Chapter 193 Survival

~Losla, alleyway~

A horn starts blaring, coming from the guild – a sign that Losla was under attack. It seemed quite odd though, as the mage hunters would have been there to protect them – why summon the feeble adventurers?

Jay quickly guessed that they were being summoned to search for him, adding pressure to him.

Jay had moved to another alley as the hunt for him began.

A mage hunter passed by and glared at him but soon left. It seemed they didn’t know what his face looked like yet.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone recognises me…” he thought.

Jay had been a popular adventurer in Losla after all, so most of the younger adventurers would recognise him. He wouldn’t be surprised if they even helped the guards to find him.

Jay quickly took off his iconic green molodus coat and replaced it with the dark hooded cloak he used to wear. He pulled the hood up to hide his face.

The alley was quiet, but he soon heard rolls of thunder and deep booming sounds coming from the guild.

“What the fuck is happening…” he tried not to panic..

It seemed like the whole mountain was beginning to shake.

Jay wasn’t sure what it was, and there was something ominous about it.

Slipping between more alleys, Jay continued sneaking to the south side of Losla. He wasn’t worried about the mage hunters rushing through the streets and spotting him, but it was the civilians who may recognise him that he hid from.

As he reached closer the south side of Losla he saw a mage hunter holding a communication crystal, but before Jay could get past, they put the crystal away and pulled out a sword and shield, facing the town.

A number of other mage hunters had already formed a perimeter around Losla and they similarly drew their weapons too. A whole perimeter was forming around Losla.

Jay cautiously approached but sensed killing intent coming from the mage hunter as one of them turned to look directly at him.

“No one leaves.” their gravelly voice said slowly.

Jay didn’t want to look suspicious so he simply nodded and calmly returned to a nearby alleyway.

He had no clue what to do other than to hide in the alley – but finally, he heard Lara’s voice again.

“Jay? We… something’s happening at the guild. You have to come right now.”

Jay was relieved as he heard her voice, he looked around before replying.

“I’m at the south side of Losla. The mage hunters have surrounded the town, I can’t leave.”

“I see. Wait a second.”

Jay looked up and down the alley way as he checked for people. Some more adventurers were stopped from leaving; most didn’t dare to complain to the mage hunters though.

“Get ready.” Lara said.

– – –

~South-East Forests of Losla~

*Huff huff huff*

Anya was catching her breath, a tense look on her face. She was focused now more than ever.

Sullivan told her to leave the guild immediately to meet with Lannister and Lara, but not to enter Losla – so she ventured through the forests.

Without a second word she followed her fathers instruction to leave.

Despite him sounding calm, she could tell that something wasn’t right.

She nimbly dashed down the hill and through the forest, moving as fast as she could through the thick vegetation.

*Doon…*

Sometimes later, a deep rolling boom sound came from the guild. She could tell something major just happened and paused for a moment – but didn’t look back – she knew she may not move again if she started looking.

Her mind focused on one thing – her orders: reaching the stink-rat marsh.

Gritting her teeth, carried out her mission and marched forward again before continuing to dash through the forest, but for some reason her eyes began to water.

–

Matheson was about to enter the feral plains dungeon, though he paused for a moment as he heard the deep rumbling sounds of thunder from the guild and the horn blaring.

He glared back towards the guild for a moment.

“… what the hell is going on now.” he thought, though his mind soon drifted to what Hodley said earlier…

“The powerful treasure…?” his heart seemed to beat a little faster.

Suddenly he heard something running through the forest; its steps were careless and they were moving fast as they trampled the vegetation.

Matheson stood silently and watched; if it was another treant, he would just enter the dungeon for safety.

However, to his surprise, it was a person – one whom he recognised as the guild master daughter.

“This can’t be a coincidence.” He whispered to himself as his lips curled into a hungry smile; he smelt opportunity.

“Easy to stalk. She’s making so much damn noise.”

Matheson began to follow Anya as covertly as possible. He had quite high dexterity due to his rapier class, so he didn’t make much noise.

Anya similarly had high dexterity, but she was clearly distracted by something and didn’t notice her follower.

The feral plains dungeon was somewhere south-east of Losla, and soon they crossed the south-road as they kept heading west.

Suddenly, a powerful wave of mana pulsed through the forest.

Despite not having any mana-craft proficiency, even Matheson felt it wash over his mind.

“Fuck…” he thought.

This only confirmed his suspicion: Anya was running right towards that mana pulse, so this was definitely connected to the powerful treasure he was hearing about.

“I won’t let this opportunity pass me by…” he glared at her, “I will grasp it and hold onto it until my fingernails rip out.” he zealously thought.

Matheson prepared himself mentally to steal whatever powerful treasure could be waiting for him, and he didn’t care who he would have to trample along the way.