Dark Magus Returns - Chapter 1671
Chapter 1671: The New World (Part 2)
The Noble Guild was already large and filled with powerful mages, but some of those that had agreed to join the Noble Guild were among the strongest guilds in Centreal City. These were not minor groups looking for protection, but long-standing organizations with their own influence, history, and power.
That included guilds that had been stationed on the north side and weren’t even part of the original meeting. They hadn’t needed to attend. They had already made their choice. As a result, the Noble Guild’s force was larger than ever before.
Even larger than what Gizin and his inner circle had once managed to assemble.
Sneaking into the Noble Land was impossible. By the time anyone reached the front gates, they would already be dealing with layered traps, defensive formations, and Trubin himself standing in the way before even getting close to Idore.
With their current strength and the limited number of people at their side, it was an impossible task. Or at the very least, they all understood they would have far better chances if they could gain more support.
That was one of the reasons Liam and B had been heading outside. They weren’t wandering aimlessly. They were searching for other guilds, guilds that hated the Grand Magus for what was happening now.
Guilds that would never bow to the Noble Guild.
There had to be some left on the north side. People who refused to kneel. People who were angry rather than afraid.
The issue was that many of those who felt that way had already died. Infighting had broken out almost immediately after the Noble Land was formed. Old grudges resurfaced. Power struggles erupted. Some guilds collapsed before they ever had a chance to unite against a greater threat.
So they waited.
They let things settle.
And eventually, that chaos gave way to something more stable.
B had taken advantage of that window. She mapped the area. Carefully. Methodically. Every large guild that was still standing. Every group that had not been swayed into joining the Noble Guild. Every faction that still held its ground.
That was why Liam had brought the idea to Raze.
If he wanted an army, why not build one himself?
“All of the people in this building are already thankful to you,” Liam said, looking around the reinforced structure they were using as a base. “You stopped the criminal mages in the free zone. You protected them when no one else would.”
“You could recruit people,” Liam continued. “Offer protection. Stability. A reason to stand their ground.”
He paused for a moment before adding, “And honestly… if they knew the Dark Magus was the one forming the guild, I think most of them would join without hesitation.”
Raze didn’t reply immediately.
He stood there, silent, thinking.
Then he spoke.
“After what happened with the Dark Guild… it feels wrong,” Raze said.
He turned slightly, his expression calm but conflicted. “You’re right. People would join us if we offered protection.”
“But what happens when we ask them to fight?” he continued. “There will be people who feel forced to fight because they owe us something.”
“And those who don’t?” Raze asked. “Do we throw them out? Tell them they’re no longer welcome?”
He shook his head slightly.
“I’m cautious after what happened with the Dark Guild. I don’t want to create another version of that.”
“When we approach other guilds,” Raze went on, “they already have their own will. Their own determination. They don’t want to live like this anymore.”
“If we recruit them, it should be because they choose to fight, not because we pushed them into it.”
He looked up, meeting Liam’s eyes.
“And besides… I’m going after Idore and the Noble Land no matter what.”
“What we’ll be doing is standing alongside other guilds,” Raze said. “They can decide whether they want to fight with us or not.”
The group understood.
And more than that, they respected it.
Kelly and Londo exchanged looks. They had talked about this before. About how wrong their image of the Dark Magus had been.
They had expected cruelty. Ruthlessness. Control.
Instead, they saw restraint.
Kelly, especially, understood. Given her own past, she knew what it meant to be pushed into someone else’s war. She was glad she had chosen to follow Raze rather than being forced to.
When the group was ready, they set out together.
This time, they didn’t wear robes to hide their identities.
No disguises.
No shadows.
Even Raze walked openly, his white hair visible as he moved through the streets.
People noticed immediately. Some froze where they stood. Others instinctively backed away. There were those that were ready to cause trouble, but before they did, those next tot hem that pulled them away to stop them from doing something incredibly foolish.
A few mages began to gather spells, only to stop the moment they realized who they were looking at.
“That’s… that’s the Dark Magus.”
“He’s just walking openly?”
“What’s he doing here?”
Rumors spread instantly.
“Is he trying to take over the north?”
“Is he planning to challenge the Grand Magus directly?”
“We know his target has always been the Grand Magus…”
“Would you join him if he asked?”
“I don’t know… the Dark Guild is gone. Can he really take Idore on his own?”
That question lingered in the air.
Even now, after everything Raze had done, people still underestimated him.
Finally, up ahead, the walls of one of the larger guilds came into view.
The structure stood tall, reinforced with magic and guarded by experienced mages.
Raze stopped.
He looked at the walls, calm and steady.
“Let’s see who wants to join us in this fight.”