Chapter 13 – The Truth Behind the Flames
The bandit attack had been crushed.
Smoke still rose from the destroyed battlefield.
Captured enemies were tied and restrained.
The masked commander lay injured at Audrey's feet — barely conscious.
But he was smiling.
That smile disturbed everyone.
---
The Final Confession
Audrey grabbed the commander by the collar.
"Speak."
"Who ordered this attack?"
The commander coughed blood and laughed weakly.
"You really think…"
"…this was just about a village?"
Selene stepped closer.
"Stop playing games."
The commander's breathing grew heavier.
Then he revealed it.
"We weren't bandits."
"We were a proxy force."
"Funded and trained by the Northern Shadow Assembly."
Silence fell.
Aria narrowed her eyes.
"That faction hasn't revealed itself publicly."
The commander continued:
"They observed your growth."
"Your system."
"Your alliances."
"And your economic influence."
He looked directly at Audrey.
"They concluded something."
"You are no longer a student."
"You are becoming a power center."
His voice weakened.
"Which means…"
"…you must either be controlled…"
"…or eliminated."
---
A Shocking Revelation
Selene's expression turned serious.
"The Northern Shadow Assembly…"
"They operate through hidden wars and economic manipulation."
"They don't attack directly."
"They destabilize regions first."
Aria crossed her arms.
"So the village attack wasn't random."
"It was a test."
Audrey's gaze hardened.
"A test of response speed."
"Force reaction."
"And political leverage."
The commander laughed softly.
"You passed."
"But now…"
His eyes shifted toward the horizon.
"They will stop hiding."
Suddenly —
The ground trembled.
A massive dark magic circle activated outside the village perimeter.
Everyone turned instantly.
---
Direct Intervention
From the forest edge…
Five powerful figures stepped forward.
They did not hide.
They wore black cloaks engraved with glowing symbols.
Their aura pressure alone cracked the ground.
One of them spoke calmly:
"You have interfered with our assets."
Another added:
"And eliminated our operational force."
The leader removed his hood.
An elder mage with silver eyes looked directly at Audrey.
"We were willing to observe."
"But now…"
"You force our hand."
Selene whispered:
"They sent executives…"
"These aren't foot soldiers."
Aria tightened her grip on her sword.
"They came personally."
---
The Power Difference
The leader raised his hand.
Instantly —
Gravity increased tenfold.
Villagers collapsed under pressure.
Selene struggled to maintain her barrier.
Aria activated a defensive technique — barely resisting the suppression.
Audrey felt his body heavy.
His system warned him:
Hostile Power Level: High-Ranking Entity
Recommended Strategy: Strategic Engagement
The silver-eyed leader spoke calmly.
"Your infinite gold ability is impressive."
"But raw resources cannot defeat structured power."
He snapped his fingers.
Dark chains emerged from the ground — targeting Audrey specifically.
He attempted to convert gold into resistance —
But the suppression field disrupted system output efficiency.
His power output weakened.
The chains wrapped around his arms.
---
Unexpected Assistance
Before the chains fully sealed him —
Aria jumped forward.
She sliced through one chain mid-air.
"Don't underestimate him!"
Selene launched a long-range spell disrupting the suppression formation.
Both women stood between Audrey and the enemies.
The Shadow leader observed quietly.
"Hm."
"Interesting."
"His power attracts defenders."
He smiled coldly.
"Good."
"Then we eliminate support first."
Two shadow executors charged directly at Aria and Selene.
The battlefield expanded into a high-level confrontation.
---
Audrey Breaks Free
While the enemies focused on attacking his allies…
Audrey concentrated.
He analyzed the suppression field.
It operated using structured rune nodes.
Not raw power.
Structure.
That meant…
It could be broken from within.
He activated system overclock.
Gold Conversion — Structural Disruption Mode
Golden particles condensed around his body.
He forced power into the weakest node of the suppression barrier.
CRACK!
One rune shattered.
Then another.
The chains weakened.
Audrey burst free.
His eyes glowed intensely.
"You made one mistake."
The Shadow leader turned slowly.
"What mistake?"
Audrey answered coldly.
"You assumed I fight alone."
He raised his hand.
Golden energy spread outward — reinforcing Aria and Selene's power temporarily.
Their strength surged.
The balance shifted.
---
The Standoff
The Shadow leader studied him carefully.
"…You adapt quickly."
"Very dangerous."
He raised his hand — preparing to escalate further.
But suddenly…
A signal rune activated near the sky.
He paused.
Then smiled.
"It seems we will postpone total elimination."
He looked at Audrey.
"This encounter was only a warning."
"Next time…"
"It won't be observers."
"It will be exterminators."
The Shadow faction members retreated through a dark portal.
Disappearing instantly.
---
Aftermath
Silence returned to the village.
Aria lowered her weapon slowly.
Selene looked frustrated.
"They withdrew too easily…"
Audrey stared at the fading portal.
"They were testing strength."
"And measuring our reaction."
Aria turned to him.
"They confirmed something."
"What?"
Selene answered quietly before he could.
"That he is now recognized as a major threat."
Audrey closed his eyes briefly.
"Good."
"If they classify me as a threat…"
"Then I stop being prey."
He opened his eyes again.
"From now on…"
"We prepare for war — not defense."
---
🔥 End of Chapter 13
---