Night Raid

About fifteen minutes after Grant chased after them.

"The time is about right."

Inside Locke City, Benjamin stood behind the city gate, with rows of Ikor soldiers lined up behind him. Countless mages stood at the soldiers' sides, their gazes firm, like cheetahs lurking in the grass, ready to pounce on their prey.

—Nearly all of Locke City's forces had gathered here.

Benjamin glanced at the bare night sky, then suddenly turned around and nodded to the guards stationed on either side of the gate.

Half an hour earlier, he had sent Miles and several mages out of Locke City with the key, disguised as him. Once they had flown far enough away, Benjamin dispersed the Anti-Magic Bubble sealing off the key, allowing Grant to sense the specially treated ginkgo leaf again.

The system had also detected a powerful Holy Light energy flying over Locke City, pursuing the key's direction.

Therefore... it was time.

"Open the gates."

At his words, the guards immediately stepped forward and carefully removed the bolts bracing the western gate together. Then, the gates that had withstood the battering of countless rams slowly opened on their own.

At the same time, accompanied by a ripple of magical power, the Rune Defense Array that had enveloped the entire city quietly faded away.

"Charge. The Pope has been lured away; it's time for us to strike back." Benjamin's voice was not loud, and even sounded exceedingly calm, yet amplified by magic, it made everyone's heartstrings tremble violently.

At that moment, the commanders raised their arms and swung them down with all their strength!

"Kill—!"

The roar of tens of thousands surged into the sky, shattering the silence beneath the night. The soldiers, who had suppressed themselves for who knew how long, rushed out like beasts released from their