Never fight a mage inside their Mage Tower unless you're launching a surprise attack.
That could be considered common sense, but things in life never go exactly as planned.
Just like now. The battle had already begun, so there was no turning back.
The castle's magical defense systems activated all at once. Countless streams of dark-corrosion energy shot out from within the castle, raining down among the enemy like artillery fire.
Mortals had no way to withstand this magical power. The moment they were touched by it, they would be corroded into white bones.
But the Paladin and that Holy Light Cleric were completely unaffected. The might of the Anti-magic Field caused all magic to vanish completely upon entering the barrier's range. While the field lasted, the two of them were effectively immune to magic.
Unless someone could cast a divine-level spell, there was no way to break through the Anti-magic Field's restrictions.
This was when the difference between a counterfeit legend and a true legend became apparent.
Every legend was a demigod, having transcended the mortal realm and grasped Quasi-Deity power.
Under normal circumstances, Amber Xiu, the legendary lich, could use a magic spell containing divine power to teach these two youngsters from the Lyne Empire a lesson.
But after abandoning the path of the School of Prophecy, Amber Xiu no longer possessed any magic capable of reaching the demigod level. Faced with an Anti-magic Field like this, he could only evade it. Fortunately, it was being cast through a magic scroll. All he had to do was wait for its duration to end.
Under normal circumstances, a spell cast through this kind of scroll could only last one or two minutes.
Amber Xiu's leisurely composure stood in stark contrast to the enemy army's panic.
Harvey weaved left and right amid the sky full of dark-corrosion energy. Relying on his astonishingly precise instincts, he held on until the first round of magical artillery fire ended.
Although he was completely unharmed, Harvey was still drenched in sweat. If he had made even the slightest mistake just now, he would have become a ghastly skeleton. The negligible amount of magic power possessed by an Apprentice Mage couldn't withstand attacks of this intensity, even with a shield raised.
Looking behind him, Porcupine Knight had also survived by sheer luck. However, three of the lords who had come with him to subjugate the lich had died. Both men and horses had been corroded into skeletons.
The other soldiers had suffered even heavier casualties. More than two hundred had died on the spot, while the number of wounded was actually quite low. The magical attack had been so terrifying that almost anyone grazed by it died instantly.
The carnage was so horrific that Harvey really wanted to ask, Why did you provoke him in the first place?
They had ultimately underestimated the lich's power. The lords had deliberately positioned themselves far from the battlefield. By all logic, they should already have been beyond the maximum range of the magic.
Who could have guessed that this castle had specifically extended the range of its magic?
Harvey couldn't help thinking, Could this lich have started making adjustments specifically to counter us after taking in the Freemen?
That was giving the situation too much credit. Amber Xiu had strengthened the magical defense system of the entire castle solely because Withering Rose had sent him a detailed document on the Lyne Empire's city-defense systems. There were plenty of useful ideas in it. For example, the increased magic range was practically the definition of cost-effectiveness. Not installing it would have been a waste.
And today, it had produced miraculous results.
As expected of the Lyne Empire. Looking at his spoils of war, Amber Xiu silently gave the Lyne Empire's magical technology a thumbs-up.
Harvey felt terrible. As a consultant, he had suggested retreating more than once, but the lords had refused to listen. He was already somewhat dissatisfied, and if he survived today, he would definitely resign at once.
But for now, he had to fulfill his duty as a consultant.
Harvey rode toward the Paladin and shouted, "We're almost at our limit! Do you actually have a way to deal with this lich? If not, we're withdrawing immediately!"
The Paladin asked in surprise, "You can't hold out after suffering less than twenty percent casualties?"
The Paladin admitted that he had underestimated Amber Xiu, but were these minor lords from Alchemy City really this weak?
It was only twenty percent, yet their morale had already collapsed?
Even the weakest legion in the Lyne Empire wouldn't feel much of an impact with less than thirty percent casualties, would it?
Harvey wanted nothing more than to slap the Paladin, but he could only endure it for now. Using the most efficient way of communicating, he said, "How can an army made up of ordinary tenant farmers compare to the faith-armed forces of the Lyne Empire? This is simply how things are. Do you have a way or not?"
The Paladin felt that this trial had truly broadened his horizons, but this wasn't the time for emotional reflection. He said to Harvey, "Of course. We only need to enter the castle and find his Phylactery. Since you can't hold out any longer, retreat. Don't get in our way."
After saying this, the Paladin continued charging forward with the Holy Light Cleric, heading straight for the Ancient Castle's main gate.
The Anti-magic Field was still active, allowing them to ignore all magical attacks and charge directly to the castle gates.
Harvey watched the magical radiance filling the sky. After hesitating for a moment, he followed behind the Paladin.
His instincts told him that fleeing now wouldn't end well either. Perhaps charging alongside the Paladin was actually the right choice. He could only hope that his instincts weren't wrong.
Seeing Harvey charge after them, the Paladin even praised him. "Your courage is commendable. May the Holy Light protect you."
Harvey thought, Even if I'm asking the gods for protection, as an Apprentice Mage, I should be praying to the goddess of magic, Mystra. These religious fanatics are preaching at every possible moment.
Under the effects of the Anti-magic Field, all the Magic Traps in front of the Ancient Castle had become useless. Simple pits and crossbow traps were also ineffective against the fully armored Paladin. With a few casual swipes of his longsword, he knocked all the bolts away.
The three of them reached the castle gates. Their only loss was two horses. But at that moment, the Anti-magic Field began to Blink before soon vanishing completely.
Harvey followed closely behind the two and also arrived at the castle gates.
The moment Amber Xiu saw the three of them begin their charge, he decisively retreated into the Ancient Castle. When he saw the Paladin appear at the gates, he smiled and pressed a mechanism.
Just as the Paladin was preparing to smash open the Ancient Castle's main gate, a series of clicking sounds rang out.
None of the three knew what had happened, but the Paladin decided to press forward. Holy Light surged from his longsword. The Supreme Holy Slash could not only kill liches—it was also extremely effective at demolishing buildings.
The blade's radiance fell, cleaving the heavy wooden gate into pieces. The tremendous impact even smashed large cracks into the ground.
Harvey was marveling at the Paladin's strength when he suddenly said in confusion, "Wait, aren't there too many cracks?"
The moment he finished speaking, the ground in front of the Ancient Castle completely collapsed, revealing a bottomless pit.
Caught entirely unprepared, the three of them fell straight into the pit.
Through magical surveillance, Amber Xiu watched the three fall into the pit. He then reached over and rubbed the Living Mercury beside him, speaking to the little creature that had just been born. "Little one, it's time to show what you can do. If you can defeat the Lyne Empire's Paladin, I'll make a huge profit from this deal."
Before you continue