From my vantage point, I watched the guild members milling around. Grim informed me that Isabel was mostly healed and that they would be arriving soon. I wasn't sure what our plan would be, but I figured I would let Isabel make that decision since she had seniority and all.

As I spotted them approaching from a few streets over, I blinked right in front of them, causing both Lyra and Isabel to jump in surprise. "Don't do that!" Isabel snarled in annoyance, and I gave her a roguish grin.

She sighed. "What's the situation, David? Grim just said a bunch of prey animals were milling around in confusion."

I shot Grim an annoyed glance and turned to the others. "As far as I can tell, the administrator—Marin," Isabel interrupted.

I rolled my eyes. "Marin, fine. She should be inside, but the guild is convinced that I am somehow to blame for all this, and they think you two are my accomplices."

There were a few moments of silence, and then Isabel cursed. "I swear, the branch in this city is filled with morons. Alright, I will walk right up to the front door. David, I need you to get into the building and find Marin!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure she's stronger than me. Are you sure I won't just get smeared against a wall?"

Isabel smiled. "Who can say, David? But you're resourceful. Think of something."

Lyra looked worried, but I simply nodded in acceptance. "Well, what the hell, it's not like it's the first time I'm risking my life tonight. I really am beginning to hate this city..."

Isabel and Lyra started moving, and I climbed the nearest building. I had Grim observe the others while I crept around the guild building from a distance. I had no idea where to start looking for Marin and wanted to slap myself for not using the cube to mark her. Now that there were a bunch of people inside, I couldn't distinguish her from the rest.

"What do you think, Grim? Am I stupid for trying this?"

Grim cackled. "Of course not! What's the point if things aren't dangerous?"

I sighed. "You know, I think you're a bad influence." Grim just cackled in response as I surveyed the building. I wanted to enter on the second floor, but there wasn't a building close enough for me to jump onto. However, a grin crossed my face when I spotted an open window and approached it cautiously.

Once I had a clear line to the window, I asked Grim, "How are the others?"

Grim hesitated. "Isabel is talking with the herd animals... Nope, talking is over. She just punched that lightning woman." He cackled. "They are not happy!"

I grimaced. Even my friends wouldn't be able to fight them all. I really hoped they would retreat before being overwhelmed.

Activating my boots, I blinked through the window and landed on a soft carpet. I wrapped an illusion around myself, taking on the appearance of the young red-haired leader of the adventurer party from earlier.

Creeping toward the door, I opened it a crack. No one was there. I retreated and activated the cube, studying the building's layout and observing the dots representing people milling about. Many were moving toward the front door. Isabel and Lyra would be getting some company.

I spotted a few stationary dots on the second floor, not far from my location. There was a large room with five dots, one of which was moving back and forth—probably pacing—while the others remained still. I deduced that it was likely where I needed to go and began moving in that direction.

Silently, I crept out of the room and down the hallway, my steps soundless. I remained vigilant, ready to conjure illusions at a moment's notice.

After turning a few corners, I heard muted talking emanating from a room up ahead. I recognized Marin's voice. Although I couldn't make out the words, she seemed agitated.

I approached cautiously and stopped outside the door. Crouching down, I listened in as Marin spoke loudly. "Done... There is nothing more here! We lost, and I need a way out! That was the deal you promised!" Marin's voice was filled with frustration. I heard a male voice, strangely distorted, respond to her.

"You failed, Marin. That makes the deal null and void. Do not expect me to pull you out of this mess. I have already expended significant resources on this mission. If you want to survive, then I suggest you start running."

Marin snarled, "I can't run! Malik's little group is surely searching for me, and that Harlequin... Wouldn't surprise me if he was listening in right now. Who the hell is that boy? He messed up everything!"

I grinned, pleased that I had managed to cause some disruption, and Grim laughed softly as well.

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The strange voice replied, "He is insignificant, Marin. You and your little group messed it up; that's all there is to it. But our goals have essentially been accomplished. The guild has lost favor, the governor is severely wounded, Creston has been deeply wounded, and trust between the government and the guild has been damaged."

Marin sounded desperate. "Then get me out of here! I am useful, and you know it. I need..."

The voice interrupted her. "Enough, Marin. I tire of your begging. Do what you will; I no longer care."

Marin raged, and it seemed the conversation was over. It struck me as strange that I heard nothing from the other adventurers in the room. Perhaps...

I took a calculated risk and summoned an image of myself. Then, I sent Grim to a neighboring room and had him slowly peek through the wall. Meanwhile, I found a room further down the hall and closed my eyes. As my vision blurred, I could see the room from a corner perspective.

Marin was shouting and screaming obscenities, throwing anything within reach at the walls. The other adventurers watched her silently, their eyes devoid of life. I recognized that look—it sent shivers down my spine. These young people had cores within them, and my anger began to simmer.

Marin took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Alright, I just need to get away, that's all. The south gate. I can get there quickly." She mumbled to herself while collecting items and storing them in a device on her finger.

Through Grim's perspective, I conjured moving shadows in the room. Marin froze, her narrowed eyes scanning the area carefully. "Harlequin... You really are one stubborn child," she said.

I conjured an illusion of myself, casually leaning against the far wall. Marin spun around to face it, her frown deepening. "An illusion... So you are somehow watching then. Where are you, boy?"

Projecting my voice into the room, making it seem to come from all directions at once, I spoke in Harlequin's voice. "You thought you would be allowed to escape, Marin? After what you have done here?"

Marin laughed maniacally. "Oh, I am escaping! You and your little friends are no match for me."

My illusion shrugged. "Perhaps not... But we seem to be managing just fine so far. You will pay for what you did to Malik."

Marin laughed, filled with contempt. "That oaf!? He walked in here on his own. All I had to do was a bit of poisoning, and then he was mine. The guildmaster was even easier—he joined voluntarily!"

"I do not particularly enjoy killing, Marin, but I suspect I will enjoy finishing you," I warned.

Marin laughed with disdain. "Come then, boy. Let's see what you have."

I regained control of my vision and immediately summoned five spirits, their glowing orbs spinning around me. Activating 'Conjurer's Wrath,' I prepared for the strike.

Grim continued engaging Marin in conversation, keeping her occupied while I honed in on his position, aligning my attack with precision. I never thought I would find myself in the role of an assassin, but I refused to confront her directly and let her escape. This woman had to face justice, and no other outcome was acceptable to me.

A surge of fury burned within me as the purple spear materialized above my hand, growing denser with the energy channeled from the spirits.

The wait felt like an eternity, but at last, the spell was ready. Taking careful aim and confirming Marin's position with Grim one final time, I released the spell with a forceful motion.

The spear tore through the wall in front of me, showering me in splintered wood. It continued its trajectory through the hallway and into the room where Marin resided.

An explosive blast followed, slamming me against the wall. The entire building trembled, and it took me a few moments to regain my senses. My ears rang, and I stared in awe at the devastation I had unleashed.

A massive hole, five meters in diameter, tore through the building, extending from my location all the way to the other side, even damaging the adjacent structure.

Grim cackled with glee. "Well, that was impressive! I knew choosing the conjurer class was the right decision!"

I retorted, "Oh, please. You were so insistent on the blood jester, I couldn't get a moment's peace."

In an innocent voice, Grim replied, "I would never!"

Rolling my eyes, I began navigating through the wreckage, my primary concern being Marin's fate.

"Is she dead?" I asked Grim.

Grim cackled in response, "She really should be!"

Though I agreed, I wanted to be certain. The room lay in ruins, with the five adventurers completely obliterated, their remains scattered throughout the wreckage. Just as I let out a sigh of relief, an angry scream echoed from outside, where my spell had pierced through.

Hastily making my way to investigate, I found Marin standing amidst the debris. She appeared disheveled, her arm missing, and half of her face drenched in blood and severe burns. Glaring up at me, she seethed, "I tried to be nice, Harlequin, but it seems I no longer have a choice!"

Her distorted voice was barely comprehensible, marred by the damage to her throat and mouth. However, I sensed that she was on the verge of taking action.

Isabel and Lyra came into view, accompanied by a large group of guild members. Their gazes first fixated on Marin, then shifted up to me. I observed several wide-eyed expressions, and Lyra, as always, wore an enthusiastic grin.

For a brief moment, all fighting ceased as everyone paused to process the situation. However, a voice called out, "They attempted to assassinate Marin. We cannot allow..." The man's words trailed off slowly as Marin unleashed a piercing scream.

I watched in horror as her form underwent a grotesque transformation. Dark fluid oozed from every crevice and gap, engulfing her entirely. Soon, she began to grow, sprouting massive arms adorned with spiked bones, followed by a head adorned with formidable fangs. The sight reminded me of Venom from the Marvel universe, but far more unsettling.

The guild members started retreating, their voices filled with confusion. Lyra, however, wasted no time. She conjured balls of fire and hurled them at the monstrous Marin, but they seemed to have no effect. Marin continued to expand in size until she reached a towering height of eight meters, at which point she let out a bestial roar. Her crimson eyes fixated on me.

"Okay... Shit... time to move!"