ACT 3 Prelude: Illusion Sonata

The heavens are helping us.

Jewel murmured as he looked up at the night sky.Since the early evening, dark clouds started to spread across the night sky so the lights from the stars couldnt be seen anymore. The forest was therefore so dark it was impossible to distinguish anything moving within it.While it wasnt okay for moving through the forest, it was perfect for a night attack.He felt good for some reason.

Is that Lancel village?

While crossing the forest, it was possible to see a faint light through the bushes. It seemed to be light coming from open doors and through windows in Lancel village.A low laugh emerged from Jewels mouth as his goal came within sight.

Huhuhu, that village sounds as quiet as a mouse. 1~2 hours should be sufficient.

Wait, why is it so quiet?

Duke who had been observing the village narrowed his eyes and muttered.

Didnt you film the video so that users would know we are attacking Lancel?

Yes, so there village is quiet because there are no users as planned.

Jewel thought it was because of the video that no users were in the village.But Duke still looked unsure.

No, even if the users ran away the NPCs shouldnt be this quiet.

Thats because the NPCs wouldnt know. Think about it. There is no reason for the users leaving the village to give a reason to NPCs. The NPCs also cant search the internet to watch the video. So there is no possibility of the NPCs taking countermeasures from rumours flying between users.

I guess, but

Jewel just laughed without any worries and spoke.

There wont be a problem even if the NPCs sensed something. The video was only posted last night. It would be impossible to gain reinforcements during that time. Besides, look at their stupid expressions. Is that the expression of someone facing a crisis?

Jewel pointed to the residents of Lancel wandering around the suburbs. He could find no awareness of danger in any of the residents.

It is good to be careful but you dont have to worry. The opponents are NPCs.

Jewel spoke lightly as he surveyed the village.

Duke, lead units 4,5, and 6 to the left. Ill lead units 1 and 2 to the other side. Once the town is surrounded then well attack.

A cruel light appeared in Jewels eyes.

Once the battle starts then dont spare a single one of them in the village. Then the suicide squads will move to Arks shop and the magic tower and will loot it before blowing them up. It is a low-level village but it is in the midst of growing so the profits should be quite good.

The troops split up and moved according to the plan.Their goal for surrounding the village was to not allow any Lancel residents to escape. The members crept through the bushes after dispersing and moved to their target point.

Huhuhu, that Ark, I want to see what kind of expression you have when you come here.

The smile never left Jewels face even while crawling through the bushes.After approximately 1 hour, Jewels group had finished surrounding the village. After taking a short break, he heard Dukes whisper from the other side.

-Jewel, were ready.

A beast like smile flashed on Jewels mouth.

Now, everyone attack! Wall of Flames, Fire Wall!

Jewel stood up and waved his hand, causing dozens of flame pillars to engulf the village.The residents ran away from the flames into a barrier created beforehand.After Jewels pre-emptive strike, the stone wall was soon destroyed and they invaded the village. Duke also poured arrows from the opposite side and led his troops into the village.

Lets finish this in one breath! Everybody charge!

Wah ah ah ah!

When the 500 members charged the village, it was instantly turned to fire and dust. However, it didnt take a long time before Jewel realized something was strange.

What, what the? What on earth..?

Jewel stopped attacking and scratched his head with confusion.Jewel had been firing magic blindly at the village.Not only Jewel, but the 500 members had shot various arrows and magic at the village. The constant explosion and dirt meant that it was difficult to see. But the residents showed no reaction to the attack. They acted like they couldnt see the people attacking the village and there wasnt any damage on their clothes. Even the swords just went straight through the bodies of the residents.

Leader-nim, over there!

Then one of the members shouted and pointed to the town square. Jewel reflexively turned his head and looked at the sight with amazement.Dozens of residents were running around the square.But that wasnt what caught Jewels attention. The person he saw in the village centre wearing leather armour was

Ark!

Yes, the person was Jewels enemy Ark.Jewel stiffened after finding Ark.His biggest reason to attack Lancel was to get revenge on Ark. But he never imagined that Ark would be here now. After a while, Jewel started using magic despite his confusion.

Rise flames of a burning inferno! Take this, Hellfire!

Huge flames signed the area from the explosion.Ark was swallowed up by the flames. No, Jewel thought the flames hit but it just went through Ark. Ark stared through the flames at Jewel and chuckled. Then Ark slowly lifted his hand which had his middle finger raised. Dukes voice shook his ears at the same time.

-We were tricked Jewel. It is a trap!

Trap?

Jewel jumped and stepped backwards.

Clang, snap!

There was a sudden mechanical sound and something sprung from the ground. It was the size of a fist with letters written on the surface. Blood drained from Jewels face as he read the letters.

Beok~ kyu!

That Ark bastard!

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!

The sphere exploded and there was an enormous blast of flame.

Ugh, Fire Shield!

Jewel quickly used the Fire Shield to protect himself from the flames. As expected of a pioneer to be able to react so quickly with Fire Shield. But that was just the beginning.

Clang, snap! Clang, snap! Clang, snap! Clang, snap!

While Jewel was protecting himself, 100 other spheres bounced into the village.Sweat dripped down Jewels back and he confirmed the presence of the spheres. Needless to say, the spheres which appeared were all traps!These traps sensed the presence of people stepping on them before activating.It was the type of workmanship that Ark specialized in.But Jewel had no room to be angry.A warning emerged from Jewels mouth.

Avoid it! It is a trap!

Kwa kwa kwang, kwa kwa kwang, kwa kwa kwang!

The 100 spheres exploded at the same time and the entire village was in flames.It was a desperate attack on all the secret society members in the village.The sphere exploded before they could react to Jewels voice. The members quickly lost 10~20% of their health. Moreover, the flames in the village continuously did damage to them.

Ugh, it is dangerous! Quickly escape!

Once we get out of here..waaaaah!

The one of the suicide members engulfed in flames suddenly disappeared.The ground had collapsed once he stepped on it.A trap!The bottom of the hole was a trap containing sharpened blades. The man in fell into the trap had his health quickly disappear and he died.

U-unbelievable!

Jewel looked at the suicide squad members who had fallen into disorder with an expression that indicated he was unable to believe it. It was constant traps that he hadnt even considered! But that wasnt the only thing that confused him.

T-this is..!

Flames were still soaring dozens of metres high in the village. But the buildings in the village were perfectly fine.No, it wasnt just the buildings but also the NPCs going around the village calmly. Jewel knew of only one occupation which could produce this phenomenon.

Illusionthis is an illusion? Then someone conjured the illusion? But

Conjurers used illusion magic! However, a conjurer could only create an illusion that was several metres in size.Yet the illusion had created a whole village and NPCs who never talked. But one thing was clear in the midst of all the confusion.

Ark!

Ark had returned to Lancel village.Thats why the battle proceeded in an unpredictable direction!

Hehehehe!

Huge flames and continuous screams continued over the village.Flying over the flames which rose into the sky was a chuckling bat.It was Arks scout Racard.

Master, caught, they were caught. Those fools were properly caught!

The flames are also visible from here. What is their situation now?

I cant see properly because of the flames. But judging by the smell of raw meat, quite a few of them were caught?

Okay, observe the situation and continue stay in contact with me.

Ark nodded with satisfaction after listened to Racards message. Then he turned his head to the raccoons standing next to him and grinned.

The traps are working well.

It is thanks to the materials Ark-nim brought. Im also surprised. To think this little jewel has so much power once added to a simple device.

The raccoon chief said while tinkering with a red gem. It was the Fire Stone Ark excavated from Hwaryong Mountain. When Ark had used the Phantom Hourglass, he also made as many as 180 Fire Stones. Ark had invested half of those stones into this operation.It was the raccoon chief who thought of adding it to the spheres.The Fire Stones didnt cause that much damage. However, that changed once it was placed in a sphere filled with gunpowder. The explosiveness was amplified by the gunpowder and created unknown damage.Thus the Fire Stones had turned into a bomb.

And the person with the most merit in this plan is Roco.

The raccoon chief turned his head and muttered.

Indeed, this plan wouldnt be possible without Roco.

Ark stared at Roco.Roco was perfectly immersed in playing her harp.

So awesome, Manager-nim!

You werent just lazing around while playing the harp!

Sapjil and Ulmeok gave her a thumbs up and praised her. Sapjil and Ulmeok were talking about the time Roco took to learn the Rhapsody Melody from the ghost.Melody Rhapsody was divided into 5 movements, with each movement having an unique effect. And the song Roco was currently playing was the prelude Illusion Sonata.

-Melody Rhapsody Prelude:Illusion Sonata(Intermediate, Active)

The tragic fate of the genius musician who composed the Melody Rhapsody dwells within the Illusion Sonata. All those who listen to such wonderful magic will be lost in a world of illusion. The people listening to such music on the battlefield will really feel like the main character of a tragedy.Illusion Sonata uses that to target the area where it can project a illusionary landscape. However, the images produced by the illusion have to actually exist. In addition, the realistic sense of the illusion will change depending on the degree of completion.

<Mana consumption: 5 mana every 10 seconds. Cool down time: 12 hours>