A few minutes prior to the system’s messages, Zara, Slim, and the champions in the administrative building returned to the entrance. The group halted, gazing into the encompassing darkness.

The champions withdrew, unwilling to confront the churning mist that stirred a primal sense of danger they had never experienced before.

“You weren’t kidding. He really took off his mask again,” Slim remarked on the party channel. “But is he going to be okay?” The necromancer recalled Scott’s words about Thmaz being quite formidable.

“I don’t know,” Zara replied, her eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. “He wouldn’t have stayed behind if he wasn’t confident.”

“You’re right about that,” Slim sighed softly. “It’s a shame he isn’t answering our messages. I guess we can’t do anything but wait for him.”

“Excuse me,” a panicky voice suddenly called out to Slim and Zara.

The duo turned to see a terrified woman, her eyes scanning the darkness ahead. The champion pointed toward the entrance as she said, “What are we supposed to do with that thing blocking our way?”

“That thing?” Zara’s brows furrowed. Most people wouldn’t refer to darkness as a thing.

“What do you see?” Zara asked, unable to quell her curiosity.

The young lady cocked her head, confused by the feline's question. Then she glanced at the other champions. “Can’t you see the thing prowling the darkness?”

“What are you talking about?” an elf asked, cautiously observing the darkness.

“I don’t see anything,” another champion said.

“This is mysterious and intriguing at the same time.” Llorva sneaked up on the young lady, grinning from ear to ear. “What do you see? Hurry, tell me,” she said, stroking the terrified champion’s hair.

“Please tell us what you’re seeing,” Zara said, folding her arms across her chest.

All eyes focused on the young lady, and she instinctively took a step back while taking deep breaths.

“I don’t know the words I can use to describe it, because it’s like nothing I have ever seen. But I’ll do my best to…” A screech cut off the woman’s words, and all the champions turned toward the entrance again.

This time, the darkness had vanished, as if it had never been there. However, the champions were even more confused by the sight that greeted them. They could see a gigantic tree in the distance, obscured by elemental abnormalities that devastated the city from afar. Amidst the chaos, numerous gigantic monstrosities on the verge of being whole shuddered in their positions, as if finally freeing themselves from the shackles of their illusionary bondage.

However, for the champions, the most awe-inspiring and downright terrifying phenomenon occurred only a few feet away from the entrance.

In the misty gray, a masked figure stood amidst a scene of chaos. Deranged canines writhed and screamed, their bodies mutilated and blood pooling around them.

“What the fuck happened here?” A champion muttered, a chill creeping up his spine as he surveyed the horrific sight of the canines' mutilation. The injuries and blood loss should have been fatal, yet none of them had died. Instead, something or someone kept them alive, subjected to cruel, slow, and continuous torture.

Zara's gaze fixed on Scott's back, and memories from her childhood flashed through her mind. Tears threatened to well up, but she suppressed her emotions.

“Slim, extract as many elemental shards as possible,” Scott ordered suddenly.

Slim hesitated for a moment before releasing thousands of elemental shards from his inventory. The inert crystals soared into the sky, as if captivated by the moonlight.

“This isn't nearly enough. The rest of you, take out some elemental shards too!” Scott urged.

Fi-Fi stepped forward, the elemental slime changing colors as it opened its mouth. Instantly, hundreds of thousands of elemental shards scattered on the ground, rising into the air like the ones before.

Zara and Llorva followed suit, throwing out a substantial number of elemental shards. Other champions joined in, and in an instant, millions of elemental shards gleamed above the administrative building.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Scott raised his hand towards the skies, and the elemental shards dispersed into the distance. Facing the champions, he declared, “I sense the exits are opening. From now on, your survival depends on your abilities. The maps are activated. Good luck.”

Scott's voice echoed in the minds of those corrupted by his tendrils. Simultaneously, the elemental shards landed in different locations across the deserted city, exploding upon impact.

The Sentries have awoken! The path to Parla is now open!

The monstrous aberrations roared as the misty veil lifted. A massive cyclops soared across the sky, crashing against a magically reinforced building. It rose unharmed, its single eye focused on three abnormalities charging toward it. The cyclops summoned a club from its inventory and charged the sentries with maddened bloodlust. Explosions rang out in the city as cries of champions and sentries echoed.

At the administrative building, the sentries surged towards Scott, their long-awaited enemy. The eldritch knight stood motionless as blows landed on him, shattering everything in the area. Strangely, the crazed sentries ignored the canines, ensuring no harm befell them.

Meanwhile, the champions within the administrative building scattered in different directions, each following the mental map guiding their escape. Although they had agreed to collaborate with Scott for the raid, none of them had any intention of facing the wrath of the sentries.

Zara and Slim observed with indifference as the champions fled. Only Fi-Fi and Llorva remained from the original group. Heinrich hesitated briefly but ultimately chose to flee.

“I can understand why Llorva stayed, but why did you stay, Fi-Fi?” Slim asked, his gaze fixed on the elemental slime.

“Fi-Fi will survive if Fi-Fi stays with him,” the curious slime replied, its attention on the rampaging sentries.

Slim chuckled softly. “You made a smart decision.”

“Fi-Fi thinks so too,” the slime agreed, wrapping itself around Llorva’s arm.

“Do we need to help him, or can he handle it himself?” Llorva inquired with a smile.

The elf emanated an overwhelming sense of bloodlust as relentless attacks targeted Scott's position. None of them could even spot the eldritch knight anymore.

“I don’t need your help,” Scott declared.

Zara, Slim, Llorva, and even Fi-Fi couldn’t hide their amazement. They turned to see the eldritch knight behind them.

“How?” Llorva managed to voice the summary of her thoughts. She glanced at the entrance, and the sentries were still attacking the spot where Scott had stood.

If he’s here, what are they attacking? Llorva wondered, a question shared by the others.

“Buddy, if you’re here, then who…” a sudden realization struck the necromancer, and he turned to Zara. The feline shuddered, her gaze fixed on Thmaz and his companions, who remained untouched. As if a veil lifted, the once-unharmed bodies of the wounded canines vanished. Instead, they lay at the center of the chaos, injuries exacerbated, some pounded into indistinguishable masses.

For the second time, tears glossed Zara’s eyes. She didn’t understand how Scott manipulated the sentries to attack the canines, nor did she care. Her emotions ran wild, though the intense antipathy in her heart couldn’t be satiated despite Thmaz’s pitiful state.

Zara wiped the corners of her eyes before turning to Scott. However, the eldritch knight spoke before she could.

“You won’t have to worry about him enjoying his paradise here. This is only a small taste of what’s to come,” he said with an unseen smile.

Though Zara couldn’t decipher Scott’s words, she felt grateful, nonetheless.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice lower than usual but unwavering. “I’ll never forget this.”

The brawler awkwardly wiped the corners of her eyes as Scott fended off Llorva, who had subtly edged her way toward him. Slim, on the other hand, couldn't help but shift his gaze between the sentries pummeling the canines and Scott, the instigator.

I can't fathom being coerced into something and remaining oblivious to it, the necromancer shuddered at the thought before donning a bashful smile.

“Now that the matter with the elemental shards is settled, should we get going?” Slim suggested.

“Before that,” Scott said, redirecting his attention to Llorva and Fi-Fi. “I don't know your intentions, but it's very likely only death awaits you if you decide to follow us. I neither have the time nor desire to chase either of you away, so you're free to do as you please.” Scott's voice suddenly turned heavy. “However, I should remind you. If your presence or actions bring harm to me or my companions in any way, I won't hesitate to strike you down.”

Scott averted his gaze after speaking, and neither Zara nor Slim said anything. Fi-Fi merged with Llorva's clothes, while strange and squeamish echoes escaped from the trembling elf's parted lips.

Llorva suddenly grabbed Scott's arm, squirming like a little girl. “That was so intense. Please do it again. Please…”

Slim and Zara exchanged dry smiles, unable to hide their awkwardness.

“Buddy, are you going to be okay?" Slim commented on the party channel. “I know you somehow attract all the crazies, but are you sure you can handle her?”

“I don't want to hear it,” Scott interjected before the necromancer could speak any further. He managed to free himself from the elf again, but she quickly latched onto his arm once more.

“So, any changes to our initial plan?” Zara suddenly asked.

Scott's gaze shifted between the feline and the necromancer. “Not at all.” He then took an elemental shard from his inventory. “It's only fair they serve as distractions as we make our way to the exits. The map should be considered an equal exchange for their services.”

“What if the examiner interferes again?” Zara asked.

Scott chuckled softly. “It won't make any difference. Unless he decides to step in personally but doing that will forgo all semblance of impartiality. I don't believe the gods and lesser gods will let him do that. But I really hope he does, though. I'd like to see that guy mess himself up.”

Slim smiled broadly, placing his arms on Scott and Zara's shoulders. “Fantastic. Since there's nothing left for us here, we should get moving.”

Saying nothing further, the trio ran along a predetermined path, and Llorva quickly joined them. The sentries ignored them as if their primary purpose was to inflict as much misery on the canines as possible.