Great Battle in the Castle

In contrast, it would be wiser to take the initiative while the situation is still under control. If one or two key figures can be captured, perhaps intelligence can be extracted.

"Thank you for your teachings, Lord Antioch," Priest Aaron said respectfully after careful consideration.

"Everything is the Lord's will!" Antioch spoke freely, then suddenly seemed to sense something. Without any visible movement, several brilliant light arrows appeared in the air, instantly pinning four grey crows that were about to take flight to a tree.

Three seconds later, a dazzling fireball shot out from the manor not far away, its fiery explosion illuminating the sky.

Antioch looked up, his vision enhanced by Divine Spell, piercing through hundreds of meters. Through the open third-floor window, he saw Lynn and the others looking out.

Brown hair, medium build, handsome features…

It was the wizard named Carl, the one who killed Blainey!

"Everyone, full speed ahead!" Antioch commanded without hesitation.

Since they had been discovered, there was no longer any need to hide. The guard, who had been walking slowly, immediately broke into a sprint. The clanging of their armor was continuous, like an incoming tide surging towards the central fortress from all directions…

Seven years later, the manor gates were violently forced open once more. Guards wielding swords and shields, in teams of ten, systematically surrounded the entire castle.

Aaron took the lead, guiding several guard teams, charging straight in from the main hall towards the direction where Lynn and the others had been.

As they crossed the long and wide corridor, the guards at the front, upon entering the main hall, retreated in terror.

Unfortunately, they were still a step too late. Several scorching fireballs, like meteors from the heavens, crashed into the crowd.

This was followed by a series of violent explosions. The fireballs rapidly expanded and detonated, turning the orderly and tight formation into a chaotic sea of people.

"Ah—"

Accompanied by shrill screams, blood splattered everywhere, and bodies flew through the air. The thick scent of blood filled the entire atmosphere.

Even though those participating in this encirclement operation were elites selected from the Nordland Territory's army, and each was fully armed, they were instantly thrown into disarray by the powerful Witchcraft.

"All retreat, form ranks, and fire crossbows!" Aaron, the only one maintaining composure on the field, shouted loudly, raising his staff.

"Don't panic, [Ella] is with us!"

The chaotic ranks immediately calmed down and order was restored. Everyone's eyes glowed with white light, their fear gradually fading, and an inexplicable courage filled their minds.

This was a first-tier Divine Spell—[Remove Fear]!

Under Aaron's command, the shield-bearing guards placed their sturdy shields in front of them and advanced, while the guards behind them uniformly drew their crossbows.

A long-range volley had always been the best method against Wizard Apprentices!

The turtle-shell-like shield formation greatly reduced the power of ordinary Witchcraft. [Magic Missile] could not penetrate their defenses at all, and even the powerful Fireball had little effect.

The dense rain of arrows forced the Wizard Apprentices to retreat again and again, only able to hide behind walls for cover. Barton, the slowest to react, was unfortunately hit in the back by a crossbow bolt, falling to the ground in a sorry state.

"Barton—!" Buck cried out anxiously for his brother's name, lunging forward, desperately trying to help Barton up.

Aaron, who had been waiting for an opportunity, gave another order. Dozens of powerful crossbows were aimed at the two, and as the triggers were pulled, a dense barrage of arrows rained down like a meteor shower.

First-tier high-level magic—[Ice Curtain]

Joanne unhesitatingly stepped in front of the two. Raising her hand, a transparent water curtain appeared in the void before her, which instantly solidified, forming a wall of ice crystals.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

A series of impacts sounded, and ice crystal shards radiating cold air scattered on the ground. In just two seconds, the dense arrow rain pierced through the [Ice Curtain], with three stray arrows heading directly for Joanne!

Joanne, who had just completed an overclocked spell with [Magic Hand], no longer had time to create a second Ice Curtain, and behind her were the brothers Buck and Barton…

"Can't dodge!"

Joanne gritted her teeth, forcibly stopping her body's evasive movement. Her right hand gripped the hilt of her sword, but she had no confidence that she could block all the arrows aimed at her.

Just then, three Magic Missiles flew in from the side, accurately shooting down the arrows.

Joanne was stunned. Before she could savor the joy of surviving, she saw seven more [Magic Missiles] fly past her side. Strangely, the trajectory of these magical constructs was not a pure straight line but a bizarre arc, easily bypassing the shield wall's protection and directly attacking the crossbowmen behind them.

The brief confusion caused the continuous arrow rain to temporarily halt. Joanne, Buck, and Barton took the opportunity to hide behind a low wall, looking at Lynn and White Dove standing beside them in surprise, a thought flashing through their minds.

When did White Dove become so powerful?

However, they soon realized that the one attacking was not White Dove, because the next moment, a full twelve [Magic Missiles] condensed in the air, hovering beside Lynn.

[Magic - Barrage]!

With a thought from Lynn, over a dozen missiles shot out, crashing into the guards.

Witnessing this strange magic, Aaron quickly ordered the shield-bearing guards to gather together, stacking their shields layer upon layer, leaving no gaps, forming a semi-circle to protect the crossbowmen behind them.

However, to everyone's surprise, these over a dozen missiles uncharacteristically bypassed the stacked shield wall and flew towards the rear.

Did they miss?

Aaron thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the possibility. If only one or two [Magic Missiles] had missed, it might have been possible. If all of them deviated from their course, it could only mean that the opponent's target was not here from the beginning!

Aaron suddenly turned his head. The twelve missiles hit the mottled pillars behind them almost simultaneously. Amidst the swirling dust, a pillar nearly seven meters tall fell straight down.

"Scatter, all of you, scatter!" Aaron shouted hoarsely, raising his staff high, casting the only protective Divine Spell he knew—Holy Word: Shield!

However, it was clearly a futile effort. The white light shield had just formed when it was instantly crushed by the massive stone pillar. More than ten shield-bearing soldiers and crossbowmen who had gathered together, unable to scatter in time, were buried under the pillar.

When Aaron looked back again, Lynn and the others were long gone.

After much hesitation, he glanced at the guards, bloody and mangled under the pillar, still calling for help. Aaron gritted his teeth and said.

"Leave half the men to rescue them! The rest follow me!"

(PS: New book, anything is welcome!)

Thanks to book friends "Sui Feng Qi Wu" and "Kepler B22" for the 1500 Origin Coins reward, "Yilong Ge" for the 300 Origin Coins reward, and "You Ni Zhen Jimuo" for the 100 Origin Coins reward.