617 Against the Black Duendes, The Fall of The Spire Tree Castle (1/2)

Chaos suddenly enveloped the Kingdom of Black Duendes.

A flying sword spread black flames that scattered almost everywhere. These flames that could not be extinguished by normal means continued to spread out to anything it touched, flammable or not. It was as if it had a mind of its own as it sought places where most of the Demons and Duendes concentrated.

The slaves that survived the flames escaped from their cages and restraints. Some of them fled, while some aimed for revenge. With their stolen weapons, they charged towards the Demons and Duendes that was already injured by the black flames. Even so, the Demons and Duendes still had the advantage. Many of the slaves died fighting. However, it did not dissipate their thirst for revenge for their lives that were ruined by these accursed creatures.

And the main reason for all of this chaos, Mark, was facing the barrage of magical attacks aimed at him without fear.

The army of Black Duendes stationed at the castle was now in formation. The sudden intrusion might have caught them off guard. The battle between Mark and the Demons, however, gave them enough time to prepare for the defensive.

And Luserio's meteoric crash towards the castle prompted everyone to activate all the castle's defenses.

The tree that spiraled across the castle started to emit an eerie glow as a magical barrier covered its entirety. It seemed to be a one-sided barrier that prevented anything from entering but not from going out since the Duendes were firing magic from inside without being hindered.

Flying at breakneck speed, Mark opposed the magical attacks coming at him.

[Fire Balls], [Lightning Arrows], and even [Wind Blades]. It was not surprising that the Duendes were able to unleash different kinds of elemental attacks.

However, with a wave of Mark's hands, he released a shield of Miasma, dissipating the attacks that were entirely made of magical energy.

Still, there were some attacks that Mark had to evade. It was the [Rock Bullets] and [Ice Spikes] that had substance than being purely made of magic.

A fire would not burn without fuel, electricity would scatter without a steady source and a conductor, and the wind would not take shape without a container. The moment that Mark absorbed the magical energy that formed these attacks, the attack itself would dissipate.

Stone and ice, however, could hold shape after it was formed. It was a solid substance capable of maintaining it. Magic was only involved in conjuring the projectiles and launching it. After the bullets and spikes were shot, it would not stop even if the magic was gone unless it was destroyed or lost its momentum.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

”This is pretty hard to control.”

Mark murmured. Even he was quite surprised as to how each flap of his wings would throw him in a different place midflight. Nevertheless, Mark was starting to get the hang of it.

In every flap of his wings, his control became better and better. It was until to the point that his movements became controlled in a matter of seconds.

Mark waved through and avoided the magical attacks and almost managed to reach the barrier around the castle.

It was when a wave of ferocious energy surged towards him.

And at this time, Mark noticed the surroundings darken.

”That guy won't just give up.”

Mark grumbled. It was one of Luserio's illusions.

At this time, Mark could not help but change the direction of his flight. It was because all of a sudden, the incoming attacks suddenly multiplied not just twice or trice, but maybe, even five times the initial number.

However, illusion or not, Mark could not tell. Even for him, trying to figure out which were real or not among the thousands of magical attacks coming to him was impossible.

But then, Mark stopped in place. All of a sudden, he was surrounded by magical attacks from all directions. Front, back, above, and below, Mark faced an enclosed wall of a magical barrage. Mark could not see anything else but the attacks that were about to hit him. Furthermore, his sense of direction was obscured once more. In the middle of the illusion, he lost his way once more.

What an annoying ability.

***

In the castle, everyone watched Mark as he was about to get engulfed by the thousands of magical attacks. Even so, they did not stop.

The soldiers continued to fire their magic, making sure that the enemy would have nothing, not even ashes, left.

Luserio, who was now out of the rubble, smiled sinisterly. Without a doubt, there some of his illusions that could not affect Mark. However, it did not mean that everything he had would not work. And furthermore, the illusion he used just now was not a simple one.

It was an illusion that would multiply the magical attacks, and despite being illusions, it would deliver the same effect as the original.

This meant that all of the magical attacks the enemy was facing were just as real as they could be. And once Mark was engulfed by it, it would be his death.

”DIE!”

Luserio roared, releasing anger.

But then...

SPURT!

”What?!!!”

Luserio coughed out blood as he fell on his knees. Not only him but every soldier around him were in the same condition.

The worst thing to happen was that Luserio's sudden state caused his illusion to dissipate before it could even hit the enemy.

It was when they noticed Mark, looking at them from above, with his eyes glowing red and releasing sparks of electricity.

Without any magical attack to hinder him, Mark flew towards the barrier.

CRASH!

The barrier crumbled to nothingness with a fist from Mark that was covered in Miasma.

And there, he landed in the middle of the soldiers that were all unable to stand up. All of them had their eyes, nose, and ears were profusely bleeding as they clutched their heads in unbearable pain. Some even died in the spot, turning to dust as they could not withstand the suffering they were currently feeling.

Of course, they would not be able to. What these people were feeling right now was the pent up suffering from the slaves that Mark had been absorbing since he entered this place.

”GACKH!” Luserio coughed out a mouthful of blood while Mark approached him. ”Wha-what did you do?!!!”

It was unexpected for everyone.

Mark was about to die just now, but the battle suddenly reversed in an instant.

”Protect his majesty!”

Shouts suddenly came from the castle as more people came out to protect their King. It was a group of ten heavily armed Duendes.

Mark could not help but turn his head towards the leader of the new group. Unexpectedly, it was definitely one of the Princes as he had a similar mental fluctuation to Luserio.

”Well, I guess it doesn't really matter.”

Mark shrugged as his figure flashes towards the Prince and his group.