Conquering The Novel

In the confined space of the caravan, Ares, Meira, and Elaine gathered, their attention fixated on the intricate blueprint meticulously drawn by Ares. The blueprint, fashioned solely from his memory, captured the essence of the castle they sought to infiltrate while awaiting Irethiel's return from her scouting mission.

Elaine's eyes widened with surprise as she observed the remarkably detailed blueprint. "Well, well, Ares, seems like your talents know no bounds. I'm impressed," she remarked, a playful tone lacing her words.

Meira nodded approvingly, a sense of pride emanating from her. "Indeed, Master, your skills continue to astound us."

Ares, his gaze unwavering from the blueprint, spoke with determination. "I sketched everything I could recall from my time in that castle. Every corridor, every secret passage, every hidden nook, and cranny."

The weight of anticipation filled the air, only to be interrupted by the fluttering of wings as a small crow soared through the open window. With a graceful transformation, Irethiel assumed her humanoid form, her keen eyes surveying the room.

"I'm back," she announced, her voice calm and collected. "I've gathered valuable information about the castle's security and potential vulnerabilities."

Ares leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Irethiel. "Tell us everything," he urged, eager to hear the details that would aid their infiltration.

Irethiel began to lay out her findings. "The castle is heavily guarded, as expected. They have increased security measures due to the upcoming coronation. The perimeter is protected by a combination of elite knights and magical barriers. It won't be easy to breach the outer defenses."

Irethiel continued, her voice steady. "However, there is a potential flaw in their defenses near the eastern tower. During the coronation preparations, they've brought in additional workers and personnel. The influx has led to a temporary relaxation in security protocols in that area. It may offer us an opportunity to slip through undetected."

Meira, her eyes gleaming with excitement, leaned forward. "Sounds like a plan, but what about the interior guards and surveillance?"

Irethiel nodded. "The interior is guarded by well-trained knights and mages. However, there are certain blind spots and hidden passages that could be exploited," Irethiel said as she began to mark them on the blueprint of the castle that Ares has sketched.

Ares glanced at the blueprint, his mind assimilating the information. "Good work, Irethiel. Our objective is clear—we must reach Artin and eliminate him before the coronation ceremony begins."

"...Can't we just barge in and eliminate anyone who opposes us? It would make our task much easier. With my strength at your disposal, I could lay waste to the entire castle," Elaine proposed, her mischievous grin widening. "I can't wait to put an end to this farce."

Ares paused, contemplating Elaine's suggestion, before offering a measured response. "I appreciate your willingness to assist, and your formidable abilities are indeed tempting. However, we must exercise caution. A reckless assault would not only brand me as a criminal but also hinder my plans to attend the upcoming conference of monarchs. I wish to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

Elaine's expression brightened as she interjected, "Ah, the conference! I, too, have received an invitation, but I never had much interest in attending or involving myself in such formal affairs. However, if it means accompanying you, I might find it more intriguing. Perhaps we can forge a deeper connection amidst the diplomatic intrigue."

"...."

A brief moment of silence enveloped the room as Irethiel and Meira exchanged glances, considering the implications of Elaine's words.

Ares redirected their attention, his voice decisive. "Let's set aside the conference for now and concentrate on the task at hand. Once we resolve this situation, we can discuss further plans."

Meira, Elaine, and Irethiel nodded in agreement, refocusing their attention on the blueprint, Ares guiding them through his well-crafted plan. Each detail was carefully analyzed, and every potential obstacle was evaluated. Their collective intelligence and experience coalesced, forming a strategy that maximized their chances of success.

***

After their detailed discussion, the group found themselves near the towering castle. As they stood at the entrance, Ares took a moment to address his companions once again. "Remember, our goal is to reach Artin without unnecessary bloodshed. We must tread carefully and avoid alerting the entire castle."

Elaine chuckled, her mischievous nature still present. "Don't worry, Ares. I'll keep my destructive tendencies in check, unless absolutely necessary. It's more fun when they don't see it coming, don't you think?"

Ares spoke with a smile. "I trust you'll use your strength wisely, Elaine."

Meira nodded, her voice filled with loyalty. "I will ensure our path remains clear and swift, Master."

Satisfied with their commitment, Ares handed each of them an earpiece, ensuring seamless communication during their mission. As Elaine secured the earpiece, their connection was established, linking their thoughts and actions.

"Now, let us set our plan in motion," Ares declared, his voice laced with determination.

As if waiting for his words, Irethiel immediately transformed into her crow form, her ebony feathers shimmering under the moonlight. With a swift beat of her wings, she soared toward the eastern tower, where the security was temporarily relaxed.

As the mages on the tower's balcony caught sight of the approaching crow, confusion flitted across their faces. "A crow? What is it doing here?" one of them murmured.

Swap—

Seizing the opportunity, Ares swiftly activated his location swap skill, exchanging places with Irethiel in an instant. The seamless maneuver caught the mages off guard, their attention focused on the crow that had suddenly vanished.

!?

"H-Huh? Where did it disappear?"

Ares now stood on the tower's balcony, his presence concealed by the darkness. He silently observed the guards and workers entering the castle, their attention diverted from their surroundings.

Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Ares swiftly unsheathed his sword, his gaze unwavering as he activated his Atomic Slash skill. With a fluid motion, he unleashed a series of precise and devastating slashes toward the three mages controlling the magical barrier.

Swash— Swash— Swash—

The mages watched in horror as Ares' blade left behind trails of shimmering blue light. Before they could react, their bodies were severed into multiple pieces, lifeless and devoid of control.

However, the silence that followed their demise was abruptly shattered by blaring sirens echoing throughout the castle.

Beep— Beep— Beep

The unexpected wail of alarm pierced the air, jolting the guards into high alert, their footsteps quickening as they rushed to investigate the disturbance.

Beep— Beep— Beep

!?

Ares grimaced, his brows furrowing in frustration. "...Well, that's an unwelcome surprise," he muttered under his breath, his admiration for the enemy's cunning now replaced with annoyance.

As the lifeless bodies of the mages lay before him, Ares noticed a small, peculiar device attached to each of them. His eyes narrowed as he recognized it—a sophisticated tracking mechanism designed to detect any sudden demise and send an alert to the castle guards, including Artin himself.

Elaine's voice crackled through the earpiece, filled with amusement. "Oh boy, it looks like our plans for a stealthy approach have just gone up in smoke, haven't they?"

Ares sighed, his attention drawn to the commotion spreading through the castle. "Indeed, it seems that way," he responded. "But let's avoid unnecessary destruction—"

Before Ares could finish his sentence, a thunderous explosion shook the castle, followed by a blinding yellow beam that tore through its front, creating a massive hole in the fortified walls, before shattering the magical barrier into numerous pieces.

KABOOM!—

"....."

Ares blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by the hand, now rendered partially obsolete by the sudden alteration to the castle's structure.

unexpected display of power. He glanced at the blueprint in his hand, now rendered partially obsolete by the sudden alteration to the castle's structure.

Elaine's mischievous voice resonated through the earpiece. "Oh, were you saying something, Ares? I might have gotten a little carried away. But hey, it created quite the distraction, didn't it?"

'As expected of her, I guess?' Ares thought.

He paused for a moment before speaking, "...Let's just make the most of the chaos. Our path is now clear. Let's move forward and seize this opportunity."

With the castle's defenses in disarray and the guards scrambling to respond, the group pressed on, their footsteps swift and purposeful. They navigated through the damaged sections, utilizing the confusion to their advantage, while killing every guard in their wake. Their aim to avoid unnecessary casualties going to waste.

Their meticulously planned infiltration had morphed into a dynamic, on-the-fly operation. The confrontation with Artin drew closer with every step they took, and they remained undeterred by the unexpected twists and turns along the way. Together, they ventured deeper into the heart of the castle, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.