My Celestial Ascension-Chapter 687 The Enemy Hideout

"They are hiding further inside the district. Everyone, prepare for any surprise attacks from the enemy!"

Emperor Philip gazed into the distance, his eyes sharp with determination. Drawing his weapon, he prepared to confront the members of the Golden Skull organization, unwilling to take any reckless risks.

As he surveyed the desolate remains of what was once a glorious district of the Imperial capital, a deep sorrow settled over him. Letting out a heavy sigh, he reflected on the destruction before him.

This is a grim reminder of how even the smallest spark can ignite a catastrophe, leaving behind scars not only on the land but also on the hearts and minds of its people.

"You have stolen my words, Your Majesty. We must not give them any chance to take us by surprise… You're wiser than I expected." Aisha smirked, unsheathing her sword and gripping it firmly. She cast a glance at Emperor Philip, a wide grin playing on her lips.

"Indeed. I concur, Your Highness!" King Richard added, drawing his own weapon and tightening his grip.

Prince Tristan, though primarily a mage and not skilled in close combat, also unsheathed his weapon—just in case. He had never been adept at handling sudden attacks.

However, after witnessing how Yuan and his wives effortlessly vanquished powerful monsters with sheer strength alone, he had resolved to train both his body and magical abilities, striving to become strong in all aspects.

'This is my chance to test how effective my training has been. Will I be able to stand against the members of the Golden Skull?' Prince Tristan swallowed nervously as the cold air sent shivers down his spine. The eerie silence of the place only heightened his unease.

"Magic Knights, stay vigilant as we enter the old noble district! The enemy could strike from any direction!" Emperor Philip commanded, his voice firm as everyone braced for battle.

"Understood!" came the synchronized response.

With that, the group marched into the deserted part of the city, moving cautiously through crumbling buildings and piles of rubble. The deeper they ventured, the stronger the unsettling feeling grew.

"This place is giving me the creeps…" Daniel muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

"I know what you mean," Prince Tristan admitted with an awkward smile. He felt the same uneasy sensation creeping over him.

Daniel let out a small chuckle. "It's comforting to know I'm not the only one."

Tristan chuckled as well, the brief exchange easing some of the tension in the air.

After several minutes of walking, Aisha closed her eyes and activated her powerful detection magic, scanning the area for any signs of an ambush.

"I sense 20 guards stationed outside and another 80 resting inside that large villa. Be careful—those guards are armed with dangerous weapons radiating a strong aura," Aisha reported, pointing toward the massive structure in the distance.

Her expression grew more serious. "Furthermore, I detect five individuals who stand out the most. Each of them possesses an unimaginable amount of mana—it almost seems unreal."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Philip and King Richard immediately tensed, their expressions darkening as a heavy silence fell over the group.

"Five with immense mana… that sounds troublesome," King Richard muttered, his grip tightening around his weapon as he studied the looming villa.

"Indeed, it does," Emperor Philip agreed, a strange smile flashing across his face before he continued forward, his expression quickly turning serious again.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the ancient villa. The once-grand structure was now covered in vines, its surroundings abandoned and overgrown with wild grass, giving the entire area a haunting, desolate atmosphere.

"This is an emergency! The intruders are here!"

A frantic voice echoed through the area, alerting the patrolling members of the organization. Without hesitation, they immediately sounded the alarm, notifying those resting inside the villa.

"Quick! Use your most powerful magic to destroy the intruders! We can't let them escape now that they've found our hideout!"

"Make sure none of them leave this place alive—kill every single one of them!"

One after another, masked figures began to emerge before Emperor Philip and his group, their speed so astonishing that it left everyone momentarily stunned. But what was even more alarming was their ability to manipulate the shadows.

"T-They can control shadows?! This is unbelievable!" King Richard muttered, his voice trembling. A wave of fear washed over him as his legs began to shake—an instinctive reaction to the immense danger radiating from the masked individuals before them.

However, Aisha didn't share his fear. Instead, she looked almost disappointed as she eyed the twenty masked enemies standing before her, their bodies radiating a dark, oppressive aura that seemed to distort the very air around them.

"Even though they're just low-ranking members of the organization, they're still quite powerful," Daniel murmured, observing them closely through his magic sense.

"Indeed. This won't be an easy fight," Tristan agreed with a solemn expression. Then, glancing at Aisha, he added with a smirk, "But thankfully, we have Lady Aisha with us. She's incredibly powerful—after all, she hails from one of the most powerful families on the continent."

"Pathetic… Is this some kind of joke? Do I really have to deal with these pesky rats? Unbelievable." Aisha muttered in disappointment, her face twisting in disgust as she stared at the twenty masked figures before her.

Despite their imposing presence, Aisha remained unfazed. She stood there, calm and composed, facing the enemy that the world feared—yet to her, they were nothing more than petty criminals from the slums.

One of the masked individuals stepped forward, pointing a sharp dagger toward Emperor Philip and his group.

"You arrogant fools have made a grave mistake coming here looking for us! All of you will die right here and now! None of you are leaving this place alive!"

"Kill them all! Leave no one alive—this is an order from above!"

"Let's do it!"

"I'll make them pay for daring to show their faces here today!"

The masked individuals grew restless with excitement, their bloodlust rising. The effects of Forbidden Magic coursed through their bodies, making them crave carnage. The more they used it, the stronger their thirst for blood became—some had even lost their humanity entirely, reduced to nothing more than beasts that reveled in slaughter.

"Everyone, prepare to defend! Attack at once before they get the chance to strike!" Emperor Philip commanded, gripping his sword tightly with both hands before charging straight at the enemy.

King Richard, Daniel, and Tristan followed suit, unleashing their strongest attacks. In a blur of motion, they struck down two masked individuals with astonishing speed.

"Huh…?" The remaining enemies froze in shock as they watched their comrades collapse lifelessly to the ground.

"Bastards! How dare you?! You'll pay for this!" one of the masked individuals roared, raising his hands as a massive fireball formed in the air. The sheer heat from the spell set the nearby grass ablaze.

"Be careful! One of them is casting a powerful magic attack!" King Richard warned, dashing toward the enemy mage before he could unleash the devastating spell.

A pained cry echoed through the battlefield. "Agh!"

King Richard's blade struck true, cutting down the caster before the fireball could be released. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground, and the flames dissipated into the air.

Aisha, watching from a distance, smirked. "Impressive… For the king of a small kingdom, he's quite capable. He has potential."

Suddenly, another masked figure lunged forward, his movements swift and deadly. "You bastard! I'll kill you! Now die!"

His dagger gleamed as he rushed toward King Richard with alarming speed—

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In a flash, Emperor Philip stepped between them, his sword slicing through the ground in a powerful arc. A deep cut stretched several meters across the battlefield, halting the masked individual's advance.

The enemy hesitated, gripping his dagger tightly as his voice wavered. "Move aside, or I'll kill you too…!"

Emperor Philip scoffed. "You think you have what it takes to kill me? Don't make me laugh, you damn criminal!"

Before the masked man could react, Philip launched a sudden, precise strike—catching his opponent completely off guard.

Slash!

With a single swift and deadly blow, Emperor Philip ended the masked individual's life in the blink of an eye.

Tristan and Daniel, still locked in combat against four enemies wielding immense magical power, looked on in shock at the sheer ease with which Philip had dispatched his foe.

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After a fierce struggle, Tristan and Daniel finally managed to defeat their opponents. However, in the process, they had taken a few hits—fresh bruises now marked their faces from the relentless blows of the masked individuals.

In the end, they secured victory by driving their swords straight into their enemies' hearts, granting them a swift, painless death.

Aisha, watching from the sidelines, scoffed.

"They don't deserve to die so peacefully. They should have suffered before receiving death." Her voice dripped with disdain as she gazed down at the lifeless bodies scattered across the ground.

With an air of absolute control, she stepped forward, her calm expression unwavering. The atmosphere around her shifted—growing cold, almost suffocating.

Then, in a single breath, she whispered:

"Blank Clan's Sword Technique, First Form—Whispering Wind."

In an instant, Aisha vanished.

A split second later, she reappeared a few meters behind the remaining masked individuals. A soft click echoed as she sheathed her sword, releasing a quiet breath.

Thud. Thud.

One by one, the last standing members of the organization collapsed. Their bodies had been cleanly severed in half, leaving behind a sight so terrifying that even the onlookers struggled to process what had just happened.

Aisha turned slightly, glancing at the corpses with a smirk.

"These people were nothing but mere pawns—ridiculously weak! Yet, they carried themselves as if they ruled the world. How amusing." She let out a soft chuckle, unfazed by the carnage.