The Aerial Observation Platform carried the Obsidian Phalanx deeper into the Eastern Territory. With the colossal SSS-rank signature of the Sylphid safely bypassed, Kaelus immediately refocused his vast mana output on clearing their path.
He directed the platform southward, toward the heart of the continent. The continuous, devastating power of the Enhanced Wind Needle Rain transformed the forest below into an ever-expanding zone of annihilation. Wave after wave of monsters, from C-rank up to A-rank, vanished into dispersed mana before they could even sense the attack platform above. Kaelus sustained this massive spell effortlessly, his mana reserve remaining entirely full—a feat that continued to baffle his 7-Star comrades. He deliberately ignored the focused Mana Sense on the northeast canyon, confirming his belief that the Sylphid was irrelevant to their mission goal.
The speed of their advance was breathtaking, cutting days off the original projected travel time to the Dragon's Cave.
As the platform continued its aerial sweep, Sylva Moonshadow checked her timer. It was time for the first mandatory report to the Mage Emperor. She retrieved the small, silver 5 Star High Rank Twin Communication Artifact—the limited, one-way signaling device.
She held the orb, knowing she had only thirty seconds to summarize their impossible journey.
"Mage Emperor Ian Skyrune," Sylva began, her voice crisp and professional, recording the message: "This is Sylva Moonshadow of the Obsidian Phalanx, reporting at the first eight-hour interval. Status: Mission operational. We are maintaining the infiltration line and have neutralized all major formations in our path. We encountered a critical threat—a single SSS-rank entity in the Northeast Canyon—and Kaelus successfully neutralized it without engaging our forces. The path is clear. Proceeding at maximum speed toward the Nexus Point. We have suffered zero casualties. End report."
She released the button. The orb pulsed, transmitting the condensed message directly to Ian Skyrune.
Zane watched Kaelus, who was still maintaining the platform and the continuous rain of needles, then asked Sylva the crucial question: "Why did you say the SSS-rank entity is neutralized? You know that technically we didn't kill it."
Sylva shook her head. "I didn't lie, Zane; I just framed the data. I considered the SSS-threat dead to our mission, because if the others found out that a Sylphid—a mythical elemental spirit—is sitting in the Eastern Territory canyon, others might dive deep into the Eastern Territory looking for it, hindering our mission. Knowing the Mage Emperor, he needs to broadcast our report to the territory leaders and nobles as assurance. Also, I declared that the SSS-rank monster was killed by Kaelus so the nobles would stop underestimating our party. They may be capable, but compared to the real threats out here, that nobles are just greenhouse flowers—strong in a protected place, but unable to withstand real chaos."
In the Neutral Empire, within the Grand Mage Tower, Mage Emperor Ian Emrys Skyrune was seated in a strategy room with Morthos, the Speaker, and several key members of the Noble Council, all waiting impatiently for the Phalanx's first report. The atmosphere was strained.
Suddenly, the Emperor's twin orb, the Receiver artifact, pulsed with a sharp flare of green light. Ian snatched it up, activating the playback.
The room listened in shocked silence to Sylva's crisp, recorded voice: "...encountered a critical threat—a single SSS-rank entity in the Northeast Canyon—and Kaelus successfully neutralized it without engaging our forces. The path is clear. Proceeding at maximum speed toward the Nexus Point. We have suffered zero casualties. End report."
The orb went dark.
The Noble Council erupted in a cacophony of shouts, alternating between skepticism and disbelief.
Morthos, however, looked at the Emperor, his eyebrows raised. "Zero casualties, Your Majesty. And the immediate neutralizing of an SSS-rank threat... by a single S-rank adventurer. If Kaelus is capable of this, the Phalanx will certainly succeed in reaching the Cave."
Ian Emrys Skyrune didn't smile. He held the orb, his eyes thoughtful. "He neutralized a threat without engaging it? No, Morthos. Sylva is smarter than that. She is telling me one thing for the council, but sending a second message to me. Whatever that SSS-rank threat was, she killed the information about it to protect the mission. And Kaelus's power continues to defy the very laws of our magic."
He stood up, his resolve firm. "Morthos, send the next round of logistical support to the forces standby on the Eastern Border. Tell the leaders that one of the immediate threat is contained, and they have three more eight-hour intervals before they need to prepare for the next phase. We wait for the next report."
The Phalanx continued its silent, lethal advance. Kaelus was maintaining the wide-area Enhanced Wind Needle Rain, slowly but surely purging the Eastern Territory below them. The map, now largely clear of C-, B-, and A-rank threats, suddenly flashed a sharp, singular red dot.
"Kaelus, focus your needle to that S-rank monster," Zane commanded, leaning over the holographic map. "Let's see if it can withstand that bombardment."
Kaelus focused the massive, continuous skill directly onto the S-rank mana signature. A minute of relentless, concentrated Wind Needle Rain tore into the beast below. On the map, the sharp red signature flickered, dimmed significantly, and then, slowly, vanished.
The others exchanged amazed looks. A low-tier S-rank monster had been killed remotely by a continuous basic Wind technique.
Kaelus immediately resumed the wide-area Mana Sense, allowing the system to automatically detect and eliminate the lower-ranked threats ahead.
Zathis punched the air. "I'm so bored! Let's kill the next S-rank monster! I think my body will become stiff if I don't fight below!"
Zane chuckled, acknowledging the Lizardman's restlessness. "Well, let's take turns. Kaelus will stay in the Wind Carriage, maintaining the Wind Needle skill. We are grouping ourselves into two teams—Jian, Vara, Kaelan, and Sylva are Team A, and Grund, me, and Zathis are Team B."
Zane started to give further instruction to Kaelus: "Kaelus, if you detect another S-rank—"
The platform's mana sense beeped sharply, cutting Zane off.
"S-rank monster below," Kaelus reported calmly, pointing to a fresh, potent red dot that had just appeared, relatively close to their position.
"Okay, Kaelus, focus your Mana Sense into the other monsters; Team A, deploy!" Zane commanded.
Kaelus gently lowered the platform. As his four teammates prepared to jump, Kaelus subtly adjusted the continuous Wind Needle Rain pattern. The countless needles automatically diverted their path to create a protective, safe zone around his allies, ensuring they could freely move below without being hit.
"Let's finish this before the sun sets," Sylva said, drawing her staff as Team A jumped gracefully from the platform, eager for combat.