In the meantime, while the assault on Eustace City had failed, the pressure on the Shadow Domain didn't stop.

Neylan, Gyn, Arin, and the other generals adjusted their approach to this battle… They wouldn't commit another hundred Immortals to a single city.

That mistake had cost them time, resources, and exposed their tactics.

This time, the campaign would stretch over weeks. It would be slow and unpredictable… since they have Immortal Level Formation Arrays!

They would never let themselves get caught in such Formations.

Although slow and the Shadow Domain wouldn't be crushed, it would be worn down.

Over the course of a month, the Chaos Immortals launched a series of calculated attacks…

It was never at full strength, never at the same location twice.

Small cities near the outer perimeter were targeted with swift raids. Supply routes were disrupted. Formation Nodes were destroyed, and much of the Magical infrastructure was tampered with, just enough to force repairs.

Each attack was designed to provoke a response…

After doing this for weeks, they knew that the Shadow Domain was already getting pissed as they were wasting a lot of resources every time they repaired the Barrier Formation that they were destroying from time to time…

Neylan oversaw the timing, ensuring that no pattern in their attacks could be traced.

On the other hand, Gyn handled the field deployments, rotating squads of Immortals to avoid detection.

Lastly, Arin coordinated the Chaos Beasts, using them to create noise and confusion without committing to direct combat.

"Just like what Sir Kent ordered, we've changed plans. We're not here to win…" Neylan reminded them. "We're here to make them show their hand until Mennena recovered."

Apparently, Mennena wanted to have her own revenge… She wanted to deal with the Shadow Immortal herself once she obtained her body.

In her estimation, she may not even need to replace the Will of the Realm before being able to do so.

"Hmph… I just hope that she gets her body soon… This Shadow Domain had too many Immortal-Level Formation Arrays. They were even so effective against Chaos Energy. They have prepared so well… as if they're aware of our plans decades ago…" Gyn sighed after realizing how dangerous it was to enter the Shadow Domain without special means to escape.

He must admit that their method to lock up the Chaos Immortals with the Time Manipulators' special ability was simply too terrifying.

***

Meanwhile, Nyssa's spy network outside the domain expanded its reach.

Her agents infiltrated border towns, posing as refugees and merchants…

They monitored which relics were activated, which formations were used, and which cities responded too quickly.

They didn't want the Shadow Domain or the Arcane Bureau to realize that they were after the Arcanas.

After all, if it were revealed, they could guarantee that it would be extremely difficult to find them ever again.

Aside from her spies, more than fifty Chaos Immortals under Kent moved quietly throughout the whole continent.

They needed eight more Arcana, and it wasn't easy…

Some infiltrated royal courts, posing as envoys or scholars. Others bribed archivists, broke into private vaults, or triggered minor skirmishes to flush out hidden relics.

They targeted human kings, minor dukes, wandering Arcanists, and isolated churches, anyone who might possess an Arcana without knowing its true value.

Every week, a new report was sent to Mennena's Temple. Some were false leads, but some were promising.

And soon, news about three Arcana gathered by one person was revealed.

It was Merlin, the Overseer, and an Immortal wandering the continent…

***

At this time, the wind howled across the icy plains of the northern continent.

There was a snowstorm last night, blanketing the plains with snow and covering all the trees around.

Still, there was a small town with a warm atmosphere…

This small town was protected by a Formation Circle, hinting at the existence of Arcanists or someone powerful inside…

It was Merlin, an old mage who was also the previous Overseer of the Realm.

Currently, he looked just like any other old man. His robes are worn, his hair long and silvered with age.

He had lived here for some time after completing various missions that Vale had instructed him to do so over the years.

At this time, he was staying here despite the Shadow Domain predicament, not because he was hiding, but because he was waiting.

Soon, the wind shifted outside the small houses he was in…

A knock echoed against the wooden door, but he didn't turn to it.

"Come in." He said.

Soon, three figures entered, cloaked in gray. They were disguised, but they were Agents of the Arcane Bureau.

One of them stepped forward. "The news about you possessing three Arcanas must've reached the Chaos Immortals already."

Merlin didn't respond immediately. He finished marking the last Rune he was practicing, then rolled the scroll and placed it beside a stack of similar documents.

"They've been searching for quite some time. We're still unsure of the real reason…" the second agent added. "We've tracked their movements. They're avoiding major factions and targeting isolated holders. You're on their list now…"

Merlin finally looked up. His eyes were pale, but sharp. "Good."

The agents exchanged glances.

"I assume that the Shadow Domain had already sent their help… Is that right?" the third asked.

Merlin stood slowly and shook his head. "Hmm… Not really… I just need to know why they were searching for it and leave this place."

The three agents were shocked. Merlin reached Immortality at an old age… He looked younger now, around 60 years old or so, but they believed that he was about 300 years old before when he advanced from Half-Immortal to a true Immortal.

The first agent frowned. "This is going to be dangerous for you. Should we ask for Sir Magnus' help?"

Merlin sighed as he explained. "This small town is something I've transformed into my territory… If they come, it wouldn't be easy for them to leave..."

The agents didn't argue as they noticed a hazy figure behind the Merlin…

"Ahhh…"

They understood now.

This was why Merlin was so confident, even against Chaos Immortals.

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