Chapter 209: Advancing into the Abyss, Night Support

(A brief addendum, a brief addendum)

Wang Yu, having grasped the nature of the object contained within the metal sphere he carried, ceased his inquiries. Clad in his Smoke Demon armor, he accelerated alongside Avia toward the Shadow of the Royal City.

The passage connecting the surface to the underground Royal City was long, yet under the full-speed advance of Wang Yu and Avia, it was traversed in mere minutes.

Rushing out of the tunnel, Wang Yu cast a distant glance at the subterranean city known as the Abyss Outpost. At this moment, the city glowed with a brilliance entirely unlike its usual somber state.

It was not that the dark underworld had become bright, but rather that this chaotic city was now ablaze with fire in every quarter.

The sound of explosions echoed periodically, likely the result of alchemical fuel igniting within some small, illicit workshop.

Wang Yu observed several pipelines used for transporting alchemical raw materials ruptured in their midsections; the liquid contents sprayed from the gaps, only to be ignited by leaping sparks, transforming into roaring jets of flame.

"This is terrible. The situation is far worse than imagined. The Shadow of the Royal City is already a den of chaos; if the Abyss Gate organization has infiltrated, it will be all too easy for the entire underground city to be dragged into the fray."

The power structure of the underground city was inherently intricate, with gangs standing as independent fiefdoms. Though the Night's Edge had exerted some influence, its reach remained limited.

The current reality was that the infiltration by the Abyss Gate had plunged this lawless city into total anarchy.

Some gang, seizing this spark as a pretext to strike at rivals, had effectively turned the Abyss Gate’s incursion into an all-out turf war across the entire city.

"No wonder the Captain had to send me. Though the situation is complex and any group we encounter might attack without rhyme or reason, they shouldn't be able to handle someone of my caliber, despite the uneven strength of these gangs."

"One step at a time." Wang Yu did not know if he could complete this mission originally intended for Shugein. If it proved impossible, he would simply abandon it; he refused to believe that in a city as vast as the Royal City, there wasn't another soul capable of finishing the job.

"Let me try the power of the Lady of Night." Avia glanced at the fire-lit city, sensing the peculiar environment where the void and reality intertwined, and considered using the goddess's divine arts for concealment.

She was, after all, a shallow believer of the Lady of Night and quite familiar with the goddess herself, so pulling a few strings was no issue—treating her like a fanatic was the right approach.

"Forgot about that." Ever since Wang Yu had shattered the key with a single punch, he had been disconnected from the void and unable to communicate with the Lady of Night. The divine arts he had once wielded with ease had gradually faded from his mind.

Flowing darkness peeled away from the surrounding space, cascading over Wang Yu and Avia like soft water, veiling their forms in shadow and stripping away their abstract presence until they were no longer visible to the eyes of others.

"It worked... no, wait."

Wang Yu was about to remark on the success of the method when he noticed the discrepancy: the metal sphere—which should have contained the relic known as the Reflection of Stars—remained uncovered by the darkness. The fluid shadows could not adhere to it, sliding off its polished surface.

"Damn it, leaving this thing exposed just makes it even more conspicuous." Wang Yu was speechless; if this object were left floating out in the open, it would only draw more attention.

"This is a strategic-grade relic. The container is both a safeguard and a restriction, preventing the holder from absconding with the contents. Only upon reaching the destination will it open automatically."

The Smoke Demon’s voice resonated—no idle chatter, just an explanation. It seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.

"This is likely a special alloy with dual properties of anti-void and anti-magic, forged specifically to protect the relic within."

The girl spoke, dispelling the power of the Lady of Night. It seemed they would have to force their way through.

"Hell, they really think highly of me, tasking a lowly formal knight like me with escorting a strategic-grade relic of this caliber."

Wiping his chin with his arm, Wang Yu shook his head. Since he was already here, he might as well try. While he had no desire to serve the royal family or the rot-infested nobility, he was more than happy to do a favor for his friends in the Night's Edge, who called themselves "idiots."

"Avia, cast a Stone Armor spell on me, mask my face, and we'll charge straight through the chaos. Once we cross the city and reach the vicinity of the Abyss, the rest will be manageable."

"Understood." The girl chanted, gathering the surrounding earth elements.

Tiny stones crawled up Wang Yu’s legs, forming a thin but sturdy suit of stone armor that covered his entire body.

With his features obscured by the stone shell and Avia hidden by her invisibility skin, they charged into the chaotic underground city below.

"Which gang are you with? Speak!" Before they had been in the city long, Wang Yu was spotted by a gang that was in the middle of a firefight with another faction, having smashed into a resident's home to loot it.

"..." No response. Wang Yu simply utilized his physical prowess and the spells from the *Book of the Spellweaver* to dart through the intricate architecture of the city, racing toward the outskirts.

"Damn it, shoot that guy down!" The gang leader took Wang Yu’s indifference as a provocation and a sign of ulterior motives. At his command, his subordinates raised their crossbows and opened fire.

The alchemical crossbows produced by the city's workshops, while of varying quality, were all enchanted. With a dozen crossbows firing continuously, Wang Yu could not dodge every bolt.

"Whoosh!" A sudden, violent gale erupted around Wang Yu—a defensive spell, the Storm Barrier. Avia had acted.

The airflow, swirling like a miniature tornado, formed an intangible protective belt. Every arrow that entered the chaotic, forceful turbulence lost its aim and momentum, veering off to pin itself into the buildings Wang Yu used for leverage.

In the blink of an eye, Wang Yu kicked off the pipes and protrusions of the buildings, sprinting past the range of the gang members' attacks.

"Damn it, forget it. The Black Snake gang is more trouble anyway. Ignore the guy with the covered face."

The gang leader, realizing he could not effectively strike Wang Yu, rationally gave up and refocused on the ongoing firefight.

Wang Yu, fully focused on his sprint, furrowed his brows. The chaos in the underground city was worse than he had anticipated. The major gangs were blinded by bloodlust; seeing a stranger meant attacking unless their identity was immediately clear.

"Would it be better to just reveal my identity as a member of the Night's Edge... No, I don't know where those Abyss Gate people are."

Wang Yu had considered declaring his affiliation to avoid unnecessary conflict, but immediately dismissed the thought.

He didn't know if the gang members would stop attacking if he revealed his identity, but the Abyss Gate members, hiding in the shadows, would certainly take notice.

If those hidden figures were to ambush him while he was trying to avoid conflict, he could hardly guarantee he wouldn't be caught off guard.

Discarding the idea of revealing his identity, Wang Yu focused intently on his surroundings. Avia, with tacit understanding, cast a Far-Sight spell on him, allowing him to better judge the situation ahead.

Moving rapidly and constantly avoiding conflict, Wang Yu could not evade every encounter. As he vaulted through the window of a building, a longsword swung out from within without warning.

Wang Yu did not dodge, letting the blade strike his "body." Sparks flew, the sword chipped, but his Smoke Demon armor remained unscathed.

"Here! The suspicious guy the boss mentioned is here!"

A loud shout echoed from the building. Some gang had been tracking Wang Yu, lying in wait along his path. They hadn't expected him to be caught, given his habit of ignoring the streets and moving across the rooftops.

Noisy footsteps rose from below. Wang Yu saw a large group of people squeezing out of the narrow, complex alleys, various weapons pointed at him as he clung to the building.

"I have no intention of fighting you; I just want to pass through." Wang Yu’s voice emanated from beneath the stone helm.

"Tell that to someone else. Either surrender and let us take you back to our territory for questioning to prove you have no malicious intent, or—who would believe someone breaking into our territory during a gang war has no bad intentions? Who knows if you're here to attack our stronghold?"

Someone below responded to Wang Yu’s words. Clearly, these people had no intention of letting him pass easily.

Wang Yu scanned his surroundings. Even the roof of the building he clung to was occupied by gang members, surrounding him. Jumping and sprinting his way out of the encirclement seemed unrealistic.

His eyes narrowed beneath the stone visor, and killing intent flickered. He gave a subtle hand signal to Avia, who remained hidden by her invisibility skin, and prepared to strike.

"Give us an answer! Either surrender or die here—make your choice!"

The man below continued to shout, likely believing that their numerical advantage made Wang Yu an easy target.

Little did they know how simple it was for a mage to turn such narrow, cramped terrain into a brutal slaughterhouse.

"Quick and decisive. Let's break out." Wang Yu whispered to the Smoke Demon, then released his grip on the building, letting his body plummet into the densely packed crowd below.

Before the gang members could understand what Wang Yu was doing, they tasted the consequences of standing so close together.

The stone buildings on either side of the alley trembled, the walls suddenly crushing inward toward the center. A multitude of earthen pillars and spikes erupted from the ground.

The earth elements below, under the dual influence of Avia’s mage power and wizardry, surged into a riot.

"Argh! My legs! What’s happening with these stones?!"

"A mage! It’s a mage!"

"He’s a mage! Get close and kill him!"

The jagged earth spikes pierced the limbs of those who reacted too slowly, while the rising stone pillars forcibly split the gathered gang members into scattered groups. Several unlucky souls were crushed into pulp.

At that moment, Wang Yu drove the *Book of the Spellweaver* and descended from the sky—a Tier 2 spell: Seismic Intrusion.

The moment Wang Yu landed, the ground beneath him shattered. The seismic force he carried slammed into the earth, causing the surrounding ground to shake and vibrate violently.

The gang members, already struggling to stand amidst the rioting earth elements, found no purchase on the trembling ground, stumbling and swaying in disarray.

"Clang!" Two colossal scythe-blades forged from swirling smoke unfurled behind Wang Yu, resembling a pair of sinister wings.

The Smoke Demon initiated its assault autonomously; the materialized blades swept outward, scything through the surrounding gang members. In an instant, before they could even react, blood sprayed across the air, severed limbs flew skyward, and men collapsed with harrowing screams.

Yet, these gang members possessed a stubborn grit; seeing Wang Yu’s terrifying display of power, they showed no intention of retreating.

Exchanging positions, two men—evidently formal knights—vaulted over the earthen obstacles Evia had conjured, leading the remaining mob as they closed in on Wang Yu.

Wang Yu, however, had no intention of squandering time; he had descended to this level merely to carve a new path. Communicating with the Weaver’s Grimoire through his mental essence, he triggered an overload: Third-Circle Spell, Earth Drill.

One had to admit, earth-elemental spells were exceptionally practical; the ubiquitous rock and soil served as ready-made conduits, allowing for a manifestation far swifter than spells requiring the convergence of ambient elements from thin air.

Debris and dust swirled from the surroundings, converging upon Wang Yu’s right hand, stacking and expanding until, within seconds, they had molded into a jagged, solid rock drill larger than his own torso. It began to rotate at a frantic velocity.

With a violent stomp, he granted the spinning drill a massive initial momentum and hurled himself directly at the adjacent building.

The hardened, high-speed drill tore through the masonry like a hot blade through wax. The immense force dragged Wang Yu forward, shattering every obstacle in his path as he hurtled toward his original trajectory.

He left a jagged scar upon the ground and carved a grotesque, gaping tunnel through the architecture.

"Boom, boom, boom!" Violently breaching the structure, Wang Yu drove the Earth Drill forward, pulverizing walls and everything within the building, forcibly forging a path where none had existed.

"Click, click, crack!" Sensing he had reached the point of exit, he flicked his will; the massive stone drill detached from his arm, surging forward on its own.

After shattering the final few walls, the drill detonated, blasting apart the surrounding ceiling and masonry, piercing the entire building through.

The breeze of protection granted by the girl allowed Wang Yu to accelerate once more, leaving the stunned gang members far behind as he plunged into another alleyway of the subterranean city, racing toward his destination.

…………

"Almost there..." Scaling a tower-like structure via a complex network of pipes, he used the vantage point to peer into the distance. One of the three lighthouses, situated at the boundary between the city and the abyss, had finally entered his field of vision.

At his current pace, he would arrive shortly, yet his heart remained heavy.

He had noted certain circumstances in his periphery: he was being trailed, and by no small number. As he leaped between buildings, he caught glimpses of figures darting through the architecture with the same agility as his own.

At first, he had paid them little mind, but as he neared the city’s edge and gang conflicts waned, the lack of distractions made these figures increasingly apparent. Clearly, they were tracking him.

"Damn it, I've been marked."

Wang Yu had reached a grim conclusion: despite his best efforts to avoid gang skirmishes and focus solely on reaching the perimeter, he had been too conspicuous.

His behavior was so out of place that, even without exposing his identity as a Blade of Night, he had drawn the attention of the Abyss Gate organization.

As Wang Yu came to a temporary halt, the Abyss Gate members trailing him emerged from the shadows of the surrounding structures.

Maintaining a distance of several dozen meters, they encircled Wang Yu, who remained perched atop the high tower.

Twenty-some faces, obscured by masks, fixed their cold gazes upon him, their daggers and longswords poised for the strike.

Wang Yu scanned the circle of Abyss Gate members calmly. The mental essence from Evia relayed the observations of his Mage’s Eye: five formal knights and a dozen or more mid-level apprentice knights.

Even with the girl’s aid and the Smoke Demon’s protection, facing this host of enemies as a mere formal knight was a daunting prospect.

A forced breakout was out of the question; these were the most troublesome foes he had ever faced, and they would grant him no chance to flee. To turn his back now would be suicide.

Tension crackled between Wang Yu and the group, the air thick with the scent of gunpowder; the atmosphere was so taut that a single spark would ignite a catastrophe. Both sides were waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

The Abyss Gate, uncertain of Wang Yu’s true strength, hesitated to act, while Wang Yu began to prepare for a desperate struggle.

The blood beneath his skin, where he had pressed the Fragmented Helmet Potion against his back, began to churn. He prepared to crush the vial, forcing the super-adrenaline into his system to push his state to its absolute zenith.

Evia, having retracted her now-useless invisibility spell, did the same. Under the shroud of Void power, mana began to coalesce around her, as she prepared the most potent spell currently at her disposal.

Just as the battle teetered on the brink of eruption, an anomaly occurred.

Behind one of the Abyss Gate members, who was focused entirely on Wang Yu, the darkness rippled unnaturally.

Two pale arms emerged from the protective shroud of the Lady of Night, seizing the man by the shoulders.

"Ah?!" The Abyss Gate member let out a startled cry, but in the next heartbeat, sharp fangs sank into his neck before he could react, draining the searing blood from his body with frantic intensity.

In that same moment, the surrounding darkness erupted. Other-worldly beings lunged from the gloom, throwing the rhythm of the Abyss Gate members into total disarray and plunging them into chaos.

A brawny werewolf gripped a formal knight with both claws; his immense physical strength allowed him to contend with a knight even without battle aura, and his razor-sharp talons easily shredded the fragile defenses of light armor, sinking deep into flesh.

A shapeshifter, emitting strange, wet sounds, enveloped the head of an unlucky soul, pumping corrosive slime into the man’s orifices.

These three were but a microcosm; a multitude of creatures surged from the dark, assaulting the Abyss Gate forces.

"Well, I'll be damned," Wang Yu’s lips curled upward. He hadn't expected this.

The projection of the Lady of Night appeared in the air beside him.

"I did manage to secure a decent position from Shugein, after all. Helping the Blades of Night is only natural. Though, of course, it is primarily to assist you, my friend."

Her voice, tinged with a faint smile, echoed through the fray.