Chapter 38: The Call of Battle

Light stepped through the gates of the Safe Zone, his body sagging with exhaustion. He had fought relentlessly to ensure his family's safety, pushing his magical abilities to the brink. His family was by his side, their faces filled with a mix of relief and fatigue. The harsh reality of their journey weighed heavily on them, but they had made it.

The Safe Zone stood tall, its high walls shielding them from the horrors that still lurked outside. It was a brief respite in the midst of the chaos engulfing Bo City.

As they reached the gates, a man wearing the symbol of the Army approached. His uniform was crisp, his expression unreadable.

"Are you Light?" he asked, his voice stern but curious.

"I am," Light replied, still dripping with sweat, his body aching from the strain of magic and combat.

"Come this way. The Chief wants to see you," the man said, giving Light a curt nod before turning on his heel.

Light glanced at his family, giving them a reassuring look before following the man. He felt the weight of the journey settling in his bones, but the urgency in the man's voice pushed him forward.

The man led him toward a towering structure built from solid earth, a watchtower crafted by an Earth Magician. The tower loomed above them, its bare edges lacking any protective railing. High above, a figure stood with his back turned to them, the wind whipping through his unruly hair.

Light recognized the figure immediately—it was Chief Zhankong. His stance was firm, his aura exuding authority. The man who had once been a shameless, carefree instructor now commanded respect, a far cry from the man Light had met before. On either side of Zhankong stood a line of Battlemages, their windbreakers clear and fluttering in the gusts.

Light's eyes moved from Zhankong to the row of ten Battlemages. Each one of them was emitting powerful auras, unmistakably Peak Intermediate Mages. Their gazes were steely, all focused on the distant skyline, where the darkened dome of the Silver Commerce Tower loomed ominously in the distance.

Beyond that tower, a greater threat awaited—the Commander-level Magical Beast, the Darkwing Wolf. The ringleader of the calamity that had befallen Bo City.

"Chief, Light is here," the man said, saluting before retreating silently from the watchtower.

Zhankong did not turn to acknowledge Light's arrival. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the howling wind.

"Seeing you alive makes me very happy," Zhankong finally spoke, his tone far more serious than Light had ever heard it before.

The gravity of the situation was palpable. This was no time for jokes, but Light couldn't resist a small smirk.

"Where's the Holy Underground Spring?" Zhankong asked, his voice sharp and direct.

Light paused for a moment, then responded with a playful grin, "I was thirsty, so I drank it."

For a second, Chief Zhankong faltered, his foot nearly slipping off the edge of the tower. The dignified air that had surrounded him was momentarily shattered as he turned around to stare at Light, eyes wide with disbelief.

"This is not the time to joke around," Zhankong said, his expression growing stern once more.

"I'm not joking," Light said, his voice now serious. "Did you think I could safely arrive here while carrying something like that?"

Light reached into his pocket and pulled out the empty bottle that had once held the Underground Holy Spring, tossing it to Zhankong. The Chief caught it with a puzzled expression, peering into the bottle as though expecting to see something left.

After a moment, Zhankong sighed and shook his head, his composure returning. "If this was before the Calamity, you'd be burned at the stake and treated no different from the Black Vatican."

Zhankong's tone was light, but there was a dark truth behind his words. Despite the Chief's jest, the focus quickly shifted back to the matter at hand. They had confirmed that the Black Vatican had failed to seize the Underground Holy Spring, and now their target was clear—the Commander-level Darkwing Wolf.

The battle was far from over.

"Heed my order!" Zhankong's voice boomed across the watchtower, sharp as lightning.

The Battlemages, who had been standing at attention, now straightened further, their faces growing grim with focus. A heavy tension settled over the group as they prepared for the command to strike.

"Kill the Darkwing Wolf. No rest until death!" Zhankong roared, his voice filled with unrelenting killing intent.

"Kill the Darkwing Wolf, no rest until death!" The Battlemages echoed in unison, their voices rising into the wind, their determination unwavering.

"Kill the Darkwing Wolf, no rest until death!" The chorus of their voices was deafening, carrying across the watchtower and down to the city below.

Zhankong took a step forward, his azure military windbreaker billowing out behind him like a flag in the storm. Without hesitation, he threw himself off the edge of the watchtower.

"Wind Wings!!" Light exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat.

This was the second time he had seen the incredible magic that granted flight to those who mastered it. Even now, the sight filled him with awe. Zhankong soared through the air, the magical wings of wind carrying him across the skyline, a lone figure against the dusky backdrop of the city.

The world beneath him seemed so small, but Zhankong was undeterred. He would face the Darkwing Wolf head-on.

As Zhankong flew toward the Silver Commerce Tower, the nine Battlemages under his command followed suit. Each of them leapt from the watchtower, their mounts—giant, eagle-like birds—swooping down from above. These were the Heavenly Eagles, reserved for only the highest-ranking military officers. Their wings spread wide, carrying the Battlemages toward their final confrontation with the Darkwing Wolf.

A thunderous cheer rose from the Safe Zone below as the Battlemages took flight, their departure signaling the beginning of the final stand against the Magical Beast invasion.

The Calamity of Bo City was nearing its end.

Light stood at the edge of the tower, watching the figures disappear into the horizon. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to hope. But the battle was far from over.

He descended the tower, his mind racing. As he reached the ground, he spotted a familiar face—Pan Lijun, the female instructor who had trained him in the early days. She looked different now, her once stern demeanor replaced by a visible grief. The weight of the battle was etched into her features.

"Instructor Pan, how's the situation at Snowy Peak Mountain Station? My students are there," Light asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"Don't worry," Pan Lijun replied, her voice tired but resolute. "That place is even more secure than Bo City. Your students will be all right."

Light nodded, relieved to hear the news.

Nearby, a man with a headband—Instructor Cheng—was speaking with Pan Lijun about the sudden influx of Magical Beasts. They had discovered distinct traces of tunnels outside of the Safe Zones, tunnels that led directly into the city.

"So that means the Magical Beasts have been using these tunnels to bypass our defenses and enter Bo City," Instructor Cheng said, his tone grim.

"Yes, but we haven't been able to locate the exact entry points," Pan Lijun replied, frustration evident in her voice. "If we don't destroy those tunnels, more Magical Beasts will keep pouring into the city."

Light listened intently, his mind working furiously. He had spent a year with the City Hunter Squad, hunting down Magical Beasts across the city. He knew the layout of the city's underground tunnels better than most.

Suddenly, it clicked.

"Instructor Pan," Light said, interrupting their conversation. "I think I know where the entrance is."

Pan Lijun and Cheng turned to him, their eyes filled with hope and confusion.

"Where?" they asked in unison.

"The City Hunter Squad keeps records of every Magical Beast we've killed in Bo City. We can trace their movements back to their source. If we look at the recent activity of the Colossal-eyed Ape Rats, we might find the entrance," Light explained.

Pan Lijun's eyes widened with realization. "That could work."

Without wasting a moment, they contacted the City Hunter Squad. Minutes later, members of the squad, including Light's old acquaintances, Xiaoke and Xu Dahuang, arrived with their records in hand.

"The first sighting was in Beiling Area," Xiaoke reported, flipping through her notes.

"Beiling has already fallen to the Magical Beasts," Cheng said, his face darkening.

"Next was Guangshang Heavenly Street, then Lufeng Town…" Xiaoke continued.

"Wait, has there been a sighting near a burrow?" Cheng interrupted.

Xiaoke paused, her fingers skimming through the pages. "Yes, beneath Mingwen Middle School's cafeteria. There's a burrow there."

The group exchanged glances. This was it—the entrance to the Magical Beast tunnels.

"Mingwen Girls Middle School," Xu Dahuang repeated, his face tightening. "That's the entrance."

Commander Cheng wasted no time. "We need to dispatch a squad immediately and destroy that entrance."

"I'll go with you," Xu Dahuang said, stepping forward. "The City Hunter Squad knows the city better than anyone. We'll increase the chances of success."

Pan Lijun turned to Light, her expression stern. "Light, you've already done more than enough. You should stay.