"Not elimination, not suppression, but absorption?"
Glenn, master of alchemy and artifact crafting, analyzed the blood-red device before him and quickly deduced its purpose. The anti-magic array maintenance device contained magical power transmission components. The moment Glenn placed his hand on the apparatus, he felt powerful suction emanating from the contact point.
This wasn't physical suction—it targeted magical power contained within human bodies and the surrounding environment. This caused everyone within the device's influence range to lose the ability to channel their internal magical power into spells or techniques.
Magic formation required controlling magical power to alter its shape, constructing magical circuits. This suction force severely impaired people's control over their internal magical reserves, ultimately producing this effect.
"The magical power absorbed by the device is being transported underground... What exactly are these people doing?"
"Glenn, what's wrong?"
Hermione's voice sounded beside him, snapping Glenn from his mental analysis. The young girl watched him with concern, her face full of questions.
"You've maintained that position without speaking for over ten seconds. What happened?"
Over ten seconds?
Glenn's expression darkened. Without explanation, he pulled the bewildered Hermione away from the anti-magic array maintenance device, then drew his M500 revolver and fired directly at the device's core.
BOOM!
An explosion larger than anticipated erupted from the .500 Magnum impact. The device at the blast's epicenter disintegrated into ash within the fierce flames.
Raising his hand, Glenn felt the sluggish magical power within his body beginning to flow smoothly once more.
"Fiendfyre."
With a flick of his right hand, his wand slid from his sleeve into his palm. Glenn traced a circle single-handed, channeling magical power. Dark crimson flames materialized instantly, transforming into a serpentine inferno that surged into the corpse-filled cave, beginning to devour everything combustible.
"Now can you explain why?"
Question marks practically materialized above Hermione's head. Silence didn't mean the young girl's confusion had dissipated. She waited quietly for Glenn to complete the Fiendfyre curse before pressing for answers, simultaneously retrieving clean water and potions from her protective charm to treat Glenn's hands with healing magic.
"That device prevented spellcasting by continuously absorbing surrounding magical power and transporting it underground. Moreover, approaching too closely causes mental entrapment. I subjectively experienced only an instant of thought, but from your perspective, I remained motionless for over ten seconds. That thing was extremely dangerous, so I destroyed it immediately."
Hermione accepted all information Glenn provided as absolute truth, so the young girl frowned as her mind activated. She sensed the phrase 'absorbing magical power' could connect with other intelligence.
"Those dark wizards mentioned 'blood sacrifice' earlier—it sounds like some sinister ritual. You said the absorbed magical power was transported underground... Could this ritual require massive amounts of magical power to proceed?"
"This place resembles the dark wizards' primary stronghold. Otherwise, they couldn't have constructed such an extensive operation temporarily."
"And if this ritual involves 'blood,' the one thing I desperately want to know is the whereabouts of those magical creatures attacked by the dark wizards. Magical creature blood possesses tremendous power."
Glenn multitasked, employing his enhanced senses while listening to Hermione's speculation. He continued her reasoning:
"Your logic is sound. First, when I engaged those people in close combat, I detected various different bloody scents from them—not human blood. Now I realize the situation matches our suspicions—those magical creatures attacked by dark wizards may have already become sacrificial offerings for their 'blood sacrifice.'"
"And second..."
Sensing approaching heat waves, Glenn paused slightly, eyebrows furrowing. He raised his hand toward the Fiendfyre surging toward him and Hermione, but Hermione reacted faster, casting the Fiendfyre counter-curse to dispel the attacking flames.
Glenn then shared his detected intelligence.
"...Locations like our current position, affected by such devices, number two more. Additionally, there's definitely a more expansive underground space, but magical power cannot penetrate deeply enough for exploration. I cannot see what's inside—I can only describe the overall outline of the entire subterranean structure."
Saying this, Glenn raised his hand to release light points that reorganized mid-air into the structure he described.
"Then let's proceed. Being underground, we probably cannot return to support Yu and the others immediately. We should attack the dark wizards' stronghold from within, then coordinate with Yu and the others from inside and outside, creating a pincer movement."
"Moreover... I still cannot abandon those captured magical creatures. If rescue is possible, I want to save them all!"
Hermione clenched her fists, eyes blazing with determination. She focused entirely on rapidly breaching the dark wizards' stronghold, rescuing the magical creatures, and supporting the main force.
This was positive—at least she'd temporarily forgotten previous unpleasantness.
Glenn considered extensively, then nodded. Currently, the dark wizards' stronghold appeared entirely affected by the blood sacrifice. Under the influence of devices supplying magical power to the ritual, no one could cast magic. For him and Hermione, possessing numerous firearms, the tactical situation was overwhelmingly advantageous.
After Hermione's treatment, Glenn felt his hand injuries had completely healed. Flexing his hands, he retrieved two HK416 assault rifles and multiple magazines from his functioning black ring, slinging one over his shoulder and handing another to Hermione. He also extracted a heavily modified firearm identifiable only as originally being a shotgun, gripping it ready, while taking out a tactical belt bristling with various throwing weapons, quickly fastening it diagonally across his torso. Finally, he produced tactical goggles for both himself and Hermione.
"Let's move."
Preparations complete, Glenn began advancing at a tactical jog. Operating within enemy stronghold territory carried risks, but manageable ones. Since Hermione had committed to this course, careful execution would suffice.
"Right."
Hermione acknowledged, disengaging the assault rifle's safety and immediately chambering a round before quickly matching Glenn's pace.
Before they could exit the cave passage, Glenn decelerated, using hand signals to position Hermione for safety checks on both sides of the passage entrance. After confirming the area was clear, they rapidly abandoned cover and continued forward.
Ahead lay another cave passage.
"The anti-magic array device's influence zone begins just ahead. Be care—"
Before Glenn could complete his warning, he shoved Hermione aside while diving sideways himself.
Vicious wind howled past as a heavy, razor-sharp weapon grazed Glenn's hair before smashing into the ground.
Stone exploded instantly into fragments.
Too close for firearms.
Judging from the attacker's speed, repositioning his weapon was impossible. Glenn twisted mid-air, braced against the ground with one hand, concentrated all power into his legs, and launched a devastating kick toward the attacker's throat.
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