NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48:
Chapter 48: The Occupied City of Steam:
[Observer entry is being activated…]
[You were keenly aware of the danger, released defensive magic in time, and survived the dangerous attack.]
[You started looking for the witch, searching tirelessly through Allenson City. Finally, you found her in the ruins of the courtyard.]
[The changes in Allenson City are far beyond your imagination.]
[Goblins, centaurs, kobolds, war beasts, sub-dragon species, and pure-blooded demons… Alien races that should have been far from human cities, exiled to the edges of the world, mysteriously appeared in Allenson City.]
[You even saw the orc army that was supposed to be blocked by the Church of God at the border.]
[You made a decisive decision to leave Allenson City.]
Individual power has its limits.
Xu Xi, despite his extraordinary talent and a magic reserve ten times that of mages at his level, was still just a great magician.
He was neither a great mage nor a saint magician, much less a demigod wielding divine power.
He could not contend with entire legions.
Faced with the wave of alien invaders overwhelming Allenson, Xu Xi acted decisively, taking Krisha and making a swift escape.
Level 7 magic: Chain Thunderstorm.
Level 7 magic: Canglan Hurricane.
Level 7 magic: Light Blade Makes Flash.
“Boom! Boom! Boom! … Boom! Boom!”
Standing amidst the collapsed, burning ruins of his courtyard, Xu Xi glanced at the ominously blood-red sky. His gaze shifted to the ferocious alien forces emerging in droves.
With a strike of his wand to the ground, the elements roared to life.
In a single breath, raging high-level magic engulfed the area ahead.
Lightning and storms intertwined, creating dazzling arcs of light that obliterated countless enemies, clearing a path forward. Even the airborne threats were swept away by the destructive power.
“The power of level 7 magic is indeed far superior to level 5,” Xu Xi remarked, nodding slightly in satisfaction at his newfound strength as a great magician.
Glancing briefly at the remains of the defeated aliens, Xu Xi wasted no time. He released another surge of wind magic, enveloping himself and Krisha in a protective storm, and ascended rapidly into the sky.
During the flight, monstrous creatures shrieked and launched attacks.
But the howling storm tore them apart before they could get close.
Some stronger beings noticed their escape but couldn’t keep up with the blinding speed of the wind magic. Xu Xi and Krisha had already left the boundaries of Allenson City before an encirclement could form.
…
[You used level 3 magic: Wind Control.]
[You used level 5 magic: Wind Swiftness.]
[You used level 5 magic: Guardian of the Earth.]
[You used level 5 magic: Water Torrent.]
[You used level 5 magic: Fire Charge.]
[You used level 7 magic: Blessing of Holy Light.]
[You wielded your wand, unleashing surging magical power. Your wind control skills were amplified like never before.]
[With unparalleled speed, you evacuated Allenson City with Krisha before the encirclement could form.]
[You and the witch successfully escaped.]
The wind brushing against their faces was no longer the scorching, destructive heat of a ruined city but a refreshing breeze from the natural world.
Xu Xi controlled the wind element to maintain their flight while casting one last glance at Allenson City.
In the distance, the once-vibrant city of steam was shrouded in flickering firelight.
The crimson blaze consumed the city, swallowing its prosperity and reducing it to ashes.
In the center, the towering steam tower—a symbol of Allenson’s progress—collapsed into fiery rubble, its fall scattering countless embers into the air.
The city Xu Xi had called home for a decade was gone.
A tragic ruin.
Its downfall was incomprehensible, absurd.
“What… exactly happened?” Xu Xi murmured, his eyes reflecting both confusion and a glimmer of suspicion.
Based on what he had learned previously, Allenson’s noble factions had always prioritized the city’s development. They treated it as their stronghold, their foundation.
From a pragmatic standpoint, abandoning Allenson made no sense.
“Even with the alien invasion, resistance would have been expected… unless—”
Xu Xi paused, his thoughts deepening.
“Unless something happened that left them no choice but to abandon Allenson and flee.”
What could that something be?
With the observer entry activating, Xu Xi felt a faint awareness of the hidden truth beneath the surface chaos.
For this reason, he decided against moving to the next city immediately.
Instead, he would stay nearby and continue observing Allenson from a safe distance. He wanted to uncover the true reason behind its destruction.
“I asked Krisha to purchase supplies earlier. We have enough food and essentials in the space ring. Even if we camp outdoors, we’ll manage just fine.”
With this thought in mind, Xu Xi guided Krisha to a distant hill.
Far enough from Allenson to ensure safety, the location still provided a clear view of the city’s fate.
“Krisha, we’ll stay here for a while,” Xu Xi instructed.
“I understand, master,” the witch replied obediently.
Her injuries, fully healed by Xu Xi’s life magic, no longer hindered her.
Krisha climbed to the top of the hill, flattening the grass beneath her footsteps. Her blank gaze swept across the area until she settled on a flat, suitable spot.
With practiced efficiency, she pressed her palms to the ground, releasing wind magic.
The howling wind cleared the grass, exposing bare, dry earth perfect for resting.
Meanwhile, Xu Xi set up layers of warning spells around their temporary camp. Then, he ascended into the sky to survey the area’s safety from above.
…
The witch silently watched him as he flew.
Her gaze followed his every move—watching him rise, watching him descend.
Only when Xu Xi returned to the ground did Krisha finally look away, a faint sense of relief softening her expression.
She turned her focus back to their tasks.
…
[You realize the fall of Allenson City hides an ulterior secret.]
[You decide to delay your journey to a new city.]
[You find a vantage point nearby and settle with the witch, determined to witness the ultimate fate of Allenson City.]
[Is this a human conspiracy?]
[Or a power struggle between gods and churches?]
[Or perhaps the rise of alien races forcing humans into retreat?]
[Questions swirl in your mind. You feel unsettled, leaving the city you’ve called home for ten years. But you take comfort in the presence of a familiar witch.]
[She looks at you as you look at her.]