Sorcerer's Handbook-Chapter 567: Nightfall

The night shook the earth!

A sound like a collapsing tower echoed from Nightfall City, the ground trembled, flames flickered, and even the night seemed to be scattered.

“What…” Ashe and the others heard the supplicant Norey murmuring in disbelief, “This isn’t what was agreed upon…”

Even without knowing the details of the deal between the Nature Cult and Silver Lantern (they naturally inferred from Norey’s words that they had almost been tricked by Silver Lantern), Ashe and the others could guess some of it-Silver Lantern’s goal was unknown, but what the Nature Cult wanted was undoubtedly for Silver Lantern to collaborate with them from within to breach Nightfall City’s defenses.

But now it was night, and even if Silver Lantern made any moves, the Nature Cult would find it hard to respond. Not to mention that a siege had just ended, leaving everyone exhausted, the sorcerers’ spellforce mostly depleted, and even the divine hosts might not have fully recovered.

If the battle during the day was a straightforward duel, then continuing to attack now would be like dragging both sides into a chaotic melee in the mud.

Moreover, without the Nature Cult’s coordinated assault, could Silver Lantern really break through the city walls?

It wasn’t that Ashe and the others doubted Silver Lantern’s strategic capabilities, but the Twinborn Cult wasn’t made of Lala Fatty.

As the stronghold of the Twinborn Cult, Nightfall City had resisted countless sect raids. The city walls were a hundred meters high, layered with defenses, and from what Ashe and the others could see, they were reinforced with Earth spells, Senlo, and metal from various Spellcasting Sects. Not only was there the Miracle of kinetic transfer to disperse impacts into the ground, but there were also various repair mechanisms. For instance, when a section of the wall was breached not long ago, it was quickly filled with vine-infused concrete, leaving no opportunity for the Nature Cult to expand their gains.

Previously, Igor had gathered much Intelligence on Nightfall, and the most frequent keywords were ‘isolated,’ ‘impenetrable,’ and ‘enigmatic.’ The Twinborn Cult occasionally leaked some highly valuable gray fox heritage, and nearby sects had often targeted them, but at most, they could only occupy subordinate towns. No force had ever managed to breach Nightfall City.

As the oldest wasteland sect, Nightfall’s foundation could not be overestimated.

Even if Silver Lantern could destroy the city gates, the Twinborn Cult could repair them with a Miracle within minutes.

And it wasn’t as if the Twinborn Cult lacked divine hosts. Even if the divine hosts couldn’t defeat her, would the Twinborn Cult really adhere to any code of honor when dealing with someone like Silver Lantern?

Yes, Silver Lantern had six lives, but the Twinborn Cult numbered in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.

The most striking characteristic of the Senlo Sect was that its disciples truly feared no death.

If Silver Lantern had been fighting a guerrilla war outside, few in the Senlo sect could have captured her. But if Silver Lantern was trapped, any sect could exhaust her Demi-God power through sheer numbers.

While divine hosts possessed combat strength that surpassed legendary sorcerers, they were essentially just super soldiers on a larger scale. Unlike legendary sorcerers, they couldn’t wield the Miracles that could twist the tide of battle. Not to mention, aside from Ashe, other divine hosts had time limits-they might have to flee after less than three minutes.

Therefore, Silver Lantern’s chaos could only turn into a significant outcome if the Nature Cult launched a strong offensive in coordination. Even if the Nature Cult moved immediately, by the time they reached the city walls, Silver Lantern might already have been captured and beaten by the Twinborn Cult.

Compared to Norey’s grim expression, Ashe couldn’t help but feel a sense of glee. If Silver Lantern’s plan was exposed and she was caught and beaten by the Twinborn Cult, he would naturally be delighted, even feeling a refreshing sense of “you’ve got what you deserved.”

However, Igor’s expression also turned grim.

Seeing that Norey wasn’t paying attention to them, Igor stepped back behind the group and whispered, “We might actually have to help Silver Lantern escape.”

“Why?”

“If Silver Lantern dies, you’ll become the complete Tactile Sense,” the Con Artist said. “I have no interest in dealing with an evil version of you.”

Tamashi suddenly placed a hand on Ashe’s shoulder. “Although I deeply despise Four Pillars Cult members, as long as you promise to kill Mercury Trojan Horse and disband the Four Pillars Cult, I won’t hunt you down.”

Raven Annihilation’s words were spoken with absolute seriousness, as if he were the sanctuary sorcerer and Ashe the mortal. Yet Ashe didn’t doubt the weight of this threat-through their days of working together, Ashe had come to fully understand just how deadly this mortal could be.

In fact, Tamashi had once come dangerously close to killing Mercury Trojan Horse, standing just five steps away from her. But within those five steps, each one was filled with ‘traitors’ from the Raven Annihilation Cult.

On that day, only two remnants of the Raven Annihilation Cult remained.

On that day, Mercury Trojan Horse never appeared in public again.

Sometimes Ashe wondered if Mercury Trojan Horse’s ‘possession of others’ ability as the Tactile Sense was a self-defense mechanism born out of her fear of Tamashi’s assassination.

Tamashi’s reason for traveling with Ashe and the others was simple-he was willing to cooperate as long as it involved killing bad people, and Silver Lantern was undoubtedly near the top of the list of evildoers in the Four Pillars Cult. Not to mention, capturing Silver Lantern might bring them closer to Mercury Trojan Horse. Even if Ashe refused Tamashi’s company, Tamashi would still follow behind like a Death Raven.

However, to pursue Silver Lantern, Tamashi was almost indispensable-before Ashe and the others mastered the Advanced Reconnaissance Miracle, Raven was the only one who could see through Silver Lantern’s delusions. Even with the prophecy miracles of the Mercury Trojan Horse, without Tamashi’s eyes, it would be difficult for Ashe and the others to track Silver Lantern.

But it was also because of this unwavering faith that if Ashe and the others turned into evil ravens, Tamashi would show no mercy. Tamashi never demanded they follow any rules or commandments, just silently sharpened the blade behind them.

It was then that Ashe realized why Igor was so wary of Tamashi.

It wasn’t just caution towards a stranger.

“Alright,” Ashe laughed, “If I really become a bad Tactile Sense, then the three of you will have to stop me together.”

“Can I defect to you?” Harvey asked.

Boom!

The commotion in the city didn’t subside over time; instead, it grew fiercer, and the tremors gradually spread, even shaking the ground where Ashe and the others stood!

Crack!

A shocking fissure appeared in the distant thick city wall, rapidly spreading and branching like countless insects emerging. Seeing this, the Nature Cult couldn’t remain idle. Norey unfurled his golden and silver Twin Wings, his body erupting into roaring flames, instantly transforming into the Immortal Flame Bird, emitting a clear and melodious cry!

What the Nature Cult excelled at was mimicry miracles, transforming into fantastical creatures!

At the same time, various other Nature Cult camps also erupted with different cries, all disciples Armored and armed with guns, ready to march into hell!

Before Ashe and the others could decide what to do, they saw the fissures in the city wall come to a halt, spreading outwards along the ground like a virulent poison.

And the ground’s tremors had reached a level where it was impossible to stand steadily. Ashe and the others saw fine cracks forming at their feet, watching as sand was quickly sucked into them.

In a flash, Ashe immediately grabbed Tamashi by the hand!

Boom!

With a deafening roar, the earth shattered like a mirror.

The city, the camps, and even the ground further away… everything seemed to be built on a fragile pane of glass, and now that the glass was broken, everything fell through.

Countless golden and silver Twin Wings unfurled and ascended, the flying sorcerers escaping the earth’s maw. Their gazes passed over chunks of soil, reaching a vast underground space, discovering a city that surpassed the times.

Skyscrapers, rivers of vehicles, and lighting like stars, reflecting the galaxy.

It wasn’t a ruin left from the past, nor a town surviving after Doomsday. It was a complete, aesthetically designed, fully functional city from the divine era.

The underground dwellers looked up, gazing at the collapsing ceiling. Neither the dirt and rocks nor the falling city debris harmed them, because above the city were layers of protective membranes. These membranes were undoubtedly connected to the earth, capable of dispersing the pressure even from the weight of the city’s remains.

Not just the Nature Cult, even Ashe and the others were stunned.

Indeed, everything needed context. If they had seen this city in the Gospel, Ashe and the others might have nodded in acknowledgment, but they wouldn’t have been overly impressed. However, after experiencing the camps at the bathhouse, the mental hospital, the Food Factory Town, and various other ruins, suddenly encountering a proper city, how could Ashe and the others remain indifferent?

No one had expected that the impenetrable fortress above ground was merely a facade. The true Nightfall was actually an underground city.

Not just a single building like the Transcendent Cult, but a complete city!

At that moment, Ashe and the others saw a flicker of firelight emerge from the falling city debris.

It was a firelight they were all too familiar with.

The flames grew increasingly intense, eventually turning nearly milky white, as if trying to dye the night into day. But this fire didn’t represent light; it symbolized the Inferno of Tribulations.

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Pop.

When the Inferno of Tribulations descended, the protective ‘membranes’ shielding Nightfall shattered like bubbles. The city debris, sand, rocks, and the over hundred thousand Natural Legion fell like an exposed calamity, plummeting straight into the city.

Boom!

Skyscrapers toppled, sending up clouds of dust.

Falling rocks rained down, scarring the face of Nightfall!

Back in the Gospel Kingdom, Ashe had imagined how spectacular it would be if the city on the second level collapsed. He never thought he’d witness it in the Senlo Kingdom.

The Immortal Flame Bird, the Golden Lion Ape, the Frost Peacock, and the divine hosts of the Nature Cult-four upper-tier combatants led the two-wings sorcerers into Nightfall.

Their fanatical roars swept through the night of Senlo like a gale.

“Born of nature, shaped by nature, returning to nature, transcending nature!”

“Perfect Twinborn, Fate Spiral. The Path of Redemption lies within it.”

There were no threats or provocations. The war of faith was too pure to allow for any compromise. Nightfall was vast, but it couldn’t accommodate two sects. It had become an arena with no way out.

The Twinborn Cult wouldn’t flee; behind them was Nightfall. The Nature Cult wouldn’t flee either; if they couldn’t bring back these hundred thousand troops, the Nature Cult might as well disband.

In other words, when the earth collapsed, only one sect would climb out of this abyss.

Almost instinctively, Ashe and the others wanted to get as far away from here as possible. Despite all they had been through, at their core, they were ordinary sorcerers who had never experienced war-products of a peaceful era, like greenhouse flowers. Even Igor, not to mention Harvey, felt little excitement at the sight before them-Harvey only enjoyed the aftermath of war, the corpses strewn across the battlefield, not the war itself.

Yet, they couldn’t escape.

As the earth collapsed, the night had silently crept closer, now pressing against the edges of the pit. If Ashe and the others tried to fly out, they would inevitably face the test of Choking Green.

However, even if it meant expending the energy of their atonement vouchers, Ashe was willing to flee the war.

But there was another reason-they had come here to find the Reconstitution Elixir.

“This is our chance,” Igor said. “To resist the Nature Cult, the Twinborn Cult’s defenses on key resources must be weakened. If the Reconstitution Elixir truly exists, it must be in this city.”

“But they won’t see us as just passing by for a midnight snack,” Ashe replied.

“It’s fine. We have Sanctuary. We don’t need to fight them head-on.”

“It’s Ashe and me,” Harvey reminded him. “You haven’t mastered Sanctuary yet.”

A few days ago, after their souls had recovered, Harvey and Igor underwent the Ritual of Prohibited Synchronization of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon for the second time. Harvey succeeded in constructing Sanctuary, while Igor was still working on it. Besides talent, their personalities also played a significant role in their progress: Harvey thoroughly enjoyed stepping into death during the ritual, while Igor, well… he was a bit afraid of pain.

“I’ll just hide in your Sanctuary,” Igor said. “Sometimes, you have to take risks.”

The three of them looked at Ashe, who nodded. “Alright, but how do we find the elixir?”

“Hospitals and treasure vaults are the most likely places, maybe even near the Demi-God,” Igor mused. “We can’t just search randomly. We need to find a key figure to guide us…”

“The guiding Silver Lantern has appeared,” Tamashi, who had climbed onto Ashe’s back, suddenly pointed into the distance.

Following Raven’s direction, they saw Silver Lantern, her body wreathed in white flames, racing in the distance. Behind her were two trailing streaks of purple and blue light-clearly, the divine hosts of the Twinborn Cult!

“A chance to get the Reconstitution Elixir, and Silver Lantern on the brink of failure,” Ashe said, torn between laughter and tears. “Did all the good things just pile up at once?”