The Red Faction Went on the Offensive

The battle had reached a stalemate for the time being.

The Red and Black Lancers were locked in a fierce struggle. Meanwhile, Red Rider and Black Archer were leaping about merrily in the forest on the other side. Red Archer was kiting Red Berserker around the battlefield, while Black Berserker was mindlessly mowing down the fodder. That left...

"Boom!!"

A deafening roar erupted from the sky. Fang Zheng looked up toward its source and saw Black Rider struck head-on by a magical attack unleashed from the Aerial Fortress. The griffin he had been riding was reduced to ashes by that blow, while Black Rider himself plummeted straight to the ground from the sky—whether he was dead or not, Fang Zheng had no idea.

Still, it seemed Assassin countering Rider really did make sense.

But what exactly was the Red Faction waiting for?

Although it appeared that both sides were currently engaged in fierce combat, Fang Zheng's instincts as a Prophecy Mage told him that this battle was merely a ploy by the Red Faction to divert the Black Faction's attention. Those people clearly had another objective, but... what were they trying to do?

With that thought, Fang Zheng opened his Personal Terminal again and carefully observed the battlefield. Then he frowned slightly.

Although everything appeared normal on the surface so far, the aerial view from the observer revealed that the Red Faction seemed to be deliberately—or perhaps casually—luring the Black Faction's Servants away from the castle...

Damn it, those bastards aren't trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain, are they?!

"-------!!"

Just as Fang Zheng was about to pick up his phone and contact Darnic, a beastlike roar suddenly rang out. Hearing it, Fang Zheng's heart jolted. He hurriedly turned toward the sound, then raised a hand before