Without a doubt, the “Sanctuary” is a gray fox heritage meant to save lives. After all, trapping people for thousands or even tens of thousands of years just to kill them slowly isn’t beyond the realm of a sorcerer’s depravity, but creating such a near-divine fantasy creation solely for that purpose would be too pointless, even for the dreamers of the Gray Fox sanctuary.

The original intention of the “Sanctuary” must have been to extend a person’s sensory time when they encounter danger, giving them enough time to detect and avoid it. For instance, a close-range gunshot would trigger the advanced setting of [1 second = 1 hour], while merely tripping over a passing Lala Fatty would only activate the normal setting of [1 second = 1 minute].

So, the fact that Ashe and his companions have triggered the ultimate setting of [1 second = 1 month/1 year] can only mean one thing-

In the eyes of the “Sanctuary,” they are about to face an unimaginably terrifying disaster.

“But what exactly is the danger?” the Fire sorcerer looked up at the night sky. “It can’t be the Choking Green, can it?”

“It can’t be the Choking Green,” Igor replied. “The Choking Green has been a disaster in Senlo since ancient times. If it were the Choking Green, the ‘Sanctuary’ would have plunged everyone around it into an eternal night from the moment it was created, and it wouldn’t have had the chance to be passed down.”

“Did the rumors about the Dead City start two hundred years ago?” he asked. “After entering the wasteland era, was this place uninhabitable?”

“I don’t know,” the Wind sorcerer said. “They say it’s been decades or a century, but the cult’s history only records the rise and fall of the cult, not these rumors. Even if they were recorded, they would have been lost due to destruction or relocation, so we can’t be sure if the Dead City was always a Dead City. We can only say that in recent decades, no one has survived.”

Igor’s first reaction to the danger was the iconic event that plunged the divine era into wasteland-the “cataclysm.” However, Senlo’s historical records over the past two hundred years are as blank as a student’s summer vacation homework, leaving him without enough reasoning material.

“So, we don’t know what danger we’re facing or how to solve it, so the ‘Sanctuary’ has given us an extended period to find and deal with it,” you find.”

Everyone nodded silently. The Dead City was shrouded in unknown darkness, and even though they were on opposing sides, they understood the need for sincere cooperation. To put it bluntly, if there were indeed other mechanisms for killing, staying together at least reduced their individual chances of misfortune.

Ashe didn’t have any reconnaissance miracles. In the Virtual Realm, reconnaissance was Vesser’s responsibility, while in reality, it was handled by Igor. Therefore, he could only try to heighten his sensory acuity to see if he could detect anything.

Hiss… hiss… he heard it, a faint, eerie sound in the darkness, like a snake flicking its tongue or a spider spinning its web. An indescribable monster lurked in the unknown, threatening their lives…

Ashe squinted and saw Harvey filing Alice’s nails.

He walked over and saw that Harvey was not only shaping Alice’s nails but also buffing them with a sponge file until they were smooth, trimming the cuticles, applying a base coat, two layers of pale green polish, and a top coat…

Sitting on the coffin lid, Harvey noticed him and made some room. “Care to join?”

“Can’t Alice take care of her own nails?” Ashe asked.

“I generally don’t let the dead maintain themselves,” Harvey replied. “Caring for the dead is part of a necromancer’s professional ethics-deodorizing, cleaning, muscle massage, dental checks… If a necromancer can’t be bothered with these basic tasks and loses respect for their own creations…”

“What happens then?”

“Then they lack professional ethics,” Harvey said. “Nothing more.”

“I thought necromancers who personally care for their dead would be much stronger than those without ethics,” Ashe chuckled.

 affected combat power, it wouldn’t be an unenforced ‘ethic,’ but a necessary ‘rule,’” Harvey explained. “Following rules allows you reality, while adhering to ethics lets you crush opponents on a mental level. True victory is achieved only when you win on both fronts; otherwise either the lament of the defeated, like those cults wiped out by the Four Pillars Cult, or the unease of the victor, Mercury Trojan Horse constantly evading Raven.”

Harvey’s words were intriguing, but Ashe was more interested in another point. “You don’t seem set down Alice’s hand. “I don’t care if I escape this thirty-thousand-year prison.”

“For me, the dynamic world different. Although there won’t be more corpses to study, researching Alice alone could occupy my entire remaining life.”

Among all of them, Harvey was perhaps the most composed. Rather than being world-weary, this dark-room-like environment suited his artistic temperament.

No time passing, no external disturbances the need for sleep or food-isn’t this the ideal creative environment? Creators should be thrown into the “Sanctuary’s dark room work.

“So, if you have a way out, don’t worry about me.”

Ashe widened his eyes.

“Even though you to me for psychological counseling,” Harvey said, “I sometimes eavesdrop to see if you guys are talking bad about me behind my back.”

“You care about that?”

“I’ve started to care recently.”

The necromancer said calmly, “You’re someone who sticks with us all the time romantic troubles, a love triangle even, and it’s fresh… We’re not idiots.”

“But I’m not surprised. You are the type to get caught emotional entanglements.”

Ashe scratched his head. “Did you mix up the comments about me and Igor… That sounds more like say about a male Bewitcher!”

“In any case,” Harvey said, “we’re ready.”

We?

Ashe turned around and saw behind him at some point.

“When did you get here?”

Raven didn’t answer such a trivial question and said seriously, “Remember, help crush the Mercury Trojan Horse’s face.”

Ashe shook his head. “That’s something you should do yourself.”

Raven said nothing more and.

Harvey, resting his chin on his hand, remarked, “Speaking of which, if even I can eavesdrop, then naturally who knows everything except miracles, wouldn’t miss a thing.”

Ashe suddenly felt an indescribable awkwardness-he thought he had hidden it turned out everyone knew he was in a chaotic and turbulent romantic situation.

He quickly turned his head as if nothing had happened, just in time to see Igor standing on the rooftop of a small building. Gwen was still obediently following the Con Artist, and the Con Artist seemed to notice the gaze directed at him, looking down at Ashe.

Their eyes met in the air, and Igor gave him a slight nod before turning to study other areas.

Though no words were exchanged, Ashe understood that Igor had already confirmed he had a safe way out. it was his overly calm demeanor during the discussion, or perhaps for other reasons… Ashe wasn’t too surprised by this; he couldn’t hide anything from.

More importantly, Igor and the others had already mentally prepared themselves for the possibility that they couldn’t leave.

For over two hundred years, countless had failed to break the Temporal Cage of the Dead City. Why would they be any different? Although there was a way out, everyone knew it was: whether there was a crisis, what the crisis was, how to solve it… they had no information.

And these were things ten days or half a month would have thought of, right? They weren’t Truth sorcerers or fate sorcerers, so why would they be all the cult sorcerers who had tried to break the Dead City in the past two hundred years?

Everyone knew that the upcoming plot was just being gradually worn away. People in the Dead City couldn’t save themselves.

So, the only ones who could save them were…

At that moment, the Spear sorcerer suddenly shouted, “I’ve found a way!”

Everyone gathered immediately, and the Spear sorcerer asked, “Did you find any clues?”

After everyone shook their heads, he continued, “Even if we can’t find anything now, as long as we spend time, we can definitely find clues left by those imprisoned for millions of years in the Dead City.”

“But since no one has ever left the Dead City alive, it only proves that all efforts and attempts have failed. Even if we find clues and information, it will probably only let us experience the feeling of hope being shattered again and again.”

“By ourselves, we can’t escape the Dead City,” the Spear sorcerer said. “We need to rely on external forces.”

External forces?

Igor immediately realized something, and Harvey curiously asked, “What external forces?”

“The Four Pillars.”

The Wind sorcerer said, “The Mercury Trojan Horse miscalculated one thing: the Dead City doesn’t indiscriminately kill everyone, which is why Ashe and Silver Lantern are still alive.”

“Because Mr. Bukin deliberately leaked information a while ago, we all know that you and Silver Lantern are Half Tactile, which is why the Mercury Trojan Horse wants to kill you both-only when you’re both dead can she secure her position as Tactile.” He continued, “Although we won’t side with you just because you’re Half Tactile, your status can be the key to breaking the deadlock.”

“We should kill Silver Lantern,” spear sorcerer said, “and make you the Tactile.”

“No matter how powerful the ‘Sanctuary’ is, it can’t glory of the Four Pillars! They will surely break this Temporal Cage to save you!”

Exactly.

When they mentioned the Four Pillars,-he could become Tactile and rely on the power of the Four Pillars!

Although becoming Tactile might have many catastrophic consequences had some confidence in his willpower and believed he could resist the Four Pillars’ influence. Moreover, he was sure that Igor and the him, perhaps by taking him away from Senlo to escape the Tactile identity, or by other means.

However, compared to, if Ashe didn’t act, everyone’s souls would be trapped in the Temporal Cage until they perished!

But this also meant they had to completely Lantern here-

“Even if we don’t do this, Silver Lantern will surely think of using the Four Pillars’ power to escape,” the Spear sorcerer and his companions approached, staring at Ashe. “This is a zero-sum game. We will inevitably have a life-and-death battle with Silver Lantern. We have no choice.”

Would Silver Lantern really kill me to survive… Ashe quickly extinguished such untimely thoughts, took a deep breath, and nodded. “Alright, let’s cooperate.”

The Spear sorcerer sighed in relief. ” you should reveal a bit of your miracle expertise, and we’ll share some information too, so we can coordinate in battle. After all, the Silver Lantern, and even if we have the advantage in numbers, we must not underestimate her.”

This request was reasonable, and Ashe had no. He nodded in agreement and pondered how much information to disclose.

At this moment, Igor noticed that the fiery-tempered Fire sorcerer and was looking at Ashe with an unnatural gaze. His tense expression revealed his inner turmoil-a common flaw among Fire sorcerers, who, whether hot-tempered or calm, were not good at hiding their emotions.

Something’s wrong!

The Con Artist’s gaze swept over, and he Spear sorcerer was already within three steps of Ashe!

When the Con Artist noticed him looking, the Spear sorcerer knew he had, so he didn’t hesitate to unleash his strongest miracle!

Target-Ashe Heath!

Indeed, the only way to break the Temporal Cage was

Four Pillars.

But the potential Tactile wasn’t just Ashe; it was also Silver Lantern!

Logically, teaming up with Ashe and the others be easier than attacking Ashe. But let’s not forget, Silver Lantern was a sorcerer skilled in disguise and concealment. If she wanted to might not even find her!

Moreover, Silver Lantern’s cunning and combat prowess had left a deep impression on them. Compared to Silver Lantern and his group seemed like the easier target. If they seized this opportunity to ambush, they could solve all their problems!

They only needed new Tactile to emerge in the Dead City, and they didn’t care who it was!

Therefore, the Spear sorcerer planned to as a cover to unleash the fastest and fiercest miracle, aiming to pierce Ashe’s head before he could react!

Ashe was still information to reveal when he noticed something amiss. By then, the spear tip was almost touching his eye-

However, while the Spear seeking an opportunity to assassinate Ashe, someone else was also hunting them.

Snap!

Ashe leaned back, instantly raising his Sanctuary, effortlesslyging the dissipating spear shadow.

The Spear sorcerer failed at the last moment.

Because he was dead.

The “Sanctuary had already activated once, pulling them into the highest-level Temporal Cage. But if they continued to kill each other within the cage, the “Sanctuary” was powerless.

Ashe saw the Spear sorcerer suddenly shatter into pieces before him, his body resembling both a meatball and a squashed mosquito. The blood droplets, fragments, organs, and bones, which were about to scatter, froze in mid escaping the Temporal Cage’s hold and entering normal time flow the moment their owner died.

In this gruesome tableau of shattered remains, Ashe saw figure not far away. Her arm, clad in long gloves, bore a gleaming Square Cicada. Tonight, she wore a dark red a veil, and a small hat, as if attending a banquet-noble, alluring, yet dangerous.

Silver Lantern!

She had appeared and instantly killed the Spear sorcerer!

In the “Sanctuary,” the first casualty had emerged.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay