Re:Birth: A Slow Burn LitRPG Mage Regressor

The hour of the wolf.

Coldest, darkest part of the night, when even the stars seem to dim and huddle together for warmth. When old folk say evil spirits walk freely, when madmen hear their demons clearest, when the world belongs more to monster than man.

A blizzard ripped through the air, winds screaming between trees and hills, snow cutting sideways like shards of glass. The cold was the kind that burned, that crept into bones and stayed there. It had turned Arkhos into a city of ghosts.

And through all this mess moved the wolves. A hundred of them, iron-clad, their armor dark beneath snow-laden cloaks.

Arthur led his men. Forward, towards the city.

His enhanced senses picked through the storm's chaos. Imperial boots scraping against stone - guards taking positions in the streets ahead. A cat yowling as it fought over scraps in an alley. A cart wheel's creak as someone hurried to get it under cover. A child's voice, high and worried: "Papa, why are the soldiers-" followed by a sharp "Shh. Away from the window."

The city lived and breathed ahead of them, but quietly, like a creature trying not to draw attention. Above them, through the blizzard, the floating buildings of Xerkes stood out - the only place still alive with light. The mage council was in session by now.

"They're watching," one of the men muttered, eyes up.

Arthur followed his gaze. Dark figures hung in the storm-torn sky, some on brooms, others floating freely, their robes and mana cutting through the snow. Even through the blizzard, he could see the gleam of their attention. Mages - Probably affiliated with the magisterium - waiting to see which way the wind would blow.

They wouldn't interfere - not unless the fighting spilled into civilian quarters.

The wolves kept moving, the city's walls growing taller with each step. Finally, they reached the gates of Arkhos.

A magical barrier shimmered before them, thick and greenish in the storm. Arthur reached out, touched it. Pretty solid.

Not that it would do much, were they to enter.

"They're punctual," muttered one of his men, his voice barely carrying over the wind. "Got to give them that."

The gates suddenly groaned open, metal shrieking against ice. Through the gap, hundreds and hundreds of soldiers stood in formation, red capes thrashing in the wind, silver armor everywhere. But you could see some gold among that silver. Those were Star Knights. At least two hundred of them.

Arthur studied them. Some turned away from his gaze. One barely had stubble on his chin. Another's hands shook on his sword hilt. Through his enhanced senses, he could hear rapid heartbeats, shaky breaths. A lot of them weren't hardened warriors - just boys in silver armor. In a few years, Adom would be their age too, young adults.

They were all so damn young.

A single, golden-armored figure stepped forward from their ranks. Tall, broad-shouldered, moving with the easy confidence of someone used to command. "Commander Arthur Sylla. It is an honor to meet the leader of the Iron Wolves again." His voice carried clear despite the wind. "Though I wish it were under better circumstances."

"Captain Darius." Arthur's voice was flat. "Heard you made quite a name for yourself in the southern campaigns."

"And you in the north." Darius gestured at the gathered forces. "Shame we had to meet like this."

"Is it?"

"When dawn comes," Darius said, "and the morning bell rings, if you're still at these gates..." He shrugged. "Well. The empire doesn't look kindly on rebels."

"Rebels?" Arthur's laugh held no humor. "That what they're calling us now?"

"That's what you'll be. And we'll have to deal with you accordingly."

"I'd like to see you try."

Neither man moved. Behind them, soldiers and knights stood ready, hands on weapons, breath frosting in the air. The storm raged around them, but here, in this moment, everything was still.

Somewhere in the city, Adom had until dawn. The Imperial forces would be occupied here, their attention fixed on the wolves at their door. Whatever needed to be done in the shadows of Arkhos, this was the time to do it.

*****

"Adom? Adom Sylla? Is that you?!" Professor Kim squinted at Adom, his hands fidgeting with his sleeve cuffs. He seemed more erratic than usual, his movements sharp and jerky. "No, no, you can't be here. This is- there are guards everywhere, and-"

"Professor," Vex interrupted, stepping into the room with a predatory smile. She placed a finger against his lips, silencing him instantly. "We're the Iron Wolves. We're here to extract you. And while I'd love to hear your concerns..." her eyes traveled down and back up his body, "we really don't have time for rambling."

Kim's face flushed immediately as he stared at her, speechless.

Anders appeared at the doorway, eyebrows raised at Vex's approach before returning to scanning for threats. "Area's secure for now, but we need to move quickly."

Kim swallowed hard, still staring at Vex. "You're... you're with the Iron Wolves? The elite military unit?"

"Very elite," Vex winked, moving closer. "And we need to get you out of here right now. So how about you follow my lead, and I'll make sure to keep you..." she trailed a finger along his collar, "...safe."

Anders and Adom exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"Vex," Anders said flatly. "Time-sensitive mission here."

"I am focused," she replied without looking away from Kim. "Just getting our package ready to move. And he seems very ready."

Kim tugged at his collar, nodding rapidly. "Yes, ready. Completely ready. Wherever you want to go."

"Good boy," Vex smiled, taking his arm. "Stick close to me, Professor."

Absolutely repulsive.

"Took care of some guards already," Adom said, checking the room while trying to ignore Vex's unusual approach. "But there will be more. We need to move now."

Anders nodded. "Professor, anything essential you need to take?"

"They... they took everything when they brought me here," Kim said, still visibly flustered by Vex's proximity. "My notes, my calculations..."

"We'll get it back eventually," Adom cut him off. "But first, we need to get you out safely."

"You shouldn't be here," Kim suddenly said, looking at Adom with concern. "You're just a student. You're what, thirteen?"

"Twelve," Adom corrected.

Before Kim could protest further, Vex tightened her grip on his arm. "Professor, I promise to explain everything about our amazing little prodigy once we're safely away. But right now..." she leaned closer, her lips nearly touching his ear, "I need you to stop talking and start walking."

Kim's mouth snapped shut, his eyes wide.

Anders rolled his eyes. "Perimeter check. Now." He stepped into the corridor, signaling an all-clear. "Let's move."

They moved quickly into the hallway, Vex guiding the still-dazed professor while Adom and Anders took point. They made it halfway down the corridor before a sound made them freeze.

Boots on stone. Multiple sets, approaching fast.

Anders drew his sword in one fluid motion. "Six hostiles, east corridor."

"Behind me," Kim whispered to Adom, attempting to shuffle in front of him.

"Oh no, handsome," Vex pulled Kim back, placing herself between him and the approaching threat. "You stay behind the professionals. Both of you."

Kim looked ready to protest but was silenced by Anders' sharp gesture. The knight motioned them toward an alcove in the wall while he and Vex took positions on either side of the corridor.

The footsteps grew louder. A voice called out, "Patrol coming through! Anyone down here?"

Anders gave them one last look, then melted into the shadows with Vex, both knights now invisible in the darkness flanking the corridor.

The first two guards rounded the corner, lanterns raised. They spotted Kim and Adom immediately.

"What the--" one began, reaching for an alarm whistle at his belt.

He never finished the sentence. Anders and Vex moved in perfect synchronization, emerging from the shadows like wraiths. There was no wasted motion, no dramatic flourish--just clean, efficient strikes that left both guards unconscious before they could even register what had happened.

The remaining four guards rounded the corner just in time to see their comrades drop. They pulled weapons, but too late. Vex flowed between them, her daggers finding gaps in armor--not killing, but disabling. Anders moved like water, his sword a blur that somehow never drew blood but left men crumpling to the ground all the same.

In seconds, it was over. Six armored men lay sprawled on the corridor floor, all breathing but none conscious.

"Clear," Anders announced, resheathing his sword.

Vex grinned as she spun her daggers before tucking them away. "That was fun. Been a while since we've done a clean extraction."

Kim stared at the fallen guards, mouth agape. "That was... you didn't even..."

"Kill them? Not our orders," Vex said, brushing past him. Her shoulder touched his as she passed, and Kim nearly jumped. "Commander was clear - make as little casualties as possible. Unnecessary bloodshed would just complicate things." She glanced back at the unconscious guards. "Though we can do that too, if you'd prefer a more permanent solution."

"N-no, no, this is... this is fine," Kim stuttered.

"I thought so," she smiled. "You strike me as the merciful type, Professor. Soft hands." She glanced down at his hands, then back to his face. "I like that."

Kim looked to Adom, clearly pleading for help.

Adom just shrugged, not entirely sure what to make of Vex's behavior. Was she actually interested in the professor, or just messing with him to keep him off-balance? Either way, it was working--Kim seemed too flustered to panic about their situation.

"We need to move," Anders announced, checking ahead. "More patrols will be coming through soon."

"Do you even know where to go?" Kim asked, still trying to regain his composure.

"Every corridor, every stairwell, every guard post," Vex answered. "We've explored most of the place, Professor."

Kim gulped, his fingers drumming against his leg. For a moment, he looked like he might argue more. Then his shoulders slumped, and he nodded. "What... what should I do?"

"Follow us." Adom moved forward. "And please stay close."

*****

A few moments later...

"So what's the plan?" Kim asked, trying to keep up as they moved through the corridors.

"We're getting you out of here," Adom said firmly. "Right now."

"Now?" Kim looked between them. "But there are guards everywhere, and-"

Vex placed a hand on the professor's shoulder. "That's why we brought the kid."

Adom closed his eyes, his consciousness splitting. Through the golem's eyes, he could see Dirk and Bram waiting, weapons ready. He made the hand signals they'd practiced - Found him. Clear to transport.

Dirk nodded, touching the golem's shoulder. Bram did the same.

"Stand back," Adom instructed, opening his eyes.

The air before them shimmered, reality folding in on itself. A flash of blue light, and suddenly the golem stood there - massive, armored, imposing. Behind it, Dirk and Bram appeared, weapons drawn, looking momentarily disoriented from the teleportation.

Kim stumbled back, eyes wide with shock. "What in the- that's the golem!" He turned to Adom. "That was you? You built that?"

"I'll explain later," Adom said. "Professor, grab onto the golem's arm. It'll teleport you to safety."

A pulse of energy suddenly rippled through the air. Adom felt it immediately - a dampening field, subtle but unmistakable. The golem's runes flickered, its steady blue glow faltering momentarily.

"Something's wrong," Adom said, his senses tingling with warning. "The transportation crystal is being interfered with."

Anders drew his sword in one smooth motion. "Trap?"

Vex was already moving, daggers appearing in her hands. "I'll check the-"

"No need for that," a voice called from the shadows. "I'm right here."

Gale stepped into view, looking exactly as relaxed as he had when Adom first met him. His sword hung loosely at his side.

"Well, well," Gale said, his eyes fixed on the golem. "Didn't think I'd see this beauty again so soon." His gaze shifted to Adom. "Twice now, you've used it to escape me. Quite the clever trick."

The Iron Wolves moved as one, forming a protective semicircle around Adom and Kim. Dirk and Bram flanked the left, Vex and Anders the right. The golem stood center, its massive frame dwarfing everyone.

"Oh, hi everyone!" Gale called out, spreading his arms wide. "I'm Gale. Pleasure to meet you all properly."

Dirk's grip tightened on his sword. "We know who you are."

"And we know what you've done," Vex added.

"Perfect!" Gale clapped his hands together. "Then we can skip the introductions. Good, because I've been preparing this monologue for a while now, and I'd hate to waste it."

He cleared his throat dramatically, rolling his shoulders and taking out a piece of paper. "You see, there's an old saying where I come from in Fraug that goes, fool me one time, shame on... shame on you." He kept reading. "Fool me twice, can't put the blame on you. Fool me three times?'" His smile turned cold. "'Fuck the peace signs.'"

Complete silence followed.

The Iron Wolves exchanged baffled glances. Anders's eyebrow raised slightly. Vex tilted her head. Dirk and Bram looked at each other, then back at Gale. Even the golem seemed to stare blankly, if that was possible.

Gale's confident expression faltered at their reaction. "No? Nothing?" He gestured vaguely with his sword. "I thought it was cool. Did I not look cool saying that? I practiced it in the mirror and everything."

Adom's mind raced. The mana dampening field - that's what was interfering with the golem's transportation ability. Gale must have set it up, but where was the artifact doing that?

"You know," Gale said, "teleportation magic is fascinating stuff. So convenient... until someone introduces the right countermeasures." He pointed at them. "I was kind of hoping to see this golem again." His eyes then drifted to Adom. "Adom. How ironic. I've been searching for you all this time, and you were right under my nose. At the academy I visited so many times."

Anders shifted his stance. "Six against one, Gale. Not great odds, even for you."

"Oh, I'm well aware," Gale replied, not looking the least bit concerned. "But your extraction window is closing fast. " He tapped his ear. "I heard there's a full battalion moving this way as we speak."

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Was he stalling for time?

"The Iron Wolves may be at the gates," Gale continued, "but down here? This is still our territory. And you're about to be very, very outnumbered."

Bram stepped forward, his war hammer held ready. "Then we'll just have to finish this quickly."

"I wouldn't," Gale warned, gesturing to the walls around them. "This section of the Undertow is... structurally unsound. Start throwing around that kind of force, you might bring the whole thing down on our heads." His gaze fixed on Adom. "And I'm guessing you wouldn't want anything to happen to the professor."

Kim's hand gripped Adom's shoulder. "Don't listen to him," he whispered. "Just go. Take your people and go."

Adom did not listen.

Riddler's Bane activated, the world sharpening into focus as he saw the mana structures around him.

Adom scanned the corridor. Something about the dampening field felt... familiar. Not natural mana interference, but engineered - precise.

Then he saw it. Tiny crystals embedded in the stonework, barely visible except for their faint purple glow. Arranged in a geometric pattern that created overlapping fields of disruption.

"Modified amethyst crystals," he muttered. "Hexagonal arrangement. They're creating a counter-resonance field that disrupts teleportation by inverting the harmonic frequency."

Vex glanced at him. "What?"

"The walls," Adom pointed. "Those crystals. They're creating the dampening field, but they're interdependent. If we damage enough of them..."

Anders caught on immediately. "The whole network collapses."

"Exactly," Adom nodded. "Hit them hard enough, create enough structural damage-"

"And we can teleport again," Dirk finished, gripping his sword tighter.

"So we just need to break things," Bram grinned. "That, I can do."