Eliminating the Strongholds (Part One)

A downpour had just swept through the south, leaving the air damp.

No one in the town near the north knew that its grandest, most mysterious castle was a stronghold of Osum, the powerful organization that ruled the entire Southern Spellcaster World.

Though this stronghold was small, a Seventh-level Spellcaster was stationed there. That was Osum's policy: every small stronghold had at least one Seventh-level Spellcaster, while medium-sized ones had Ninth-level Spellcasters.

Most of Osum's strongholds were small or medium-sized. There were also a handful of large ones, though only a few existed across the Southern Spellcaster World. Rumor had it that an Archmage was stationed at each, but they were absent most of the time, leaving several Ninth-level Spellcasters to manage its affairs together.

Osum held the entire Southern Spellcaster World under tight control. In just a few decades, it had secured its rule so thoroughly that it even had the strength to put pressure on the Northern Spellcaster World.

At that moment, only six Spellcasters were in the town's small stronghold. The strongest among them, a Seventh-level Spellcaster, was idly chatting with the others.

"Three more years, and we can leave, right? There's nothing worthwhile about this stronghold. Not a single resource. At least we'll be free in three years, and we'll get plenty of rewards from headquarters!"

These Spellcasters had been assigned to the stronghold for ten-year terms. Once their terms ended, they could leave and receive various resources from Osum Headquarters as rewards.

Thus, although there was little to help them train in these small strongholds, many of Osum's Spellcasters were still willing to serve there.

"Whoosh..."

A light breeze blew past. Suddenly, the bright sky seemed to darken, and the Spellcasters looked up.

Their expressions changed at once!

"Not good! We're under attack!"

The Spellcasters