Destroying the Stronghold (Part Two)

Merlin stood on the Three-Headed Demon Dragon's back above the Abbes Mountains and watched it attack. Its first strike, however, only shook the Abbes Stronghold. It failed to break through the rune formation.

"The Abbes Stronghold has some impressive defenses!"

Without the Rune Heart Seal, Merlin could no longer make sense of the rune formation surrounding the stronghold. Still, anything that could withstand a blow from the Three-Headed Demon Dragon was remarkable.

After all, the Three-Headed Demon Dragon rivaled an archmage. Such beings were exceedingly rare in the Land of Glory. Back then, the entire Southern Spellcaster World had fewer than ten archmages combined. As for Great Legendaries, none had appeared since the collapse of the Molta Empire.

The Three-Headed Demon Dragon seemed irritated. All three heads opened their jaws, preparing to shatter the rune formation in one attack. But the formation began to ripple like water, and a huge passage opened within it.

Spellcasters flew out of the passage. There were eleven in all, and the elemental fluctuations around them showed that every one was a high-level spellcaster!

It was a formidable lineup, one that anyone short of an archmage would struggle to withstand. But Merlin was curious. Knowing the Three-Headed Demon Dragon was here, why would eleven high-level spellcasters come out to die?

"Is there an archmage hiding somewhere?"

Merlin swept his gaze across the eleven spellcasters, then looked at the castle behind them. As far as he knew, every major Osum stronghold had an archmage stationed there.

"Not coming out?"

Merlin still found no trace of the archmage. His Mind Power could probe almost anywhere, but the stronghold was protected by a rune formation—and no ordinary one. Even his Mind Power could not see inside.

"If you won't come out, I'll make you!"

Merlin patted the Three-Headed