Chapter 147

Words : 1039 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 147: Chapter 147 A thunderous boom echoed through the area. Dust and sand billowed into the air, obscuring everyone’s vision. All eyes remained fixed on the dome, filled with hope and anticipation. As the dust slowly settled, the crowd realized something shocking—the transparent dome still stood, completely intact and unaffected. A wave of disbelief rippled through them. No one had expected that such a powerful, combined attack would leave the barrier untouched. Clayton, who had been observing the whole time, could only marvel. "Wow. If I had something like this protecting my home, I’d sleep like a baby," he muttered. Meanwhile, the noble family’s group looked far from pleased. They quickly summoned their array specialists to analyze the dome. Tension filled the air as everyone waited—restless and anxious. Moments later, the specialists delivered their report: the array forming the dome was incredibly complex—estimated to be equivalent to a top-tier one-star rank. The announcement landed like a bucket of cold water, silencing the crowd. You see, an array could only be broken with two to three times its own rank in power. And unfortunately, no one here had that kind of strength. Even if someone did, the intricacy of this particular array made it far tougher than the average of its class. Disappointment settled over the gathering. The dream of claiming the treasure inside the dome suddenly felt out of reach. Realizing the futility, the rogue mages began to leave. They figured it was better to search elsewhere—perhaps they could find something even more valuable in other parts of this world. The nobles panicked. If the rogues left, who would help them crack open the dome? They considered leaving themselves—but their insider knowledge told them how rare an opportunity this truly was. It was better to fight for something right in front of them than to chase after uncertain prospects elsewhere. So they tried to persuade the others to stay. "Everyone, please hear me out!" The disheartened crowd turned toward the voice. "I know many of you feel hopeless after what just happened—but think about it. Are you certain you’ll ever come across a chance like this again?" "Let’s not leave our fate to luck. Let’s take control—with our own hands!" "I sincerely hope you’ll stay and join us in breaking through this dome. If we succeed, my companions and I will make sure you’re all properly rewarded!" The rogue mages exchanged glances. Some were flattered—nobles rarely addressed them with such respect. Others remained skeptical. They knew the wealthy never said anything without an agenda. Silence followed as everyone weighed their options. Eventually, decisions were made. Responses were mixed—some chose to leave, others to stay. In the end, more remained than departed. The nobles were mildly disappointed by those who walked away, but overall, they were relieved. The same spokesperson called out again, trying to lift the group’s spirits. "All right! Thank you to those staying! I truly believe our efforts won’t be in vain. Don’t worry about the doubters—people like that never make it far on the true path of magic!" A few nodded, visibly inspired. Others rolled their eyes. One of them was Clayton. "Tch... Rich people. No wonder they end up running everything. Even their speeches and crowd control are top-notch," he muttered. With morale somewhat restored, the nobles began organizing a new strategy. Everyone took their positions and waited for the signal. "Attack!" Swish! Bang! Boom! Once again, a barrage of spells rained down on the dome. Whether due to renewed morale or sheer stubbornness, the attacks this time felt even more intense. Hope stirred again. But—just like before—the dome remained firm. Disappointment returned swiftly. That brief flicker of hope was extinguished, even among the noble faction. Some rogue mages began preparing to leave again. They had already done more than enough. The nobles scrambled to stop them, offering even greater promises of rewards. Amid the chaos, Clayton stood still—not because he was hopeful or tempted by treasure, but because he had felt something strange during the last wave of attacks. It was as if a part of the dome was... misaligned. Was that just my imagination? he wondered. While the others continued their relentless assault, Clayton focused on observing the dome. After a while, the odd sensation faded, and he was about to give up. Then suddenly, he felt it again. His eyes locked onto a single node in the array—it pulsed ever so slightly out of rhythm. Without thinking, the Vibration Harmony Chant popped into his head. It was a basic spell, one he’d long dismissed as useless. Yet now, it came to him instinctively. Nearby, one of the attackers snapped at him. "Hey! Why aren’t you helping?! Planning to just stand there and snatch the treasure once it’s open?!" Snapped out of his thoughts, Clayton gave an awkward smile and apologized. Just to save face, he casually cast the Vibration Harmony Chant—fully expecting it to do nothing. But the moment his spell struck the misaligned node, it trembled violently—then collapsed. The transparent dome began to fade. Gasps erupted throughout the crowd. No one could believe it. Clayton stood frozen. A storm of questions raced through his mind. Was that... me? Or just a coincidence? If it wasn’t me, why did the dome collapse now? Before he could sort through his thoughts, the crowd surged forward, shoving and pushing as they raced through the opening. Clayton had no choice but to move with them. As he entered the inner area, a strong herbal scent filled his lungs. Warmth wrapped around his body like a comforting blanket. The others felt it too—and they went wild. The place descended into chaos. Clayton struggled to stay upright amid the frenzy. "Ughh, damn it! If I knew it’d be like this, I would’ve scouted a quieter spot!" Gritting his teeth, he used what strength he had to avoid being trampled by the crazed crowd around him. However, Clayton was still in serious trouble due to the sheer size of the crowd. Furthermore, their enthusiasm, which had built up around him, made the group incredibly powerful. Trapped in the crowd, Clayton felt a deep sense of bitterness. His only hope now was to escape this predicament safely.

Chapter 147

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