A Battle of Spells

"Don't worry. For at least an hour, I guarantee no adventurer will be able to get over here and interfere with you." With that, his figure faded, and he vanished into thin air.

Having a stealth skill is awesome. He can come and go as he pleases, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. It couldn't be any cooler, Xiao Yu thought enviously. Although Moontrace? Shadow Stalker refused to help, at least Xiao Yu wouldn't have to worry about anyone interfering for an hour. That meant he could slowly wear the druid down, as long as he had time.

"Archers, keep shooting! I refuse to believe he won't run out of mana!" Xiao Yu roared at his goblin underlings.

Arrows flew out like rain, but every last one was still blown away by the whirlwind.

In fact, the archdruid's mana was not unlimited, but it didn't look like draining it would be a quick job. After several volleys of arrows failed to produce any results, Xiao Yu decisively concluded that he couldn't keep this up.

The druid's Whirlwind was much like the wind elementals' Wind Barrier. Both formed a spinning cyclone around the user that blew away projectile attacks, and it could probably blow away small monsters too. That made the goblins useless: the goblin scouts' arrows couldn't reach him, and the goblin warriors would just be blown away if they charged in. They were no help at all. It looked like Xiao Yu would have to act himself. At that thought, he gritted his teeth and quickly climbed onto the neck of Aduo the ogre.

"Listen to my orders! All goblin warriors, spread out and deal with those treants around us. Defias healers, remember to heal me in a moment. Kobold diviners, follow me and fire your fireballs with me. Archers, fire at will. Just keep the arrows coming. Everyone else, guard the rear and don't let anyone outflank us. Begin the battle!"

With that, he patted Aduo on the head. Aduo immediately swung the enormous wooden club in his hand and charged forward, sweeping aside the treants in his path with one blow. The surrounding goblins swarmed forward and engulfed the treants. They could handle a few treants with superior numbers, while Xiao Yu rode the ogre toward the temple.

The druid seemed to sense their determination as well. He stared intently at Xiao Yu while continuing to cast whirlwinds.

The instant both sides came within range of each other's spells, Xiao Yu thrust up his staff. Flame Missiles! A string of seven fireballs materialized out of thin air and flew out together. At the same time, each of the kobold diviners hurled a fireball, and the fire elemental fired a Fire Bolt as well.

The dense barrage of fireballs easily pierced the Wind Barrier and struck the archdruid, exploding in a series of loud bangs and red numbers.

Just as I thought! Xiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief. The whirlwind did have the same effect as the wind elemental's Wind Barrier: it could blow away physical projectiles like arrows, but it was useless against spell attacks like fireballs. Moreover, the archdruid couldn't move while casting, making him a sitting duck. If he moved, he wouldn't be able to maintain the whirlwind, and the archers would naturally be able to hit him.

The barrage of fireballs took over 200 of the archdruid's HP. This was the first time they had managed to damage him. Keeping up the pressure, Xiao Yu began preparing a second round of attacks.

Manster? Moonwalker (archdruid): "Insignificant goblin, feel the wrath of nature!" He likewise fired a green lightning ball at Xiao Yu.

Ugh, I'm just destined to get beaten up. It seems like I'm always the first one attacked whenever there's a fight.

As Xiao Yu lamented, the lightning ball struck him square in the chest.

With a crack, electricity coursed wildly over his body. A huge red -137 flashed up, giving Xiao Yu a fright. That single hit had taken nearly a third of his HP. Did this archdruid have to be so powerful?

Eric (goblin pyromancer): "Heal me, quick!" he shouted to the two Defias healers. The Flame Missiles in his hand took shape once more.

The two sides engaged in a fierce exchange of spells from above and below the temple. Fireballs and lightning balls flew back and forth in a lively spectacle. Although the archdruid's spells dealt tremendous damage, he was struggling to hold on after two rounds. He was fighting a whole group alone, after all; how could he possibly outgun them? Xiao Yu had healers restoring his HP and was able to withstand the assault. Seeing his HP drop by half, the archdruid resorted to the same trick again.

Most? Moonwalker (archdruid): "Storm, heed my call! In the name of nature, destroy these despicable enemies before me!"

The moment Xiao Yu saw dark clouds gathering overhead, he knew he was in trouble. He had seen the power of that Lightning Storm with his own eyes. He had assumed a major skill like that couldn't possibly be used in quick succession, but its cooldown had already finished. He kicked Aduo hard on the head. "Charge! Charge forward!" Aduo was quite obedient and charged up the slope. Crack! By the time a bolt of lightning came down, Xiao Yu had already charged up the slope and escaped the lightning's area of attack. His subordinates behind him weren't so lucky. The kobold diviners and Defias healers screamed as the lightning struck them and fled in all directions.

Lightning continued to crash down. There's no way back! Xiao Yu thought, riding Aduo straight at the archdruid.

The archdruid himself seemed to be struggling after casting Lightning Storm and was busy healing himself. When he saw Xiao Yu charging over, he hurriedly cast Wind Barrier again. As the air swirled, Aduo's steps immediately slowed, but only briefly. He was a large creature, after all, with the weight to match. The whirlwind's knockback worked well enough on small creatures, but it had no discernible effect on a brute like an ogre. As the ogre drew closer to the temple step by step, his greatclub about to sweep across, the archdruid grew anxious.

Most? Moonwalker (archdruid): "Great spirits of nature, your people need your help. Heed my call and gather here!"

Countless little green spirits flew out from the woods around the temple, circling in the air and whispering before entering the archdruid's body. After he absorbed the power of dozens of spirits in one go, his body suddenly grew a size larger, and a dazzling green light radiated from him.

This is bad, Xiao Yu thought. What's going on? Damn it, I knew this quest wouldn't be that simple.

The archdruid dropped to all fours, transformed into a giant bear, and charged straight at them.

Holy crap, does this guy cultivate both elemental magic and shapeshifting? His spells are already so powerful, and he can turn into a bear too? Is there no justice? Good thing he only cultivates two schools, not three. If his restoration spells were powerful too and he could fill his HP back up with a couple of quick casts, that really would be beyond reason.

"Greatclub Sweep!" Aduo roared, swinging his greatclub with all his might.

With a bang, the greatclub struck the giant bear charging head-on right in the head. Then, with a crack, it broke in two. It did, however, jolt the bear to a halt, instantly slowing its charge.

Flame Missiles! Riding on the ogre's head, Xiao Yu kept throwing fireballs down at the bear. The ogre and the druid collided, each pushing against the other, neither giving way. But the ogre was clearly no match for the giant bear. There was a gap in their levels and templates, after all. Although he was no smaller than his opponent, the giant bear rammed him backward again and again, pushing him all the way down the slope leading to the temple in one go.

By then, the Lightning Storm had ended. Seeing the giant bear charge down the slope, the goblins around them all swarmed forward again.