Chapter 1474: Chapter 1468: Canyon Fortress

"Sir, Gordie has been driven away by them!"

"We are currently unable to monitor their actions. Should we activate the emergency monitoring by the personnel who were previously evacuated?"

"..."

Above the southern canyon, hidden among the cliffs, the Caster of the [Nine Commandments Conclave] found themselves in a tense situation.

This is a fortress secretly constructed by the [Nine Commandments Conclave].

It sits quietly within the mountain inside the canyon on the only road south of the capital.

If it were wartime and the enemy sent forces from this direction to enter the capital, they could take advantage of the towering terrain to strike; if they abandoned the city and retreated southwards, they could halve the canyon, cutting off the enemy’s pursuit.

Such an important place is naturally guarded by the most professional Casters around the clock, and the airtight defensive barriers maintain the fortress’s safety and concealment.

Unless someone possesses a Flying Spell to reach the target directly.

Otherwise, entering here would only be possible by leaping down from the highest point of the canyon, to pass through the entrance carved into the cliff, entering this hidden location.

Yet at this moment.

The elite [Nine Commandments Conclave] guards were all wearing expressions of anxiety.

Because, as Ronald and Nicole had speculated.

They were the members of the [Nine Commandments Conclave] secretly stationed here, and also the contingency against Ronald and his group. Even the "Book of Interpretation," which was transferred from the city, was now with its holder in the deepest part of the fortress, within a room completely shielded by spells.

"Don’t panic, everyone has seen the organization’s data!"

In the tense atmosphere, the commander stationed there waved their hand, calming the surrounding subordinates:

"The monster dressed in human skin usually disguises as a benevolent figure. Gordie’s departure might just be because he wants to maintain his usual outward facade!"

After explaining Ronald’s actions, the commander proceeded to issue orders:

"Inform the city, let the evacuated people continue to leave, not to arouse suspicion in these few guys. Release the guards originally planned for noon onto the streets ahead of time to draw the enemy’s attention as much as possible!"

The people were still uneasy.

But with the commander’s orders, the members of the [Nine Commandments Conclave] in the fortress immediately got to work.

There wasn’t much the Casters could actually do.

In a game at the level of the original text holders, if they conceived a plan and acted, it would be equivalent to confronting a superior adversary head-on.

Under the trend of fear, most people would rather obediently follow orders and maintain what they ought to maintain.

"Sigh..."

Watching the subordinates engage in their tasks, the canyon fortress’s commander let out a barely discernible sigh.

He took two steps back, sitting in his chair, supporting his weary chin with his right hand, lost in thought.

Even if he had just been able to comfort his subordinates with words.

But he knew in his heart—the current situation was extremely critical.

In past contact records between the organization and Ronald.

The [Nine Commandments Conclave] had sacrificed seriously injured personnel and lost several original texts to prove how terrifying this enemy was. Even a few months ago, their carefully selected battle group met Ronald in Rachmont and ultimately fell at his hands.

Such accomplishments, such a dangerous enemy.

Any small action he faced now could indicate an enormous crisis.

Not to mention the current reality, which runs contrary to prophetic spells?

However, the commander was also quite helpless.

To ensure Ronald and his group wouldn’t discover them, the surveillance spell placed on Gordie was a highly restricted minor technique engraved into the internal organs.

This spell ensured sufficient concealment.

But it couldn’t cover anything else, much less provide detailed monitoring of every move and action of the targets.

All that could be confirmed was the target’s position and significant magic fluctuations.

"Intelligence is limited..."

Even though the fortress commander had devised countless contingency plans, before the unknown reality, they were no more than paper dreams.

At that moment, the Caster thought of the actions of the [Nine Commandments Conclave] leader, and a thought involuntarily emerged in his mind:

"In this situation, could praying to the gods..."

Boom—

At that instant, the canyon fortress where the Casters resided began to tremble.

The intense sound grew louder and filled every space of the mountain within two seconds. In the canyon fortress, countless earth and rocks fell into the space opened by the Casters, and as dust filled the air, the panicked crowd collided with one another, roaring.

The fortress, which had been securely nestled there a second ago.

Within just a few breaths, it seemed on the brink of collapse!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"That monster has come!"

"Quick, notify the lord, the canyon’s normal upper part has been attacked, the barrier can’t hold up!"

Facing the ambush, the [Nine Commandments Conclave] Casters were well-trained and naturally prepared to counterattack, all parts immediately mobilizing.

But as their leader, sitting in the commander’s chair, the Caster didn’t even lift his body.

At this moment, he was looking up at the rock above him.

As the true controller of the fortress.

Unlike his subordinates who only sensed the attack’s arrival, he was genuinely experiencing the assault the canyon fortress was undergoing.

How terrifying is this power?

Directly above the fortress, a vast entity filled with vitality dug downward, tearing, grinding, and slicing through everything blocking its path.

This included the original soil protecting the fortress, as well as the spell barriers used for concealment and reinforcement of the mountain.

As for the resistance and defense that the subordinates were clamoring about...

"Heh heh—"

The commander gave a bitter smile.

How could that be possible?

The tremors only lasted two seconds, and before anyone could react, this massive entity had already destroyed large swaths of land, completely blocking off any exit route.

Without a life-saving technique to turn death into life.

Those in the fortress wouldn’t even have a chance to escape!

Boom!

At that moment, the ceiling of the [Nine Commandments Conclave] leader suddenly shattered.

He could clearly see a tree root, brown with a tinge of white, shooting straight through the ceiling.

Then more and more plant roots invaded the fortress from all directions, and the once orderly fortress now resembled an ant nest built along plant roots.

Witnessing the fierce scene before him.

The Caster calmly raised his arm, manifesting his original text in his palm, and shouted loudly with what seemed like the last bit of strength:

"Come on, monster!"

Boom—

The moment the words were spoken.

A very thick root slammed straight toward this leader.