Crisis Averted

How could this be? The Sauron were about to burn them all to death in this castle, how could they suddenly retreat?

"No time to explain! Follow me! Up to the second floor! The view is better from there!" Without saying another word, Karl turned and sprinted towards the stairs leading to the second floor!

Brendan, Richter, and several other core officers reacted immediately, suppressing the turmoil in their hearts, and followed closely behind Karl. The other survivors were also ignited with a glimmer of hope by this sudden news, and struggled to their feet to follow.

Braving the thick smoke, the group rushed up to the second-floor corridor, which was relatively less damaged and not yet completely engulfed by the fire.

The windows here are larger, and the view is more expansive.

Karl rushed to a window facing the outer city, grabbed the binoculars hanging on the wall (thankfully they weren't burned yet), and, ignoring the heat, quickly held them up to his eyes and looked outside.

Through the billowing smoke and lingering flames, the scene visible through the telescope made Karl's heart pound wildly!

It's true! Absolutely true!

The Sauron army, which had been surrounding the castle like an iron barrel, was now in the midst of a shocking and chaotic rout!

Instead of retreating slowly, the soldiers scrambled to flee for their lives toward the outer perimeter wall!

They abandoned their flags, threw away their heavy siege equipment, and even pushed and trampled each other. The officers' shouts were completely drowned out by their panicked screams!

Moreover, after they escaped over the wall, they showed no intention of stopping to regroup, but instead continued their hasty escape into the depths of the already chaotic Sauron camp at the foot of the mountain!

The scene didn't resemble a tactical adjustment at all; it looked more like... an escape? Or perhaps they had encountered some extremely terrifying and irresistible attack?

"What... what exactly happened?" Karl put down his binoculars, his brow furrowed, his heart filled with immense doubt and a sense of unease.

With a decisive victory within reach, how could Harald possibly order a complete retreat at this crucial moment?

Unless Harald himself suddenly died, or the Sauron camp suffered an unimaginable devastation, although both of these guesses seem extremely far-fetched, there seems to be no more reasonable explanation for the incredible scene before them.

Whatever the reason, it was fantastic news for Carnford! The Sauron had retreated! They wouldn't die! At least, they wouldn't be burned or killed immediately!

A powerful will to survive instantly filled Karl's chest! He whirled around, his gaze urgently sweeping over the terrified crowd in the second-floor corridor, and immediately shouted, "Quick! Put out the fire! Now! Everyone who can move, come and help! We absolutely cannot let the fire spread and completely burn down the castle!"

His gaze quickly settled on two familiar figures: Lina and Morian! They were still here! Hadn't left with Konrad?

"Lina! Morian! Thank goodness! You're still here!" Karl strode up to them, his voice urgent, while instinctively glancing around. "Where's Konrad? Why isn't he with you?"

Lina's face was still pale, but some light had returned to her eyes. She quickly replied, "My Lord! My teacher... just now, when the Sauron were just starting to show signs of chaos and retreat, he suddenly seemed to sense something, his expression turned very strange, and then... he instantly turned into a black shadow and disappeared! We don't know where he went."

Upon hearing this, Karl felt a pang of doubt and confusion. Konrad's sudden departure at this crucial moment was highly suspicious, but the situation was urgent and he had no time to think about it further.

"There's no time to think! Lina, Morian, the fire in the castle is the most critical thing right now! Please cast spells immediately and do everything you can to put out the fire! I'm begging you!" Karl pleaded earnestly.

"Understood! Leave it to us!" Lina and Morian exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes. Although their magic power was greatly depleted, this was the moment when they were needed!

Morian immediately walked to a broken window, quickly formed hand seals, and chanted an obscure incantation.

Water elements in the air rapidly converged towards him, causing the surrounding temperature to drop sharply!

He pushed his hands forward, and a cold, chilling white stream of air shot out like a bolt of lightning, sweeping across the burning wooden corridor and furniture in front of him!

The flames hissed as they came into contact with the cold air and quickly went out, leaving only charred wood and billowing white steam!

Lina closed her eyes, focused her mind, and mobilized the little Magic Power she had left.

She raised her hands as if drawing upon an invisible force.

Soon, a swirling current of air appeared out of nowhere, centered on her!

The airflow grew stronger, stirring up dust and ash from the ground, forming a small whirlwind! The whirlwind wasn't scorching hot; instead, it carried a moist scent!

Lina guided the whirlwind, sweeping across the burning areas. Instead of the wind fueling the fire, the flames quickly dimmed and went out wherever the whirlwind passed, as if oxygen had been sucked out! This was a relatively low-level spell that manipulated the combination of wind and water vapor.

Thanks to the focused and efficient use of ice magic by the two mages, especially Morian, and the desperate efforts of the surviving soldiers and civilians to pass buckets of water and sprinkle sand, the raging fire inside the castle was finally brought under control!

Although many parts were burned to a crisp and blackened state, the main structure was saved, avoiding complete collapse.

As the thick smoke gradually dissipated, the faces of the survivors, covered in soot but brimming with unbelievable joy and tears, were revealed.

They supported each other, looking at each other as if in a dream.

The castle, miraculously, was saved!

Karl leaned against the cold stone wall, slowly slid down to the ground, and gasped for breath. Only then did his extremely tense nerves relax slightly, and waves of exhaustion washed over him.

He gazed out the window at the still chaotic battlefield, where the threat had temporarily subsided, and then looked at his exhausted but bright-eyed companion beside him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

They survived... They actually survived!