Dark Magus Returns - Chapter 1538: First Strike (Part 1)
Chapter 1538: First Strike (Part 1)
One of the most important tasks had been left to the collaboration between the Dark Guild and Mordain, who commanded a squad of around fifty elite mages. Their role was critical, because they would be the first group to clash directly with the Cerebus Guild.
The Cerebus Guild was unlike any other. Designed to stand above the city’s police force, they were tasked with running investigations into even the largest and most powerful guilds. Because of this, they were known for their unmatched strength. Many said the Cerebus Guild possessed the most formidable mages in all of Alterian. Rumors spread that only the Noble Guild could truly stand against them, and that was only because of the powerful enchanted items crafted by Idore.
For that reason, this first clash with the Cerebus Guild was no small matter. It wasn’t like fighting the Glory Guild, where they could strike directly at a single base. The Cerebus Guild had no true base to target. Instead, they operated through several offices spread across nearly every district. Members were constantly moving, sent to particular places to conduct investigations. That made them hard to pin down, nearly impossible to reach in force.
It was for this reason that a careful plan had been drawn up. They needed to draw the Cerebus Guild out into the open, and they needed to choose the perfect battlefield.
In one section of the city, there were countless factories, each designed for making different items. Among them was a crystal extraction factory. Beast crystals gathered by guilds were sent here to be processed. The energy inside would be extracted and put to use in tools, weapons, and vehicles. Not everything in the city ran on direct enchantments. Much of it still relied on raw energy, and storing that energy in a more useful form was crucial.
This factory, however, was different. It was hardly in use anymore. Ownership had recently changed hands, and the place had been left void of workers during the transition. The empty halls and silent machines made it the perfect spot to stage what they needed to do.
“I have to say, you did your research well,” Harvey said, glancing around the factory floor. His voice carried a dark amusement as he watched the Dark Guild members take their positions among the old machinery. “This place is perfect. With all of the equipment and space, there are countless places for our members to hide. The Cerebus Guild won’t see them coming.”
“Agreed,” Mordain replied with a heavy nod. “I don’t like ambushes, but if we want to minimize our losses, this is the best option. You and a group of Dark Mages will act as hostages in the center. We’ll inform the proper authorities that we’ve captured Dark Guild members. Thanks to our contacts, we’re almost guaranteed to attract the attention of the Cerebus Guild. And given how sensitive things are right now, it’ll be for the best.”
The location had been chosen carefully. Another advantage of this factory was that it wasn’t in a residential district. There were workers at the other factories nearby, yes, but the inside of this particular factory was empty. That meant if things got out of hand during the fight, no innocent lives would be caught in the crossfire.
The Dark Guild members moved quickly into position. Inside the warehouse, nearly two hundred of them took their places. Among them, a large group of thirty positioned themselves in the center, pretending to be captured. The setup was convincing, with wounds and bindings making the illusion all the more real.
All around the factory, enchantments were placed. Dark Mages used their spells to cover and hide their presence, cloaking their magic so it wouldn’t be detected from outside. Every detail had been prepared. Now, the success of the plan rested on Mordain.
His task was to make the report. He relayed the numbers, the supposed situation, and explained the danger. He told them the Dark Guild members were alive but injured, held in place, and that this was their chance to extract information from them.
The bait worked perfectly. The sheer size of the operation, the fact that Dark Guild members had been captured instead of killed, it was too good to ignore. It drew the attention of the Cerebus Guild immediately. They called Mordain out to meet them ahead of time and guide them to the location.
Mordain flew swiftly across the city, his heart heavy with unease. As he reached the edge of the industrial sector, he spotted a small police station. Standing in front of it were the members of the Cerebus Guild.
They were an imposing sight. Each wore bright blazers, their uniforms unmistakable. Flowing from their shoulders were capes, each one a gleaming gold that shimmered faintly in the light. Their presence radiated authority, power, and control.
Even Mordain, who had once looked up to them, felt conflicted. There had been a time when he admired the Cerebus Guild, believing in their mission, believing they truly acted for the sake of Alterian. But now, looking at them, it felt different. It felt like they were trying to play the role of gods, and these men were their enforcers.
Landing firmly on the ground, Mordain steadied his breath as one of the men approached. He had a clean-shaven face and brown hair swept neatly to the side, his steps sharp and confident.
“You’re the War Magus who reported the situation with the Dark Guild members, correct?” the man said. His tone was calm but carried authority. “My name is Lias. You and your squad did good work, especially keeping them alive. Take us to the location immediately. You can explain the details on the way there.”
Mordain gave a short nod. He had expected as much. Even though only around twenty members of the Cerebus Guild were present, their presence alone felt suffocating. Despite outnumbering them, despite having hundreds of Dark Guild members lying in wait, Mordain couldn’t shake the weight pressing down on him.
This was going to be a hard task. A dangerous one.
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