The rocks began to shift, as if something beneath them was trying to break free.
"They... they're not stopping!" one of the mages exclaimed in alarm.
Slowly, the pile of earth and rock moved more and more, the tons of weight containing the killing machines giving way. The machines, driven by soulless determination, remained fixed on their objective—eliminating the targets and safeguarding the nuclear warhead.
At this moment, Achilles was the only one who had regained his composure. "We don't have time! Move the warhead to the ship and retreat!" he commanded.
"But what about this place!? We have clear orders to establish a base here!" one of the mages questioned.
Achilles lost his temper. He grabbed the mage by the collar, pulling him close. "Don't you see? We've been sold out! Edgar Willow already betrayed us! Even if he hasn't, this place is useless to us now!
They know we're here!" he roared, taking control of the situation.
"Retreat to the ship!" Achilles ordered, his voice firm.
With that decisive command, the panicked mages snapped back to action. They immediately began moving the warhead toward the small ship they had arrived on. However, repacking the warhead, which had already been unpacked for preparation, was time-consuming—time they didn't have.
At that moment, the pile of rock and soil exploded as the killing machines emerged from their confines. Their bodies were slightly dented in places, but the damage wasn't enough to hinder their operation. Their numbers also allowed them to shield each other from the crushing force of the debris.
Seeing this, Achilles quickly rushed forward. This mission had been planned for a long time, and now the first part had already failed. With their discovery, the second part was also compromised.
Achilles engaged the killing machines, his spear whirling as he thrust it at the robots. Although the endoskeletons were made of Atlantean steel, minimizing the damage, Achilles was not one to be underestimated.
With relentless and precise strikes, Achilles managed to pierce one of the machines' energy reactors, causing it to shut down.
Startled yet relieved by his success and discovery, Achilles knew his efforts were paying off. But even with this newly discovered of the machines' weak points and his ability to take them down, the situation was too dangerous to continue.
Ever since the start of the operation, mage families across the world had begun to rebel and try to make a fool out of Daniel. But Daniel was not one to take it lying down, he also planned ahead and ruthlessly sent his forces to violently suppress those rebels. Their struggles and long planning turn out to be short lives, meeting with relentless and merciless suppression.
Reports from survivors indicated that these robots were the products of Astral Corp, and many anti-mages armaments they use were also designed and developed by them to counter and suppress all the mages in the world.
At a secluded corner of the island, several VTOLs were parked in a clearing, where squads of power-armored soldiers patrolled the perimeter. Military tents and field gun emplacements were set up around the area.
Inside one of the VTOLs, equipped with top-tier equipment fit for a mobile command center, Daniel sat in the commander's seat, watching a ship move off the coast toward a specific location in the open sea.
Standing behind him were Albert, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, and Edgar Willow, all observing the screen, with Edgar sporting a satisfied smile.
"Good job, Mr. Willow—no, Lord Willow. From now on, I grant you a seat as a senator within the Order of Ember council," Daniel said, smiling with approval.
"Thank you very much, Lord Emberweave," Edgar replied, bowing respectfully.
Albert smiled at Edgar and nodded in approval, while Cao Cao, still harboring skepticism, gave a reluctant nod of acknowledgment.
As for Edgar, this "deal" with Daniel began when a man in a black robe visited him in Germany, where Edgar had been living off the remnants of the Willow family's wealth.
Since then, the black-robed man had contacted him periodically, discussing plans while fueling Edgar's hatred toward Daniel. Yes, he loathed Daniel deeply. Even now, despite seeing Daniel as his superior, he had no desire to converse or socialize with him.
But, as a proud mage, allowing emotions to cloud judgment was something only a third-rate mage would do. While Edgar wasn't particularly powerful, he knew his value.
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Amidst the bitterness and anger, a rational thought emerged: he was the last of the Willow family. His duty wasn't to seek immediate revenge, but to ensure the survival of his bloodline, accumulate power, and then—only then—revenge could follow.
His roots were in Southeast Asia, where Daniel and the Order of Ember were based. Unseating Daniel, one of the most powerful mages, was impossible in the foreseeable future.
To revive his clan, Edgar needed immense resources and influence within Southeast Asia. What remained of his family's legacy wasn't nearly enough.
Thus, he chose to betray the black-robed man's plans, selling the information at the nearest Whispering Hall information hub in Germany. In return, he earned vast wealth, magical resources, and personal favor from Daniel Emberweave himself.
Mages are pragmatic, often heartless creatures. If one lets emotions cloud their judgment, preventing them from pursuing obvious benefits, they are nothing more than the third-rate mages. This, Edgar Willow had learned, over the course of his life.
As for future revenge... Edgar glanced at Daniel, noticing the smirk on his face as he continued watching the screen. It's better to forget about it for now—keeping it on his mind isn't good for his mental health. He could always revisit the thought when, someday, Daniel were to fall from grace.