Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1444 - 494: Ressero Canyon (Part 3)

Before him, the structures stood nearly undamaged and the pathways remained strikingly tidy. It appeared as though the inhabitants had evaporated in an instant, leaving the entire metropolis frozen in a single moment of history.

At that very second, the distant, rhythmic grinding of gears reached his ears.

The noise originated from the city's heart, sounding muffled and faint from their current position.

"I have a feeling... like something is observing us from over there," Terrio remarked with a frown, gesturing toward the path ahead.

Despite the lack of visible foes, the sharp instincts of a Sword Saint were never wrong.

"I can also detect a faint, hidden aura," Hernandez added. He casually performed a water element witchcraft, causing shimmering blue runes to drift through the air.

"This city is undoubtedly suspicious."

"Should we simply unleash a killing blow to level this district? If something is lurking, that would force it into the open," Sword Saint Terrio suggested, offering a blunt and aggressive strategy.

"That is not a wise move!" Rein and Hernandez shouted at the same time.

"If Haleem is still breathing and merely in hiding, our united strike could accidentally wound or kill him," Hernandez clarified.

The combined might of three epic-level powerhouses was likely enough to reduce half of these ruins to dust.

"Lord Terrio is right that we must be cautious; our mission is a rescue, and we have to confirm his status first," Rein said, nodding in agreement.

His objective was to locate Lord Haleem and secure that witchcraft, whether the man was deceased or not.

Furthermore, they sought clues regarding the expedition team from the Ancient Wizard School Valziger, specifically the resting place of the sect leader Valziger, who owned the black-leather journal.

Utilizing high-destructive witchcraft might bury every clue under mountains of debris, making it impossible to uncover anything.

"Fine, let us proceed. With the three of us here, even if we cannot uncover every secret, escaping should be simple enough."

Seeing the others disagree, Terrio did not push the matter and took the lead, stepping forward.

Rein and Hernandez kept to the center while the elite Federation troops followed closely behind.

After they had traveled several dozen meters, Terrio suddenly came to a halt.

"Did you hear that?"

"It is a woman's voice."

"The sound is getting clearer."

As the squad stopped, everyone—Rein included—seemed to catch the sound of a woman whispering softly.

However, no matter how much they strained to listen, the specific words remained unintelligible.

Even Hernandez, despite being a scholarly and experienced Dawn Wizard, was unable to translate the speech.

"This isn't right; we are experiencing some kind of mental interference," Rein declared in a low, serious tone.

Turning back, he saw that the elite Federation guards—both Knights and Great Knights alike—had glazed eyes and were starting to drift away aimlessly.

"Purification Skill!"

A surge of pale blue water burst from Hernandez, sending ripples outward to wash over the nearby soldiers.

Yet, even as the blue waves swept through the men, they failed to snap them out of their trance.

"How can it have no effect?" Hernandez exclaimed, his eyes bulging in shock.

In that moment.

A heavy 'click-clack' noise began to resonate from the shadows just ahead...