Sinielle, City Hall.
City Hall was a mansion located in the very center of Sinielle, though to call it a single mansion was inaccurate—it should be said that it was a complex formed by many mansions together.
Much like how the base of the Loki Familia, the Twilight Manor—where towers were built on a narrow plot of land to form their base—the City Hall was built across an immense stretch of land, where mansion after mansion was raised until together they became this so-called City Hall.
City Hall was not only the residence of the City Lord, but also the headquarters of countless administrative institutions.
The headquarters of the Oasis Knights and the ordinary knights were located here.
The employed magicians, as well as the department dedicated to researching and developing various magic items, were also based here.
The intelligence department, with its network of eyes spread throughout the city and its use of investigative magic, was stationed here as well.
Alongside them were the treasury, which oversaw the economy; the land department, which managed agriculture and territory; the civil department, which handled population and livelihood; and many more.
All the official institutions were gathered here, making the City Hall the true administrative heart of Sinielle—it was no exaggeration to call it the most important place in the entire city.
Naturally, such an important place was heavily guarded.
At this moment, the knights stationed inside the City Hall stood watch at various positions or patrolled through different areas, making the exterior seem relaxed, while the interior remained extremely strict—the level of vigilance was so intense that even compared to the Mavros family in Bessare, it was in no way inferior.
Such an important place in Sinielle had never once been invaded in the past—or rather, no one had ever openly attacked or broken into it.
If one were to speak of assassins sneaking in, that had happened before—and not just once or twice.
However, those assassins' targets were usually officials working in the departments, never the City Lord himself, simply because no one had ever succeeded in assassinating this Sword Saint.
Yet today, an intruder had appeared brazenly, heading straight for the City Lord.
*BOOOM!*
As the great gate of the City Hall was torn apart in a massive explosion, the surging flames became a scorching wave that blasted the gate wide open.
At the same time, a voice rang out across the sky above the City Hall.
"Where's the City Lord? Come out."
It was a calm, flat voice that shouldn't have sounded loud at all, but when it rang out, everyone in the City Hall heard it—deafeningly so.
Evidently, the owner of the voice had used magic, making it resound throughout the City Hall and causing the eardrums of countless people to ache.
In that moment, whether still on duty or already resting, everyone was startled awake, their faces filled with disbelief.
It was only natural.
"An intruder?"
"An intruder coming for the City Lord?"
"...You've got to be kidding."
Some refused to believe it, some exchanged confused glances—but once the shock passed, anger flared up all around.
Someone dared to storm in like this?
Unforgivable!
===
At the same time, deep within the City Hall, inside a mansion's bedroom, a man lying on his bed suddenly opened his eyes.
He had a fierce face, and his build was neither sturdy nor frail—just average. He looked to be around fifty, the corners of his eyes marked by wrinkles, yet his short hair remained dark, untouched by white. He could not be called young, nor could he be considered old.
Nonetheless, although past his prime, he still carried a sense of vigor.
He was none other than the City Lord of Sinielle—Sigmund Bayard.
When that deafening voice echoed through the City Hall, Sigmund slowly rose and turned his gaze toward the gate. Even though he sensed no aura or pressure, years of combat instinct and experience told him clearly that the culprit was there.
"Such courage..." Sigmund said slowly. "All these years, the City Hall has never seen anyone charge in so openly through the front gate."
For that reason alone, he had already decided—no matter who the enemy was, he would grant him an honorable death.
Sigmund stood, walked to the corner of his bedroom, and opened a cabinet.
Inside, a weapon glowing with an unusual light lay quietly.
===
*BOOOM!*
At the front gate of the City Hall, a second violent explosion rang out.
However, this time it was not caused by the intruder but by the defenders of City Hall.
Knights and robed magicians had rushed to the ruined gate, launching their counterattack against the assailant. Guarded by knights, the magicians struck first, chanting incantations and unleashing their magic.
Since it was mostly offensive magic, what they cast was all Transformation Magic—surging flames, roaring lightning, fierce winds, and storms—the overwhelming barrage spread across the entire gate, creating a shocking spectacle.
Of the four major magic systems, the Transformation System was recognized as having the most offensive magic and the most users suited for combat. As a result, most of the magicians stationed here were users of Transformation Magic.
Once they struck, the onslaught of destructive magic shook the gate violently, explosions going off again and again.
Yet this overwhelming barrage could not halt the intruder's steps, as he walked out from the flames unharmed, bathed in lightning, storms, and ice. Aside from his coat fluttering wildly, he remained completely unscathed.
Looking closer, one could see a faint shimmering barrier enveloping his body—undoubtedly a defensive magic.
"What a powerful barrier!"
"Are you kidding me? He blocked all of that?!"
"Hurry! Find a way to break his defensive magic!"
Seeing that their attacks had no effect, the magicians paled and shouted while retreating.
At once, some of them began chanting different magic—this time, they were the users of Interference Magic, specialists in dispelling and disrupting magic.
Clearly, they planned to interfere with the barrier protecting the intruder and strip it away—yet just as their chants neared completion, the intruder began to chant as well.
"Sacrament - Wheel Mirror."
Following this voice, waves of magical energy erupted from the intruder's body, and in an instant, several magic mirrors materialized, rotating around him like exquisite shields of light.
*Buzz—*
Unfortunately, as the magicians' Interference Magic struck, they were absorbed by the rippling mirrors before even taking effect.
In the next moment, the stolen magic spells were reflected back at them.
Several magicians were instantly struck by their own magic spells, their chanting disrupted, their magical energy flaring out of control.
Cries of shock immediately erupted one after another.
'Sacrament - Wheel Mirror' was a supreme counter-magic that absorbed all magic and reflected it back at the caster.
Its presence meant the magicians of the City Hall were rendered useless. Unless someone's magic power and skill far surpassed the user of the magic, their magic spells could not touch the user; worse, they would only backfire on themselves.
*Buzz—*
Once again, the mirrors rippled like water as they absorbed every offensive magic hurled at them—only to send it right back.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
One after another, explosions erupted among the defenders.
Knights and magicians alike were blasted into the air, their screams echoing as the ground cracked and blackened under the chaos.
Meanwhile, the one responsible strolled calmly through the inferno, as if walking leisurely in a park.
"You bastard!"
An Oasis Knight, fully armored and bearing the Sword Master Medal, bellowed.
"Stop the magic department! Don't use magic anymore!"
"Knights! Move up and block him!"
"All Oasis Knights—charge with me!"
At his furious command, the knights roared together and charged at the slowly approaching intruder—the Oasis Knights especially shone with surging magical energy, moving like gales, like arrows loosed from a bowstring, speeding toward him.
Still, the intruder did not stop walking.
"Sacrament - Aurora."
At a time when all magicians were helpless, the intruder uttered a calm chant, and lights appeared behind him.
In the next instant, those lights transformed into meteors—like a rain of falling stars, like countless arrows of light—and rained down on the charging knights.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Explosions rippled again, tearing through earth and dust, blasting away knights mid-charge as their screams filled the air.
Meanwhile, the intruder, surrounded by rotating mirrors, advanced step by step, unleashing lights in every direction and shaking the entire City Hall with relentless bombardment.
"STOP!!!"
At last, a furious roar resounded.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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