The Treasure Raiders

Murphy returned to the battlefield. As soon as the psionic interference at Blackflame Pass weakened, he immediately chose to send his little players a choice quest.

Although the quest was called "Choice," a closer look at its details made it clear that Murphy had no intention of letting the players escape.

The Gnolls and the Dusk had nearly turned Blackflame Pass upside down. If they didn't leave them a little "parting gift," then neither Murphy nor Lord Heather would be satisfied.

In this situation, a massive Astral Rift covering the entire pass became a viable option.

What pleased Murphy was that Old Qin and Happy Stick had somehow grasped the essence of such an "explosive ending" all on their own. It seemed great minds really did think alike. Of course, it also once again highlighted the savagery and madness of the Transian barbarians.

You wreck my position, and then nobody gets to play!

The time had come to flip the table!

Of course, before playing the Astral Rift card at this final moment, Murphy had consulted his most formidable girlfriend.

Triss advised him to maximize the rift's power. That would not only inflict heavy casualties on the Rending Claw Gnolls, but also leave Blackflame Pass facing the same aftermath as Cadman City after the massive rift.

Even Gnolls, who would eat just about anything, couldn't charge headlong into an area blanketed by tainted psionic energy. Until the "environmental contamination" caused by the Astral Rift dissipated, the Rending Claw Clan's army would be held back outside the pass.

That would avenge the fall of Blackflame Pass and buy the second line of defense in Shadowvale a little more time. Based on Cadman City's experience, this "ceasefire" would last at least a week, and at most half a month.

It was an