
If the militia from the village the Hero went to rescue had even a tenth of their vigilance, they might not have paid such a hefty price under the Goblin's stealth attack.
This was partly due to their elite competence, but more so because a batch of the border's most elite troops had recently set off from here.
"Captain, they've been gone for over a day now," a rookie soldier said, keeping his eyes fixed forward as he spoke.
Because of the Highland's special environment, a mature rotation system and an old-to-new training mechanism ensured there were enough hands and that the soldiers on duty could get suitable leaves.
Of course, this 'rookie' was relative, as he would be considered top-notch in a peaceful inland city.
Yet despite that, as he talked about the departing troops, his eyes filled with longing and admiration, mixed with a bit of unease.
"What are you thinking? Do you think the Black Gate is some mouse that entered your house that you can just kill if you want?" the captain replied.
"If they were really easily caught by you, without escape or flight, then you'd better stay on your toes."
Though he knew this rookie had never fought against those slippery madmen, his tone still carried a hint of mockery, which was then replaced by the same concern.
"Moreover, since even that Sergeant has been dispatched, it's quite possible that what that Adventurer girl and the madmen she brought over reported is true..."
The captain tightened his grip on his weapon.
"I wonder how that Adventurer is doing," the rookie recalled the youthful and heroic face of the girl and expressed his concern.
"Young people these days..." The captain shook his head helplessly, about to reprimand him a couple of times.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he saw a tiny light flicker on the far horizon.
Then he saw, like a relay, light after light rising rapidly, drawing closer and becoming an undeniable brilliance.
That light was an orange-red, like blood.
As if enacting a nightmare scenario that had played out countless times before, the captain, as if on reflex, pulled out the scroll from his waist with deft movements.
His voice, echoing through the unfolding Magic Array, resonated through the entire camp, composed beyond his own belief.
"Level One Alert, Arcane Surge is coming!"
"Inform the entire army! Level One Alert! Arcane Surge is coming!"
Accompanied by a sharp and urgent alarm, the earth began to tremble.
[First Wave of Arcane Surge]
Central Volcano Region, above the clouds.
The Hero's peripheral vision swept over, seeing the orange-red blood light that even the inky poisonous clouds couldn't completely conceal, her expression slightly changing.
"So that's the smoke signal of your era, how convenient," the Ancient Hero's exclamation sounded in her mind, but the soft voice couldn't ease the Hero's expression.
She wasn't particularly familiar, but she'd found a military flare gun in the Earth Devouring Snail's internal space and had studied the use of various flares.
Thus, the Hero knew that this color flare signaled the highest alert, typically representing the occurrence of an Arcane Surge!
Even she knew this, so naturally, the Sergeant and the other assisting soldiers would be no less informed.
Yet, the Ghost Warrior merely glanced at it, forcibly turning their attention back to the Corrupted Phoenix.
"Focus! Don't get distracted!"
The Border Station had a Magic Array for direct communication with the city, and since the flares were already fired, with their army's training and Count's nearly simultaneous receipt of the alert was a given.
Their task was not to stop those mad Magic Creatures but to cut off the source of the madness here!
The Sergeant's shout reminded the soldiers beside him and brought the distant Hero back to her senses.
"It's coming!" With the synchronized reminder from the Ancient Hero, she quickly steadied herself on the White Snake and assumed her stance.
The Corrupted Phoenix wouldn't concern itself with their thoughts. Seeing its attack fail, it let out another killing-filled Phoenix Cry, accompanied by rolling Black Flames and hot winds, drawing a long tail of fire as it soared towards them.
Without any chanting or preparation, every wisp of its Depraved Flame carried greater destructive power than the Hero's hard-earned Bone-Attaching Flame, and now, the polluted fire was sweeping over!
The Hero raised her fists, the simple Finger Claw dyed with a brilliant gold like the Sun.
[Corrupted Phoenix Skill Activation: Burning Sky Wings, Depraved Flame]
D279+54+d91=d279(233)+54+d91(28)=315
[The Hero's Upcoming Actions—]
1. Trade Wounds (Equipment may be damaged)♛
2. Normal Attack (reroll Imprisonment)
Seeing that gradually enlarging Dark Sun again, with the sinister, cold, crimson Phoenix Eyes within, the Hero furrowed her brows.
Though born as a Noble, she wasn't a child raised in pampered care, having faced disdain, insults, and gazes of disappointment or anger.
But she had never seen such an unsettling gaze.