He Became A Monstrous Genius After Obtaining A Time Dilation Artifact-Chapter 641: (Edited). Close call

"A single junior?" A rank 8 runesmith said as he directed a glance towards Karag Anvilheart, seated a few walks across them in the guest lounge.

"He’s the only one here?" another said.

"Well, the rank 7 runesmiths in the empire are all scared to come here. They say vimodials strike almost every month at random times. I commend his courage. But he can’t do much alone."

"Seriously, I hope we don’t end up dying for taking on this mission."

"Right, we need the money. We have already decided. There’s no turning back now, even if there’s a risk of dying."

The rank 8 runesmiths discussed among themselves.

Kailen’s shadow hounds were currently scouting the surrounding region for any signs of vimodials, so that he would be able to prepare adequately for any form of vimodial attacks.

However, there were none so far. But he would not let his guard down.

Suddenly, a vampire woman radiating an air of authority appeared before them.

The woman was the head of the outpost.

"Esteemed runesmiths, I’m sure you are already well informed about the tasks. But permit me to make things more clear. We would want the esteemed rank 8 runesmiths to make rank 8 protective runic arrays over the north, the south, and east regions. These are the areas where the attacks of intermediate stage universe level vimodials are more frequent."

The rank 8 runesmiths nodded.

She turned towards Karag Anvilheart’s direction.

She didn’t even know how to tell him to make rank 7 protective runic arrays over the western region all by himself.

She sighed. This young man was setting himself up for obvious failure. But as planned, they had nothing to lose by letting him try.

"Our esteemed rank 7 runesmith will make rank 7 protective runic arrays over the western region. The western region is more susceptible to the attacks of beginner stage universe level vimodials.

However, there are occasional attacks of intermediate stage universe level vimodials. We will prioritise the safety of all our runesmiths during the process, regardless of vimodial attacks or not, so rest easy."

The rank 8 runesmiths nodded. During the working process, a slight interruption could cause them to make mistakes and ruin the array construction process. Hearing that they would be protected by the base was a bit reassuring to them.

As for Kailen, he didn’t find any reassurance in her words. His plan was to finish the rank 7 runic array as fast as possible and leave this place before any vimodial attack.

However, if before he finished making the rune, he sensed a vimodial horde approaching from the surrounding regions outside the outpost, he would transfer the intelligence his shadow hounds had obtained about them to the base head. This would give them enough time to prepare for the attack adequately and avoid being ambushed unexpectedly.

That way, he would be able to buy enough time to finish the array before the unexpected happened.

If that didn’t work too, he would just abandon the mission. His life was more important.

Kailen moved to the west region of the base.

This was where he was supposed to make the array at.

The base operatives at the west region saw a hazel-eyed, chestnut haired fellow floating above the base.

They saw runic alphabets shimmer to life.

They realised it was a runesmith.

"A runesmith has made an appearance. Why do they even come here? The moment they appear, those vimodials suddenly attack."

"Are the higher ups here dumb? They should just let things be. The attacks of the enemy will still happen, but when the runesmiths appear, the attacks happen as soon as possible. It’s like they are watching us or something."

Kailen stopped working the moment he heard their words.

He squinted his eyes lightly in realization.

"There’s a spy in the base who keeps informing the vimodials about the appearance of runesmiths to make the runic arrays. Other attacks of the vimodials may be random, but the attacks as soon as runesmiths appear here are not random. Someone tips them off so that they attack the base, especially the runesmiths, to prevent them from making the arrays. If the arrays are made, it will limit their ability to attack after all. Change of plans."

Kailen commanded the shadow hounds to return as soon as possible.

He told them to start to scan the outpost.

"Golden finger, kindly help me identify any vimodials as they scan the base." Kailen could have used elemental mirroring to scan the base and let the time dilation artifact help him identify the vimodial spies in the base, or he could have even used emotional resonance to deduce the thoughts of the base operatives to reach the same goal. However, he had to focus on the array. So, he left the work of scanning the base to the shadow creatures, and the identification of the vimodials to the time dilation artifact. Plus, this was more faster.

The time dilation artifact appeared around Kailen.

"Brat, you just had to interrupt my soap opera, didn’t you? Sigh. Let’s just get this over with."

She was licking a lollipop. Kailen chuckled at her comical sight. What a tsundere.

As the shadow hounds were observing the base, Kailen got to work.

He was working on the array at the moment. He was extremely fast. His movements were refined, simple yet exquisite at the same time.

At the moment, the base head and several higher ups of the base were observing the work of the runesmiths through a large holographic screen in one of the conference rooms.

Several powerhouses of the base too were guarding the runesmiths as they worked.

"The rank 8 runesmiths are really professionals. With the way things are going, they will finish in about a month. Let’s hope that this time, no attack happens," the base head muttered.

"That Karag Anvilheart is really exceptional. He’s actually doing it all by himself?" one of the higher ups commented. He had shock plastered on his face.

He was very surprised.

"What?"

Everyone looked at Karag Anvilheart. He was moving with fluidity and grace, and had the air of an expert about him.

Very soon, his movements were like a blur, so fast to follow.

Various runic alphabets transformed into complex runic array networks that started spiralling across the western district.

"Is this how skilled someone with a rune skill proficiency of 94 percent is?"

Meanwhile, someone in the conference room muttered inwardly.

"Shit, this Karag Anvilheart guy will be a problem. He’s too fast. I need to inform the higher ups. I need to disseminate intel to them now. They need to attack the base now."

Kailen’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a knowing light.

"Thank you, golden finger. Is he the only one?"

The time dilation artifact replied.

"Yeah... they’ve searched everywhere. I’m confident he’s the only one who’s a vimodial."

At this moment, Kailen acted quickly.

He sent a thought transmission to the base head.

"That black-haired officer is a vimodial spy. He’s the reason why whenever runesmiths appear, the base gets attacked and they get killed before they can even work on the arrays."

The moment the base head received the thought transmission, she turned towards the seat of the intel officer.

He was not in the conference room.

This was definitely not a coincidence. It confirmed Anvilheart’s words. She didn’t even bother finding out how Anvilheart had figured this out or how he had realized the fellow was a vimodial.

Although there was no known method for identifying vimodials and they could hide in plain sight, she knew the universe was full of strange, mysterious things.

"He’s in the left wing of your building. Don’t try to interrogate him. He’s been fed a parasitic worm. You’ll get nothing out of him. Just kill him."

Karag Anvilheart’s words rang in her head again.

Quickly, her figure flashed, and she appeared in the left wing of the building.

Using her perception, she found out the location of the intel officer.

"Yes, I’m calling to report important intel for the month, currently..."

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a wave of darkness roll over him as a majestic, ethereal, and suffocating eerie feeling shrouded the place.

The law of darkness. Shit. Someone was attacking him. But it was too late to retaliate. Also, the person was more stronger than he was by a large margin.

The wave of darkness washed over him. He felt every bit of his being was in torment, as weakness clouded him rapidly at a terrifying speed. His dying screams reverberated over the place.

How had he been found?

This was the last thought on his mind before he turned into a husky corpse.

The wave of darkness which rolled over transformed into the base Lord, who stood by his figure.

"It was really true. He was a spy. My intel officer was a spy, and was a vimodial. All these years, and I did not even know. These vimodials are really troublesome. Even your husband or wife could be one and you wouldn’t know. Sigh."

Her gaze lingered on Anvilheart, almost adding the finishing touches to his work in the western region.

Kailen sighed inwardly. "That was a close call."

Had he not readjusted his plan, the base would have been attacked, and in the worst case scenario, he could have just used umbral replacement to bolt. However, that would have affected his mission. Also, who knew how strong the enemy would have been? The worst could have happened. He could have even died if something he had not accounted for had occurred.

Fortunately, he adjusted his plan quickly before he got into a mess.

"Let’s finish this." Kailen added one more finishing touch.

The runic array of the western district was complete.

But he didn’t let his guard down.

Since his mission was complete, he needed to leave here as soon as possible.