Chapter 51: No longer brainwashed


    "What are you doing?" Max asked as he looked at Rosang, squatting not too far away. She held a circr object, which she attached to the ground. In the next second, the item let out invisible mana.


    It stretched to the sky, bing a barrier. From the other directions, many more barriers joined, forming a box.


    "It''s to prevent outsiders from butting into our battle. Normal people will lose consciousness after passing through this barrier. E-ranked yers will then pick them up and take them away to safety," Rosang exined.


    Max nodded, focusing on the barrier, "It''s not really invisible, though. I can see many colors… and intriguing aspects." If he were from another world or had at least teachings from the vast universe, he would''ve been able to read those aspects and counter them.


    Of course, as Max was in a low world, he simply could create skills to counter whatever appeared before him.


    For now, that was not a problem, and he would soak experience and knowledge soon enough.


    Zamira also had something to add, "Your barrier doesn''t contribute to the box."


    "Ah, I see," Rosang didn''t react; she wasn''t shocked or confused by her words. It was as if she had been anticipating such a scenario.


    And it was not odd. She suddenly came out with important and dangerous information about the high-skilled enemy! How could Mrs. Aimee simply believe her like that?


    It was already great that Rosang wasn''t held hostage or anything like that.


    "That''s why I am not surprised that my barrier is just for a show. There''s a chance they will soone here to keep an eye on me… Anyway, as they intercept the enemy, Mrs. Aimee and others will believe in me," Rosang said with a faint smile.


    Max added, "You are safe with us, anyway."


    "Thanks," Rosang replied, smiling brightly at him.


    Max then scoured the warehouse with his Mana Read, trying to find clues and how many people had arrived at the scene.


    But as Max still severelycked in Mana Read''s usage, he found just a few useless clues.


    However, that was not really a problem. Soon enough, the warehouse exploded with repulsive mana, spitting out Kiril''s forces. They were people with ck skin as if soaked in ink, their eyes red, and their goal simple, kill everyone around them.


    Max and the twins didn''t know that they had a second order, which was to be slow, for they believed in their strength.


    "Their mana is odd… And I feel disgusted just by looking at it," Max said, confirming Kiril''s status as someone who came from the illegal world.


    He then focused on his own n.


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    Muller Lucas stared at the impending wave of vile manaing his way with a smirk. It wasn''t because he was surrounded by loyal people whose strength was the top quality in his world.


    It was because he was actually good against opponents whose minds were broken.


    He was proficient in mind-controlling skills. On the outside, Muller Lucas told everyone that he had an impressive skill called [Order], which temporarily allowed him tomand his opponents.


    In reality, Muller Lucas brainwashed people. The effects of his skillssted for eternity unless he turned them off. Sometimes, people broke through the mind control skill, for nothing was absolute.


    But until now, Lucas had never failed, or so he thought.


    He unsheathed his sword, pointing it at the iing vile army. His enemies looked like monsters with humanoid forms, so he waved his sword without hesitation. With one wave, Lucas unleashed a hidden mind control skill.


    ''You and your evil arts… You can''t even imagine how vulnerable you are in such a state… I will control you… like everyone else!'' Lucas dered inwardly, feeling like he had taken a significant step toward his future.


    His goal was to have absolute strength and control. He wanted to control everyone, even three families'' heads, for it was something that even his grandpa couldn''t achieve.


    And as enemies started falling prey to his skill, Lucas eximed, "I''ve stopped them temporarily. Wound them, so I can ORDER them!"


    His brainwashed people immediately listened to hismand, pouncing on his enemies without caring for their well-being. For outsiders, it looked like an absolute trust in their leader.


    But the truth was that those people didn''t even know that their loyalty and trust were fabricated.


    Only one girl knew, Lucas'' sister.


    Yet, she couldn''t go against his order, for Lucas was still full of mana and strength. Sheplied with his voice,unching her sword and shing at the vile army.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    yers wore equipment from Earth''s forces'' side straight from the fantasy games. They held various weapons, with the sword winning a poprity contest. Their techniques were simple, enhancing the sharpness of their swords, heightening their reflexes, and allowing their weapons for some long projectile skills.


    On the other side, the vile army was shrouded in negative energy. Their every movement spread more of it as if they were batteries. Everyone who would carelessly inhale some of it would suddenly get gloomy and pessimistic.


    And the effects heightened with more negative mana. The vile army also fought with their bodies alone. Should their punch hit a human, the adverse effects would increase tenfold, and some might even think of suicide on the battlefield.


    Their skills were mysterious and utterly heartless.


    But Lucas and his brainwashing skills were actually the perfect weapons against them. He repelled those effects at them with his sword, making them question their objective and loyalty.


    He also lowered their morale.


    And finally, Lucas seized control of more than 10% of the vile army''s people.


    He walked through them like a boss, wearing a sneer, looking proud and strong. His teammates also surrounded him, not showing any emotions, as if they were in a battle mood, not letting anything shake their hearts.


    "Give me more of their forces! Attack them with all you got, my people!" Lucas lifted his sword, ordering both his teammates and brainwashed vile army.


    But before everyone sprang forward, something strange swept through the battlefield, momentarily causing a silence.


    "What was that mana?" Lucas whispered as he felt goosebumps just from sensing someone''s else mana.


    He had never felt it, and it was so… mysterious that he momentarily forgot about everyone around him.


    He decided to not dwell on it, for he didn''t know its origins, "Ignore it!"


    His forces didn''t listen to him, though.


    Vile Army that he had control over just a few seconds ago rushed at Lucas like feral beasts who hadn''t seen food in years!


    His teammates didn''t move, however. Their eyes were clear, and their hearts felt genuine emotions, no longer cold and merciless to fight enemies without hesitation.


    They were no longer brainwashed.


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    "Oh, someone wasn''t brainwashed from the start," Max hovered his eyes on ady with a beautiful body who shared some simrities with Lucas. She was the only one who didn''t need his help to stay sane.


    He smiled, waiting for her move, "There''s nothing better than suddenly dispelling mind control effects from the victims. I saw that in movies many times."


    "We saw that in a real-life," Alice proudly said while fixing her eyes on Lucas, whose face was distorted uglily. Although he had lost his loyal followers, for they learned about his brainwashing skills, Lucas was a powerful person.


    He believed he could take them all head-on and seize their hearts again.


    Would he, though?