128 A careful approach (2/2)
The deadly projectiles that were patiently waiting in the complex mechanism were ready in a matter of seconds, but it was the mind of those that will unleash them that was worrisome. The already dead zone where no living being was present was slightly enlarged, with the magicians retreating to a safer distance. A wall of soldiers advanced in front of the balistas, letting only the tip of it visible from afar. Fluctuations of mana could be felt all around, as everyone was getting ready.
”Wait a bit, you, yes you, you fire first.” Sarah approached the closest soldier and only ordered him to fire. Shaking his head left and right while approaching his hand to the lever actioning the siege weapon, he hesitated a bit. But sensing everyone looking at him, he rashly put his hand on it and pulled right away.
By a stroke of luck or not, the beautiful arc in the empty land ended up right in the middle of one eye of the right statue. Because it was only stone in the end, albeit a cursed one that would frighten even the bravest warrior, it goes without saying that it had a massive impact. But, contrarily to what some could have expected, seeing the huge chunks of rock falling while leaving a deformed head brought no joy to those seeing it.
They waited like that for a long time. One second, then another one, all looking at the statue far away. But when half of a minute passed without anything happening, Sarah pointed at another ballista. ”You, go ahead! Aim at the same spot!” Still breathing heavily, the three soldiers around the destructive weapons began to turn it slightly, to aim correctly. A few seconds later, metal cut the left arm of the stone creature.
”You, again!” ”Again!” ”Again!” Slowly but surely, the once gigantic body was destroyed, leaving only one leg and the chest standing. The mighty axe had fallen to the ground, in a resonating ruckus that made some of the cowards jump in fright. But while some had a hard time distinguishing something from the distance, it was not the problem of the magus.
They could not say it loudly or even describe it, but they felt something unreal about it. Like, something was slightly disturbing the space surrounding the stone monument. ”Again!” As she ordered another time to fire, what they were waiting for finally appeared. And it was exactly what she could have read from the reports. The giant demon slowly condensed its body inside what should have been the statue. They could see it appearing from one point, the one that was pierced by the last projectile.
Without a word, the ghost began to walk toward them, fully armored and armed. It was not the first time the humans had met a creature like that, but it was not to reassure them. From the South, beyond the fallen Kingdom of Pankow and even inside the former human kingdom, high ranked monsters in the form of a ghost could be spotted. Capable of inflicting terrifying injuries and killing people just by passing through their bodies. And at the same time, immaterial, without shape and without a way to touch them.
”[Burning Hand]” But even something dead can be killed again. The mana that was present everywhere and in nearly everything was a wonderful thing. If swords were not capable of harming something, magic was always the solution. Joining hands with the gorgeous magus, the designated magicians began to cast spells. The soldiers surrounding them had a hard time resisting the intense power that was rampaging when they were not even the target.
Like a dream, when the calm reigned once more, the ghost had disappeared. Not relaxing at all, whether they were from Synnada, Massalia or somewhere else, they all looked around, feeling with their affinity with the mana. But in the end, they could only agree on one thing. That the creature had disappeared. ”Did we really destroyed it?” !!! was not convinced by his own words. But the reality still proved him that he was right.
Still a bit unconvinced, the entire process was repeated in the annihilation of the second statue. Sarah made sure that it was done slowly, to gather as much information as possible. And when the place where the heart should have been if it was a human was hit once more, the ghost appeared. Followed by its quick demise at the hands of many mages. After a few minutes where they couldn't help but search everywhere, they had to acknowledge the truth.
”Did you got everything?” The beautiful head of the Academy of Magic of Massalia approached three silhouettes in black that were murmuring and writing. Above them, a small wood tower had been built, where they saw everything thanks to the binoculars. Hiding his small notebook inside his coat, the smallest of the three nodded.
”Yesss, but on-one last thing. Can you tell usss how you fe-feel, scle-scle?” The vicious voice of a ratman did not even bother Sarah at this point. If at first, many frowned when seeing the observers from the Organization, no one could deny they were the best at what they were doing. Pondering a bit, she could only feel inside her disbelief. ”It was easy. Too easy. I don't know why, but I feel those we killed were just a test. To see if someone was worthy of heading deeper inside the tomb. No one could convince me that they didn't put the weakest ghosts to guard the entrance.”
”Th-thank you. We alssso share the same thought.” Bowing one last time, the talking ratman grabbed the other notebooks and rushed toward the forest. Even if it was not visible from where she stood, she knew where the foul creature was heading. An improvised stable had been built hastily to provide shelter to two hippogryphs. Without them, they wouldn't be able to communicate with Ronta as easily. As for the orbs of communications, it was too risky to put in such a great danger. After all, the cost to built just one was at least a hundred years of intensive search to find the materials necessary.
Looking at the sky, she saw the majestic flying monster flying upward. The task that was given to her had been accomplished quickly, all things considered. However, as she lowered her gaze, she saw the miners looking fearfully at the gate surrounded by two stone legs. Remembering that they still had something to do, she sighed. ”Second team, pick up your tools. Lord Darkwater wants this hole opened as soon as possible.”