On the opposite side of the estate, Nicholas Davoss moved with calculated precision through darkened corridors. Unlike the chaotic retreat of estate personnel fleeing the cultist intrusion, his movements followed a predetermined path, each turn bringing him closer to the Frost Chamber's location.
Four cultists appeared at the intersection ahead, amber energy pulsing around their ritual daggers. They spotted Nicholas immediately, spreading out to block his advance.
"Another defender," one observed, ritual scars glowing faintly on his face. "Without mana enhancement, like the others."
Nicholas stopped, assessing the situation with calm efficiency. The null field's effects permeated the entire estate, severing conventional practitioners from their mana cores. These cultists, however, retained their abilities through the specialized energy channels created by their Inverted Core Ritual.
