Passing through the iron door and sealing it for the girl's extra safety, I saw a bloody scene. Four corpses of spring guards, including the Intermediate Tier mage—they clearly fought close together maintaining formation.
Around them lay three bodies in gray robes, clearly low-ranking Black Church members, possibly not even mages, plus eleven black beast corpses—servant-level beings whose power varies in that class depending on creation materials.
In the confined space, eleven agile servants and three possible beginner-level mages overwhelmed them by numbers, even the Intermediate Tier mage. Judging by one black beast lying right by the door mechanism, the girl probably killed it.
Since intel says an Intermediate Tier mage is already rushing here, I'll just wait. Won't be long.
I positioned right of the elevator exit and lifted a stone detached from the wall in the previous fight with spatial telekinesis. Won't kill even a weak servant that way, but mages coming aren't known for tough bodies, so I can conserve reserves.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, a black-robed mage stepped out and glanced around. Without talking, I hurled the stone at his head with telekinesis and prepared a stronger spell just in case.
But fears were unnecessary. The stone easily caved in his skull, flying a couple more meters before dropping.
Tch, not even artifact armor. Black Church members don't join from a good life, at least the rank-and-file. Their top brass, especially Salan's direct disciples, are better armed than many.
Entering the elevator, I hit the button for the right floor and went up. How did they fit so many black beasts in this tiny cab? Multiple trips? I looked up at the elevator ceiling's open hatch. Mystery solved.
Exiting into the now-empty bank building, sensing no one nearby with spirit magic, I peeked out the window. Watching a bit, I spotted a Winged Wolf flying in the sky, chased by two high-level mages on wind wings, one being Zhang Kong.
Above the wolf, a first-step high-level ice element spell "Ice Bound Coffin" condensed; the wolf dodged but exposed itself to a first-step high-level fire element "Fire Rain," which singed its hide, inflicting moderate-light injury.
Since those attacks clearly weren't from the two wind mages, we have at least four high-level mages able to drive off the wolf. Not mentioning killing—though it's just a junior Commander-in-Chief, the attacks show no second-step high-level there, and only one can deal it significant damage.
Isn't that ice mage Mu Zhuoyun by chance? Theoretically, if he went on a bender because of me, he might've missed a business meeting that kept him out of the city in my past life. Hope he doesn't die there.
Pulling my hoodie hood low over my face, I ran toward the girls' middle school. If luck favors me, the future Parthenon goddess is now in the shopping center nearby.
While running, I surveyed the city. It didn't look as ravaged as in my past life, and I hadn't met monsters yet. That means my preparations helped. Without rats and wolves hitting from behind, the military held most monsters.
Tang Yue did her part too—at least summoning a couple high-level mages, at most organizing proper civilian evacuation.
Halfway to the shopping center, I met the first monster. A One-Eyed Wolf with a crippled leg, devouring a human in military uniform.
Probably a mage sent to evacuate civilians to the safe zone or clear breakthrough monsters. With two more wolf corpses nearby, maybe even Intermediate Tier.
Without slowing, I launched a fourth-step beginner-level space element "Spatial Blade" at the One-Eyed Wolf. With my third spiritual boundary, it nearly qualifies as Intermediate Tier magic.
The wolf split into two neat halves, its soul shard pulled by the pendant. Tough luck.
Finally reaching the shopping center, I spotted a prowling One-Eyed Wolf nearby. Killed it the same way. Far fewer monsters in the city than last life—probably not even hundreds across the whole place.
Hoping casualties are much lower too. How many last time? Around forty thousand, over a third of the city's population.
Entering a store on the shopping center's first floor, I saw Xin Xia slowly freezing in a beverage fridge, her wheelchair at the other end. Life to life, her suicidal rescue method doesn't change.
I don't get it—didn't Salan promise her husband to protect their daughter until twenty? Or does fridge suicide not count?
Approaching the fridge, I opened the door and picked up the girl.
"You okay?" I asked the rescued black-haired cutie.
"F-fine," she murmured in a slightly trembling voice.
"Don't worry, I won't ask for a kiss for the save," I tried joking to cheer up the girl who'd already accepted her death.
"I understand," she smiled self-deprecatingly, giving her legs a sad, knowing look. Damn, I wanted to cheer her up, not poke at a disabled girl's low self-esteem.
"...Don't worry, if a girl can't walk, that's even good. Means she can't run away!" I tried banishing the bad vibe, but her shiver and fearful glance in her eyes showed I failed.
"Ahem, let's drop that topic," I said with an apologetic smile.
"I'm your brother's acquaintance and will take you to the safe zone." Her look said she didn't believe me and had accepted her fate... Better just carry her silently to safety.
Running a couple blocks to the safe zone with her in arms, I met only one One-Eyed Wolf and one one-eyed rat. With Xin Xia there, I used ice element for kills, for cover.
On the wolf, I didn't skimp: first-step Intermediate Tier ice "Ice Lock," summoning an icy chain that freezes everything it touches. Simply smashed the wolf's head.
The rat sufficed with fourth-step beginner-level "Ice Trap," snapping shut and shattering its bones.
Handing the girl to safe zone staff, I looked around and spotted Tianlan middle school students; Mo Fan broke from the group, running after the staff carrying his sister. Good, they're alive.
Approached a soldier on duty in the camp, asked about the situation and if a Intermediate Tier mage who can wield that level magic is needed.
Turns out, ten minutes ago high-level mages finally drove the wounded Winged Wolf from the city and headed to the front line.
So if I want to help, I can go into the city and clear the few monsters that bypassed the defensive line. Which I did.
Half an hour later, killing a met one-eyed wolf, I couldn't help wondering: Where are my Black Church pursuers? Specifically, Mu Yuan and Bai Yang? Whatever, I'll tell the military I overheard Black Church saying Bai Yang's a traitor; let them deal with him.
Bo City, rooftop near the secret passage exit.
"Where the hell is that damn Mu Bai? And elder Pan Shan, who entered the Holy Spring through the main entrance, isn't responding," Bai Yang fumed, leaning his shoulder on his new summon wolf lying on the roof.
"No surprise, elder Pan Shan is famous for his necrophilia fetish. The report said only a young pretty girl guarded the spring," Mu Yuan rasped, half his face hidden by a mask. Considering he kept rubbing it, it wasn't just for identity concealment.
"Then where's Mu Bai?" the indignant Bai Yang asked.
"How should I know!? Maybe lost in the secret passage, who knows with that idiot!" Mu Yuan replied.
"Psh-psh," the military radio on Bai Yang's belt hissed.
"Captain Bai Yang here... yeah... yes... roger!" Bai Yang switched off the radio.
"What?" the young ice mage asked curiously.
"Calling me to the safe zone; five monsters showed up there at once, all strong mages on the front line, need my help," Bai Yang grumbled.
"Go, I'll handle this dimwit alone," Mu Yuan glanced at the ten black beasts he controlled. "And since Bo City isn't destroyed, an agent in its defense garrison won't hurt."
"...Fine," Bai Yang agreed with the younger but connected-to-the-blue-deacon guy. Better keep good relations. "But avenge my last wolf on that runt!"
"Definitely," Mu Yuan nodded and kept waiting for Mu Bai on the roof.