Chapter 18

18. Storm (2)

Oliver moved along the back alley with Andrew's group to the rear of the factory.

Even as they moved, blue flashes crackled at the front gate, and with them, screams and gunshots increased.

Someone said,

"There really is a mage, it seems. A trap spell... They're thoroughly prepared."

"It doesn't matter. If they're drawing attention over there, it makes things easier for us. They won't be paying attention to the back."

"Could there be traps set up at the back as well?"

At this, Andrew paused for a moment.

Upon reflection, it was a perfectly reasonable concern. It was highly likely that traps had been set up even in areas with weak defenses.

After a moment of contemplation, Andrew suddenly turned his head to look at Oliver.

"Oliver, you take the lead."

"Huh?"

"You have a sharp sense, so you might be able to avoid traps. Right? So, you take the lead."

It was a ridiculous demand, but Oliver had no choice but to nod.

He instinctively sensed that something major would happen if he refused the order here.

From the moment Andrew had singled him out, something had felt off, and now, looking around, he saw only hostile faces.

People who would harm him at the slightest provocation.

Oliver had unknowingly fallen into a well-laid trap.

"Let's move out again."

With Oliver reluctantly taking the lead, Andrew, who was behind him, spoke.

Naturally, Oliver followed the order and moved, but he could feel Andrew's hostility from behind, even though he couldn't see it.

He was as much an enemy to Oliver as the others.

Oliver couldn't understand why Andrew was acting this way. What had he done?

However, such curiosity was erased by Oliver's innate survival instinct.

What mattered now was not why Andrew was acting this way, but how to get out of this situation.

If his instincts were right, staying here would put him in grave danger.

Still, Oliver showed no outward signs and ran forward. If he revealed what he had noticed, it would only make things more dangerous.

How could he escape this crisis?

As he pondered this, the streetlights that were sparsely lit around him suddenly went out.

"Huh?"

"What's happening?"

The surroundings were instantly swallowed by darkness, and from the upper floors of the factory, several glowing orbs flew towards them.

[Magic Missile]

A barrage of magical energy.

Andrew's group, moving through the narrow alley, were like rats trapped in a cage, unable to avoid and could only stand there helplessly.

At that moment, Andrew shouted,

"Everyone, defend! Black Shield!"

With this cry, everyone regained their senses and cast a black barrier to block the incoming Magic Missiles.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Magic Missiles, flying at high speed, were blocked by the black barrier and exploded in mid-air like fireworks.

The surroundings were momentarily illuminated by the colorful light. At that moment, the enemy gang members hiding behind the walls emerged and opened fire simultaneously.

"Fire! Fire! Kill them all!"

"Argh! Die, all of you!"

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat