Chapter 392
Elric watched them take positions, forming a ritual circle, beginning the complex hand gestures and chanted prayers that would activate large-scale purification magic.
"Here we go," he said quietly. "Day Four. The end of this siege, one way or another."
Behind him, Gattychan gripped his blessed sword, divine light intensifying.
Seraphelle’s prayers grew more fervent, golden healing magic surrounding her.
Mikazelle’s spatial perception expanded, mapping every dimension of the coming battle.
Rindelle nocked an arrow, ready to deploy catastrophic amplification the moment Elric gave the order.
The Four Heroes of the Church, waiting to unleash divine judgment on a settlement that had dared to ally with demons.
And at Third Line, six hundred forty-three exhausted defenders prepared for the battle that would determine their survival or annihilation.
Lyra stood on Third Line’s central tower, her golden eyes scanning the human army assembled four hundred yards away.
Even from this distance, she could see the disciplined formations, the glint of sunlight on armor and weapons, the siege equipment positioned for maximum effect.
And on that commandeered building, elevated above the army—Elric and the Four Heroes.
"Seraphina," Lyra broadcast through the telepathic network. "What can you sense from the human positions?"
Seraphina materialized beside Lyra, her otherworldly senses reaching across the battlefield.
"Commander Elric is on the elevated position with his senior commanders and all four heroes. The entire army is assembled—I count approximately twenty-three hundred soldiers in attack formations. But there’s something else..." She paused, her demon lord senses detecting magical preparations. "There’s a group of casters forming a ritual circle. Approximately fifty of them. The magical signature is... holy magic. Purification school."
Lyra’s strategic mind immediately understood the implications.
"They’re going to cleanse yesterday’s contaminated ground before attacking."
"Yes. And if they succeed, that prevents us from using contamination magic again. Smart tactical counter to yesterday’s ambush."
"How long does purification magic take to sanctify a battlefield this size?"
"Twenty to thirty minutes if they’re coordinating properly. The ritual requires sustained casting, which leaves the casters vulnerable."
Lyra’s mind raced through tactical options.
"If their holy mages are vulnerable during casting, we can disrupt the ritual. Long-range attacks—arrows, spells, anything to break their concentration."
"They’ll have anticipated that. Expect heavy protection for the casters."
"Then we make them pay for that protection." Lyra turned to the assembled commanders around her. "All sector commanders, prepare long-range attack forces. Archers, mages, anyone with striking capability beyond two hundred yards. Target the holy mages conducting purification ritual."
"Lyra, if we commit to disrupting their purification, they’ll counter-attack the same positions. It becomes a battle of attrition—our archers against their protection forces." Seraphina’s tactical experience showed. "Are you sure you want to spend resources on this?"
Lyra considered carefully.
"If they successfully purify the battlefield, we lose the option of using contamination magic again and also lose our defense region which the human knights are afraid to pass through , in fear of being corrupted and end up dying in the process, Losing that capability hurts our defensive options significantly."
"But disrupting their purification costs arrows we can’t replace and potentially exposes our archer positions to counter-fire."
"I know. But..." Lyra studied the battlefield, "...if we can force Elric to commit heavy forces just to protect his mages during purification, that tells us about his tactical priorities. It also buys us intelligence on their protection capabilities and response patterns."
She made her decision.
"We disrupt the purification. Force them to defend their mages. Learn how they respond to long-range harassment. Even if they eventually succeed in purifying the ground, we’ll have spent their time and resources while gathering tactical intelligence."
"Understood. I’ll coordinate with sector commanders."
Within minutes, Lyra had organized her long-range attack forces.
Kelvin commanded thirty goblin archers on the central wall—the best shots remaining after three days of battle.
Commander Vex’ahlia positioned fifteen demon warriors with thrown weapons—javelins and throwing axes that could strike at extended range.
Skar contributed twelve serpentfolk archers known for accuracy and patience.
And Seraphina herself prepared to coordinate five corruption mages capable of launching curse bolts at distance.
Sixty-two long-range attackers total. Not overwhelming firepower, but enough to threaten vulnerable targets.
"Wait for my signal," Lyra commanded. "Let them begin their ritual. Once they’re committed to casting and can’t easily stop, we strike. Target the holy mages specifically. Every hit that disrupts a caster weakens the overall ritual."
"Understood," multiple voices confirmed.
Lyra watched the human forces below.
The fifty holy mages had formed a perfect circle, hands raised, beginning their chanted prayers. Holy light began manifesting—soft golden glow that would intensify as the ritual built power.
"Now we see what else in plan that Elric has in mind " Lyra muttered.
The fifty holy mages chanted in unison, their voices creating a harmonious resonance that seemed to make the very air vibrate with divine energy.
Father Aldric—the same priest who’d provided healing yesterday—led the ritual. At fifty-six years old, he was the most experienced purification specialist in the Church’s military.
"Sacred Light, hear our prayer," he intoned, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Cleanse this corrupted ground. Sanctify this defiled earth. Let holy power burn away demonic taint and restore divine order."
The other forty-nine mages echoed his words, their combined magic creating a field of golden light that began spreading outward from their position.
Where the light touched, the purple residue from yesterday’s contamination spell evaporated like morning dew under sunlight. The sickly magical energy dissipated. The ground itself seemed to exhale, releasing trapped corruption.
It was working. Slowly, methodically, the purification ritual was cleansing the battlefield.
Elric watched from his elevated position, noting the ritual’s progress with satisfaction.
"How long until full purification?" he asked Father Aldric through a messenger.
The response came back: "Twenty-five minutes for complete battlefield cleansing. Fifteen minutes for sufficient purification to allow safe troop advance."
"Acceptable. Maintain the ritual. All forces, protect the holy mages during casting."
Heavy infantry formed protective rings around the mages—two hundred soldiers with tower shields creating a defensive perimeter. Archers positioned behind the shields, ready to counter any long-range attacks.