In comparison, it was undoubtedly wiser to take the initiative while the situation was still under control. If they could capture a few key figures, they might extract valuable information.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Archbishop Anluke," Priest Aaron said, carefully pondering the situation and bowing respectfully.
"Everything is guided by the Lord," Archbishop Anluke replied casually. Suddenly, as if he sensed something, without any visible movement, several radiant arrows materialized in the void, instantly pinning four gray doves about to take flight to a tree.
Three seconds later, a dazzling fireball shot out from a nearby estate, illuminating the sky.
Archbishop Anluke lifted his head, his magically enhanced sight piercing hundreds of meters, passing through the open windows of the third floor, and he saw Lynn and the others gazing outward.
Brown hair, medium build, handsome features...
That was the wizard named Carl, the one who had killed Blaine!
"Everyone, advance at full speed!" Archbishop Anluke commanded without hesitation.
Since they had been discovered, there was no need to hide any longer. The guards, who had been moving at a leisurely pace, immediately switched to a sprint, and the clanging of armor resounded as they surged towards the central fortress from all directions.
Seven years had passed, and the manor's gates were violently flung open once more. Guards armed with swords and shields formed groups of ten, surrounding the entire castle methodically.
Aaron led several squads, heading straight for the direction where Lynn and the others had been.
As they traversed the long and wide corridors, the guards at the forefront had just entered the main hall when they emerged one by one, their faces filled with fear.
Unfortunately, they were too slow, and several scorching fireballs, like meteorites, rained down on the crowd.
Soon after, a series of violent explosions occurred, and the orderly and tightly-knit formation turned into a chaotic sea of people.
"Ahh!"
Accompanied by the piercing screams, blood splattered, bodies were flung, and the thick scent of blood filled the air.
Even though the participants in this encirclement were elite soldiers selected from the Nordland army, each fully armed, they still instantly fell into disarray in the face of powerful magic.
"Fall back as a formation, and archers, prepare to fire!" The only calm one on the battlefield was Aaron, who raised his staff high and shouted.
"Don't panic, Eira is with us!"
The disordered troops quickly regained their composure, restoring order. The white glow in everyone's eyes shone brightly, and the inexplicable courage filled their minds.
This was the magic of the first circle—Fear Removal!
Under Aaron's command, the shield-bearing guards placed their sturdy shields in front, advancing with large steps, while the guards behind them drew their crossbows in unison.
Long-range volleys had always been the best way to deal with wizard apprentices!
The tortoise-shell-like shield formation greatly reduced the effectiveness of ordinary magic, and magic missiles couldn't penetrate it. Even the powerful fireball spells couldn't produce significant results.
The dense rain of arrows forced the group of wizard apprentices to retreat, and they were forced to take cover behind walls. The slowest to react, Barton, was accidentally struck by a crossbow bolt in the back and tumbled to the ground in disarray.
"Barton!" Buck urgently called his brother's name, rushing forward and struggling to help Barton up.
Waiting for the right moment, Aaron issued orders once again, dozens of strong crossbows all pointed at the two of them. As the crossbow triggers were pulled, a multitude of arrows poured down like a meteor shower.
Second-circle high-level magic—Frost Barrier.
Jonny decisively stood in front of the two, raised his hand, and a transparent water screen appeared in front of them. In an instant, it solidified into an icy crystalline wall.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The dense sound of impacts echoed in succession, and icy crystal shards scattered on the ground as the continuous rain of arrows broke through the Frost Barrier. Three arrows were aimed straight at Jonny!
Jonny, who had just completed an over-speed spell using Magic Hand, didn't have time to create a second ice wall. Behind her were Buck and Barton, the two brothers...
"No escape!"
Jonny clenched her lips, forcibly stopping her evasive movements, and held the hilt of her sword with no certainty that she could intercept all the arrows coming her way.
At that moment, three magic missiles flew in from the side, accurately shooting down the arrows.
Jonny was momentarily stunned, unable to fully grasp the joy of escaping the peril. Then, she saw seven more Magic Missiles flying past her, curiously not following a straight path but taking a bizarre curved trajectory, easily bypassing the shield wall's protection, and heading directly for the guards behind holding crossbows.
A brief moment of chaos caused the continuous arrow rain to temporarily cease. Jonny, Buck, and Barton took the opportunity to hide behind a low wall, looking in astonishment at Lynn and Dove standing beside them, a thought flashing through their minds.
When did Dove become so powerful?
But they quickly realized that it wasn't Dove who had acted because the next moment, a full twelve Magic Missiles condensed in the void and floated beside Lynn.
Magic—Bullet Barrage!
With a thought, Lynn sent more than a dozen missiles hurtling toward the guards.
Seeing the strange magic, Aaron immediately commanded the shield-bearing guards to gather, layering their shields without leaving any gaps, forming a semi-circular protection for the crossbowmen behind.
However, what surprised everyone was that these dozen or so missiles, without any prior agreement, bypassed the shield wall and flew towards the rear.
Did they miss their target?
Aaron thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the possibility. If only one or two Magic Missiles had gone off course, that might be plausible, but if they all deviated from their path, it could only mean that their initial target was never here!
Aaron abruptly turned around, and almost simultaneously, the twelve missiles hit the weathered pillar behind. In the billowing dust, the seven-meter-high pillar toppled straight down.
"Spread out, get away from each other!" Aaron shouted hoarsely, raising his staff high and casting the only protective divine spell he possessed—Sanctified Word: Shield!
But it was clear that it was a futile effort. The bright white shield had just formed and was instantly shattered by the massive stone pillar. Over ten shield-bearing guards and crossbowmen who hadn't had time to disperse were buried beneath the fallen pillar.
When Aaron turned around again, Lynn and the others had already vanished.
After much hesitation and numerous glances at the guards trapped under the pillar, crying for help as they bled, Aaron clenched his teeth and said, "Leave half the men behind to rescue them! The rest follow me!"
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