54 Preliminary Investigation

Narrow alleys densely winding around the complex city like a spiderweb.

They were barely wide enough for a single person to squeeze through.

A burly man in full plate armor pressed himself tightly against the wall, raised both hands, and crab-walked out.

He checked the end of the road, the rooftops, and every direction around him, preparing for an ambush that could fly in from anywhere at any time.

Just as he was about to sigh in relief, a human shadow sprang out from between the buildings on the opposite side.

The warrior swallowed a hollow laugh as he looked at the shield knight blocking the path to Wigdrasil.

Of all things, a shield knight—

Shield knights belonged to the sword-and-shield warrior class, but in story mode, they were the orthodox counter to warriors, staking everything on defense, health, and shield techniques.

Taking advantage of everyone’s attention being focused on the battle along Apia Boulevard, the man had devised a sharp strategy aimed at the enemy base’s rear, but even that had been read by his opponent.

If they had met in the wilderness, the matchup would have been worth trying for the warrior, but things were different in a space where horizontal movement was restricted...