Chapter 403: Dungeon Outbreak [Part 1]
Chapter 403: Dungeon Outbreak [Part 1]
"Nicole, you've grown so much since the last time I saw you," Mayor Otto said with a smile. "How is your Mother? Is she recovering from her illness?"
"She is," Nicole replied. "You really don't plan to leave, Uncle?"
Otto shook his head firmly. "I will live and die with this city. That is the promise I have made to His Majesty."
"Uncle, how many guards and adventurers are left to defend this place?" Nicole inquired.
Mayor Otto was a very close friend of Nicole's mother since both of them had attended Brynhildr Academy when they were young.
He was also one of her mother's staunchest supporters. It was because of her connection with him that the other members of the Asta Family didn't dare to directly bully Nicole and her mother.
The Mayor of a Dungeon City held considerable influence among other Nobles. It was a terrible idea to make an enemy of him because he reported directly to the King.
"Not many," Mayor Otto replied with a resigned expression on his face. "This city will fall the moment the monsters scale or break through the City Walls."
"Uncle, what if I tell you that there is still a chance that we can turn the situation around?" Nicole asked. "What are you willing to pay to make it happen?"
"Anything," Mayor Otto replied in a heartbeat. "What do you want?"
"Did you send your treasures with your family?" Nicole asked.
Mayor Otto nodded. "I only kept a few, but the rest is with them."
"How many of the Wizards and Witches under your command still remain in this city?"
"Around thirty. They plan to help until they can no longer help. The majority of them will be riding their flying brooms while casting spells. If the city can't really be defended, they will escape as we've discussed."
"Thirty…" Nicole frowned. "It's barely enough."
Mayor Otto didn't know what Nicole was thinking, but he was really grasping for straws.
This was why when Nicole mentioned that there was a possibility of saving the city, he didn't shy away from asking her what she wanted.
"I will need them to do something for me," Nicole said after pondering for a few minutes. "Also, I need all the Beast Cores and Mana Crystals in your possession. We only have one shot at this, so make sure to loosen your pockets, Uncle."
"Girl, I'll likely end up dead if there is really a Dungeon Outbreak," Mayor Otto stated. "Do you think I will need Beast Cores and Mana Crystals when I'm dead? You can have them all. Just make sure that we get a fighting chance!"
Nicole nodded. "Don't worry, Uncle. I will do my best to help you overcome this calamity."
True to his word, Mayor Otto gave Nicole all the Beast Cores and Mana Crystals that were left in his treasury.
As the Mayor of a Dungeon City, more than half of the resources he received from the Dungeon were given to the Kingdom. However, that didn't mean that what was left was a small amount.
It wasn't.
In fact, it was more than enough for the Mayor to spend in his entire lifetime, so he gave half of it to his family when they escaped to the Capital. That way, even if he died, they would have the funds to survive for several years.
The only reason why he didn't give them everything was because he was hoping that the Beast Cores and Mana Crystals could be used to defend the city.
Although Mayor Otto was prepared to die, that didn't mean that he planned on dying.
On the contrary, he planned to do everything in his power to survive!
Mayor Otto then gathered all the Wizards and Witches who were still in the city and asked them to cooperate with Nicole, who planned to create a city-wide magic circle that she was planning to use to defend the city.
Sebastian and Ethan's Other Half were amazed by the runic symbols that Nicole had personally drawn in different locations in the city.
She then handed dozens of Mana Crystals to the Wizards and Witches and asked them to perform a chant while waiting for her signal.
Nicole stated that they only needed to start chanting once the Dungeon Monsters had left the Dungeon and were headed towards the city.
She added that they did not need to defend the city. All they needed to do was focus on chanting the spell that she had given them.
After Nicole finished writing the last symbol, she went to one of the rooms in the Mayor's Residence to rest.
The Mayor had already placed several guards on the City Walls, ready to sound the alarm the moment they saw the monsters within its vicinity.
Due to the majority of the people leaving Otto City, the city was very quiet.
There were a few lights here and there, which proved that there were still a few hundred people who chose to remain in the city.
Ethan also went to rest and prepared himself to fight anytime.
However, an hour before sunrise, the loud tolling of a bell reverberated in the city, waking everyone up from their slumber.
Ethan and Nicole immediately went to the balcony of their respective rooms and summoned their flying brooms.
The Wizards and Witches who chose to remain all soared toward the sky to look at the situation.
In the distance, hundreds of Monsters were starting to leave the Dungeon, making all of their faces turn grim.
"Everyone, please go to your assigned positions," Nicole said as she glanced at the Wizards and Witches, who had decided to stay. "If this plan fails, feel free to escape. But until then, please stay for as long as you can. We only have one shot at this."
If this was an ordinary time, these Wizards and Witches would not bother to listen to a teenage girl like Nicole.
However, they were the people who had lived in the City of Otto for many years and considered it their home.
Since Mayor Otto said that Nicole had a way to give them a chance to repel the Monsters, they were willing to listen to her and set aside their pride and seniority for a chance of survival.
One by one, the Wizards and Witches flew towards their respective places and waited for Nicole's signal.
"Are you ready?" Nicole asked Ethan, who had already summoned a pair of Fairy Wings onto his back and was hovering beside her.
"Yes," Ethan replied. "We can start anytime."
After hearing his reply, Nicole started to chant, and a pillar of golden light shot towards the heavens.
A moment later, more lights appeared as the city-wide Magic Circle that Nicole had prepared finally came to life.