Su Xiao leaped between the buildings of the City of Mist, rushing toward District 4 at full speed. Baja scouted from above, while Xiusiro was at the rear. Speed was not his strong suit, but he could still keep up.
Xiusiro was exceptionally persistent, stubbornly carrying the large sack the entire time. The female mystic inside had probably been traumatized.
Before the spatial resonance weakened, Su Xiao reached District 5. The node was here.
The streets of District 5 were much cleaner, and the buildings showed signs of renovation. The Mage Association had been stationed here year-round, so of course it would throw the refugees some scraps.
Su Xiao stopped beside a river running through the city. It was about six meters wide, with flagstone walkways on both sides. The current flowed slowly, and the node was in the river.
Just as Su Xiao was about to leap into the water, Xiusiro grabbed his arm.
"I won't die easily. I'll go. That 'hole' in the river is the node?"
At such close range, Xiusiro sensed the node as well. The first node was underwater.
With a splash, Xiusiro jumped into the river. A dozen or so seconds later, he came flying backward out of the water.
"There are... there are, cough, there's a huge crowd of people in the river."
"How many, exactly?"
"At least several hundred."
Hearing this, Su Xiao leaped into the water. The scene before his eyes changed, and after he put on his diving mask, it became clear.
The river was at least thirty meters deep. A circular hole emitting white light lay at the bottom. The hole was about a meter across, and a metal pillar had already unfolded inside it. The surrounding spatial fluctuations were intense. Someone had gotten there first and was setting