[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-adventures-of-hulim":3,"chapter-the-adventures-of-hulim-the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-521":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Adventures of Hulim",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1882422,2498,"Chapter 521 Yielding the Ground","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-521",521,"\u003Cp>Windrock City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defeated Heroes returned to the city, their heads hung low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it…… Who the hell was that guy?! Why couldn’t we beat him?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russell slammed his fist against the wall in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems things did not go well for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heroes looked up to see Firuvin walking toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Firuvin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re sorry……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aralond spoke with a heavy expression of apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We failed. Ebony City has fallen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I already know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firuvin replied calmly, showing no surprise at their defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you understand why you lost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our strength just isn’t enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russell answered at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I were at my peak…… that thing wouldn’t stand a chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that is not the main reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? What do you think it is, Arthur?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe the core issue is how poorly we Heroes coordinate with one another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It goes beyond that,” Aralond added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our intelligence and preparation were severely lacking. We were too careless, and we could not respond properly when ambushed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Very good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firuvin nodded quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have recognized your own shortcomings, so I need not explain further. We may move directly to the matter at hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heroes looked at Firuvin in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Firuvin, what do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firuvin slowly raised one finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to you for only one purpose——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting today, the six of you will undergo special training befitting Heroes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive horde of black monsters moved through the woods, closing in on a certain hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from NovelBin. Please report it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The mountain is just ahead, Lord Goruzaan! We have arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A High-Rank Demon reported eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goruzaan lifted his head and stared at the towering peak in his sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……The troublesome object blocking us lies within that mountain. Send the order——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seize the area! Destroy everything inside that mountain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the summit of Dorothy’s Hill,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>several figures stood side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……They really are coming straight for us.” Laki muttered to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to the other three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think? Should we wipe them all out here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmmm…… What should we do~?” Irus put on a troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I care little either way.” Fulmir was indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No…… In my opinion, we should yield this place to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laki stared in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Esmelon, what are you planning? We could crush them right now, couldn’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no hidden agenda. I simply believe……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones who gave the Heroes their first defeat should be defeated by the Heroes themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, the enemy commander has not returned. If we defeat his entire force again, that true monster will surely come back at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laki frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You make a valid point. We must buy the Heroes time to grow strong enough to face the Archdemon Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Laki slowly lifted her head and glanced at the vast black tide approaching in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, it’s rather irritating to retreat without a fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment.” Fulmir spoke suddenly. “Lord Esmelon…… If we leave outright, what of the Hyper-Arcane Tool underground? Shall we abandon it as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, I have already made arrangements.” Esmelon replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will hide it away safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Esmelon slowly raised his wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, flames, water, wind, and rock appeared, forming a rotating ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The circle spun faster, rumbling loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom, boom, boom……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I require a little time. Buy me some moments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a low tremor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esmelon vanished beneath the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That old coot is even stronger than when we last met……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was shortly after Hulim and the others first met Esmelon and Ika.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Irus……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes~?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is Esmelon that strong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……” Irus fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well…… Do you know how many elemental affinities the person with the most before you held?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Four, wasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s four…… Wait, you knew?! Then—do you know who that person was?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t…… Wait a minute——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. That old coot over there is the one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He may be a stubborn old man, but he commands all natural elemental magic—without question, one of the strongest mages at the world’s peak: Sage Esmelon, crusty old man though he is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…… So that’s Esmelon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then…… Is he stronger than you, Irus?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh! Cough—w-what?! How could that be? He’s just an old man! I have the World Tree’s Blessing, you know! I would definitely win in the end!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so flustered? It’s suspicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re getting less and less agreeable, child……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dorothy’s Hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That man…… He’s impossibly self-centered. Asking us to buy time only now!” Laki sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well…… No helping it. I shall just exert myself a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laki’s figure vanished from the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High in the air, a High-Rank Demon rapidly closing in on Dorothy’s Hill suddenly felt a bone-chilling dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could react,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a tiny white figure appeared right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her seemingly delicate fist struck his chest at a speed that looked slow but was far too fast to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh——?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The High-Rank Demon’s chest caved in instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a pained groan, his body went flying backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another High-Rank Demon in the distance paled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An ambush?! Damn humans, I’ll——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gust of wind swept past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your opponent is me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battle spear glinting with cold light shot straight for his head without warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The High-Rank Demon panicked and scrambled backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both High-Rank Demons sent forward had been attacked at the same time—and one had been grievously wounded in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goruzaan halted his advance at once,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his face turning dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Useless trash!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After snapping the insult,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his six eyes spun rapidly, scanning every inch of the surrounding space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Only these two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he confirmed no other ambushers lay in wait,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goruzaan felt slightly relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph! Only two, yet you dare block the Demon Lord Army! You seek death——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six enormous eyes materialized in the air behind Goruzaan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frightening magical energy gathered within each eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom——!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six beams burst forth, merging midair into one massive blast that shot straight toward Laki.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laki dodged the attack by a hair’s breadth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single bead of cold sweat slid down her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, this guy is seriously dangerous…… Wonder when that Esmelon will finish up.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1076,"2026-06-10T06:36:51.451Z",1,"novelbin.me","a763a24d0337f9f53ec12c8c9ba2e83261d3d02e5bc93f8c29533f00057ad058","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-522","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-520",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-adventures-of-hulim-cover.jpg"]