Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Chapter 99 People scattered in all directions, panicked and terrified of getting caught in the chaos. Clayton didn’t stand still either—he immediately looked for a safe place to hide. Meanwhile, a city guard in full armor was severely injured by the sudden attack. Another guard, witnessing the incident, grew furious and shot a sharp glare at the attacker. "What’s the meaning of this?! Are you trying to defy the city’s authority?" The man sneered arrogantly, clearly looking down on the guards. "Heh! City officials are always so high and mighty! How dare they shut down the dungeon—the only source of income we have! What, does the government want us to starve? So we’re easier to control?!" The people around him looked visibly conflicted. As members of the lower class, they often felt mistreated—used and discarded by the system. After all, anyone with a bit of common sense could see the injustice: grain prices dropped drastically during harvest, while seed prices surged during planting season. And those were just a few examples. The city government clearly knew what was going on. That’s why some bystanders silently sympathized with the agitator. But the wounded guard was now on the brink of death, and that only enraged the others. "If that’s how you feel, why didn’t you try to talk it out?! Do you realize your reckless actions could have killed a city officer?! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?!" The agitator scoffed again, showing no fear whatsoever. That was the last straw for the guards. Using the last of his strength, the dying guard raised his weapon and slashed at the troublemaker in a swift, decisive strike. Swoosh! With one clean motion, the attacker was cut in half. His followers froze in horror, their faces twisted with grief and fury. One of them clenched his jaw and let out a wild, unhinged laugh. "Hahaha! Blood Lord will avenge me!" The moment those words were spoken, a chill ran down everyone’s spine. Something about all of this suddenly felt... wrong. While most people were still trying to process what had just happened, powerful magical spells erupted in every direction—wild and chaotic. Clayton’s eyes widened in alarm as he saw some people’s bodies begin to mutate—veins bulged, skin hardened, claws sprouted, and their eyes turned a deep, blood-red. Some of the monstrous figures turned their gaze directly toward him, ready to strike. Without hesitation, Clayton ran. The blood raiders weren’t about to let him go so easily—they gave chase. Before long, Clayton was being pursued by three grotesque, savage-looking creatures. They no longer resembled anything human. Despite the danger, Clayton couldn’t help but ask aloud: "What are you trying to do? Who sent you? Aren’t you afraid of what the city will do to you?!" But the monsters didn’t answer. They only growled and charged, their movements erratic and violent. That’s when Clayton realized—they had lost all sense of reason. That was why they were so reckless. Without wasting another second, Clayton fought back. With the help of his mini skeletons, he swiftly eliminated all three monsters. Once they were down, he took a moment to catch his breath—staying alert but avoiding further attention. Suddenly, a squad of uniformed city guards arrived and quickly approached him. Clayton tensed up, unsure if they were friend or foe. But after seeing their official insignias, he realized they were part of the city’s patrol force. He restrained himself and didn’t resist. "Don’t move!" "Hands up!" "I’m not the enemy! I just killed those monsters—" Clayton began to explain. But the guards weren’t listening. "I said don’t move! If you resist, we won’t hesitate to use force!" With no other choice, Clayton complied and followed every instruction. He knew he could’ve taken down all three of them if he wanted to, but that would only make things worse. So, he bowed his head and stayed silent. Some guards began inspecting the scene, while others started questioning him. "What’s your name?" "Clayton." "Gender?" Clayton gave the officer a disbelieving look, then replied, "Male..." The questions continued, becoming more serious. "Who were those three?" "I don’t know." "Why were they chasing you?" "I have no idea." "Do you have any connection to the Blood Raiders?" Clayton sighed. He kept answering, powerless to do anything but endure the interrogation. Eventually, he was released. The guards took the three mutated corpses away for investigation. Clayton didn’t care—he just wanted to go home. On the way back, he couldn’t believe he’d been dragged into such a mess just for watching the chaos from afar. He vowed to be more careful in the future. ... Days Passed It had been several days since the Blood Raiders had thrown the city into turmoil. Since then, the unrest had only grown worse. Clayton didn’t know if this was a spontaneous uprising from the farmers—or if someone was orchestrating it all from the shadows. With the situation so unclear, he chose to stay inside. The long winter dragged on, and he spent his time repeating the same routine. Plop! Clayton still hadn’t given up on turning his mini skeletons into walking grenades. But despite his efforts, there was no real progress. He kept researching possible mistakes while studying other spells in the meantime. Just as he was about to take a break, his home’s security array suddenly triggered an alarm. Clayton immediately went on high alert, worried more blood raiders had come for him. Cautiously, he crept toward the front door. To his relief, he spotted two familiar figures—Arthur and Lorenzo. The tension in his shoulders eased. He quickly let them in and locked the door behind them. After they sat down, he went to the kitchen and brought out some drinks. "So, what brings you two here?" Clayton asked, a little suspicious. He kept some distance, posture still tense. Even though Arthur and Lorenzo were familiar faces, he wasn’t taking any chances—not with how chaotic the city had become. Arthur and Lorenzo didn’t take offense—they understood. "Well, we’re here to invite you on a dungeon raid," Arthur said. "Yeah, it’d be great if you joined us!" Lorenzo added. Clayton blinked. "Wait—wasn’t the dungeon shut down by the city?" Arthur nodded. "It was. But the restriction was lifted not long ago. It’s open to everyone again." "What made them lift it?" Clayton asked, still confused. Arthur paused, exchanging a glance with Lorenzo before answering. "We’re not exactly sure. Maybe the city wanted to calm people down—or maybe someone higher up pressured them. Whatever the reason, it’s reopening soon." Clayton nodded slowly. It made sense. There could be many reasons behind the city’s decision. "So... are you coming?" Arthur asked. Clayton shook his head immediately. "Ah, no. I’ve still got a lot on my plate right now." Arthur nodded, as if expecting that answer. Lorenzo actually looked a bit relieved. Clayton noticed, but said nothing. "No worries. We won’t force you," Arthur said kindly. "Since you’re not coming, Uncle asked if you could look after Liora. Things have been a bit unsafe lately, and he’s worried about leaving her alone," Lorenzo added. Clayton nodded. "Of course." Lorenzo let out a quiet sigh of relief. They chatted for a while about the current state of the city, sharing updates and gossip. Eventually, Arthur and Lorenzo stood to leave. Before they did, Clayton handed each of them a stack of scrolls—one Pollution Scroll and one Weakened Purification Scroll. Arthur looked genuinely grateful. "Thanks so much, Clayton! I’ll be sure to bring you something nice when we get back." Clayton smiled faintly. "Stay safe out there." "We will!" Just as they stepped outside and Clayton was about to close the door, a loud commotion echoed in the distance. His heart sank. "Oh no... What now?" he muttered grimly, already bracing himself for the next disaster.