Fighting Alone Against a Gold Rank!

Outside the small attic.

Leon and Doncic were crouched by the attic window, their eyes fixed on the scene inside.

Arcane power flowed from Doncic's fingertips as he quietly poked a tiny hole in the soundproofing magic within the attic.

Instantly, the voices from inside drifted into the ears of Leon and Doncic.

Leon watched this in surprise. A thief's arcane power could be used like this?

It seemed he should have Alicia learn this later...

"I... learned... it!"

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Alicia's voice echoed in his heart.

"You learned it?"

"Mhm! Watched... once... learned! I... am... very... devious!"

"..."

Fine, I get it, you're very devious.

Leon had almost forgotten that while Alicia might seem a bit dazed, she was, after all, the Chosen of the God of Thieves.

Her transcendent talent was right there.

It was only natural that Alicia could learn a minor technique like the one Doncic performed after just a few glances.

Withdrawing his thoughts, he looked back into the attic.

Inside, seven figures were observing the situation at Zachary Manor through a small window on the other side.

Among them, they seemed to be led by a dwarf whose height didn't even reach Leon's waist.

"Chairman, according to the markings on the map, the basement of this manor is most likely where the ruins are located!" a vampire said.

Leon noticed that this vampire's physical body had undergone mechanical modification. His pupils were no longer made of flesh and blood but flickered with a metallic luster.

As he spoke, those mechanical pupils would contract and dilate in sync with his voice.

The dwarf, whom the vampire called Chairman, had half of his body replaced by alchemical machinery. At that moment, he pulled an ancient scroll from his waist.

He unfurled the scroll to reveal a map. The Dwarf Chairman repeatedly compared the markings on the map with the location of Zachary Manor.

He finally nodded. "It's here, no doubt about it!"

"So what do we do now? The defenses of this manor seem unusual," said another vampire in the attic, pointing toward Zachary Manor.

"Chairman, look. There are several bloodline warriors in heavy armor carrying black spears guarding the perimeter."

"These bloodline warriors should be members of some warband."

"A small manor being guarded by several Bronze Rank warband warriors is definitely not normal!"

"Could it be... they've already discovered the alchemical ruins buried underground?"

Hearing the vampire's words, the Dwarf Chairman said dismissively:

"It doesn't matter!"

"I don't care if there are guards or not. We'll just charge in and kill everyone inside!"

"Then we'll enter the ruins to find the stored alchemical blueprints and the alchemical core!"

"Finally, we'll dive away in the Deep Diver. Even if Diamond Rank experts from the Heron Empire show up, they won't be able to find us!"

Another human member immediately chimed in after hearing this:

"The Chairman is right!"

"They're just a bunch of fragile bodies without alchemical modifications. They won't be able to withstand our artillery!"

"Let's just slaughter our way in and wipe out these inferior beings. Anyone in town who dares to stand in our way will be eliminated as well!"

"We'll kill until they're paralyzed with fear and wouldn't dare interfere—that way, no one can stop us from entering the ruins!"

Outside the attic, Leon's brow furrowed as he listened to their conversation.

These people weren't assassins sent after him; they were here for the underground ruins of Zachary Manor!

Moreover, based on what they said, they knew exactly what treasures were sealed within the ruins?

Alchemical blueprints, an alchemical core, the Deep Diver...

It seemed there were many treasures in the ruins.

Which meant they should all belong to me, Leon!

Leon's eyes lit up as he stared at the alchemists inside.

"They are the Mad Alchemists that everyone hunts down!"

Beside Leon, Doncic also quickly recognized their identities. He explained in a low voice:

"Different schools of thought have always existed within the alchemist community."

"Some alchemists praise the absolute power of alchemical golems, believing them to be the future; others firmly believe that giant alchemical machinery is the true ultimate combat power."

"But the most extreme and fanatical faction advocates that the flesh is weak, and alchemy is transcendence."

"They pursue so-called evolution and transcendence by fusing alchemical machinery with their own flesh. In reality, most alchemists who fuse with alchemical machinery suffer from rejection reactions that mess with their brains, causing them to gradually lose their minds as living beings!"

So, they're just a bunch of mental patients with modified bodies?

Leon understood after hearing the explanation.

"Are these the only outsiders who broke into Jellyfish Town?" Leon asked Doncic while looking at the Mad Alchemists in the attic.

"There are two more," Doncic replied. "They aren't in this attic; they're elsewhere."

Hearing this, Leon immediately said, "Mr. Doncic, please go deal with the remaining two. Leave these Mad Alchemists inside to me."

"Alright, understood," Doncic said. "The dwarf in there has the strength of an early stage Gold Rank. Young Master Leon, you must be extremely careful."

With that, Doncic's figure blurred as he sped off into the distance.

However, halfway there, Doncic suddenly realized—

Wait!

Leon is only Silver Rank. How could I feel so at ease letting him handle a Gold Rank enemy?!

But then Doncic reconsidered. Leon's Silver Rank was not the same thing as the Silver Rank of other priests.

Leon could certainly perceive the aura of that Gold Rank dwarf. Since he proactively mentioned dealing with him, it meant Leon was surely confident.

For a once-in-a-century genius like him, all Doncic needed to do was trust him.

Pushing the stray thoughts aside, Doncic quickly searched for the other two figures who weren't in the attic.

...

On the other side.

The shadow behind Leon shifted, and Alicia's figure emerged from it.

Leon instructed, "Alicia, I'll leave those two enemies who look like thieves to you. Don't let them escape."

Since these alchemists didn't understand the concept of 'first come, first served' and wanted to attack his guards to seize the ruins...

Then Leon wouldn't show any mercy for their lives either.

Alicia nodded, her arcane power flowing as she manifested two Blades of Hunger. "They... won't... escape!"

Leon gave a slow nod. He first activated the Silver Comet, then layered himself with the I Name This the Mental Power Boost Divine Art, Sacred Light Shield, Bemis’s Protection, and Moonlight Cloak.

Finally, he lit a Light Prayer Orb for himself, applying a final layer of buffs using the Profusion effect of the Healing Art.

It was time to test whether he could currently stand against a Gold Rank enemy!

If he couldn't, he would use the divine arts from the Red Fairy Tale to carpet-bomb them all into oblivion.

If he could... then in the future, he could be even more bold and go play with the other Four Kings in the Dusk Sea!

He took a deep breath. Just as the alchemists inside noticed the glow of the Light Prayer Orb, his mental power surged out like a tide.

A massive silver longbow suddenly manifested by his side!