The Unmovable Shield

With that thought, Eoryun waved his hand.

The soldiers in the back immediately began charging their magic cannons.

They took aim, and with a simple release, the muzzles of the cannons burst forth with dazzling white light.

With a sharp "whoosh," the fire projectiles shot out.

A series of deafening explosions followed, composing a symphony of destruction.

Under the concentrated bombardment, the auction house's defensive magic array flickered into view, its protective glow rapidly weakening.

Although crafted by a grand mage, the barrier ultimately crumbled beneath the relentless military assault.

The people inside the auction house had been stunned from the very first words they heard.

What was happening?

How had they suddenly become suspects in a case of trafficking sentient beings?

Their lives were now at risk?

Weren't they just attending an auction?

Those who understood the power of a city's elite military forces panicked and quickly retrieving communication scrolls.

But their fear only intensified when they realized that the barrier's glow flickered for just two seconds before extinguishing—like a candle suddenly snuffed out.

That realization sent chills down their spines.

A magic isolation barrier had been placed around the auction house—now, no magic could be used within its confines.

Unwilling to accept this, some frantically tore open high-tier teleportation scrolls, desperate to escape—anywhere but here.

But the result was the same as before.

Like the communication scrolls, the teleportation scrolls were utterly useless.

Panic, anxiety, resentment—every negative emotion surged forth, turning the atmosphere into one of growing despair.

Sitting in an upstairs private box, Illiya and Darius also felt the tension thickening.

Even the battle-hardened great swordsman was starting to feel uneasy.

He had once broken through a military siege unscathed, yet now, he was losing his composure in the face of this "small" predicament.

Although he knew the elf beside him had already devised a plan, the pressure of the situation gnawed at him.

Suppressing his impatience, Darius stood up and began pacing within the private box.

As he walked, he glanced at the elf—arguably the mastermind of their predicament—and asked, "Illiya, you knew this was going to happen, didn't you? That's why you already have a backup plan, right? So how do we get out of here?"

Illiya replied matter-of-factly, "I had no prior knowledge of this. I found out at the same time as you did."

A sense of foreboding crept into Darius's expression. "So what you're saying is…"

"I don't have a backup plan," Illiya stated plainly. "I never even considered having one."

Darius: "…No need to explain."

Illiya lazily lifted his hand, the wide white sleeve slipping down to reveal a pale gold spatial bracelet.

With a heavy "boom," a towering shield—estimated to be about 1.8 meters tall—appeared in the open space before them.

The shield was deep black-brown, its raised surface covered in crisscrossing scars that carved deep and shallow grooves into the metal, rich with the passage of time.

Compared to the battle-worn exterior, the concave side was in much better condition.

The central grip was the smoothest part, likely polished by years of frequent handling.

The upper left corner of the shield had a small broken section, about the size of a gold coin.

Against the black-brown expanse, the tiny patch of red stood out vividly.

It was this very red mark that revealed the shield's extraordinary craftsmanship—crafted from the rare sentient redwood that grew deep within the Elven Forest, a material that never faded with time.

The moment Darius saw the shield, he had a bad premonition.

His intuition had helped him countless times in the past—like how he had always managed to avoid his former master's pranks thanks to this very sense.

And this time was probably no exception.

Illiya extended a finger toward the shield and then turned his head to look at a certain silent giant sword wielder, his meaning clear.

Darius pretended not to see it.

He ignored it entirely and even avoided the gaze directed at him.

Illiya, with his glass-like eyes, stared at his current bodyguard with a sincere expression and an unusually earnest tone.

"I didn't prepare a backup plan, but my teacher did. Before I left the Elven Forest, my teacher placed this shield in my bracelet and instructed me to take it out and use it as protection if I ever encountered an unavoidable natural disaster."

"After all, a shield used by a former God of Sword for many years must be of decent quality. And when infused with magic, the resulting magical field provides a rather extensive area of protection."

Darius was speechless. "So what if it was used by a God of Sword? It still needs to be lifted! Redwood trees are incredibly heavy! And redwood trees that have gained sentience weigh several times more than regular ones!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he caught sight of his employer's mysterious (?) smile out of the corner of his eye.

His heart clenched as he recalled his current job and came to a dangerous realization.

"You're waiting for me to say I can't lift it so you can fire me and find a cheaper bodyguard instead? Ha, I see through your plan."

Darius had a look of profound wisdom, his face practically radiating the words: You won't fool me.

If someone added a holy glow behind him at this moment, he would be indistinguishable from the angels living in the Skyhaven City.

Illiya: "???"

What kind of nonsense are you spouting?

Despite his reluctance toward the shield, for the sake of both his livelihood and his life, Darius accepted his fate.

He walked up to the shield, placed both hands on its handles, and took a deep breath.

Then, using all his strength, he tried to lift it.

Instantly, veins bulged on his hands, and even his fair face gradually turned red from exertion.

"Creak—"

The shield scraped against the ground, producing a grating noise.

The tips of the elf's ears twitched at the sound, and the hand hidden under his sleeve instinctively clenched.