Lamorak, undeterred by the magical traps, ballistas, and cannon fire, followed up with another devastating skill. "Echoing Impact," he growled, channeling energy into his axe before hurling a concentrated shockwave forward. The shockwave traveled in a straight line, dealing significant damage to anything within 50 meters. Beyond that range, the damage decreased, but the force was still strong enough to leave deep, spiderweb-like cracks on the stronghold walls.
The shockwave hit the stronghold, causing the walls to tremble and sending debris flying. The participants inside braced themselves, their determination unwavering despite the onslaught.
Mitchel, still leading the defense, quickly assessed the damage. "The walls are holding, but we can't take too many more hits like that," she said, her voice calm but urgent. "We need to keep the pressure on him. Ballistas and cannons, fire again! Everyone else, prepare for close combat if he breaches the walls!"
The battle at the stronghold intensified as Lamorak, the Merciless Dread Knight, continued his relentless assault. Despite the barrage of ballista bolts and cannon fire, he parried and absorbed the attacks with his massive axe. His armor, permanently stained with bloodmarks, made him look like a figure of pure dread and destruction. But inside that fearsome exterior, Lamorak was fighting an emotional battle of his own.
As he deflected another cannonball, Lamorak's voice echoed softly within his helmet, unheard by anyone but himself. "Focus, Lamorak! Although my baby has become this strong and smart, I cannot compromise the Aether Knight Trials! I will do my best, Mitchel!" he said, his voice filled with pride and determination. He was immensely proud of his daughter's leadership and strength, but he knew he couldn't hold back. The trials were a test of true mettle, and he had to give it his all.
On the other side of the battlefield, Mitchel felt a strange shiver run down her spine, as if she had heard her father's words. She shook it off, her focus unwavering. "That old man is probably talking nonsense again!" she muttered under her breath before raising her voice to command the group. "Next round of ballistas and cannons, shoot him! Erenesto, provide people near the wall and use defensive magic! The fact that he can use long-range attacks means he can demolish our defenses with just that!"
Erenesto nodded, quickly organizing a team to reinforce the walls with defensive magic. Tessa, Lina, Mara, Julls, May, and Valentia, along with two more participants, Ana and Greg skilled in amplification magic, headed outside the gates. Together, they cast multiple protective barriers, layering them over the stronghold's walls. The barriers shimmered as they combined, forming a formidable shield against Lamorak's attacks.
"Hopefully, this is enough," Valentia said, her voice tinged with both hope and uncertainty.
But Lamorak wasn't done yet. With a roar, he unleashed another devastating skill: Sky Fall Barrage. He hurled his axe into the air, where it split into three energy projectiles that rained down in a straight line toward the stronghold. Each projectile exploded on impact, dealing high damage within a 60-meter radius. Beyond that range, the explosions weakened but still could left large, scorched marks and cracks on the walls.
The first projectile struck the protective barriers, causing them to shimmer and crack under the force. The second hit nearby, sending shockwaves through the ground and shaking the stronghold. The third exploded just outside the walls, leaving a deep, scorched crater.
Their hearts pounding as they felt the sheer power of Lamorak's attack. The barriers held, but they were visibly weakened.
Mixarnt, watching from inside, clenched his fists. "He's not holding back at all," he muttered, his tone a mix of admiration and frustration.
Razen stood beside him and nodded. "We have to keep up the pressure. If we ease up, he'll break through. The barrier only blocks his attacks, but ours can pass through. However, because it's a one-way shield, it's not as strong as a full barrier," she explained, her tone firm and urgent.
Mitchel, still commanding the defense, quickly assessed the situation. "Ballistas and cannons, keep firing! Don't give him a chance to recover! Enhance it with more magic! Everyone else, prepare for close combat if he breaches the walls!" she ordered, her voice firm and unwavering.
As Lamorak entered the 50-meter radius of the stronghold, the atmosphere grew tense. This was the range where his long-range skills were at their most devastating, and he wasted no time in unleashing them. With a roar, he activated three skills simultaneously: Shattering Crescent, Echoing Impact, and Skyfall Barrage. The ground trembled as the combined force of the attacks surged toward the stronghold.
"Everyone, brace for impact!" Mitchel shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. The participants inside the stronghold tightened their grips on their weapons and shields, preparing for the worst.
"Support team, keep conjuring barriers even after they break!" Erenesto commanded, his voice firm and urgent. The mages outside the walls redoubled their efforts, layering protective barriers over the stronghold as fast as they could. The barriers shimmered and cracked under the force of Lamorak's attacks, but the mages refused to give up.
Meanwhile, Mixarnt and Rise had slipped away from the main group, their grins wide and mischievous. "Uh oh! Hey, Rise, let's go do our thing!" Mixarnt said, his tone filled with excitement. Rise nodded, his grin matching Mixarnt's, and the two ran off toward the back of the stronghold.
Razen, noticing their absence, was confused but remained at her post. She quickly contacted the team outside the stronghold using magic. "Team Ewan, go ahead and launch arrows toward General Lamorak. Try to stall for time," she ordered, her voice steady despite the chaos. Ewan, Rowena, Matt, Joeseph started moving from their positions.
Mixarnt and Rise arrived at a cage where Aaron was being held. His face, no longer swollen, was covered in medical tape, and he looked up at the two with a smug expression. "Hey, if you're gonna ask for my help, forget it," Aaron said, clearly thinking they needed his ability to create soldiers.
Mixarnt and Rise exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "Oh no no, we don't plan to do that, hehe," Rise said, his grin widening.
Mixarnt nodded, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "We know you wouldn't cooperate, so we just need to force you. Stall time for us, okay?" he said, his tone light but his words sending a chill down Aaron's spine.
Before Aaron could protest further, Mixarnt and Rise lifted the cage and carried it to a catapult. They placed the cage on the launch platform, and Aaron's eyes widened in panic. "Hey! What the fuck are you two planning!?" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation.
Mixarnt and Rise ignored him, their grins never fading. "Ready?" Mixarnt asked.
"Ready," Rise replied, cutting the rope with a swift motion. The catapult launched the cage into the air, sending it flying toward Lamorak at incredible speed. Aaron's screams echoed through the battlefield as the cage soared through the sky.
"Mission success," Mixarnt and Rise said in unison, high-fiving each other as they watched the cage arc through the air.
Liva, who was stationed atop the walls, saw the cage flying toward Lamorak and turned to look at Mixarnt and Rise. She was flabbergasted by their strategy, shaking her head in disbelief. "Those two are like twins, even though they're not blood-related," she muttered, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Mitchel, who also witnessed the flying cage, was initially surprised but quickly realized what Mixarnt and Rise were up to. "So that's why Mixarnt insisted on taking that vile man as a prisoner! Hahahah!" she laughed, her voice filled with admiration for their clever plan.
Erenesto, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "For real?" he asked, though a small smile tugged at his lips. He couldn't help but be impressed by the duo's ingenuity.
As the arrows from Ewan's group rained down on Lamorak, the Dread Knight barely flinched, his heavy armor absorbing the attacks. He focused on the stronghold, his eyes locked on the walls as he prepared for another assault. But before he could act, Aaron's cage came crashing down, landing squarely on top of him.
The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, and Lamorak staggered under the weight of the cage. Aaron, still screaming, tumbled out of the cage as it got destroyed and landed in a heap of dirt. The Dread Knight, momentarily distracted, turned his attention to Aaron, giving the participants inside the stronghold a brief but crucial reprieve.
Mixarnt and Rise, watching from a distance, high-fived again. "That worked better than I expected," Mixarnt said, his grin widening.
Rise nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Now's our chance! Let's go!"
"Erenesto! Ready plan B just in case!" Mitchel said, the group inside the stronghold seized the opportunity, redoubling their efforts to reinforce the barriers and prepare for the next phase of the battle. With Lamorak momentarily distracted, they knew they had to act fast.