Chapter 268: Report on Hideout

As night fell over Everhart Manor, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The glow of enchanted torches illuminated the courtyard as soldiers and mages made their final preparations.

A hushed silence fell upon the war room when the scouts finally returned, their expressions grim and their armor smeared with dirt and shadow.

Sophia was the first to greet them, her piercing gaze scanning their faces. "Report," she commanded without preamble.

Garrick, the lead scout, stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with unease.

"Black Hollow Caverns is worse than we anticipated," he began, unrolling a hastily drawn map of the area.

"The vicinity surrounding the caverns is more fortified than expected. We counted at least three layers of sentries patrolling the outskirts—two outer perimeter patrols and one stationed closer to the main entrance."

He pointed to a rough sketch of the cavern's exterior. "The outer patrol consists of lightly armed sentries moving in groups of three.

They patrol the forest line at staggered intervals, meaning there's no single gap in their rotations. Each group completes a full sweep every fifteen minutes."

Sophia frowned. "That's tight security for an outer perimeter."

Garrick nodded. "It gets worse. The second patrol is stationed along the ridgeline above the cavern entrance.

These are more heavily armed warriors—likely elite enforcers of the dark guild. They're equipped with enchanted crossbows that fire mana-infused bolts, and they have a clear line of sight over the entire approach. Any movement from below would be spotted instantly unless we use advanced stealth techniques."

Eve leaned forward, tapping a finger on the map. "And the third patrol? The ones near the entrance?"

"They don't move," Garrick replied grimly.

"They're stationed at fixed points—four guards at the main entrance, two more at a hidden side passage we discovered. But here's the real problem: they aren't normal sentries."

A flicker of unease passed through the room. Adrian's red eyes glowed slightly as he narrowed them. "Explain."

Garrick exhaled sharply.

"They're undead. Cursed warriors bound by necromantic magic. They don't sleep, they don't tire, and they don't react to standard distractions. We observed one standing motionless for over two hours without so much as twitching."

Seraphina's eyes darkened. "Necromantic sentries? That complicates things. They'll be linked to a source of dark magic—likely an anchor or a necromancer within the guild. Destroying them outright might alert the entire hideout."

Isabella folded her arms. "Then we need a way to bypass them."

Adrian nodded, but he gestured for Garrick to continue. "What about magical defenses? Any barriers in place?"

Garrick's expression grew even more grim.

"Yes. The entire entrance to the cavern is shielded by a layered magical barrier. We counted at least three distinct enchantments woven together."

He pointed to the entrance on the map.

"The first layer is a detection ward—subtle but deadly. Anyone who steps past it without the correct mana signature will trigger a silent alarm. No visible effects, no immediate reaction from the guards, but we observed a small, dark glyph shimmer whenever a patrol passed through it. That means it's likely a scanning ward."

Seraphina nodded approvingly. "A sophisticated security measure. That means only certain individuals are authorized to enter freely."

Garrick continued, "The second layer is a curse-weave barrier. Unlike the detection ward, this one is meant to repel and harm intruders. If anyone tries to pass through forcefully, they'll be struck with a backlash—likely a necrotic curse or paralysis spell. We saw a wild animal attempt to enter the cavern, and the moment it touched the barrier, it was wracked with spasms before collapsing. The corpse was rapidly drained of life."

A heavy silence settled over the room. Christine swallowed hard, clearly disturbed by the description.

Rosalyn muttered, "So this is the kind of magic we're dealing with…"

Garrick pressed on, his voice unwavering.

"The third layer is the most complex. It's a concealment barrier that distorts perception and mana detection. Any attempts to scry or sense what's beyond the entrance result in false readings. We tested it ourselves—one of our mages tried to scan the cavern's interior using mana pulses, but the results kept shifting, as if the cavern itself wasn't stable."

Adrian tapped his fingers against the table. "A tri-layered defense system… that's no small feat."

Seraphina let out a low whistle. "Whoever set this up isn't just some amateur dark mage. This is the work of a master curse-wielder. Someone with deep knowledge of soulbinding and necromantic constructs."

Garrick nodded grimly. "And there's more. While we couldn't get inside, we heard voices from within—chants and rituals being conducted deep in the cavern. It sounded like a summoning. We couldn't determine what exactly they were bringing forth, but the atmosphere was thick with malevolent energy."

Adrian's expression darkened. "They're preparing something. We can't afford to wait too long."

Eve crossed her arms. "Then we need a plan. We can't charge in headfirst. The barriers alone will cripple us before we even get close."

Adrian considered the information carefully before speaking. "Seraphina, do you think you can neutralize the magical barriers without alerting them?"

Seraphina ran a hand through her crimson hair, deep in thought.

"The first layer, the detection ward, is easy enough to bypass if we can obtain the mana signature of someone with access. The second layer, the curse-weave barrier, is tricky but not impossible—I can unravel its structure if given time. The third layer, however, is the real issue. Concealment barriers aren't just about hiding things; they often distort perception from both inside and out. If I tamper with it directly, it could trigger a failsafe."

Adrian nodded. "Then we need another way in."

Garrick hesitated. "There is one other potential entrance."

Everyone's attention snapped to him.

"The side passage," he explained. "It's smaller, less guarded—only two undead sentries. It's partially collapsed, which is probably why they didn't fortify it as heavily. However, there's a problem: the interior passage is unstable. Even slight disturbances might cause a cave-in."

Adrian's mind worked rapidly, analyzing the possible angles. The side entrance was a gamble, but it provided a critical opening.

"We'll split into two teams," he decided. "Aunt, Mom, and I will take the main entrance. Seraphina will dismantle the detection and curse-weave barriers as discreetly as possible. We'll use this as a distraction—drawing attention while the second team infiltrates."

He turned to Eve. "You'll lead the second team—enter through the side passage with a small group. Your objective is to slip inside unnoticed and locate the summoning ritual. If they're in the middle of something dangerous, disrupt it."

Eve's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Now that's my kind of mission."

Sophia smirked. "And if things go south?"

Adrian's expression hardened. "We're Everharts. We adapt."

Chris, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. "And what about us?"

Adrian met her gaze. "You, Christine, and Rosalyn will have to stay on standby outside along with the soldiers."

Chris still looked reluctant, but after hearing the gravity of the situation, she nodded.

Adrian exhaled, the weight of the mission settling on his shoulders. "We move before dawn."

The room buzzed with tension, but there was also confidence. They weren't just walking into a trap—they were engineering the battle on their terms.

The dark guild had fortified itself well, but they had no idea what was coming for them.

And by the time they realized it, it would be too late.