Infinite Mana Exorcist
Chapter 46: Broken Towers

Chapter 46: Broken Towers

Asher and his team crouched in the shadows, their gazes fixed on the castle looming before them. It was an imposing figure, its jagged towers piercing the sky like the talons of a beast. The walls, darkened by time and weather, bore scars of an era long past. There was an eerie stillness to it, a silence that sent an involuntary chill through anyone who dared to stare for too long. It was not merely the size of the fortress that commanded fear, but the aura it exuded—an undeniable presence of something ancient, something lost to time.

But just as it was terrifying, it was also vast.

Exploring the entire castle as one unit would be inefficient, dragging out their search with little to show for it. They needed to divide and cover more ground. That was why Asher had implemented the two-on-two breakdown of the group.

"You two should take that tower," Asher instructed, pointing towards a separate section of the fortress, "and we’ll take the other one."

His teammates exchanged nods of agreement before breaking away, disappearing into the darkness of the night. Fey led his group forward, their footsteps barely making a sound against the cold stone beneath them. That left only Asher and Malvarick.

Malvarick tugged at Asher’s sleeve softly. "We should get moving... We’re too exposed here."

Her voice was low, but the urgency in her tone was unmistakable. Asher’s eyes flicked up instinctively. If someone were to be watching from above, they would be easy targets—sitting ducks beneath the towers’ shadowed heights. He silently cursed himself for not realizing it sooner.

Malvarick’s sniper intuition had given her a sharper awareness of such dangers. Without another word, they hurriedly moved, slipping out of the open terrain and pressing their bodies against the toppled wall of the tower.

They moved cautiously, hugging the structure as they advanced. The air smelled of damp stone and decay, a testament to how long the fortress had been abandoned. As they neared the base of the tower, Asher’s eyes darted around, searching for an entrance.

While he scanned for a way in, Malvarick found herself momentarily distracted.

She had always possessed a keen perception of mana—a natural ability to sense the energy that flowed through all living beings. The mana of most people was stale, static, like a lingering scent in the air. But Asher was different. His presence sent shivers through her, an inexplicable force that made her want to draw closer. It had been the same since the first moment they met. The feeling was indescribable, almost magnetic, and it had been one of the reasons she had chosen to follow him.

Her cheeks warmed as she thought about it. There was something almost magical about—

"A hole."

Asher’s voice was a whisper, snapping her out of her reverie. She blinked, turning her head just in time to see him pulling her by the wrist, leading her attention to what he had found.

"Wha—what? Oh... yes, a hole," she stammered, her thoughts still tangled, though she quickly refocused.

The opening was massive, likely caused by years of structural decay or perhaps some long-forgotten battle. Whatever the case, it was large enough for them to enter. Without hesitation, they stepped inside.

The air inside was thick, heavy with dust and the scent of neglect. The dim light that seeped through the cracks of the fortress barely illuminated the destruction within. Crumbled pillars littered the floor, walls had collapsed in places, and the torn remains of tapestries hung like ghosts of the past.

It was clear that this was once a kingdom—a kingdom that had long since fallen. Cobwebs clung to every surface, whispering tales of years lost to decay.

Asher exhaled, his eyes scanning the ruins. He couldn’t tell if there was anything of value here, or if anyone—anything—of value remained.

Then his gaze shifted.

His breath hitched slightly as he noticed something unsettling.

A figure.

No—two.

No—three.

His pulse quickened.

They were everywhere.

Skeletons, scattered throughout the hall like discarded relics. Some were clad in armor, their rusted helmets resting beside shattered bones. Others lay bare, stripped of any form of identification.

"I never knew there was a fallen kingdom in this region," Asher murmured, his voice barely above a breath, his words meant only for Malvarick’s ears. "This must be from before the Scenarios..."

"You wouldn’t know," Malvarick said softly, her eyes finding the ground. A sigh escaped her lips, heavy with something unreadable. "The outside world is shit. The strong rule over the weak, and for the weak, everything is difficult. This?" She gestured vaguely to the ruined fortress. "This is just another reminder that the strong always prevail. The fragility of life... it doesn’t matter."

Asher let out a small scoff. "Fragility of life? Life isn’t fragile." His voice was calm, but firm. "Life is determined. It’s not about being weak or strong—it’s about whether you choose to keep going. Some might die from a bullet to the chest, but others survive through sheer will. Determination is what separates those who make it from those who don’t."

Malvarick furrowed her brow, his words pressing into her mind like a stubborn seed refusing to be ignored. It was an irritating truth, but truth nonetheless.

"So what you’re saying is... determination is all that matters?"

Asher met her gaze and smiled slightly, the warmth in his expression catching her off guard. "I only explained why the strong are strong. I never said what matters."

Malvarick stared at him for a moment longer before shaking her head, unable to suppress the small, almost reluctant smile that mirrored his own.

They continued their search, but Malvarick’s thoughts lingered on Asher’s words.

He was different from other men. Different from other people.

The way he spoke, the way he saw the world—it was difficult to pin down his true goals, to understand just how much he actually cared. And yet, the more she learned about him, the more she wanted to know.

But now wasn’t the time for that.

Finally, they reached a massive chamber where the walls had partially collapsed, leaving behind an open expanse of destruction. But it wasn’t just rubble that filled the room.

A mountain of gold.

Coins and jewels piled high, glittering even in the dim light. The sheer volume of wealth before them was enough to leave anyone speechless.

Malvarick took a slow step forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who... whose life savings is this?"

But Asher wasn’t focused on the gold. His eyes darted around, taking in every detail. Then, suddenly, his entire expression changed.

Something was wrong.

His muscles tensed. His pulse spiked.

Without warning, he turned on his heel, grabbing Malvarick’s arms with a force that startled her. His voice came out in a rushed, urgent yell—one that didn’t care if something or someone overheard.

"We have to find the others, now!"

Malvarick was caught off guard. "Why are we in such a hurry?"

"Because this—" Asher’s voice dropped, his tone filled with an urgency that sent a chill down her spine.

"This is no lead.

It’s a dragon’s nest."

***Author’s note***

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