His attention shifted as he wondered, "Why don't they use proper weapons?" A blade or spear infused with magic could channel the energy far more effectively, delivering devastating attacks to the beasts' weak points. But here, in this disorganized lee, such logical strategies were absent.
Gin discreetly intervened when necessary, using his magic to subtly assist the bait and shift the tide of battle. Each ti, Jaiden—the leader of the operation—frantically scanned the area, searching for the mysterious source of the magic. But no one suspected Gin; his unassuming presence and position among the bait ensured he remained unnoticed.
The battle dragged on tediously, with no resolution in sight. Yet, Gin's expression betrayed no concern. He clearly had sothing—or soone—up his sleeve.
The answer soon arrived in the form of a towering man entering through the main gate.
The newcor exuded a powerful and refined magical aura, one far surpassing that of Gin. His physique, chiseled and muscular, radiated strength. Though his magic was sharper and more controlled than the chaotic energy of this world, it still carried a stormy intensity compared to Earth's magic.
Gin approached him with deference. "You're here."
"Did you take care of the base?" the man asked.
"It's been handled," Gin replied, only for the man to cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Save it. Let's clean this up first." He strode toward the nearest beast with purpose, a massive sword slung across his back.
As he reached for the hilt, the air seed to hum with energy. The sword detached from his back with a tallic click, and his magic surged into the blade, causing it to emit a flickering white glow. Gin observed intently, noting how the magic changed its properties as it flowed into the weapon.
"Piercing magic," Gin concluded. The sword's magic was designed to penetrate.
However, the man's technique was crude, leaking magic with every movent. Despite this inefficiency, his overwhelming reserves of energy compensated for his lack of finesse.
With a burst of power, the man launched himself toward the beast, his magic-enhanced leap propelling him forward.
In one fluid motion, he drove the massive sword into the creature's skull, the blade piercing through its tough hide and into its brain. Even mortally wounded, the beast retaliated with a powerful swipe of its claws.
The man ducked low, evading the strike, and the beast's own weight brought it crashing to the ground. It did not rise again.
The man thodically eliminated each remaining beast in the sa efficient, brutal manner. Within fifteen minutes, the breeding grounds were silent.
Jaiden rushed to the man's side as the last beast fell. "Thank you for your efforts," he said with a bow.
The man shrugged. "The real effort ca from those fighting the beasts before .
They softened them up."
"You handled the remnants of the Shedim, didn't you?" Odys inquired.
The man waved dismissively. "Nothing worth ntioning. They were slippery but manageable."
With that, the man turned to leave, waving over his shoulder. "Finish up here. I'm going to rest."
Jaiden watched him go before clapping his hands to regain everyone's attention. "All right, let's wrap this up. Drag the carcasses outside and wait for the cleanup team. The rest is up to us."
As the remaining fighters and bait filed out of the breeding grounds, Gin lingered, silently observing. He noted the tension among the professional fighters, their exhaustion evident in their slumped shoulders and weary gazes.
In contrast, the bait walked with lighter steps, relieved to have survived and earned their pay.
Once outside, Gin blended into the crowd, avoiding the notice of Alberta or anyone else who might recognize him. Jaiden, anwhile, wore an expression of frustration, his search for the elusive magician yielding no results.
Gin smirked inwardly. "They don't even know how to identify a real magician," he thought, amused by their ignorance. Even the broker, Jay, had been able to sense Gin's hidden magic. Yet Jaiden and his guild had no idea who they were truly dealing with.
Jaiden should have recognized Gin as a magician, especially soone with abilities akin to the man who effortlessly dispatched the Malice Beasts earlier.
Even if Jaiden himself was too inexperienced, soone of that caliber should have imdiately noticed.
"Is the instability of the magic in this world disrupting their ability to sense it?" Gin mused.
Perhaps it was the chaotic magic he deliberately shrouded himself with, masking the core within him. Either way, it was intriguing.
The answers to his questions lay ahead. He needed to stay close to Alberta and her team, find the portal that could take him back to Earth, and study its structure.
With that knowledge, he could later create his own portal—one entirely under his control.
For now, Jaiden seed to be struggling to dismiss the bait group. His hesitation to send them away made it clear he hadn't given up on finding the elusive magician.
Finally, Jaiden addressed the group, his voice taking on a persuasive tone.
"If anyone among you happens to be a magician, please, don't hesitate to visit our Fishmongers Guild. We'd like to properly compensate you for your efforts today and establish a good relationship. I assure you, you won't regret it."
His words caused a ripple of excitent among the bait. They exchanged hopeful glances, wondering if soone among them could indeed be the mysterious magician. That glimr of possibility made Ferrari, ever opportunistic, step forward with an idea.
"How about we exchange contact information? We've all stepped into this dangerous world, so why not help each other out when needed?" Ferrari suggested.
The suggestion made Gin visibly uncomfortable. Luckily, his mask concealed his expression, preventing his reaction from standing out.
Without the mask, his striking appearance would have drawn even more unwanted attention.
Before Gin could think of a way to deflect, soone else spoke up.
"I don't even have a phone," a voice muttered.
"Neither do I," said another.
It was then that Gin o fully realized how unconventional and diverse the group was. They weren't just random individuals; they each carried unique stories, hardships, and secrets.
And yet, none of them could match his own.
After all, how many among them had crossed worlds through a portal?
His thoughts wandered briefly to the other team—Team Y1. The na had surfaced during Jaiden's earlier conversation. The group was tied to Y1 Corporation, as confird by the business card Alberta had given him. The card read: Y1 Trading – Special Resource Managent Division.
"So they're a team of empowered individuals managed by Y1 Corporation," he deduced.
It wasn't hard to imagine other corporate giants managing their own teams of similarly gifted individuals. He recalled snippets of conversation he'd overheard at the portal site, ntioning rival teams operating in this world.
Lost in thought, Gin barely noticed Ferrari approaching him. The man held out a small slip of paper.
"Here, take this. It's my number. Do you not have a phone either?" Brett asked.
Gin nodded, and Ferrari smiled, his deanor brimming with newfound determination.
"Then reach out if you ever need help."
Ferrari's eyes glead with an ambition that hadn't been there when they first t. It seed he had found new purpose. If that fervor burned brightly enough, perhaps he truly could make sothing of himself. Still, Gin thought with a hint of amusent, Ferrari might need to trim his protruding belly first.
The bait group dispersed after exchanging contacts, with so banding together to track down brokers and demand the paynts they hadn't yet received. Unlike Gin's group, they hadn't even been given an advance.
Gin silently slipped away from the crowd, vanishing into the background. With a quiet flicker of magic, he bent the light around him, cloaking himself in an illusion of invisibility.
It was ti to find the portal ho.
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