The silence was quite different. It is already eight in the morning and it's weird that there are no noises on the first floor of the building. There should be people having breakfast and employees below.
"Something's not right. Be ready…" Cyril whispered to Asta.
"What I thought you made sure no one was chasing us?"
"Yes… However, they might've found us during the time that passed. There are tons of Artifacts we don't know about. They might've used some mystical means."
Cyril said as he frowned.
Magenta hasn't returned yet since she's busy corrupting people. It's not easy to gain a follower after all. She has to tempt them, show them things, create a contract, absorb part of their soul, and have them find sacrifices…
It will still take quite some time before she could return! He has to survive here without the Demoness' help!
"Tsk… If I'll use my Rank-S Artifact. I can only use it once to create a path to escape." Asta said as she released a bit of her Aura.
"Don't worry. Just save it for now. We won't need it yet." Cyril said as he calmed down. He has to protect this woman so he can get paid after all. She might even give him a big tip if he did this well and did not need her help.
'Hmm… I'm sure we're about to face an ambush. They've hidden well.'
The problem is that his face will be seen by the enemies. So he decided to take his Identity Shroud Mask and covered his face. However, he didn't activate its ability yet.
He then held his Conqueror Staff in his right hand. Because of its special properties, even Asta wasn't able to recognize that it is an S-Rank Artifact unless he decided to activate it.
"Hey, I can increase the effectivity of your Artifact with my bracelet here." Asta whispered…
"Is that so? Do it then… Just in case it helps."
The lady nodded as she swiftly poured some of her Aura into the Artifact.
After a few seconds, Cyril noticed a blue form of energy covering his Conqueror Staff before disappearing.
[ Magic Skills increased by 30% for 5 minutes ]
Thanks for it being a Rank-S Artifact, he was able to know the changes that have occurred in his Artifact. If it's only Rank-A or below, he would still have to ask what kind of enhancements did it receive.
"That's Magic Enchant. It will increase your Artifact's ability by a lot for half an hour We should move now."
'Thirty minutes? It's only 5 minutes though!' Cyril complained in his head but he didn't dare say it. After all, she would know that this is a Rank-S Artifact if he did mention it.
Anyway, this must be the difference between enchanting a Rank-A and Rank-S Artifact.
Cyril then continued walking and as expected, as soon as they reached the ground floor, they were immediately ambushed by a group of masked people.
Apparently, the floor they were previously at has some kind of defensive array installed by the owner of the hotel.
This means that attacking them in that place will be difficult since once the defensive array was removed, they will be immediately alerted. Unless they have Asta's Rank-S Ancient Necklace that could conceal her from any detections, they would have difficulty concealing their actions.
However, this also means that they can stealthily remove the arrays on the lower floor without them noticing it. In that way, they could launch an ambush without being disturbed by such arrays.
Boom! Boom!
"Capture them!"
"Do not kill the woman!"
These people did not bother hiding their faces as they attacked the two. Aside from that, they didn't just remove the hotel's defensive arrays but they also added another array for their own usage.
They brought not only their Artifacts but guns to subdue them. However, Cyril didn't care about their preparations and numbers!
As soon as he felt that danger was coming, he activated his Conqueror's Domain giving a surprise to everyone! Not just within the hotel but those on the outside!
Because of Asta's Magic boost or enhancement, Cyril's domain became larger and stronger even though he only used the usual amount of his Aura!
"Ack!"
"A Magic Field! Use your defensive Artifacts."
"You two have been surrounded! Do not force our hands!"
Of course, Cyril did not listen as he grabbed Asta's hands so he could properly exclude Asta from his target of suppression…
Thud! Thud!
Almost everyone who tried to ambush them dropped to the ground. Those who have strong defensive artifacts, on the other hand, managed to still raise their weapons and shoot them.
Some of them didn't care whether they hit Asta at all as they shot multiple times!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Luckily, Cyril has been monitoring them and controlling his domain to push the people back as they got out of balance again.
Because Cyril was still too young and he had just recently Awakened, his Aura reserves are still too small and not enough to fully control and move dozens of Awakened out of his Domain. At most, he can push them a little and put some pressure on their bodies.
Aside from that, his Conqueror Staff was meant to conquer Beasts or Magical Creatures! So dealing with so many Awakened was not his Artifacts main attribute.
"Scram!"
Cyril shouted as he waved his staff… It created an invisible wave forcing those who are about to attack to be on the defensive.
The two used this chance to get out of the hotel but because of the Array placed, it wouldn't be too easy.
'Tsk… I will have to use most of my Aura. This is bad.' Cyril frowned but he still pulled out his Rank-A Magic Crystal.
Electric Discharge!
Fire Break!
Two powerful high-grade Magic Spell was used continuously!
Boom!
'Great! Although the Array wasn't destroyed, it created a hole enough for us to escape…' Cyril celebrated as soon as he saw that his attack was effective.
However, he also felt that the Crystal cracked for a bit! It means that the Artifact is already reaching its limit!
Perhaps a couple more uses and it will break! It would be such a shame if another Rank-A Artifact was destroyed. They aren't some common items after all!
"Cyril! Above us!"
Asta immediately alerted Cyril as soon as she noticed that something was off. She has been observing the whole battle and calmly analyzing their ambusher's plan.
She felt weird that no S-Rank Awakened was together with their group. After all, they should be aware of her current rank.
Even if she's weakened, they shouldn't be underestimating her by sending only a bunch of B-Rank and A-Rank Awakened.
This is why she made sure to monitor the places that Cyril wasn't paying attention to.
Her cautiousness bore fruit as she indeed found a couple of S-Rank Awakened waiting for the right time!
The two are both wearing black robes and crow masks! Yesterday, Asta had to deal with the S-Rank Awakened of the Divine Sword Guild and now, she has to deal with the S-Ranks of Nine Crows Guild!
Just how unlucky is she!
"Hold me tightly… We'll push through. We can't get entangled on them!"
Cyril quickly said as he activated his Elven Boot's Haste Ability as soon as he held Asta's hand. It was followed by Nature Grasp to slow down the two S-Rank Awakened even for a few seconds.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The enemies missed Cyril and Asta. Their sword hit nothing but their afterimage after Cyril used his boot's Haste to the limit.
He can also feel that this Artifact is about to be destroyed!
'Ugh! I really need to get more S-Rank Artifacts! I can't be too worried about my item's durability all the item! Tsk!'
Cyril annoyingly thought after realizing his Artifact's condition.
Nevertheless, he continued running away from their pursuit as he thinks of a plan. His Domain could barely stop the two S-Rank so he has to think of a way to outrun them.
Thud! Thud!
"Eh?"
"Hmm?"
Asta and Cyril heard the sound of the two S-Rank dropping to the ground as they kneeled on the ground like the others!
'Whatever, let's just leave them be…'
Cyril thought as he continued running away.
"I guess my Magic Enchant was super effective, huh. Even your field magic affected them!" Asta proudly claimed as she saw the two mighty S-Rank being pressured.
She can see that they have accessory-type Rank-S Artifact so it means that it's a support-type or defensive-type Artifact.
However, since Cyril's Artifact could affect them, it means that her Rank-S Ancient Necklace had truly improved the young man's Artifact!
"Is that so? I guess I have to thank you for that." Cyril smiled as he heard Asta boasting about her Artifact.
Anyway, thanks to her S-Rank Aura covering his Conqueror Staff, she didn't notice that his staff is originally a Rank-S Artifact!
Aside from that, she probably didn't suspect his Artifact at all since she knows that he's an A-Rank Awakened. It means that it must be impossible for him to wield a Rank-S Artifact.
Cyril heaved a sigh of relief after realizing this as they fled to another city.