A city located in the southern part of the Elven Dimension. It was a city of little importance, normally used for elves who would be completely absorbed by the rotten part of the World Tree. In other words, it was a slaughterhouse for those who sided with the former king and the current princess. Several elves walked within it in chains, wearing torn or worn-out clothes. Their skin was pale, and their bones were visible beneath it, showing they hadn't eaten for days.
"Did you hear? Apparently they're going to use this city to make the traitors react."
"Use this city? So they're going to make it look like a normal city?"
"Yes, hahaha. If they fall for that, they're complete idiots."
Two corrupted elves were talking about the trap being prepared. The houses, nearly all destroyed, were being rebuilt by Circle Five mages. They had to leave the place in perfect condition. No one besides them and the higher ranks knew what happened inside, which was a good reason for corrupted elves in the know to come and have fun.
"We're also bringing prisoners, so we'll have many more toys to play with."
The two corrupted elves smiled as they began walking toward their new leader. This person was a tall elf with long hair tied back. His skin had a grayish tone different from the other corrupted elves, as if the corruption had stabilized instead of rotting him. He wore light black armor with dark silver details, unlike most who wore improvised pieces. His name was Ardelion.
Beside him stood another figure, shorter but with a heavier presence. A female elf with short white hair, black markings climbing from her neck up part of her face. Her eyes were completely black, with no visible white. She wore simple combat clothes, no heavy armor, just reinforced wraps around her arms and legs. Her name was Maeryn.
The two observed the city being rebuilt with indifference. Mages worked raising walls, adjusting rooftops, creating an illusion of normalcy. Meanwhile, prisoners were dragged into buildings that looked ordinary from the outside.
"How many were captured today?"
"Fourteen are being brought in. Three already died on the way through communication… tsk, they can't even do a simple job right without wanting to have fun."
Ardelion merely nodded. Maeryn kept her arms crossed, analyzing the flow of mana in the air, trying to sense something different with her own mana. She had seen what that locator mage was capable of doing and wanted to imitate it to earn more rewards from the queen.
"This plan has to work perfectly, Maeryn. That way we can—"
"Calm down, master. She will keep her promise… she has to."
One of the corrupted elves who had been talking earlier approached to report that the external preparations were complete. The two stopped talking and looked at him, waiting to hear how things were going—but he didn't finish his sentence before a blade pierced his chest from behind. There was no explosion, no exaggerated scream. Just blood spilling from his mouth as his body was held upright for a few seconds before falling.
"What the—"
The second corrupted elf beside the corpse tried to react, raising his hand to cast magic, but his head fell before he could finish. The city that was being prepared as a trap began turning into a battlefield. With suspicion, Ardelion watched the situation unfold, his fist clenched.
"Was there a leak of information? They arrived before the rest of the prisoners."
"I'm trying to communicate, but no one is responding."
"That's because they're being attacked on the way as well."
Hearing a voice from atop one of the houses, both looked up to see Hiderom with his two children behind him. Around them, multiple battles were breaking out as elves rescued civilians and prisoners from the buildings. Hiderom, Theleron, and Arkirya glanced at the condition of the elves in that city with anger directed at the corrupted elves.
"And don't even think about contacting the castle. We've blocked your communication with one of our mages."
"We have a Circle Nine here."
Ardelion's statement did not seem to surprise Hiderom. He knew that the Circle Nine present was Thalorien Sylvaeris, loyal to Elithia.
"Don't worry. We have a plan for him."
Ardelion turned toward where his Circle Nine should have been. The house he was hiding in had completely vanished. He had been concealed, waiting for the rescue attempt. Among so many houses, it should have been impossible to find him.
"Where did he go? And how did you make him disappear?"
"That's a secret. And even if it weren't, I wouldn't tell a corrupted elf."
"Maeryn, prepare for battle."
The two took their stances, facing the three ahead of them. Meanwhile, elsewhere—where the prisoners were supposed to be transported—several corrupted elves' bodies lay on the ground. In front of them stood Ravith, son of Azharkiel, and Sylphaer, son of Malik, observing two figures ahead. Those figures were Thalen and Erina, chosen for this mission.
"The plan is: while the monsters fight, we stall these two. That's all we have to do."
"You talk as if you don't want to win, Thalen. I don't know about you, but I intend to win."
"I intend to win too. I'm just reviewing the plan."
Thalen said this while looking at the sky, where a battle between two Circle Eights was taking place. It was Azharkiel fighting Tailon. Without a doubt, the human fighting the elf wanted a rematch against Virelle, but she had a more important role than wasting time in a fight she was certain she could win.
"All the attacks seem to be working well."
"Yes, even at the castle where the professor is."
Hearing Erina say that, Thalen turned his gaze toward the castle, where a massive explosion was occurring in the sky—not above the atmosphere, but high enough that it almost reached the castle. What was happening up there was undoubtedly a battle between Circle Nines, visible even from that enormous distance.
'I wanted to see the fight between Lord Cavirieth and Malik. I hope they record it so I can watch it later if I survive.'