I watched in awe as Eric endured the relentless assault from monster Marin, seemingly reveling in the chaos. However, my attention was soon drawn to Isabel emerging from around a corner of a nearby building, accompanied by a group of casters. She raised her sword, pointing it directly at Marin, and shouted something with unwavering determination.

Each caster began channeling their magic, conjuring powerful spells of fire, lightning, ice, earth, and an enigmatic crystal magic. I could see the strain on their faces as the spells grew in intensity and magnitude, building up for the impending onslaught.

After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a matter of moments, the mages unleashed their combined barrage. One after another, the spells crashed into Marin, causing shockwaves that reverberated throughout the area. Lyra, wearing a grin of excitement, left my side and began casting her signature spell—the fiery spear descending from the heavens. Before she embarked on her own assault, she showed me her hand, revealing the ring I had given her: "Last resort" adorned her finger. My eyes widened with realization, and I mustered the strength to rise to my feet. I darted further into the building, seeking cover.

Lyra's laughter echoed through the air as she continued her spell. Peeking over the bar counter, I watched as Marin suffered the brunt of the relentless onslaught. The continuous strikes were finally taking their toll. An icy spike pierced her shoulder, lightning coursed through her body, and crystals encased her legs, immobilizing her.

Roaring in both pain and defiance, Marin's resistance seemed to waver. Sensing the opportune moment, Lyra forcefully thrust her hand downward, and the celestial spear descended with explosive force. A massive detonation erupted outside, prompting me to dive for cover behind the bar counter. Amidst the chaos, Lyra stood there, laughing as flames engulfed the surroundings. The room itself became an inferno, and I couldn't help but scream, overwhelmed by the heat and the sheer madness of it all.

Then, suddenly, everything fell silent. It was an abrupt stillness, foreign to the chaos that had consumed us moments ago. Cautiously, I peered over the bar counter and saw Lyra standing, her hair singed but otherwise relatively unharmed. However, her strength seemed to wane, and she began to topple over. I hurriedly rushed forward to catch her, realizing she was barely conscious. She retrieved a potion from her storage item, and with my assistance, she managed to drink it.

A faint smile graced her lips as she murmured, "That felt amazing..."

Grinning in response, I replied, "I can only imagine. Stay here; I'll go check things out."

The healing potion continued to work its magic, restoring my mobility. I cautiously made my way through the ruined entrance. Outside, an eerie calm had settled, and the cloud of dust and smoke obscured the area where Marin had once stood. Squinting my eyes, I decided to send Grim to investigate.

An ethereal projection of myself materialized beside me and darted into the dust-filled haze. Within moments, Grim's voice rang out, "She's still alive! She's getting back up!"

I groaned, struggling to make sense of my surroundings. The remnants of Isabel's group lay incapacitated, having expended all their strength. However, Isabel herself remained standing, and I hurried over to her.

She noticed my approach and frowned. I called out urgently, "She's not finished!"

Isabel's eyes widened, and she turned her gaze towards the billowing cloud of smoke. A garbled laughter echoed from within. "Shit... How strong is this thing!?" she exclaimed in frustration.

Breathing heavily, I reached Isabel's side. "Isabel, she's injured but still moving. We need another strike."

Isabel scowled, "The mages are spent, David. I still have my finishing move, but I fear it won't be enough."

My mind raced, a crazy idea taking hold. "Isabel, do you still have those inactive cores with you?"

Confusion flickered across Isabel's face. "I do, but..."

I waved my hand, interrupting her. "Give them to me! I'll get them where they need to be, set them off, and then you can finish her."

A grin reminiscent of Lyra's spread across Isabel's face. "You crazy bastard, let's do it!"

She retrieved a sack filled with the cores and handed it to me. Checking my ether levels, which stood at around 20%, I knew it would have to suffice. Summoning two spirits, I sprinted towards Marin with Grim guiding me through the dissipating haze. Moments later, I reached Marin, who was in a sorry state but slowly regenerating.

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Spotting me, she swung a massive arm in my direction. Acting swiftly, I cast "Unstable Footing" in front of myself, allowing me to slide under her attack. With a mischievous grin, I hurled the bag of cores towards the ground beside her, although she remained focused on crushing me. Grim materialized next to me, pushing me out of harm's way while his image took the crushing blow. Seizing the opportunity, I sprinted away.

As the dust settled, I began casting "Conjurer's Wrath" while on the move. A purple spear materialized over my hand, and I poured all my energy into it. Creating some distance between us, I pivoted and, in one fluid motion, launched the spear. But instead of aiming for Marin, I targeted the cores.

Marin let out a mighty roar upon realizing my attack, but she instinctively guarded herself, neglecting the sack of cores. As my attack connected, a series of explosions erupted in rapid succession.

I witnessed Marin being obliterated, her limbs flailing and vile green fluids spraying in all directions. She let out a roar, but it wasn't one of anger—it was a cry of severe pain.

In the blink of an eye, Isabel descended from above, her colossal sword radiating a brilliant golden light. She crashed onto Marin like a meteor, and the sheer force of impact knocked me onto my back, coughing up blood. After what felt like an eternity, I managed to slowly sit up, only to find Isabel standing triumphantly over the motionless form of the defeated monster. We had finally emerged victorious, and the overwhelming relief threatened to send me into unconsciousness.

The gruesome battle for Creston had finally reached its conclusion, with the sounds of combat fading away throughout the city. Later, we would learn that the garrison had successfully pushed back the horde of monsters, with several guild members playing pivotal roles in the effort.

As for me, I spent a few days in the care of my favorite healing priestess, Yala. Remarkably, she didn't scold me this time; instead, she seemed genuinely pleased to see me alive. Despite my eagerness to leave, she insisted that I stay for proper recovery. Isabel and Lyra, both wounded themselves, stayed by my side during that time.

On the second day, the governor paid us a visit. He entered the room, with Arnild following closely behind. His expression held a mixture of pain and resolve as he approached our small group. Refusing to sit, he addressed Isabel, "Isabel, I'm fine. No need to coddle me. I wanted to express my gratitude for your efforts during this recent crisis. Arnild has briefed me on the events that transpired afterward..." He coughed uncomfortably. "Well, afterward, I hope we can rely on you in the future, should such a situation arise again."

None of our expressions betrayed our thoughts, but Isabel stood and offered a polite bow. "Thank you, Governor. However, I believe we all agree that we will be departing Creston." The governor's face displayed his displeasure, but Isabel continued. "We understand that this is not the end of it, but the guild and your government can handle things from here. We believe we have done enough for now."

Arnild nodded in agreement, but the governor remained dissatisfied. "Isabel, I have very few people I can trust at the moment, and it would be immensely helpful if..."

Isabel shook her head firmly. "We are leaving. Also, although it may not be the best time to bring it up, we completed the task you assigned to us. We kindly request that the rewards be disbursed soon. We will need them for our travel expenses."

The governor let out a frustrated sigh. "Understood... Well, I had hoped for more, but I suppose it can't be helped. Arnild will ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your efforts. I sincerely hope that one day you will consider returning. I could use a group of capable individuals like yourselves."

Isabel offered him a polite smile. "Perhaps someday, Governor. Thank you for your understanding."

With that, the governor departed. Arnild, however, nodded to me respectfully before taking his leave, and I reciprocated the gesture as best I could from my weakened state.

In the aftermath of the extensive battles that ravaged Creston, the city lay in ruins, desperately in need of reconstruction. The guild itself was in a state of disarray, and just a week later, a delegation from the main branch arrived to take charge of the situation. A new master for the Creston branch was swiftly chosen.

The undeniable involvement of both administrators, who had played active leadership roles in what would later be known as 'the Creston disaster,' could not be concealed. However, the guildmaster's complicity was brushed under the carpet, and a grand funeral was held for both him and Malik. The ceremony took place outside the city, where pyres were erected for them and the 28 fallen guild members.

Eloquent words were spoken about each individual, and one by one, the pyres were set ablaze. It was a solemn experience for me, as I had never attended a funeral before. When we returned to the house, Finn and Liza were waiting for us. They had sought refuge in one of the shelters during the chaos. Finn's exuberance upon seeing us brought a much-needed sense of relief to our weary souls.

We discussed our plans to depart with both Finn and Liza. While Liza decided to remain in Creston, Finn expressed a strong desire to join us. Convincing Isabel took some effort, but with Lyra's and my persuasion, she finally relented. We didn't have a specific destination in mind, but we all agreed on visiting the main branch for a while. Finn could receive proper education and mingle with other young individuals there.

Over the following weeks, we made meticulous preparations. We stocked up on a considerable amount of potions, repaired our equipment, and ensured we collected our well-deserved rewards from Arnild. The governor had displayed generosity, presenting us with a substantial fortune in gold.

Personally summoned to the castle, I was to receive a personal reward from the governor for intervening in the attack on him. So, on the day preceding our departure, I met Arnild at the castle gates.