"I... really don't know!"
Ryan looked as though he was about to cry.
"He's telling the truth!"
Fang Yuan sent a secret transmission. As a Dream Master, he could easily detect lies, even from the slightest expressions and movements.
"That makes it even more alarming. In some places, a terrible price has already been paid—we just don't know it yet!"
Heinz gave Fang Yuan a look. "Let's go back!"
The group carried their spoils and the charred corpse outside. Dense smoke appeared.
"Get ready... We're teleporting back to the branch together!"
Heinz snapped his fingers.
Bang!
Just then, a pillar of light descended from the sky and struck him. He flew backward into the apartment, where a mass of bricks and rubble buried him.
Whoosh!
Black-robed figures appeared in midair, like enormous bats, swooping down again and again.
Every so often, a mage screamed as his spell barrier shattered. A long, withered hand grabbed him and tore him apart.
"Chain Lightning!"
"Acid Splash!"
"Dragon Breaker Blade!"
All kinds of spells rained down on the monsters, but they had no effect whatsoever.
"Go!"
At the sight, the others were horrified. One after another, they cast teleportation spells and fled.
A few loyal souls wanted to stay behind to help Councilor Heinz—or perhaps take Ryan with them.
Unfortunately, those fools were always singled out. Before they could finish what they had set out to do, they died horribly.
"T-Teleport!"
Ryan's voice trembled as he shouted with all his might.
But the spell, which had always worked without fail, had lost its effect. He could only remain there in despair, watching his companions die until only Sno, a junior officer, was left.
"What? You want to make your move already?"
Fang Yuan shrugged and looked at the crater where Heinz had landed.
"Yes.