Chapter 609
Chapter 609: Then, I’m always fine. (1)
Suddenly, as the magic concentrated in one place, it felt as if the balance of the world collapsed and space distorted.
Soon, spells started pouring out from the wizards’ mouths.
Kwaaaaang!
The sky split open, and a terrifying thunder roared. In an instant, the world was divided into light and darkness.
Paaaak!
From where the wizards were, colorful magic erupted. It rained down on the monsters like a meteor shower.
Kuwoooong!
The magic that seeped into the ground exploded, creating a massive pillar of fire. The monsters caught in that heat were instantly turned to ashes and vanished.
Lightning rained endlessly from the sky. The ground cracked open, spewing lava, while giant chunks of ice fell from the heavens.
The wind became a blade, slicing through the monsters, and the earth opened its mouth to swallow them whole.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
It felt as if the end of the world was unfolding right here. Every element of nature united to unleash their fury upon the monsters.
Kaaaaaaaaak!
The monsters trapped between the giant walls were powerless against this overwhelming assault. Their roars and screams were drowned out by the explosive sounds of magic.
The battlefield was instantly drenched in chaos of light and darkness, fire and ice, lightning and wind.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
Kaaak!
Over a thousand wizards unleashed all their magical power at once. The monsters were unable to withstand that barrage.
The continuous screams of the monsters being ripped apart echoed across the battlefield.
“W-whoa…”
Even the fortress troops engaged in battle were left dumbfounded at the sight.
The actions of the superhumans who had come to support were impressive as well. However, the collective might of the wizards was a spectacle that could rival the power of the gods.
Until now, the soldiers had only seen wizards doing nothing. They rarely got to witness them attacking with all their might while attempting to seal each other’s magic.
Even when they attacked, it was just a display of fireworks. Successful big spells were a rarity.
But look at this! A legion of wizards pouring out their full power without any interruptions was truly magnificent.
Ghislaine dodged the cyclops’s attack while smiling.
“Still, you made it here well. I was a bit worried you’d mess things up.”
Among them, over 800 wizards had been forcibly brought here. Although more than 300 Ruthania wizards also showed up, they probably weren’t all that happy about it either.
They all came because of Ghislaine’s orders; no one stepped forward willingly out of goodwill.
When someone stirs things up, these wizards could change their minds at any moment.
In fact, as the wizards saw Ghislaine and the powerful ones depart first, they started to hesitate.
‘Can we escape?’
‘But if we run away, we’ll just get caught and die anyway, right?’
‘Wait a minute, what if we all attack the Duke of Penris?’
The strongest on the continent or whatever, if this many wizards attacked at the same time, even the Duke of Penris would certainly die.
But who would step forward to lead such a massive undertaking? It was like trying to put a bell on a cat.
The wizards kept debating amongst themselves.
‘The Ruthania Army is still at other fortresses, right?’
‘If we kill the Duke of Penris, the allied forces and the Ruthania Army will all come chasing after us.’
‘If we just run, won’t we die without a thought? Wouldn’t it be okay if we all escaped together?’
Wizards were inherently overthinkers. None were brave enough to step forward and just looked at each other, waiting for someone else to take the lead.
Being individualists, they didn’t want to be the first to instigate something and take responsibility.
Currently leading the wizards was Hubert of the Ruthania Kingdom. He was the one who had the strongest ties to Ghislaine.
In truth, he also had considered battling Ghislaine at one point. But he quickly shook his head and gave up on the idea.
‘If I provoke her and fail, we’ll all really die.’
Hubert had been on the receiving end of Ghislaine’s wrath more than anyone else. The Ruthania wizards were well aware of what kind of person she was.
If even a hint of suspicion moved in her magic, she would jump into action immediately. Could he really handle that speed?
‘I’m not confident, not confident at all.’
Moreover, Zvalter, who had become the king of Ruthania, was admirably governing the kingdom. Ruthania had quickly regained stability.
If they went against Ghislaine here, the now-unified Ruthania Kingdom would never let them off the hook.
What if they ran away and their fortress was overwhelmed by the monster horde?
‘Someone would definitely survive to enact revenge.’
A dragon or whatever, they’d be the first to hunt them down and kill them all.
Whether attacking the Duke of Penris or escaping, success or failure, the remainder of their lives would be tiresome.
Thus, Hubert and the Ruthania wizards soon gave up.
But there are always ambitious individuals in the world.
Alfoy, running next to Hubert, whispered discreetly.
“Master.”
“What is it?”
“You are currently leading the strongest wizard army on the continent.”
“…So?”
“This means you can handle any obstacle if you put your mind to it.”
Alfoy nonchalantly suggested cutting someone’s throat with his own hand. It was obvious whom he meant.
“……”
“If you don’t like that, how about we all escape together? To be honest, I’m a little uneasy about attacking too. I’ve gotten kind of fond of everyone and feel guilty.”
“……”
“With the monsters busy fighting, they probably won’t catch us.”
“……And then?”
“What do you mean, and then? We’ll just happily hide out somewhere in a corner of the continent.”
Alfoy replied bluntly, as if it was obvious.
Hubert’s head turned red with anger. When would this brat ever grow up?
“Do you think I’m leading all these wizards because I’m so great?”
“Not really. I’m better, right?”
“This power was given to me by the Duke of Penris. Do you really think they’d listen to me if I tell them what to do? Even if they did, do you think we’d be safe if we run away? Don’t you still not know that fellow’s temperament? You’ve been around him longer than I have!”
“I’m a persistent fire man and a wizard who has defeated a god, you know.”
“Please get a grip! If we fail, we all die! No, dying would be fortunate! That guy would make us his slaves and torture us for life!”
Upon Hubert’s shouting, Alfoy pouted his lips.
“Ah, I just said that on the off chance. You really lack spirit. Who doesn’t know that? If we get caught, we’ll all be slaves together.”
He didn’t care; he’d already been a slave for over 300 years. Yet Hubert’s remarks irritated him.
No, it annoyed him even more that others weren’t slaves.
Hubert’s patience exploded due to Alfoy’s attitude.
“Why are you still acting that way? Can’t you just behave quietly? You pitiful fool!”
“What? You call me pathetic? I got dragged here because of you and became a slave, so how can I just sit quietly? Why do you treat me like this? What about my grievances?”
“W-what? You insolent brat! What kind of attitude is that towards your master!”
“I’m right, aren’t I? You dumped me in Penris without bothering about me! Where in the world is there a master who abandons his disciple? You just thought you could collect jewels or something, but what about caring for your disciple?”
“T-this kid! How dare you speak to your master like that!”
“You abandoned me! What did I do wrong?”
Alfoy was filled with rage from within. He was supposed to have been born into a prestigious noble family. But it was clear he was abandoned due to political strife in his family.
Of course, it was merely a setup in Alfoy’s imagination, but he firmly believed it was the truth.
If the child of a high-ranking noble family had to live like this, it was only natural to be frustrated.
“I must have been the son of a marquis at the very least! But thanks to you, Master, I got dragged into this mage tower and ended up as a slave!”
“You’re talking nonsense! Why would a marquis’s child be an orphan? You’re either a commoner or a beggar! Be grateful you became a wizard thanks to me!”
He had heard tales about how Maurice, a former commander of the kingdom’s army, lost a child. But there was no way Alfoy could be his child.
There were tons of orphans in the world. Hubert had only brought a handful of orphans showing talent into the mage tower.
He had brought Alfoy along too, but now he felt like he had picked up a stowaway. It was a headache every time he saw him.
“How did I end up taking in someone like you as a disciple? You’re such a burden! A real burden!”
Alfoy got even angrier upon hearing Hubert’s words.
“If that was the case, you shouldn’t have brought me in at all! What good is being a wizard now? I’m a slave!”
“Is that my fault? It’s your fault!”
As their argument intensified, the elders from the Tower of the Bloody Flame nearby intervened. They were too embarrassed to look at the other wizards.
Hubert, who had been flustered, finally said what he had kept to himself.
“You are now disqualified as the heir! Live your life as a slave in Penris!”
“What? I’m the tower heir, why would you disqualify me!”
“After all, you’re a slave, so you can’t even leave there! You’ve been a slave for over 300 years! What can a slave do as a tower lord!”
“Who are you to disqualify me? That’s my tower!”
“Why is it yours? It’s mine! I’m the tower lord, so I can do whatever I want!”
Originally, disqualifying a successor was not done this way. It had to go through discussions with the elders and be a carefully made decision.
But Hubert just blurted it out. He was already tired of Alfoy and didn’t want to see him anymore.
In the first place, Hubert was one of the most childish in the northern region. He taunted Alfoy.
“By the way, I have plenty of other disciples besides you, you know? To be honest, I don’t need you at all! That’s why I left you in Penris!”
But Alfoy also had a verbal talent that was no joke. He and Claude together made a perfect duo in annoying others.
“Hey! Just because you’re the master, that’s everything? I’ve learned very little from you! Vanessa taught me more! That maid, Vanessa, is better at magic than you! And you’re still at the 6th Circle!”
“This brat is really insane!”
The two began to gather their magical power. They were about to fight right there, forgetting their duties.
It really was a mess of a mage tower. The elders kept trying to stop them, and only when someone said, ‘If it drags on, we’ll get scolded by the Duke of Penris,’ did they finally stop fighting.
Even Hubert, who had been capable of taking charge, ended up giving up, leaving the wizards unable to unite.
Whether trying to attack the Duke of Penris or escape, there was no one who could properly lead them. They kept hesitating and only imagined fleeing until they finally arrived at the battlefield.
Now that they were here, thinking much was of no use. They were all intimidated by the overwhelming monster horde.
Hubert shouted loudly from the front. He needed someone to take out his frustrations on.
“Just sweep them away! Don’t hold back on the magic!”
Vanessa adeptly created barriers. The wizards were easily able to tell where they should focus their magical power.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
So all the wizards cast their spells without holding back. They realized that if they didn’t push the monsters back, they would be in danger themselves.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaaaang!
There were over 300 wizards at the 5th Circle and more than 50 at the 6th Circle. There were also hundreds of lower-circle wizards.
As they simultaneously released their magical power, the terrain changed. The monsters were swept away in an instant.
The impact of the massive magical force reduced the barrier that Vanessa had created to mere dust.
Yulien and Belinda took cover on the fortress, while Jerome panicked and rebuilt the magical barrier.
Vanessa also moved positions to protect the Knight Order of Penris.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaaaang!
The wizards didn’t stop using magic. Under the swirling overwhelming magical force, even the allies struggled to breathe.
After a prolonged bout of unleashing their magical power, the wizards finally withdrew their strength.
Saaaaaaaaaah…
The scene inside the shattered barrier was horrendous. The corpses of monsters engulfed in flames had turned to ashes, scattering in the wind.
Those buried within the ground were crumbled and mixed with dirt. Fragments of the monsters’ bones and flesh lay scattered everywhere.
Not a single corpse remained intact.
“Huuh, huuh…”
Having exhausted all their magical power at once, the wizards collapsed weakly. Not a single wizard was without heavy breaths.
The battlefield fell silent in an instant. Only the remnants of the previously roaring magic lingered, subtly asserting their presence in the stillness.
The troops still fighting at the fortress came to their senses after a while and let out a loud cheer.
“Wowwwww!”
“The monsters are gone!”
“We won!”
Yet, monsters still remained at the areas in front of the fortress and where Ghislaine was fighting. Especially the ones left behind were in the thousands.
However, the tide of victory had already shifted. No more monsters were approaching.
Yulien and Belinda headed back down from the fortress. Jerome also gathered his remaining magical power.
The soldiers continued to push back the last remaining monsters from the fortress.
Ghislaine’s voice echoed across the battlefield.
“Clear out the rest too!”
Dudududud!
At the same time, the greatsword in his hand began to tremble.
