Chapter 1673 No Way Out

This chapter is updated by Novels.pl

The door to the warden's chamber swung open, and a messenger stormed inside, his face pale and utterly frightened.

"M-My lords!" he blurted out when he saw the wardens and the two Magi who had arrived here the previous night.

He hurriedly got down to his knees and spoke in a shaky voice, "T-The guards, they… they-"

Elira snapped. "Out with it!"

Vortigan, who was always calm and composed, couldn't help but feel a flicker of unease bloom in his heart.

"The prison guards, my lord!" The messenger was on the verge of tears. "They're being attacked! They… they're dying!"

Hearing those words, Orion's face was drained of all color. "Goodness arcana! What… what is going on?!"

Meanwhile, Murphy, who was standing beside him, couldn't help but sway on his feet. "I-It can't be… he's here… he's here…"

Elira turned toward them, glaring. She gnashed her teeth and spat, "Get a hold of yourself!"

She then turned to Vortigan and said in a grim voice, "Check the surveillance footage."

Vortigan had a dark look on his face. He went around the wooden table and retrieved a rectangular disk from one of the drawers. He pressed a few points on the disk, then weaved a set of hand seals.

The following moment, several illusory screens flickered into existence in the air.

Each one showed a different corridor in the underground prison complex. Guards lay on the ground, unmoving.

In some, serpents slithered through the halls, their bodies gliding over stone and shadows. In others, the scenes were still unfolding. Snakes were coiling around guards, fangs sinking in, venom spreading as the men collapsed within seconds.

The moment Vortigan saw the snakes, his expression turned dark. Elira, who was standing beside him, clenched her fists subconsciously.

"It's him," she whispered. But her words rang like thunder in everyone's ears.

Serpents were the hallmark of the Dark King!

They knew that sign. They had all heard the tales.

He had come…

The Dark King had come!

Vortigan's expression hardened as he gazed at the illusory screens. He quickly retrieved a communication artifact, poured mana into it, and solemnly spoke: "Edsel, where are you?"

For a brief moment, static echoed in the chamber. And then, Edssel's voice rang through the artifact.

"On my way."

Vortigan's eyes narrowed. "And the Dark King? Where does the Lantern point?"

A few moments of silence ensued. Finally, Edsel's voice echoed once again.

"He's still inside the administrative center"

Those words sounded like the thunderous sound of a hammer striking an anvil. And the proverbial anvil was the hearts of all those listening.

Murphy and Orion exchanged uneasy glances. At that moment, they realized that they had inadvertently brought their enemy right into their homes.

Elira snapped toward them and roared. "Useless things!"

"No…" Vortigan's calm voice drifted into her ears. "This is good."

It took a few moments for Elira to calm down. Then, she began sifting through her spell components, preparing for the fight ahead.

Vortigan spoke into the artifact once again. "Spread your Mana Vortex Magi around the building. Let me know when the four of you have stepped inside."

"Roger."

Elira's eyes narrowed as she turned to Murphy and Orion. "Make yourselves fucking useful."

The two could only nod helplessly. They truly had no excuses.

Meanwhile, Vortigan spread out several disks on the table. He pressed several nodes, preparing to place not just the prison complex, but the entire city on lockdown.

Several seconds later, Edsel's voice echoed through the communication artifact once again.

"We've entered the building. The Dark King is still inside"

"Good," Vortigan muttered coldly. He then weaved a series of hand seals and finally activated the large-scale containment spell.

***

From the tip of the giant stone pillar at the center of Jomuran, an ominous gray curtain began to spread.

It poured outward like viscous liquid, flowing through the air in all directions. It was fast and relentless. Within moments, it stretched across the entire city, sealing it under a dull and inescapable veil.

What followed was pure panic.

People in the streets stopped what they were doing as they saw the sunlight slowly dissipate. Then, they scattered in all directions, screaming in fear. Some tried to run back to their homes, while others simply froze, staring up at the

unnatural sky.

The Magi on patrol didn't move as recklessly, but their expressions turned grim as they watched the barrier settle into place.

The bells kept ringing, each toll heavier than the last. It was like a countdown to

their doom.

And then… another curtain formed. This one rose above the administrative center, spreading just as quickly, sealing off its boundaries with eerie precision.

There was no way out.

It was layered and reinforced. Now, no one could enter, and no one could leave.

Edsel and the three Mana Core Magi moved through the vast hall on the ground floor, their steps steady and calm despite the tension in the air.

Around them, other Magi had taken positions in haste. Some stood near the pillars, others along the walls, weapons drawn, and their eyes scanning every corner for the intruder.

From the opposite side, Vortigan and his group descended the grand staircase. They reached the base and stepped into the hall.

The two groups closed the distance between them. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath as they walked toward one another.

Vortigan's loud voice echoed across the hall.

"The dual curtains will ensure that everyone within will have their connection

to the spirit world severed," he spoke in a grim but confident voice.

He continued, "The Dark King won't be able to teleport out of the city, no matter how hard he tries. He also won't be able to summon any more serpents either. He's trapped in here with us."

But Edsel wasn't listening. His steps slowly slowed down, and his expression twisted as he stared at the Soulmark Lantern in his hand.

"It can't be!" he whispered in a trembling voice.

Vortigan didn't notice the change in his expression and continued, "I need all of

you to mark this artifact with your mana signatures. That will allow you to continue summoning your undead. Your connection to the spirit world will not

be sev-" "Wait!" Edsel roared at the top of his lungs. "Stop where you are!"

Vortigan and his group halted, their expression darkening.

"This… this… can't be!" Edsel muttered, his expression filled with disbelief as he

stared at the red orb inside the Lantern.

Slowly, he lifted his head and followed where the orb pointed…

Straight into Vortigan's group!

t that moment, Orion's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile.

His lips parted, and he spoke in a mischievous tone, "I'm not trapped in here

with you…"

Terror gripped everyone's hearts, and they turned toward him in utter shock.

Orion's smile widened, and he continued in the same voice:

"You're trapped in here with me."