Within a single afternoon, several branches of Andumali’s Snake across the European continent suffered devastating blows. Numerous members knelt on the ground, seemingly dispossessed of their souls, staring upward with mouths agape and utterly motionless.
Yet, a common thread linked all these ravaged outposts: the six characters proclaiming, ‘Merlin Was Here.’
This rapid series of events quickly alerted the headquarters of Andumali’s Snake, prompting numerous high-ranking officials to convene and strategize. Ten high-level members were present at the emergency meeting.
“Tell me, what are your views on this situation?”
Seated at the head of the table was Hosen, the founder of Andumali’s Snake. An SS-rank Dark Warrior, he had become a half-demon after forging a pact with the demon race, serving as their planted flag and informant on the European continent, and acting as the supreme leader of the entire organization.
“According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, this Merlin’s identity and origins remain an enigma; his strength is immeasurable. We only know of his initial appearance in the Demon’s Den, where he assisted the Empire’s Third Princess in resolving the demon army crisis.”
“He was also responsible for sealing the Demon’s Den and for the incident at the ruins.”
Kairan oversaw Andumali’s Snake’s intelligence system, processing a vast amount of external information through his department. Yet, despite his extensive network, details regarding Merlin were remarkably scarce.
“I know something about that Merlin.”
Easton managed Andumali’s Snake’s assassination system, a half-demon himself and a notorious assassin wanted across the European continent. His bounty reached a staggering million gold coins, yet few could touch him due to his ability to ‘etherealize,’ allowing him to evade countless attacks and skills with his Super S-rank power.
“Easton, speak your piece.”
Hosen’s expression was grim; within a mere day, their bases scattered across the European continent had been systematically uprooted. This was undeniably an act of defiance against him, and by extension, against the formidable figure who stood behind him.
“That Merlin is a member of an adventure team called the Ten Ring. The team consists of two individuals: the leader, named Yue Wu, whom I believe to be a Huaxia native from the Sub-continent, possessing strength far exceeding ours. He currently serves at Fiore Academy in an unprecedented role as a Priest.”
“The other member is the sole survivor of Domremy Village, a young girl named Jeanne D’Arc, whose strength is C-rank. She encountered our people today and sustained severe injuries.”
“That is all the information I possess.”
Easton remained cloaked in shadows, only his crimson eyes visible.
“Perhaps we could capture the girl to threaten Merlin.”
The corpulent Horker was responsible for managing Andumali’s Snake’s financial operations, overseeing illicit activities such as s*ave trading, kidnapping women and girls, and robbery.
“Are you certain of that? It’s said that Yue Wu possesses ultra-long-distance teleportation. While he is notoriously bad with directions and easily gets lost, once he locks onto a location, he will appear there in the very next second.”
Kairan found Horker’s suggestion unfathomable.
“Not only Yue Wu, but Merlin also possesses ultra-long-distance teleportation, and is equally prone to getting lost.”
Easton added, his voice a low rasp.
“So, are you confident, you fat pig?”
Brunstin, who bore a striking resemblance to a clown, sneered at Horker. As the head of personnel management for Andumali’s Snake, Brunstin was infamous for his ruthlessness and exceptionally cruel methods; none who fell into his grasp ever escaped alive. He harbored a grotesque hobby of disemboweling and dismembering to study living organs, boasting Super S-rank power.
“You clown, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?!”
Horker slammed his hand onto the table with force. Within Andumali’s Snake, Horker and Brunstin shared a deeply acrimonious relationship, largely because Brunstin had murdered Horker’s own nephew.
“Silence! This is hardly the time for your squabbles.”
Hosen lowered his voice, his mind already weighing the option of calling upon the formidable figure who stood behind him.
“Precisely. Our immediate priority is Merlin; failure to stop him will result in catastrophic losses. I presume none of you wish to see decades of our efforts crumble to dust, do you?”
Kairan tapped his index finger rhythmically on the tabletop.
“It’s simple enough: find him, then kill him!”
Brunstin licked his lips, his bloodlust evident; he was not one to adhere to a conservative approach, and Andumali’s Snake had always favored aggressive tactics.
“Do any of the rest of you have alternative ideas? If not…”
Before Hosen could finish his sentence, an unsettling presence materialized, and a figure stood directly opposite Hosen.
“Why don’t you ask for *my* opinion?”
Yue Wu’s sudden appearance startled every high-ranking member of Andumali’s Snake.
“Merlin?! Guards!”
A less powerful high-level member barely finished speaking before Yue Wu seized them by the throat, hoisting them effortlessly as one might a small chicken. The official thrashed desperately in Yue Wu’s grip, but their struggles were futile; their magic was locked, and their physical strength utterly suppressed.
“Are you perhaps a little too arrogant?”
With a casual twist, Yue Wu snapped the neck of the choked official, ending their life with a sickening crunch.
“You’re the arrogant one! Die!”
An assassin-ranked high-level member suddenly materialized behind Yue Wu, plunging a blade towards their back.
“Arrogant? My apologies, but what you call arrogance, I call absolute power.”
Yue Wu did not even turn, completely ignoring the person behind them.
Pfft!
A magical spear pierced through the assassin behind Yue Wu, striking them directly in the heart and killing them instantly.
“Is this the caliber of Andumali’s Snake’s high-level members? I find you rather unimpressive. Previously, I had no intention of bothering with you, turning a blind eye to your actions.”
“But now, your existence is no longer necessary.”
As Yue Wu finished speaking, numerous magical spears erupted from the floor. Three high-level members reacted a fraction too slowly, impaled instantly and dying on the spot.
“Your reactions, the five of you, aren’t bad; certainly better than those five small fry from before.”
The five high-level members Yue Wu had just dispatched possessed only A-rank strength. Could five individuals in their nineties stand against a max-level being with all EX-rank attributes? The answer was unequivocally no.
Yue Wu retracted the spears, doing so to conserve magic as Hosen and the remaining four had already fled over the crest of the slope.
“Where do you think you can escape to?”
Yue Wu drew forth a longbow, entirely crimson, and aimed it in the direction of Hosen’s escape.