Less than a thousandth of a second passed between the powerful lightning appearing out of thin air and unleashing its might.
Even Daphne, a veteran of countless battles with exceptional reflexes, failed to react at all. Hundreds of bolts struck her simultaneously before she could make the slightest attempt to defend herself or dodge.
Lightning created by magic was, of course, no match for powerful natural lightning. Even the ninety-nine bolts of a powerful Lightning Storm combined might not measure up to a single real lightning bolt.
But the power released by these hundreds of bolts in an instant was certainly not to be underestimated. Caught completely unprotected, never mind a petite girl-even a polar bear would have been reduced to charcoal in an instant.
The Confundus Charm enveloping her was instantly shattered by the powerful lightning magic. Amid the dazzling lightning, only a slender figure remained, struck rigid and unable to move.
"I told you someone had come in, didn't I?" An elderly voice rang out, its smugness still clearly audible. Then several figures slowly rose along the edge of the blue pillar.
There seemed to be a gap beside the pillar, though Daphne could not have seen it from her previous position.
Eighteen people came up together. Five wore long white robes and looked somewhat older: four men and one woman.
The other thirteen wore black robes in a somewhat more modern style. Seven men and six women, they all looked middle-aged.
Most of the eighteen watched Daphne, who was still being bombarded by lightning, with surprise on their faces. Clearly, they truly had not expected anyone to reach this place without a sound.
But they were not worried.
No carbon-based life-form could take lightning this powerful head-on and survive.
For the intruder to have fooled so many