"You've been looking at the problem from beginning to end. Try reversing your perspective while keeping track of their manpower and resources," Bastion advised.
"Obviously, the Demon Lord would be released from his seal after they performed a ritual using the survivors of the academy attack as sacrifices. Before that, they would summon large numbers of demons both outside and inside the academy, forcing the students and professors to flee, including us. Before that, there would be dungeon breaks caused by their continuous empowerment," Seraphina recounted.
"Did you cause any permanent damage to them to the point they wouldn't be able to do any of those anymore?" Bastion asked.
"I did take down the demon worshippers responsible for summoning during the auction. I've also cleaned out the ones who were empowering the dungeons and a few spies in the academy."
"They should have plenty of those lying around, right?"
"That's what I thought too. Until I tried to intercept the rituals they were planning to set up inside the academy. I remember they were supposed to start setting up right about now. The plan was to activate it a year from now, just before the finale."
"Perhaps they were planning to give up summoning inside the academy because of a lack of manpower?"
"That's why we need to intercept their main base now, before things spiral out of control."
"Why didn't you just have it attacked when we first enrolled?"
"I didn't know exactly when it was built. I was worried it might've still been empty back then."
"Makes sense. Then why do you feel like you don't know what to do now?"
"After taking this base down, I don't know what their next move will be. This is the last piece of knowledge I have about them other than the location of the Demon Lord."
"It can't be helped. You're way ahead of the curve. At this point, the best thing you can do is focus on the endgame instead of worrying about casualties. Remember, you only have a glimpse of the future. You're not all knowing."
"You're right."
After a full day of travel, the group arrived at the base of a mountain by evening. There, they spotted the hideout, a cave heavily guarded by cultists that stretched deep into the mountain's interior.
"That's the main entrance," Seraphina whispered to the group. "Aurelia, you will take charge and work your way inside. Take your time and make sure you clear everything before proceeding deeper. Begin the attack in one hour to give Bastion and me enough time to get into position. I'll join you once you're far enough inside."
"Okay," Aurelia replied.
"Bastion, I'll take you to their emergency exit where you will intercept the priests who will try to escape."
"Lead the way," Bastion said.
Aurelia's group moved to a new position to find a better point of attack, while Seraphina and Bastion rode Steve farther west around the mountain, arriving at a cliffside that seemed to have no visible entrance to the hideout.
"The entrance is hidden by an illusion, so we will have to find it," Seraphina said as she tossed stones against the cliffside wall.
Elyra suddenly emerged from Bastion's shadow and moved away from the group, eyeing a particular boulder with suspicion.
"Master, I can feel dark mana seeping from this boulder."
"Step aside."
Elyra stepped back as Bastion charged at the boulder before using Shield Bash. He slammed into it, sending it rolling aside and revealing more of the same cliffside. Seraphina tossed a stone at the seemingly solid wall, and it phased through without resistance.
"Looks like we found our entrance. I'll head in first to cause some confusion. Follow after a few minutes and secure a defensible position if the path splits," Seraphina instructed.
"Alright, be careful," Bastion said.
"I will," Seraphina replied before heading inside.
Bastion's group entered after her, finding themselves in a dark cave that stretched deeper into the mountain.
A minute later, Bastion suddenly commanded Elyra, "Follow her and make sure she's safe."
"Yes, Master."
Elyra moved deeper into the cave and disappeared into the shadows.
"Are you sure? We might need the extra backup," Lilia asked.
"It's fine. Nothing will get past me," Bastion replied confidently.
A few minutes later, Bastion and Lilia advanced deeper into the cave. Occasionally, they came across the bodies of dead lookouts. Their throats were slit with no signs of struggle. It seemed Seraphina knew a thing or two about infiltration.
Bastion and Lilia continued until they reached a fork in the cave. The tunnel was wide enough for several dwarves to stand shoulder to shoulder, and the ceiling rose about ten feet high, giving them plenty of space to hold their ground.
Bastion glanced around and noted that the area was quite defensible, provided they had proper lighting. He took out a few enchanted metal spikes and embedded them into the ceiling and walls. They glowed faintly, casting enough light to illuminate the entire passage.
"Looks like this will be our spot. I'll start setting up defenses while you freeze the ground into slick ice. Make sure it's nice and smooth."
"Okay."
Meanwhile, Elyra quietly followed Seraphina deeper into the hideout in pitch black darkness.
She observed as Seraphina used several potions along the way. Some were easy to recognize, such as a night vision potion, while others remained a mystery to her.
She watched as Seraphina disappeared after dousing herself with an invisibility potion, then silently incapacitated the guards one by one using vaporized sleeping potions. After each one collapsed, she would calmly slit their throats before moving on.
Elyra was genuinely impressed by her infiltration and assassination skills, though she still noticed areas that could be refined. She needed to step more lightly to reduce noise, wear tighter clothing to avoid fabric rustling, take shallower breaths, learn to contain her mana more efficiently, and aim for the arteries rather than just the throat. Yes, there was still plenty of room for improvement.
Seraphina reached the heart of the hideout, where the cultists had gathered. Rather than launch a direct attack, she slipped into their sleeping quarters and vaporized bottles of sleeping potions into the air. That should make their eventual assault far less troublesome.
Once finished, she moved into the storage facility where the cultists kept their supplies. From food and clothing to tents, weapons, armor, and raw material for rituals, she took everything they had. Just in case they chose to fortify themselves and hold their ground instead of fleeing as expected.
Suddenly, distant explosions echoed through the hideout.
"Looks like Aurelia has started her assault. Eli," Seraphina called out to the shadows.
There was no response, so she called again.
"I know you're there, Eli. Bastion would never let me come alone. He worries too much."
This time, Elyra's head emerged from the shadows, ready to receive orders.
"I want you to guard that passage," Seraphina said, pointing to a tunnel separate from the one they had entered. "It should be another escape route, so make sure no one gets through."
With a slight nod, Elyra slipped back into the shadows.
"Time to stir up some more chaos," Seraphina muttered as she made her way toward the main gathering hall, arms full of potions of every kind.
Meanwhile, Aurelia led her party in a full-force assault on the cave entrance. Knowing they needed to draw the cultists out, she raised her staff high and used her strongest skill.
"Sanctuary of Brilliance!"
Light burst from her small frame, flooding the area and surging through her allies like a battle cry. The sudden brilliance disoriented the demon worshipers, weakening them and sending waves of panic through their ranks.
Cyrus launched his phoenix with a fiery screech, then hurled a fireball that set a few guards on fire. Tobin followed with a gust that fanned the flames, spreading the flames to those nearby. Emberlyn charged through the smoke and cut down the survivors.
The ten guards at the entrance were dispatched in moments, clearing the way for the group to storm into the hideout.
The phoenix, now blazing brighter under Aurelia's buffs, led the charge and filled the tunnels with fire and heat as the assault pushed deeper.
Tobin maintained the blaze by channeling the smoke upward, keeping it above their heads, while drawing in fresh air from outside.
They encountered little resistance before reaching the main gathering hall, where Seraphina unleashed a relentless barrage of potions on the priests leading the demon worshipers. She hurled freezing brews, vaporous sleeping mixtures, flaming concoctions, and even explosive vials.
It was utter chaos.
Aurelia and her party joined the fray, further weakening the panicked priests with her domain skill. As direct enemies of the Goddess of Brilliance, the Rank 2 priests were especially vulnerable to its effects. Even if there were Rank 2s, they were easily taken down by the group.
Once the main gathering hall was secured, Aurelia approached Seraphina to report.
"We've cleared all the passages. There shouldn't be anyone left," she said, her eyes drifting toward an ornate double door that radiated a sinister presence. "Should we press on?"
"No. We rest and recover for now. There's no need to rush," Seraphina replied calmly. "We will need to prepare to take on the sanctum."
Suddenly, a series of thunderous explosions echoed from deep within the hideout, alerting the group.
"My fiancé is handling the rest."
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