The group followed the flow of the crowd, which led them straight toward West Hill—the same route they had traversed earlier that morning. But now, the entire population of the town was surging toward the mountain. No strange signs had appeared in daylight, save a few odd footprints. Could it all be happening only at night? Noel's mind raced.
"Something wrong?" Jura asked, stepping in front of Noel to prevent him from bumping into a tree. He hadn't wanted to interrupt Noel's thoughts, but it had become dangerous.
"No… nothing," Noel mumbled awkwardly.
"Look over there!" Hibiki pointed toward West Hill.
Scarlet blooms covered the mountain like a wave—hundreds of the Flower of the Underworld. Even the sky above West Hill was blood-red.
"A red sky and a blood moon… this isn't a good sign," Jura sighed. He'd planned to leave early, but seeing this, he stayed to help.
Suddenly, the crowd's pace quickened. The entire mood felt heavier, oppressive—as though guided by some unseen will.
Upon reaching West Hill, the landscape was drastically transformed from that morning's tranquil terrain. The full extent of whatever was happening in the dark now lay before them.
Ichiya stood out clearly in the crowd.
"Master Ichiya!" Eve called, excitedly.
"He won't wake up," Noelle said flatly.
Disappointed, Eve blinked—but determination quickly replaced it. He seemed to find new purpose at that moment.
"We should observe further. Acting rashly would be dangerous," Jura advised.
"That's our only option," Noel agreed.
No one really understood what was happening. Their intelligence was limited and the mission dangerously unpredictable.
Gaps turned into formation: the chaotic crowd restructured—knees dropping to the ground, each person clutching a Flower of the Underworld, beginning to kneel in unison.
A figure in a dark robe appeared under the moonlight—masked, face hidden.
"Welcome to West Hill of the Underworld," the robed figure intoned ominously. "Only the most faithful have gathered. You should be proud."
The worshipers, suddenly standing, intoned mechanically:
"For the Underworld, we pledge our loyalty."
"This is... impressive," Noel whispered, stunned.
"Let's keep observing," Jura suggested. As the eldest mage present, he knew better than to rush in. Stealth and patience were still the safest options.
"Now, let the ritual begin!" the robed leader declared.
The crowd surged with fervor. Waving the flowers, they chanted:
"The Underworld endures! The Underworld endures..."
The robed figure continued incantations, then the Flowers of the Underworld began growing at an alarming rate. West Hill became a sea of scarlet petals, the mass quickly encroaching on the town below.
This had never been visible by daylight—only at night did this occur. Noel felt the gravity of their situation: this mission was far larger and darker than he had anticipated.
"Shall we fall back?" Hibiki asked nervously.
"No," Jura replied instantly. "These are civilians—ordinary people. We can't fight them all. Especially while Ichiya is among them."
That bothered Ren. Ichiya's safety was too important to ignore.
"But if we do nothing..."
"We've all faced hard choices as mages. Sometimes the cruel path is the right one," Jura said forcefully. "Do you understand that?"
Eve's voice cracked. "Yes—but sometimes... friendship and bonds matter too."
Without hesitation, the three Blue Pegasus members charged into the crowd. Instantly, the formation was disrupted—chaos breaking out.
Eve blasted Avalanche, Hibiki unleashed Flash Strike, and Ren triggered Airburst—magic lighting up the night. Their divine intent was clear: subdue but not kill these people.
Each of them subdued multiple worshipers, rendering them unconscious. It was an intricate and precise intervention—something Noel never expected from another guild's mages. They proved themselves remarkably capable.
Noel gave Jura a subtle look—it was too late to follow any plan but this. The situation had spun beyond Noel's control. Only Jura might know what came next.
Jura shook his head and smiled faintly: Never ask me. I don't know either. These young ones... reckless, but still admirable—they're alive.
Then Jura cast Stone Fragment Rain—boulders rained down across West Hill.
Noel disappeared at once, melting into the crowd amid the magical chaos.
"An intruder!" the robed figure shouted, panicked. He hadn't expected anyone to disrupt the ritual.
"Followers—expel the intruder!" came his command.
The crowd, initially fighting without coordination, suddenly moved with uncanny unity. It was as though they had become one organism, guided by a hidden conductor.
One wave fell, another surged. Each wave seemed endless.
"How do we handle this? They're just flooding forward like a tide," Hibiki called anxiously.
"Focus—beware the rear!" Ivan warned.
"Levitation Shot!"
Cliffs of rock shot upward behind them, striking many followers and incapacitating them.
"You two pay attention—stop chatting." Ren snapped.
Noel slipped unseen among the crowd, undetected and unhindered. His goal was simple now: find out who that robed figure was and who orchestrated this ritual.
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