Chapter 612: Volume 16: Hazy Dark Fog - 5: The Skin Does Not Exist
The commander of the distant Beastman Army suddenly changed color. Mortal magic had always been the nightmare of the Beastman soldiers. With their intellect, they couldn’t fathom why the heavens had bestowed such an exotic power upon these mortals, stand-ins for the weak that should have been eliminated. Various magical spells over the centuries had caused great suffering for the Beastman Army in the wilderness and between city walls – whether it was the raging inferno, thunder striking from the sky, freezing frost or slicing wind blades. Today, they once again felt the punishment given by mortals using the force of nature.
The Storm Tornado swept past, and within a twenty-meter radius of its center, all objects were instantly uprooted and sucked into midair. Hundreds to thousands of Beastman soldiers didn’t even have the chance to react before they, along with more than a dozen battering rams and scattered bricks and tiles, were violently lifted off the ground and swirled into it. The ashy-grey tornado turned pitch black from the large amount of debris it ingested, and the swirling air currents emitted a piercing howl, as if intent on tearing apart everything it contained. The strong currents twisted and turned left and right, like the wind god himself had arrived, rushing forward for hundreds of meters without diminishing in force. Under Cawendi’s gritted persistence, the Storm Tornado swept through the gap in the Beastman Army and then moved along the city wall. Like a deformed monster eager to devour heaven and earth, any object close to it was instantly sucked into its belly, ascending with the spiraling vortex. In the dark turmoil, there was no light for the sun or the moon – the world seemed to change color.
No matter how frantically the Beastman officers blew their whistles to alert their soldiers to scatter quickly, the tornado was too fast. The Minotaur soldiers had just managed to start retreating backward when the tornado hit. Along with the mud, leaves, bricks, stones, and countless half-beast soldiers who couldn’t escape in time, they were instantly swept up, unable to break free, screaming and struggling as they flew into the air. That scene was unforgettable.
Feltermites excitedly rubbed his hands together. No wonder magicians held such a lofty status in the kingdom. Although he had participated in many counterattacks against the beastmen, never had he felt the importance of mages more acutely. With just one person’s power, the tide was turned. If only the coverage of the Storm Tornado could be wider, if only it could last a bit longer, maybe they could take the opportunity to launch a beautiful counterattack, to let the Beastmen feel the power of the Iron Cross Corps – that would have been perfect.
But seeing the pale-faced, sweat-drenched Cawendi, Feltermites knew he had been indulging in wishful thinking. The two magicians were equally ashen, swaying as if about to collapse. It was clear the three had exhausted the last of their mana, and sustaining the battle to this point was already pushing their limits.
As the Storm Tornado continued its crazed sweep at the base of the city wall, it had barely managed to charge to the front when suddenly the sky brightened as if the clouds after rain had parted. The Tornado Storm vanished in an instant. Countless Beast Warriors and battering rams, along with other objects that had been lifted hundreds of meters into the air, suddenly lost their support and crashed down. The force from such a great height claimed the lives of most Beast Warriors on impact. The Beastman commander’s cherished battering rams were destroyed beyond redemption.
The soldiers of the Iron Cross Corps had already received orders to retreat out of the storm’s range at the onset of the Tornado. Although Feltermites knew the first hurdle was finally overcome, to slow the intensity of the Beastmen’s attack, they had to seize this moment to strike back. The cavalry hidden behind the gate swarmed out and launched an assault on the disoriented Minotaur soldiers and Berserker Bear Warriors. Despite the commandingshouts of their leaders, these Beastman soldiers who had faced such supernatural forces for the first time clearly lacked the composure of battle-hardened veterans. Panic-stricken, they lost their fighting spirit, disrupting their own formations. They could face neck-high swords and spears of mortal soldiers without fear, but such overwhelming forces of nature were beyond their comprehension and left them in utter terror.
Despite the Beastman commander’s scolding shouts, the Beastman formation inexorably descended into chaos. Though they still held a numerical advantage, in such a state, no one could turn the tide. Luckily for the Beastmen, a formation of seasoned soldiers timely blocked the mortals’ surging assault, thwarting Feltermites’ hope for a decisive retreat. Fortunately, Feltermites had anticipated this and ordered the assault troops to withdraw steadily to the fortress. Once the Beastmen regrouped, it would be difficult to escape again.