Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1540: The Cerebus’s Power (Part 1)

The Cerebus Guild had never suspected a thing. Perhaps, at most, they believed the Dark Guild members were faking their capture, waiting for the right chance to strike. Even then, they felt confident that they could handle them. They had always believed themselves to be the most prepared, the most disciplined, the most powerful.

What they did not expect, however, was for the outer circle, the very line of military personnel that had been meant to keep things in order, to suddenly turn against them. The soldiers who had stood alongside them moments earlier now raised their hands, casting spells of their own.

It was the element of surprise, the oldest weapon in any battle. And whether one wielded swords, guns, or magic, the effect of surprise never changed. It was devastating.

From one side, torrents of Dark Magic surged forth, spirals of shadows twisting into deadly spheres and bolts. From the other side, countless spells poured in from the supposedly allied soldiers. Flames, shards of earth, waves of force, all of it came rushing at once, colliding together into a storm aimed squarely at the Cerebus Guild.

The ground shook under the sheer pressure of so many spells.

But then, in unison, every Cerebus mage moved.

Their enchanted blazers lit up, glowing brilliantly as they absorbed the incoming storm of power. The light from them was blinding, a radiant flare that surged outward in perfect synchronization. Then, almost as a single being, the entire guild cast their magic together.

A massive orb of light burst into existence, surrounding the whole group of Cerebus members. The shield was enormous, wide enough to swallow their formation whole. It glimmered with purity, radiating with such power that even the Dark Guild’s shadows seemed to recoil.

Mordain’s eyes widened. He knew exactly what he was seeing.

Light magic… but so much of it?

The realization hit him like a blade to the gut. Does this mean… everyone in the Cerebus Guild is a light mage? Or, at the very least, all of them have trained enough to wield light magic?

The attack from the Dark Guild faltered. Their storm of spells slammed into the radiant barrier and disappeared, scattering harmlessly like waves breaking against a cliffside. When the shield faded at last, the expressions of the Dark Guild told the story. The smug smiles that had lit their faces just moments ago had vanished.

They had expected their ambush to cripple the enemy, to overwhelm them in one fell swoop. Instead, the Cerebus Guild stood untouched. Not a scratch.

For all the mystery surrounding Dark Magic, its versatility, its strange properties, there was one truth every mage knew: Light was its natural counter. And here, in this factory, surrounded by radiant warriors, that truth could not be denied.

“Everyone here is an ally of the Dark Guild!” Lias shouted, his voice carrying like thunder across the battlefield. “Eliminate them all!”

The battle exploded into chaos.

Powerful rays of light shot out from the Cerebus mages, beams that sliced through shadows and scorched the floor. But it wasn’t only light they wielded. One mage thrust out his hand, and a stream of wind burst forward, glowing faintly with a golden aura that amplified its strength. It struck three of the military personnel who had betrayed them, lifting them off their feet and hurling them violently against the back wall.

Another mage lifted his staff, and flames spiraled high into the air before crashing downward like a meteor. The firestorm roared, threatening to engulf an entire squad of Dark Guild members.

But before it could strike, something enormous rose up from the ground. A puppet.

The towering figure of a giant puppet materialized, its body stitched from shadows and scraps of magic. It spread its massive arms wide, forming a shield over the guild members beneath it. The flames struck, but the puppet absorbed the impact, the fire vanishing into nothingness.

Dark Guild mages poured their power into it, their shadows flooding into its form, enlarging it even further. Its back expanded into a broad barrier, protecting them from all sides. When the fire dissipated, the puppet shrank swiftly, returning to a smaller form that now loomed behind Harvey like a guardian.

“It’s not just light magic,” one Dark Guild mage growled. His eyes narrowed as he studied the Cerebus formation. “Some of them… they’re using moon magic. That power, it’s amplifying the others.”

Lias stood at the center of it all, his calm demeanor unshaken despite the chaos raging around him. While his men unleashed devastation, he remained still, his golden cape glinting faintly in the flickering light.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, his voice cutting through the noise. “Did you really think, even with a trap like this, that you could best the Cerebus Guild? We hold far more power than you could ever imagine.”

Suddenly, a zap of energy cracked through the air, striking Lias across the face. The sound was sharp, almost like a slap, and though the barrier absorbed most of it, the sting was undeniable.

Lias turned, eyes narrowing. He saw who it was, Mordain.

“You…” Lias said slowly, his voice dripping with venom. “You betrayed us. A War Magus, betraying everything you stood for… betraying Alterian itself. I never thought I would live to see such a disgrace.”

Mordain’s expression hardened. His voice rose, sharp and unwavering. “We are not the traitors here. We are the ones who have fought, bled, and sacrificed for Alterian. But you… you pretend to be its protectors while you tighten your grip, acting like gods above the rest of us. No more.”

The words rang across the battlefield.

In that moment of distraction, the giant puppet surged forward again. Both of its massive hands slammed down, striking at Lias with a force that made the ground quake.

Lias’ legs buckled under the weight, his body straining as he summoned light magic to hold the puppet at bay. His power glowed bright, pushing back against the crushing darkness.

Mordain moved swiftly, lightning sparking across his hands. In one hand, he formed a bow of pure lightning, crackling and sparking with energy. In the other, an arrow took shape, sharp and gleaming, forged entirely from the same blinding current.

“There’s a reason I hold the title of War Magus,” Mordain declared. His voice carried like a war cry. “And these Dark Guild members, they are not as weak as you think they are!”

He released.

The lightning arrow shot forth, and as it moved, the bow seemed to move with it, amplifying its power. The two merged, the arrow swelling into a massive bolt of destructive energy. It struck Lias square in the chest, the force of it tearing through his enchanted clothing, breaking his defenses, and hurling him into the ground with a thunderous crash.

The factory floor trembled from the impact. Dust and debris filled the air.

“Everyone, kill them all!” Harvey roared.

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