I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

”I didn’t want it to come to this, but the conflict has already started.” Lian said quietly.

”Normally, it shouldn’t be a problem. We just found the listening device. If we act wisely, we could ask Maelor for an explanation, but do you really think he’ll give a real one?” He continued.

”If that prisoner or the documents related to him are still beneath the Rootspire, they’ll have enough time until morning to move everything. Besides, as I said, Marcus, Ethan, and Cassian’s lives are also in danger.”

”So what’s your suggestion?” Seraphina said.

Lian looked at the city map mounted on the wall. The Rootspire was in Vhalaris’s center.

There were several security rings around it, and its military entrance was controlled through the central bridge.

”We don’t have time to waste. On the other hand, for now, you don’t need to get involved.”

”So I’ll do something that makes them take me down there themselves.”

It took a few seconds for the meaning of the sentence to become clear to the others.

”What do you mean by ’them taking me down there themselves’?” Liana asked in confusion.

Lian did not answer. He had explained enough, and the time for action had come. He moved toward the door.

Rindo stood up and blocked his path.

”Lian, what exactly are you thinking?” For some reason, he had a bad feeling. He could sense that this boy was about to execute an incredibly foolish idea!

”I’m not waiting for a visitation permit, and I won’t let them move the Ruined Realm native or our friends, or execute them.”

Rindo stepped closer.

”You just arrived in Vhalaris. You don’t even know the city’s full structure. Don’t tell me you’re going to attack the prison? That’s complete madness!”

Upon hearing his words, the others suddenly understood what Lian’s idea was, and they all stared at him in disbelief, as if looking at a madman.

If this wasn’t suicide, it was definitely suicide!

Only Seris had excitement in her eyes, as if they were finally going to do things her way!

”Don’t worry.” Lian placed his hand on the door handle.

”Whatever you’re going to do, explain it first.” Rindo grabbed his arm.

He gave a brief look at Rindo’s hand, then at his eyes.

”If I explain, you’ll stop me.”

”Because it’s a stupid idea! Get that foolish idea out of your head! You’re putting everyone in danger!”

”Probably.”

The veins of anger on Rindo’s face became more prominent.

”I won’t allow it. You’re going to risk the safety of all of Ashfall Ward, and more importantly, your own safety and the group members’!”

”I know you want to save them, but this is not the way! We can find a way together. First, we get out of here, and then we come back to save them!”

Lian pulled his hand out from between his fingers without violence.

”Then it’s better if you don’t follow me.”

”Lian, wait!” Seraphina stepped forward and tried to stop him.

It was impossible to let Lian execute such a foolish and suicidal idea!

Even though she was also worried about their other three members, Lian’s life was more important to her than all of them! It was impossible to let him harm himself!

But he opened the door.

The warm air of the district entered the room. The sound of coordinated footsteps could be heard from outside.

Before leaving, Lian noticed that the Cindari forces had reacted faster than he had expected.

More than twelve soldiers were approaching in the street in front of the council building.

Their black and red armor shone under the roots’ light. At the head of the group, Kael was moving.

His long spear was in his right hand, and his expression no longer held the calmness of the city’s entrance route.

When Lian came out of the building, Kael raised his hand. The soldiers behind him stopped and took positions in two rows.

”Outsider.”

The commander’s voice echoed in the street.

The humans near the council building stopped moving, and a few reached for their weapons.

”Stay there.” The commander continued, his gaze briefly falling on the people behind Lian.

Seraphina, Liana, Seris, and Rindo had also come out of the building.

”The Rootwarden has ordered you to come with us for questioning.”

”At least they’re not planning to arrest you yet.” Rindo sighed quietly. Maybe this would be enough to buy them time.

Lian looked at the soldiers. The official interrogation would probably be in one of the Rootspire’s rooms.

They wouldn’t take him to prison. Even if they asked about the native language, the entire conversation would be controlled.

He took out the World Memory Map. The map’s living texture opened.

His position in Ashfall Ward was marked with a bright point.

The Rootspire was in the city’s center. The direct path passed through the central square, three bridges, and two security rings.

Then he closed the map.

Kael lit up the Mana veins on his spear.

”Surrender and come with us without resistance. This way, your own safety and your friends’ safety will be preserved.”

Lian stepped forward.

”Lian!” Seraphina said, warning in her voice. She knew her childhood friend well enough to know he wouldn’t surrender that easily.

”Damn it, how did everything come to this? Just a few hours ago, everything was calm!”

But Lian didn’t even look back.

”What is your decision?” Kael asked.

Lian activated Thunder Step. Blue lightning exploded in the street of Ashfall Ward, and the bright light turned everything white for a moment.

The sound of air breaking echoed among the buildings. Before the soldiers could fully react, Lian had disappeared from their view.

A trail of electricity remained on the ground and walls. He appeared on the roof of a building over thirty meters away.

”Stop him!” Kael immediately turned around.

The soldiers scattered. Two archers raised their arrows.

One of the Cindari officers placed his hand on a metal plate and sent a red signal into the sky.

An alarm sounded throughout Ashfall Ward.

Rindo stared at the point where Lian had disappeared for a few moments.

”Damn it, what is he doing?” He then shouted. The worst-case scenario was coming true!

Seraphina ran without hesitation. Liana lowered her hand, and a Summoning circle formed beneath her feet.

”Shadow Wolf!”

The black wolf came out of her shadow. Its red eyes fixed on the trail of lightning remaining on Lian’s path.

”When I catch him, I’ll kill him myself before the Cindari do!” Liana said angrily.

Seris watched the escape route for a few moments. Lian was not heading toward the exit walls or the city gate.

The trail of Thunder Step extended directly toward Vhalaris’s center.

”He’s not running away.”

Rindo, who was ready to follow him, turned to Seris.

”What?”

Seris picked up her sword from the table by the door and moved toward the street.

”He’s heading toward the Rootspire.” She didn’t care what decision Lian had made, but she intended to help him.

Liana and Seraphina felt the same. It didn’t matter to them what decision he had made; they supported him.

But so far, they were certain he intended to attack the prison and free their friends.

Lian moved across the rooftops of Ashfall Ward.

The buildings in this section were older than other parts of the city. Some roofs were reinforced with temporary plates, and some roots still carried traces of burns from years past.

He jumped between two buildings. His right foot landed on the wall’s edge.

Before falling, he activated Thunder Step again. Lightning crawled over the surface of a massive root.

Lian appeared on a higher level of the city.

The alarm sounded from within the trunks, a deep and vibrating sound that was not made of metal but produced by Vhalaris’s roots themselves.

With every beat of the alarm, the red lines inside the city’s channels became brighter.

The Cindari people stopped in the streets. Sellers left their goods, mothers pulled their children off the path, and hunters went for their weapons.

Lian crossed over a narrow bridge. On the other side, the first group of soldiers blocked his path.

Eight spearmen with rectangular shields took formation on the bridge. Two archers were behind them.

”Halt!” the group’s commander shouted.

Lian did not slow down. The spear tips lit up with red energy. He could easily see their movement paths.

Two spears from the center and three strikes from the sides. The archers would release their arrows a few moments later.

He activated Thunder Step at a short distance. Blue lightning appeared right in front of the shield line.

The distance was so close that the soldiers did not expect Lian to enter their formation directly instead of passing over them.

[Iron Fortress Charge]

Compressed defensive pressure formed around his shoulder and upper body.

Lian slammed his shoulder into the center of the first shield. A sound like a hammer hitting a wall passed through the bridge.

The central soldier was pushed back several meters. His back hit the spearman behind him, and the defensive line opened for a moment.

Lian passed through the gap, and a soldier from behind turned his spear.

He bent his body to one side, and the red tip of the weapon passed by his neck.

Then he grabbed the soldier’s wrist and, with a controlled spin, used his weight against him. The Cindari’s body was lifted off the ground and fell on the bridge’s surface.

Lian could have broken his arm, but only removed the weapon from his hand.

The archers released their arrows. One was coming toward his chest, and the other was aimed at his escape route.

Lian stepped onto the bridge’s edge and threw himself down. The arrows passed over his head and fell for a moment into the empty space between the city’s two levels.

The river glowed in the depth below him. Before the fall could gain speed, he activated Thunder Step.

Lightning passed through the tree’s wall.

Lian appeared on the roof of a building at a lower level and moved toward the Rootspire again.

The city’s alarm intensified. The gates closed one after another.

Soldiers appeared on the towers. Several Ballistas aimed at the main paths, though they were not yet preparing to fire inside the city.

Lian saw all these movements on the World Memory Map.

The map did not show living creatures, but with every gate closing and every bridge structure changing, it calculated a new path.

Behind him, Seraphina, Liana, Seris, and Rindo reached the first bridge.

The Ashfall Ward soldiers had blocked the path.

”Move aside!” Seraphina shouted angrily.

”An arrest order has been issued. No Outsider is allowed to leave the district.” one of the soldiers said.

Seraphina placed her hand on her sword’s hilt. A very faint light formed on the blade.

Rindo grabbed her arm.

”If we attack here, it will be exactly what I was afraid of.”