"Deep Red’s main force is currently pressing down on the Falling Star Plain. We can still make it if we retreat now," Barrett said, his voice wretched.

The news Warren brought was like a thunderclap, stunning the entire camp into silence before plunging it into immense panic.

A major defeat on the front line!

The fall of two key nodes meant the Furnace logistics base had instantly gone from being on the second line to the very front line!

The expressions on Sterling and Eleanor’s faces were utterly grim. Without a moment’s hesitation, they issued a hoarse command:

"Pass on the order! Everyone, prepare immediately! Abandon the Furnace camp! Carry all supplies and retreat to the assembly point at Gray Rock Castle! Go, now!"

The entire camp instantly plunged from last night’s victory celebration into utter chaos.

A cacophony of harsh rebukes, desperate cries, and the crashing of supplies being moved filled the air.

The moment the two Wizards flew into the camp’s vicinity, Ian had already sensed something was wrong through his eye in the sky.

He quickly packed his essential items, his expression turning grim.

He touched the Dimensional Ring on his chest, but felt no sense of security.

’I’m too rich! And my promotions have been too fast!’

In this great retreat, where order had collapsed and it was every man for himself, he was like a child clutching a gold brick, stumbling through a crowd of refugees.

Once the camp disbanded and the existing order vanished, countless greedy and vicious eyes would be drawn to his wealth and secrets during the long journey to Gray Rock Castle.

Not just people from the camp, but also the routed soldiers fleeing from the front lines, Wizards from other families, and even... some high-ranking individuals with ulterior motives.

On a lawless escape route, anything could happen.

Ian took a deep breath, his gaze becoming sharp and calm once more.

He glanced at the chaotic camp, then looked toward the direction the Deep Red Royal Court might pursue from, and finally cast his gaze north, toward the unknown path of retreat.

"Gray Rock Castle..." he murmured the name.

He got up, walked out the door, and headed toward Hank Squad, who had mostly finished packing.

Just as he stepped outside, Sterling’s voice came from above.

"Ian, stick close to me! Don’t run off!"

Ian froze, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.

He lifted his head, and their eyes met in midair.

He could clearly perceive the undisguised malice radiating from Sterling!

’It seems he’s figured out my real identity. That I’m not Alevia’s student at all!’

The gravest life-and-death crisis since his transmigration descended upon him!

After a moment of silence, he lowered his head and replied, "Yes, Sterling Wizard."

Suddenly, in the vision of the Eye of Vigilance high above, three incredibly powerful auras appeared, rapidly approaching the camp.

"Hahaha! Sterling, I told you yesterday we’d be back soon!"

Sares’s wild laughter echoed from midair, further intensifying the chaos in the camp.

They stopped caring about the things in their hands, their expressions full of terror as they scrambled to look up at the sky.

Before Sares’s laughter had even faded from the sky, the three powerful auras had already descended upon the outskirts of the Furnace camp.

Besides "Blood Blade" Sares and "Shadow Warrior" Phantom, there was also an old man with a withered face, dressed in a dark red long robe trimmed with gold.

There were no intense Magic Power fluctuations around him, but all the Wizards could feel that his Spiritual Power had condensed to the point of becoming tangible.

This was none other than the Deep Red Royal Court’s Level One Peak Wizard... the "Liquidation" Wizard, Murphy Davis.

"Sterling, you were lucky to survive last time. Let’s see where you run to now!"

Sares sneered, blocking the escape route with Phantom, one on the left and one on the right.

Murphy merely swept his gaze over the camp. His eyes landed on the heavily injured Warren and Barrett, and he lightly flicked a withered finger.

"Blood Erosion!" A silent, hair-thin line of blood shot out at extreme speed.

Barrett was already grievously wounded. His Shield had just flared to life when the blood line pierced straight through it.

Immediately after, his entire body melted like a wax statue, turning into a pool of foul blood without so much as a single scream.

Warren, horrified beyond belief, turned to flee, only to be struck in the back by a blood blade from Sares, screaming as he plummeted to the ground.

"You’re... a Liquidation Wizard!" Sterling’s pupils contracted as he cried out in alarm.

Then, without hesitation, he once again pulled out the bottle of dark gold Heart of Magma Potion and downed it in one gulp.

As the Potion went down his throat, his aura surged once more, and his skin cracked to reveal magma-like firelight.

He roared and charged at Murphy, attempting to hold him off for a few moments.

Eleanor also gritted her teeth and swung her Magic Staff, sending a sky full of ice spikes toward Sares and Phantom, but the two easily blocked them.

"A dying struggle." Murphy’s voice was hoarse and grating, as if he had a thick wad of phlegm caught in his throat.

With a raise of his hand, a crimson ripple spread out, easily catching Sterling’s desperate attack.

Meanwhile, Sares and Phantom were already sneering as they pursued the retreating Eleanor and Warren, who were fighting as they fell back.

Down below, the camp fell into complete chaos. With one of their four Wizards dead, two fleeing, and one tied up in a fight, the Apprentices’ last line of mental defense collapsed.

"Run!" someone screamed. Hundreds of Apprentices and Attendants, abandoning their supplies, scattered like ants from a disturbed nest, all fleeing toward Gray Rock Castle.

The Deep Red Royal Court’s pursuit team had already poured out from the canyon. Nearly thirty High Level Apprentices leading dozens of Middle Level Apprentices began a wanton slaughter, like wolves among sheep.

Screams, wails, and the roar of Witchcraft echoed through the canyon. The path of retreat had instantly turned into a bloody slaughterhouse.

Ian had made his decision the moment Murphy appeared and Barrett died.

He didn’t try to rejoin Hank Squad, instead quickly changing into a gray robe.

Pushing the speed and formidable physique of a High Level Apprentice to their limits, he became a gray blur, following the chaotic crowd and rushing out through the gap.

He didn’t dare run toward the main northern retreat route, which was sure to be the focus of their ambush, and instead veered northeast.

Using the rugged, rocky terrain to his advantage, he fled from the center of the battlefield with all his might.

After sprinting for several miles, the clamor and explosions from the camp behind him began to fade into the distance.

Just as he was about to catch his breath and prepare to circle back north, the Eye of Vigilance spotted nine figures behind a rocky ridge up ahead.

They wore the attire of the Deep Red Royal Court and were advancing unhurriedly toward the camp, apparently on an envelopment mission.

The one in the lead was particularly conspicuous. He was very young, looking to be no older than his early twenties.

His face was handsome to a devilish degree. Long, dark red hair was casually draped over his shoulders, a golden band was tied across his forehead, and his lips were curved in a cavalier smirk.

His attire was also different from the others—a lavish, gold-trimmed Wizard Robe, and his gaze was disdainful.

This person was Murphy Davis’s grandson... Mitchell Davis.

"Leon, are you sure any fish will slip through the net this way? Don’t waste the time I need to rack up my military achievements."

Mitchell’s voice was tinged with impatience and arrogance.

Beside him was none other than Leon Osborne, the scout who had been missing from the Furnace camp for a long time.

At this moment, Leon was bowing, his face a mask of sycophantic servility.

"Young Master Mitchell, I swear on my life, the most Shadow Moon Apprentices will flee this way. And... and the Magic Potion Alchemist I told you about will very likely escape in this direction too."

"Oh? You mean the kid who’s refining Rock Bear Potions and whose promotion speed is bizarrely fast?"

Mitchell’s interest was piqued, and a flicker of greed flashed in his eyes. "His secrets might be more valuable than killing a dozen High Level Apprentices."

Just then, Ian’s figure was spotted by their forward scout.

"There he is!" a Deep Red Apprentice shouted, pointing in Ian’s direction.