Chapter 2398 Sneak Attack


    Soleo Fortress


    Just three years ago, this mountain stronghold was one of Vryn''s proudest defenses, a bastion standing firm against the relentless tide of elven invaders. Now, its once-great walls bore the marks of conflict, battered and twisted to suit its new purpose: an elven fortress, starkly loyal to its conquerors.


    At the base of the mountain, hundreds of elven camps sprawled across the rocky terrain, housing tens of thousands of warriors d in dark armor that glistened under the cold desert moonlight. Strategically ced throughout the ridges above were nests for the wyverns, their shrill cries slicing through the night as they watched over the area with keen eyes and restless wings.


    The fortress itself was carved deep into the mountain, an intricate web of chambers, halls, and tunnels stretching far beneath the surface, fortified to house and protect hundreds of powerful Magus. On this particr night, in the most opulent chamber of Soleo Fortress, Azrazel, the highest-ranking elvenmander on the, lounged in decadentfort. Through the wide windows, the vast desert stretched out beneath the star-speckled sky, a serene view that contrasted sharply with the sounds filling the room.


    Multiple beautifull female dark elf surrounded Azrazel on his bed, their seductiveughter, and moans mingling with his, echoing through the luxurious chamber.


    But outside this chamber of indulgence, the fortressy under an ominous shroud.


    Unseen, silent figures crept through the shadowed corridors. These grand magus-level assassins possessed a terrifying ability: they could phase effortlessly through solid matter, slipping between shadows as if they were mere ripples in the air.


    One by one, elite elven Magus, seasoned warriors, fell. Each death was swift and silent, executed with a level of precision that left no trace, no pulse of spirit force to trigger any rm. A hand sped over a mouth here, a dagger shing in the darkness there — and in seconds, another body disappeared into the shadows, pulled out of sight without a sound.


    The Ghostde unit, among the Magus Alliance''s most feared forces, had finally reached their destination — the entrance to themander''s chamber. Silently, they assessed the scene beyond the heavy doors. Two dark elf Magus, each radiating the power of a full moon level, guarded the entrance. Inside, five dark elf womeny on the bed, surrounding the target: Azrazel, the elvenmander himself.


    <Target confirmed>


    <Engage!>


    At the signal, two Ghostde operatives melted through the walls, phasing directly into the chamber with a silent, deadly purpose. They advanced swiftly, closing half the distance toward their target before Azrazel, with his formidable senses, snapped to attention.


    "YOU DARE DISTURB ME, VERMIN!" he roared, his voice booming through the room with a thunderous echo. The shout alerted the two full-moon elite guards at the door, but they had no chance to act. In a blink, the third Ghostde operative dropped from the ceiling above them,nding with deadly precision. His twin daggers shed, and in an instant, both guards were decapitated, their heads falling silently to the floor.


    SPLLAATTT!!!


    Inside, the two other Ghostde operatives surged forward, each wielding a gleaming de charged with tier 7 techniques. Their strikes came from opposite sides, forcing Azrazel to react. Heunched himself forward, diving off the bed and leaping toward the open balcony.


    But his path was cut off. Standing on the balcony, cloaked in shadow, was Major Kouga himself, his presence radiating a dark, predatory intent.


    "You''re not going anywhere!!" Kouga said, his de gleaming under the moonlight.


    The Major unleashed his battlefield domain, the very air around him warping under the force of his aura, masking the area within the chamber, then his hands crackled with deadly intent as he summoned an icy de power into his twin de, preparing to strike with his signature tier 8 technique, [Split the Frozen Hell]. With a swift, decisive motion, Kouga charged, the frigid energy radiating from his des creating a haunting chill that seemed to freeze the very air. He closed the distance in a sh, unleashing the technique in a wide, arcing sh.


    A burst of frozen energy struck Azrazel, cutting through the dark elf''s defenses and piercing his chest in a deadly, precise blow.


    "ARRGHH!" Azrazel howled in pain.


    His skin turned pale, ice creeping up his wound even as he summoned a torrent of inner energy to force the freezing effect away. He activated his defensive artifacts — powerful items stored in his domain sprang to life, surrounding him in an ethereal barrier.


    But before he could stabilize himself, the three Ghostde operatives closed in from every angle, their forms like shadows converging with relentless precision. Each wielded a deadly technique, and their strikes coordinated to overwhelm Azrazel''s defenses. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The artifacts protecting him shimmered under immense pressure, cracking one by one until they shattered in bursts of magical debris.


    Azrazel''s face contorted in rage as he hissed, "YOU DAMN HUMAN!!"


    Furious and desperate, the elvenmander channeled his power, prematurely forcing his battlefield domain to erupt. The malevolent energy surged outward, shing violently with Major Kouga''s domain in an explosive collision of power.


    The two forces collided, unleashing a wave of destructive energy that rocked the entire chamber.


    KAABBOOOOOM!!!


    The st was massive, a fierce shockwave tearing through walls and shaking the mountain fortress to its core. Outside, the sound echoed through the stronghold, instantly rousing the entire encampment. Tens of thousands of elven warriors snapped to attention, weapons drawn, their eyes turning toward themand chamber with fury and fear.


    "Intruder in the stronghold!" a voice shouted, rallying the ranks.


    Within moments, waves of elven soldiers surged toward the stronghold.


    ####


    Emery stood at the fortress entrance alongside the Valryn grand magus—the princess and her elder advisor, Grand Magus Archie. As the sound of the explosive sh reached them, it became the signal they''d been waiting for. The first responders arrived in a swift, disciplined formation—twenty dark elf magus charging into the stronghold''s entrance, weapons raised and spells crackling in their hands. But they were ambushed by the seasoned Grand Magus Archie, a sword master whose strikes zed with fierce white lightning. With each sweep of his de, arcs of lightning shot forth, cleaving through the elven magus. In moments, the entrance was strewn with the fallen, their bodies scorched and shed before they even had a chance to react.


    The princess turned to Emery, her gaze intense. "Did they seed?" she demanded, her voiceced with urgency.


    Emery, known for his exceptionally strong divine senses, had been assigned to monitor the situation in themander''s chamber. Concentrating, he extended his senses deep into the fortress, piercing through the chaotic sh of battlefield domains. He located Azrazel''s familiar aura—still flickering, indicating that their sneak attack had been unsessful.


    Azrazel staggered amidst the debris, his chest covered in frost, a gaping wound running clean through to his back. His face twisted in pain, but he let out a fierce, guttural snarl, mming his fist against the ice encasing his torso. Shards splintered outward, and with a surge of his energy, he expelled the lingering chill from his wound, blood seeping as the ice fell away.


    Despite his injuries, he raised his head with a wicked grin.


    "Commendable attempt," he sneered, his voiceced with venom. "But you all failed!"


    In response, Major Kouga shifted his stance, while the three Ghostde warriors fell into formation, closing the circle around their target. Kouga''s eyes narrowed as he replied, "It''s a bit too soon to im that. We are still here to finish the job!"


    Emery caught the exchange through his divine sense, rying the situation back to the princess.


    As she listened, her frustration was evident, her patience wearing thin with each report.


    With a firm tone, shemanded, "You will Inform me the moment the target is down!"


    She spun around, gaze locking onto the battlefield, where reinforcements flooded toward the stronghold. Without another word, she surged forward to join the fray.


    This was all part of the n; they knew the initial attack might not be enough to kill the target outright. Major Kouga and the Ghostdes had a fifteen-minute window to finish Azrazel, while the second team, which included Emery, would ensure no reinforcements interrupted the fight.


    But barely a minute had passed before Emery noticed a dangerous shift—the second wave of elven reinforcements brought more than they anticipated. Striding at the front was another grand magus, his long white hair flowing, his entire form radiating lethal intent.


    Emery''s pulse quickened as he assessed the threat, recognizing the strength of a seasoned veteran Grand Magus elf.