The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Komer watched the scene in front of him with satisfaction, as rolling black clouds shrouded the city walls of Takros Castle. The churning clouds, like an invisible hand of magic, constantly changed shape, now condensing, now scattering. Under Sheferley’s strenuous manipulation, the clouds never receded, and they even continued to spread toward the surrounding areas not yet engulfed, thanks to the magic power support from Clarence and several other mages. Without mage support, the Homer Army had fallen completely into chaos. The ghost-like black fog was inescapable, tenaciously clinging to every soldier on the battlements, making it impossible for them to see the attacks coming from beneath the city walls, while blood and screams only further agitated the already bloodthirsty Homer soldiers, making it difficult for them to restrain themselves.

The sound of panic from within the dark clouds, mixed with the chaotic clashing of weapons, sounded even more eerie, making Komer’s heart skip a beat as well. He hadn’t expected Sheferley to have such a profound mastery of air magic. If that man had used this technique against his own Caucasus Army, although he could have dispelled it quickly with light magic, the brief chaos it caused would have given the Homer Army a perfect opportunity to deal a heavy blow to the Caucasus forces.

By now, the Barbarian Infantry Formation had long been arrayed beneath the city walls, waiting for orders. Meanwhile, the Half-Elves had entered a high-frequency firing phase. Facing the dense Homer soldiers, they didn’t need much skill in archery; they just needed to aim roughly and continually shoot at the battlements still shrouded in black fog to achieve the desired results.

After over a dozen volleys of crossbow fire, almost the entire Homer garrison on the front battlements of Takros Fortress was decimated. Though the density of the black fog had lessened, its spread had become wider. Homer soldiers, panic-stricken, completely lost their fighting spirit against this asymmetric battle. It was only when Barbarian Warriors swarmed up and howled as they leaped onto the city wall merlons that they realized they were facing not just the ghostly fog and the Half-Elf Crossbowmen whose arrows found every gap, but these ferocious figures in front of them with blood-red eyes on the battlements were their most fearsome enemies.

The Barbarian Warriors climbing up proved their undisputed resilience with their fearless bravery. As the fog began to thin out, the Homer soldiers who continued to pour in from inside the castle still held numerical superiority. Despite their massively weakened morale and will, they could still keep killing the uncoordinated, solo-fighting Barbarian Warriors by relying on the fortifications and combined tactics on the battlements.

Blood flowed atop the battlements, and severed heads rolled about, indistinguishable as to whom they belonged. Both sides, trapped and having nowhere to retreat, had lost all thought. Barbarians needed this battle to prove their worth of existence in the Caucasus to other races. The Homer soldiers, on the other hand, understood that once Takros Fortress was lost, the entire Busen Plain, including Odessa, could no longer stop these savage Barbarians, and even Cyprus would lie prostrate at the feet of these barbaric tribes composed of various lower races.

When Sheferley’s Dark Night Mist finally dispersed from the battlements of Takros Fortress, Mihailovich knew it was time for his entrance. As a brand-new Magic Metal-made Magic Puppet charged into the ranks of Homer soldiers, who were still resisting fiercely, an unprecedented war began.

No matter from which angle, the front-running Metal Magic Doll lacked any human traits. Its serrated upper limbs resembled two exceedingly sharp scythes, and the oval head was topped with sharp iron caltrops, clearly indicating that the head itself could serve as a lethal weapon. Its feet were made up of triangular thorny rods, darkly colored and densely studded with spikes, obviously not for decoration.

As Mihailovich’s catalyzing magic and magic spells activated the Metal Magic Doll, it executed a bizarre gliding motion and plunged into the Homer ranks, which had formed a solid defense with round shields and blades. As the Homer soldiers’ agonizing screams echoed atop the walls, the Metal Magic Doll had already completed its first wave of attacks. Its scythe-like upper limbs retracted from the unprepared chests and abdomens of two Homer soldiers, while its spiked feet had sprung into the air, tearing through the cheeks of two other soldiers. Blood gushed out, mixed with white brain matter. Like a demon possessed, a ripple spread across the impassive face of the Metal Magic Doll, as if savoring the taste of victory.