Chapter 249: The Fortress of Evil (2)
From the Denian Kingdom to the holy land of Kalosia, and even to the sacred ground of the elves, Ketal had always been the ones on the defensive. Holding the line, shielding the last sanctuaries of light from the advance of evil, was his role in previous battles. However, now, the tables had turned. For the first time in a long while, he was the one launching the attack. It was exhilarating, almost joyous, to feel the momentum shifting.
“We’ve tried everything we could think of to break through the fortress,” the Archbishop said, his voice grave, “but none of our efforts have succeeded. The walls are simply too strong. Here, let me show you.”
With a subtle gesture of his chin, the Archbishop signaled to the gathered mages of the Mage Tower. They sprang into action, loading a magical ballista, a siege weapon far more powerful than any Ketal had seen on the journey to the Deep Sea. The ballista was charged with runes and ancient enchantments, humming with destructive energy.
The weapon’s great bolt was drawn back, its magical tension crackling in the air. Then, with a thunderous report, it was released. The bolt shot through the sky with blinding speed and slammed against the fortress wall.
A tremendous explosion echoed out, shaking the earth beneath their feet. Dust billowed up, swirling through the air and momentarily hiding the fortress from view. When the haze cleared, everyone stared at the wall, searching for damage.
“Only a scratch,” the Mercenary King muttered. He frowned as he surveyed the result.
The magical ballista had barely left a faint scar upon the vast, obsidian wall. Even that shallow wound was already starting to heal itself, the stones knitting together under some dark magic.
“It’s no use,” the Archbishop said, frustration tightening his voice. “No matter how we attack from a distance, it’s impossible to break through those walls.”
To shatter them, they would have to bring overwhelming force right up close. Only by striking at point-blank range could they hope to breach the barrier. For that reason, they had brought with them even more powerful siege engines; magical battering rams infused with sacred spells. However, there was a problem.
“It’s nearly impossible to approach the wall in the first place,” the Archbishop explained, his tone laced with resignation.
Arrayed along the ramparts were hundreds of defensive weapons. There were cannons and strange, monstrous devices that resembled great magical guns. These were the handiwork of the Demon of Design, created to repel any who dared threaten the fortress. Between the weapons stood clusters of dark mages, their eyes burning with an unnatural glow.
The moment anyone moved within a certain distance, a barrage of destruction would rain down. Spells, explosives, boulders, and arrows fell like an unending storm. Even the Archbishop himself struggled to shield against such a bombardment.