The three clones exploded at the same time, the energy released in an ever-growing bubble of light and heat. For half a second the explosions struggled against each other before merging and expanding further. The mist that came in contact with it was directly annihilated while the building and mansions were reduced to dust. As the explosion continued to expand, it lost power and the different edifices were only reduced to rubbles rather than dust. Blocks of stones were sent flying and turned into projectiles from the forces they were submitted to. When it died down, the stone constructions further away were able to survive the blast, it was merely their roofs that caught fire.

Then came the shockwave, it achieved what mere wind hadn’t been able to do. The mist finally moved. The parts that had survived due to being outside the range of the explosion were pushed back. Even as the mist formed tendrils to remain whole, they were crushed by the wind pressure, the mist was compressed and sent tumbling away. Blue sky shined upon the capital for the first time in weeks. The hole within the mist continued to widen.

Even as the mist was still pushed back by the shockwave, the ten other clones exploded as well with only a slight delay compared to the main explosion. Their displays weren’t as impressive as the overcharged clones exploding together, but they weren’t small either. The might of rune bombs was dependent on the quantity of mana in the surroundings. The mana density had steadily climbed as the surge progressed and it was even higher within the mist even if it didn’t reach the level of the spiders’ nests. Additionally, even if the clones charging the bomb didn’t contain that much mana, contrary to Edward they were expendable. They didn’t need to run away from the explosion, instead, they simply squeezed all of their mana dry sending it into the bombs to boost their might.

In a circle within the capital, all ten bombs detonated at once leaving craters behind them as well as additional holes within the veil of mist.

Even if the main explosion had destroyed part of the mist and pushed the rest of it away, forming a big hole above the capital, the mist covered the whole city and formed a large entity. It was no normal mist that would have been blasted away by a simple wind. It was struggling to remain its cohesion and maybe it would have managed it, reforming from the sides when the explosion lost its strength. However, the peripheral explosions were the final nail in the coffin. The periphery of the mist was tattered, covered in holes and only strips of mist were linked together.

Worst, the explosions were powerful enough that the shockwaves bounced into each other. Normally when one aims for maximal destruction it was a waste of energy as it decreased the reach of the damage. But here, it only meant that the damage was concentrated and maximized within the scope of the city, it didn’t need to expand further. As the shockwaves bounced chaotically against each other, the final strips of mist were finally reduced to nothing.

Edward opened his eyes within the basement as the whole building was shaking as if struck by an earthquake. Dust and small debris were falling from the ceiling under the wary gaze of the royal knights.

Adotinus smiled savagely. “There is no need to ask whether you did it or not, this is confirmation enough.”

Ignis sighed. “I wished we didn’t have to go that far. No matter if we win or lose Pescara will be reduced to a rubble field.”

As they were rejoicing in their victory everyone in the room suddenly stumbled, they felt uncomfortable as if something had crossed through them. It didn’t feel as if a shockwave had pushed them and made them lose their footing, instead, it felt as if space itself wobbled.

“What was that?!” Adotinus exclaimed.

Edward who was more attuned to space and who had experienced something similar when he used the long-range teleportation mural understood that the feeling of space stretching and collapsing on itself hadn’t been an illusion. “Space distortion,” he replied, rapidly regaining his composure while the royal knights still had white faces from the strange sensation.

“What do you mean space distortion? Space is not a pie dough, it’s not supposed to behave this way!” Adotinus retorted.

Ignis spoke out. “Do you think it was a large-scale teleportation? Could those monsters have summoned more of their kind?”

Silence loomed over the room.

After thinking for a few seconds Edward replied. “I don’t know. I have never experienced something of this scale. When I teleport space distortion is almost nonexistent. It was only when I experienced long-range teleportation that I felt some distortion, but even then, it was quite different. How to put it? What happened right now felt a lot less controlled. I can’t be certain but I don’t think that what happened was intended.”

Ignis nodded in understanding. “Good, let’s investigate the situation then.”

Edward hesitated, after spending so much aura feeding the clones neither of them were at full capacity. However, in the end, he chose not to say anything, he was as curious as them as to what may have caused this phenomenon, and besides, with three patriarchs together, few things could threaten them.

It was only when they decided to go out that they realized the secret exit had collapsed. The tunnel was filled with blocks of rocks preventing their passage. They backtracked heading to the tower entrance from the Regalis mansion.

It was even worst, the tower had collapsed, and the stairs weren’t visible anymore. If they wanted to leave that way it would almost be easier to dig a hole through the ceiling all the way to the surface.

They were trapped inside the basement. Neither of them was particularly worried. Edward was able to teleport since he reached the awaken level. With the disappearance of the mist, his aura senses weren’t limited anymore and he was able to probe all the way to the surface. If he wanted, he could escape right this moment.

As for Ignis and Adotinus, they were also at the patriarch level, although they couldn’t teleport, they had their own way to deal with the situation. They could barrel through the wreckage if they wanted to. Even for the royal knights, they were a whole group at the predator stage and they would be able to create an exit given sufficient time.

In the end, they chose to clear the secret exit, there was less rubble to remove, and the exit was less conspicuous. Although they could have used their aura to blast the rocks, they chose to take their time and remove one rock at a time in consideration for the royal knights. Blasting a passage through the wreckage would have been fast but risked provoking additional collapses.

They were done within twenty minutes.

When they left their hideout, the sky and the air itself were turned to a mixture of red and orange by the flames. The heat and the smoke assaulted their senses as Pescara was burning in raging fires. Above their head, they could see the floating structure that had been hidden within the mist prior to the explosions. It hovered above the whole city, but it was clearly in bad shape. Entire chunks of it were missing, and the parts that managed to survive were themselves dented and cracked. Although the structure was reduced to such a state, it only accentuated the extent of its previous reach. What they were seeing now were only the leftovers of the global structure.

To think this thing was covering the entire city the whole time I was roaming within the mist. Now that I’m able to have a closer look it actually looks like a rune, or a blend of runes at least. A three-dimensional rune matrix, and one covering the whole city, no less. What was it supposed to accomplish? Was it managing the mist or did it have another function? Maybe attempting to form a portal to the Andherian world? Now that I think about it, I don’t feel malice anymore. I just got a medallion to protect me from that insanity attempting to invade my mind and you are telling me it’s for nothing! Edward complained internally.

Whatever the case I bet this structure is the cause of the spatial distortion we felt. We did well breaking it before it could be used.

“Wow the explosions sure did their job, but the city is a wreck just like that thing in the sky whatever it is supposed to be.” Adotinus proclaimed. “Hey, at least, with the city burning, you must be right in your element.” He added turning toward Ignis.

The latter grunted, not in the mood to joke around. “We have company,” he told them. The royal knights went into formation around the emperor, protecting him from ambushes.

Indeed, I can sense multiple creatures heading our way. It’s so good to be rid of that mist. My aura senses are now good enough to cover almost the entirety of the capital. And it’s teeming with monsters. How did they even survive the explosions? And weren’t there fewer monsters when the mist was around?

A herd of centipedes headed their way, just like the one Edward had to destroy to save those two isolated royal knights before meeting with the emperor. However, their appearance had changed. They weren’t black anymore, their shell was a bright red, and they had lost their fluid appearance. Also, they didn’t materialize from the mist since there wasn’t any anymore, but they charged at them from the distance.

No more mist. Are you here for real this time? Edward licked his lips. Then it’s time for harvest. Killing you without getting anything in return was so frustrating. This time let me feed off your essence.

Even though Edward wasn’t at full capacity after spending so much aura in those explosive clones he teleported right into their midst. It might have been another story if it had been a giant snail or a Manticore, but those monsters were around the predator level each, and apart from their tough carapace they didn’t have anything remarkable.

Edward manifested his aura blade and began to tear the centipedes apart, he was soon joined by Adotinus who had activated his lightning armor and was moving at great speed. Even if their tough body meant that Edward had to kill them one by one instead of exterminating the group all at once the skirmish didn’t last long, it was a one-sided victory. Edward rejoiced in glee seeing their dead bodies at his feet. “No longer turning back into mist this time heh!” Adotinus laughed uproariously sharing Edward’s feelings after having to deal for weeks with monsters turning into mist after he killed them as if he had been hitting water.