C21 Three Rules

"Egerton, what exactly is happening here?" Verl asked, clearly bewildered.

"If my guess is correct, we're currently experiencing what Bran described—the ordeal that young adventurer went through. As long as we follow the historical sequence of events and complete this mission, we should be able to make our exit successfully," Egerton explained.

"However, a Level SSS mission with Level SS difficulty is likely not as straightforward as it appears," Egerton mused internally.

Three Adventure Teams, each with considerable strength, had initiated an assault on over twenty Level A magical creatures and a hundred-plus Level B magical creatures. With proper coordination and solid leadership, they stood a good chance of resolving the conflict unscathed, especially with the support of two Weapon Masters.

Such a challenge didn't seem to merit a Level SS classification, leading Egerton to suspect there might be additional hidden factors at play.

"Where are the other two teams positioned? Can they easily make their way here?" Egerton inquired after some thought.

"They're positioned on either side of the corridor. It should take about five minutes to reach us, assuming they don't run into any magical creatures," the deputy captain responded.

"Have them all come here. I'll arrange their actions personally," Egerton commanded with ease.

Five minutes later, the Adventure Teams from both sides arrived as expected, including the individuals Egerton had been anticipating.

"You, you, you, and you—come with me. The rest of you, stay put and await further instructions." Without waiting to see if his orders were followed, Egerton beckoned the four he had singled out, along with Verl, to a secluded, misty area.

"Bran, I can't believe you've managed to secure a leadership role, while I'm still just a foot soldier," Bran lamented in his tawny garb. He wasn't just subordinate to Egerton in rank; his Class had changed entirely, making him a stealthy warrior.

"So, you're here as well," Hankamer observed, his voice tinged with surprise from within his heavy armor.

"What's our objective here, and where exactly are we? Egerton, Bran, have either of you figured it out?" Ngoh asked, echoing Bran's sentiment. Like Bran, he had been assigned a Class he was unfamiliar with—a healer, endowed with Healing Power.

"This must be the Illusion World that the young adventurer once experienced, right?" Macleay, seasoned and unflustered, made the observation.

The only thing that unsettled him was that his Class had changed to Purifier, effectively demoting him by one level.

"Bran, you're the most familiar with the young adventurer's story. Does any of this ring a bell?" Macleay inquired.

"Not in the slightest. Beyond what I've shared with you all, my memories of the young adventurer's other affairs are quite hazy," Bran replied, shaking his head.

"It seems we'll need to meet certain conditions if we want to leave," Macleay surmised.

"That's my thought too. To exit, we probably need to find a way to carry on with the Illusion World's narrative," Bran suggested.

"How do we do that, complete the narrative?" Ngoh asked, clearly confused.

"We're tasked with saving some nobles, right? I reckon that once we rescue them and ensure their safe departure from here, our mission will be considered complete," Bran speculated after a moment's thought.

"Egerton, do you foresee any difficulties?" Macleay asked, turning to Egerton with an implication in his tone.

"If it's merely a straightforward noble rescue, it shouldn't pose much of a challenge. With our collective combat strength and proper coordination, we can manage the rescue. But I doubt it'll be that straightforward," Egerton explained.

"Why do you think it won't be simple?" Bran asked, taken aback.

"If it were, why has no one ever successfully left this place throughout history?" Egerton countered.

"Are you suggesting we might face attacks from more formidable magical creatures during the rescue?" Ngoh asked, his voice tinged with alarm.

"Unlikely. If such creatures were to assault us, even the most formidable adventurer wouldn't make it out alive. And currently, there are no indications of powerful magical creatures in the vicinity. What we're likely dealing with here is human-caused trouble," Egerton clarified, shaking his head.

"Human-caused trouble?" Bran questioned, furrowing his brow.

"Looking at the situation, their operation seems like a rescue mission. Yet, three Adventure Teams have taken on the task simultaneously. If the rewards are set, the fewer survivors there are, the greater the share of the bounty," Egerton stated calmly.

"Are you suggesting the other two Adventure Teams might betray us?" Ngoh exclaimed, visibly shaken.

"I suspect there's even more to it than that," Egerton replied, shaking his head again.

"With all three Adventure Teams harboring hidden agendas, they'll surely be wary of one another. While this isn't hard to predict or resolve, the fact remains that no one has truly escaped the Illusion World. This suggests that the betrayers might not only be from outside our group."

"Only you would think this isn't difficult!" Bran muttered to himself.

"Trouble from all sides," Macleay aptly summarized.

"This is a checkmate situation, isn't it?" Hankamer began to fret.

"Pretty much. I'm becoming intrigued by that adventurer. How did he manage to walk away unscathed from such a predicament?" Egerton said, his face breaking into an intrigued smile.

"Maybe it's not as hard as we think, as long as we make sure we're the ones who survive in the end..."

Ngoh tried to reassure himself, but the thought of the grim outcomes silenced him.

Only such treacherous and perilous challenges could have led to the downfall of so many distinguished adventurers throughout history.

Even if we step back, we still don't know how to leave this place. So, giving our best is the only way forward.

"Aren't you scared?" Verl asked, looking at the composed Egerton, a wave of reassurance washing over her.

"Why would I be scared? I'm more excited now than ever!" Egerton said, flashing a confident grin.

"You all head back first and look after yourselves. That's your sole task," Egerton instructed Bran and the others.

"Show some respect. I am your senior vice-captain, after all!" Macleay insisted, though he felt somewhat reassured.

He had to admit that even as the vice-captain of the Sunstriders, having battled through countless challenges within the Skyreach Spire, he still felt a sense of bewilderment and fear in the face of such a dire situation, but he managed to conceal it well. He was supposed to be the one comforting the rookies and leading them to safety, yet here he was, being consoled by another newcomer who seemed even more seasoned than himself.

"Garros, you're absolutely right. Even at Class 2, this person is bound to shine brightly!"

"Captain Elvin, if you have something to say to our team, why the secrecy?"

The captain of the Winterbloom Adventure Team spoke up with a hint of hostility as Egerton and the others made their way back.

"Indeed. With time pressing, we should move quickly. Otherwise, if the marquis's eldest son gets frightened and it affects our final reward, it won't be good for any of us," the captain of the Stormrage Adventure Team pressed.

"Heh, no need to rush. I must first confirm everyone's Class before we can plan our next move," Egerton said with a chuckle.

"We've already informed you about the Class. What's the purpose of asking again?" Captain Winterbloom asked with a chilly tone.

"Just double-checking for safety. No need to fuss over it. The overall plan remains the same as before. We have twenty minutes until the defense door is compromised. I'll spare the details of the private strategy. Our strength is solid. In ten minutes, we'll initiate the attack. Captain Frost, your Adventure Team will lead the assault. Employ ice magic to subdue the magical creatures, then establish order and restrict their attacks to us. This will free up the two Weapon Masters. Captain Stormrage and our team will then encircle and focus on taking out the Feltouched first," Egerton outlined succinctly.

"Hmph, I was expecting some grand strategy, but this is exactly what we had in mind," Captain Winterbloom huffed before departing.

"Captain Elvin, we'll also get ready," Captain Stormrage said, giving a shoulder clasp before floating away.

"Elvin, this plan doesn't seem all that different from the previous one," remarked the vice-captain once the others from the Adventure Team had vanished.

"There's no need for changes. I only called them to confirm a few details," Egerton replied with a smile.

"You've clearly thought this through," the vice-captain noted, grasping the situation without further inquiry.

"Lately, Hayo has been acting odd. His mother appears to have disappeared."

"Yes, I'm aware," Egerton acknowledged with a nod, remaining noncommittal.

"Could Hayo be the traitor?" Verl whispered once they were alone.

"Possibly, but he's certainly not the linchpin," Egerton shook his head, casting a glance at Hayo's slender silhouette.

"Yet, he might just be the most crucial piece of all," Egerton mused internally.

Ten minutes of silence ensued, punctuated only by the grating sound of magic battering the iron door. Then, as a swath of frost descended from the heavens, instantly immobilizing the actions of hundreds of magical creatures within the vast space, a wave of familiarity washed over the battlefield. Egerton set forth simple, yet effective rules.

Rule 1: All magical creatures are to attack only those humans within the confines of the icy domain.

Rule 2: The attack patterns of magical creatures adapt to those of humans.

Rule 3: Once more than half of the magical creatures target a single person, the rest will follow suit.

These three intangible rules governed the icy expanse, prompting an even more mischievous smirk to play on Egerton's lips.

"I expected you to have some sort of trap in store, but it seems this is all you've got!"

He dodged with a calculated rhythm, ensuring that the magical creatures' animosity would ultimately converge on the unsuspecting team.

That team was none other than Elvin's.

What no one could have anticipated was that the one assuming Elvin's role was an All-Powerful being from another realm, a supreme entity versed in countless fearsome rules. How could such a being fail to detect these subtle signs?

"You're really out of luck, having me switch to this Class. You see, compared to my current Class, this is the only one I truly respect on the Sylvian continent!"

Riding on a wisp of wind, Egerton vanished among the throng.

The next moment, he soared into the heart of the battlefield.