Morgen's heart hammered against his ribs, a primal fear urging him to turn back. He couldn't explain the sudden pull, the prickling sensation at the base of his skull that screamed danger. But before his head could fully swivel, a voice, cold and laced with venom, pierced the night.

"Kachar, you spineless mongrel! Do you dare return?"

The figure shrouded in the abyssal black cloak at the corner of the Thirty Blades tavern whipped around, its form blurring as it vanished into an alleyway. Yet, for a fleeting moment, Morgen glimpsed eyes beneath the hood. They were narrow, frigid pools of turquoise, radiating a malevolent chill that sent shivers down his spine. An inhuman cruelty flickered within their depths, a hunger for violence that transcended words.**

The image burned itself onto Morgen's mind. Alien. Not human. The slenderness, the unnatural shade of green, screamed of something beyond the mortal realm. They were like a predator's eyes, calculating, cold, and capable of inflicting death in the blink of an eye.

His mind reeled. Was it a demon? An undead abomination? A whisper of a darker power, the Devil himself? A thousand questions clawed at him, each one laced with a chilling certainty – whatever that creature was, it was powerful, and it craved bloodshed.

Morgen forced himself to breathe, his gaze locked on the empty alley. The murderous intent that had gripped him moments before had receded, replaced by a cold dread that gnawed at his insides. This wasn't just any encounter; it was a chilling warning, a glimpse into a world he barely dared to comprehend.

He knew, with an unsettling certainty, that this wouldn't be the last time he crossed paths with that creature. And the next time, he might not be so fortunate.

"Kachar! Deaf to my calls, are you?" Spark's voice, usually brimming with lighthearted energy, held a sharp edge as he approached the dazed Morgen, his white mage's robe seeming to shimmer with contained irritation.

Morgen, still reeling from the encounter, mumbled a barely audible "Teacher." His mind, however, was far away, replaying the chilling image of the cloaked figure.

Beside Spark, Asha, her youthful face framed by dark braids, skipped towards Morgen. Her warm smile, like a beacon in the fading light, was a welcome contrast to the unsettling memory. She reached out, her touch light and comforting as she took his hand, her ruby eyes sparkling with concern.

Slowly, Morgen's focus shifted. He met Asha's gaze, the warmth in her eyes pulling him back from the abyss he'd momentarily glimpsed. Yet, even as a semblance of normalcy returned, a shiver ran down his spine. He couldn't shake the image of those eyes, slender and cold, like a predator's gaze cutting through the darkness.Spark noticed something amiss with Morgen. His disciple was not typically so absent-minded. He followed Morgen's gaze to the street corner.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and a faint, peculiar aura evoked a flicker of disgust in his eyes. He uttered a curse, his tone laden with contempt.

"Accursed wretch, those abyssal vermin dare to show their faces on the streets in broad daylight..."

The abyss?

Morgen seized upon that word.

The bottomless abyss has always been the realm of demons. Chaos, evil, murder, and terror were just a few of the negative adjectives used to describe this malevolent land.

How could there be an abyssal demon in Green City? Was this not too far-fetched?

The abyss and the prime material plane of Glory were not directly connected. For an entity to travel from the abyss to the material plane, it required the creation of spatial rifts.

To create such a rift, one had to possess extraordinary power.

Had he just been targeted by an extraordinary powerhouse?? But if it were an extraordinary being, even a somewhat inept one, the other party would have apparently been wary of Spark's presence and retreated.

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A profound uncertainty washed over Morgen's eyes. Why had these malevolent beings appeared in the Scarlet Mage Tower? What was their purpose? Was it directed at him or someone else?

However, with only a glimpse of those cold eyes and virtually no other information, he could not reach a more informed judgment.

Spark mistakenly interpreted Morgen's contemplation as bewilderment over the appearance of the demon in Green City and volunteered an explanation.

"Although Green City has that extraordinary being under the Rock crown, those accursed vermin can always find a way in."

Morgen's eyes tightened uncomfortably.

Spark chuckled dismissively.

"Extraordinary? No, given the planar restrictions imposed upon the material plane, extraordinary beings would cause significant spatial fluctuations if they attempted to enter it.

Once an extraordinary power is detected, it is easily intercepted by beings of equal strength. Thus, these malevolent creatures rarely employ extraordinary means.

However, greater demons above level beta frequently manifest..."

Spark sniffed, detecting a faint, nearly imperceptible scent.

"It should be a demon of level beta. While its exact species remains uncertain, the malevolent aura is unmistakable."

Not extraordinary, huh.

Morgen felt a quiet sense of relief. The significance of the word "extraordinary" was too weighty.

Only one extraordinary existence resided in Green City, a metropolis with a population exceeding a million. If the hostile demon were truly extraordinary, he would have had much to consider.

Fortunately, while level beta was formidable, he was no longer a helpless prey.

A glint of coldness flickered in his eyes. He had yet to cross blades with anyone but had no doubt he could draw blood.

What about level beta? Would his blade not taste their flesh?!

"Teacher, will you not pursue it?"

Once Morgen learned the general strength of his adversary, he relaxed considerably. He reached out and ruffled Isa's little head, chuckling.

"Surely you can hunt a level beta demon. I fear the reputation of Spark the demon hunter will spread throughout Green City tomorrow, with countless maidens singing praises of your valor~"

Spark seemed a touch moved by the words but quickly regained his disdainful demeanor. "The demon is a creature proficient in spatial magic. Even the most brutish and lumbering molten demon likely possesses one or two spatial spells.

The creature has long since fled."

With that, he fixed Morgen with a stern gaze.

"Damnation, why have you been abroad for so long? I have been left to handle all the affairs of the Scarlet Mage Tower."

During this period, Spark had been enduring immense pressure.

Spark had been under immense pressure due to the Scarlet Mage Tower's exorbitant sales of magic scrolls.

In truth, had he not claimed credit for the tower's rapid production of the scrolls, it was likely that the tower would have fallen prey to the covetous eyes of the great nobles.

Only the deterrent power of a level beta plus grand mage was sufficient to ensure the Scarlet Mage Tower's safety in Morgen's prolonged absence. It was difficult to predict the tower's current state.

Morgen was far from naive, readily comprehending the unspoken implications. He never underestimated the greed and wickedness of the nobility, recognizing that weakness was the cardinal sin.

A hint of gratitude glinted in his eyes. After expressing his thanks to Spark, he spoke in a solemn tone.

"The rebuilt town of Kachar encountered a group of orc bipedal dragons. Their number exceeded 2,000."

Spark's brow creased. He was naturally aware of Morgen's efforts to rebuild his family's town, an endeavor that had commenced last year during the winter solstice.

Even the high nobles of Green City had knowledge of it; thus, no one doubted his extended absence.

"And your town?"

Morgen shook his head. "A winter moon's worth of painstaking labor has been reduced to naught."

The excuse of rebuilding a small town could not be sustained indefinitely. Although the frontier was turbulent, the humans had regained control of the territory following the orcish retreat. If someone were truly intent on investigating, the truth would be difficult to conceal.

Moreover, as the City of Dawn grew and developed, it would gradually become more self-sufficient, reducing its reliance on large-scale acquisitions. He could thus abandon this excuse.

Spark shook his head unexpectedly.

"Initially, I was skeptical of your town-rebuilding efforts, but it matters little. As long as the Scarlet Mage Tower stands, your dream will one day be realized."

He did not delve further into the matter. In truth, there were countless cases of failed town-rebuilding attempts like Morgen's each year. Even some nobles had attempted to rebuild their towns multiple times, always ending in failure.

Land was the most critical production resource and the foundation of the minor nobility's survival. Consequently, their dependence on land was even greater than that of commoners. Therefore, Morgen's failure did not surprise him.

Isa looked up. Through her innate talent, the girl had keenly sensed that her teacher was not speaking the truth.

Morgen met Isa's questioning gaze with a silent wink.

Isa instantly understood Morgen's meaning and smiled. Her teacher was indeed deceiving Grandpa Spark.

But Isa would not betray him.

Those ruby-like eyes glanced apologetically at Spark. Grandpa Spark, I am sorry, but Teacher is more important.

Tightening her grip on Morgen's hand, she beamed with a hint of contentment.