Chapter 189: East Gate Battle II

A few minutes earlier...

Eldrin and the others at the top of the battlement saw Larkson raise his hand.

The old man immediately ordered, "Keep an eye out for the commander’s signal! Let loose as soon as his hand drops!!"

"Understood, Elder!"

Meanwhile, Pandora listened quietly beside him, her eyes devoid of depression as she stared at the demonic worshippers.

She could not help but think of when Regis told them his story about his life as a demonic human.

’So he was like that too in the past, huh? Attacking villages and killing the innocent...’

Of course, Pandora knew the difference between him and these demonic worshippers.

Regis was forced into it while there was a high chance that they voluntarily became one.

And even if they were forced as well, they had long been corrupted by the properties of demonic power.

’Still... he must’ve been in pain back then...’

Although it was a time before she met him, Pandora could not help but be sad about what he had experienced back then.

It was unreasonable.

She understood, but her heart still ached for him.

As Pandora was immersed in her thoughts, her grip on her staff tightened unconsciously.

"What’s wrong, Little One?"

Eldrin’s voice sounded beside her upon noticing her actions.

Pandora shook her head without a word.

The old man stared back at the approaching demonic army and spoke, "Is this your first time experiencing a war? Are you nervous, perhaps?"

"Not really..." Her soft voice sounded almost like a whisper.

"Oh?" Eldrin raised his eyebrows, glancing at her, and found no signs that she was lying.

"Then what are you feeling right now? Anger?"

He was met with a nod.

"Can I ask why you’re angry?"

It took a few seconds before Pandora replied, "Nothing. It’s just that someone important to me has been hurt by demonic humans before."

Her words caused Eldrin to rub his beard.

Just as he was about to ask further, Larkson gave the signal that prompted the long-range assault to start.

Whoosh— Whoosh— Whoosh— Whoosh—

Woong— Woong— Woong— Woong—

Sounds of arrows flying and archers getting bows from their quivers.

Sounds of mages’ chants and magic spells being cast.

A normal human would have long gone deaf from the sheer noise caused by the fortress forces.

Just like the others, Pandora cast a myriad of different magic spells.

On the other hand, Eldrin took this opportunity to observe the others.

"Hmmm, it seems like no one’s been slacking at all. I’ve been inactive for years, yet it’s still amazing that the current mages of the fortress reached this level already."

"There’s little fluctuation in their mana, and they’re not utilizing their magic fields efficiently, but it’s not bad..."

His eyes then wandered over the archers, "They aren’t bad as well... their forms are steady and they’re not wasting stamina in useless movements."

Although a mage, Eldrin’s years of experience gave him a discerning eye.

After all, he had spent almost half of his life in this fortress.

Thus, he knew everyone here like the back of his hand.

’I still wonder why the commander suddenly changed his plans...’

Thinking back to when Larkson told him his plan of destroying the fortress, a frown appeared on his face.

’I was okay with dying with the fortress, but against this is fine too.’

In fact, it was not only he who knew the commander’s plans, as the others were aware as well.

The original plan was for the people who wished to leave to be escorted towards the neighboring cities before the end of this week, then destroying the fortress with an explosion.

They had planned to control the explosion in a way that it would make a chasm which would make it drastically difficult for monsters and beasts wandering out of the fortress to wreak havoc in the human territory.

"Well... I guess this kind of last stand suits me too..."

Eldrin muttered under his breath as his gaze landed on Pandora.

His eyes widened as he sensed the fluctuation of mana surrounding her.

’Oho? Will you look at this...’

His mind was filled with thoughts as he caressed his beard, "Interesting. To think that a young girl like her can utilize almost the entirety of her magic field..."

A magic field was a zone around the mage within which they could manipulate ambient mana.

As one strengthened and increased their mana stars, their magic field would increase as well.

However, the ability to utilize one’s magic field efficiently relied on one’s mental power and precise control of mana.

"Most human mages can only access 50-70% of their magic field... Those who can use 80% and above are called geniuses. While those that can use around 90%... are monsters with talent that can contend with the elves and other races that specialize in mana..."

However, upon closer observation, Eldrin frowned, "Wait..."

"Little One, I have something to ask."

Pandora replied as she focused on casting magic spells, "What is it?"

"How did you learn magic?"

His question caught her off guard, breaking her concentration and disrupting the spells she was casting.

"Why do you ask that?" Pandora looked at him with a wary expression.

Eldrin raised his hand and shook his head, "I don’t mean any harm. It’s just that the way you handle mana every time you cast a different magic spell is... how should I say this? Inconsistent?"

"What do you mean? Can you get straight to the point?"

"It’s like different people are casting magic spells in one body." The old man’s expression turned serious.

Seeing her unable to reply, he asked, "Do you perhaps hear voices in your head? Or do you experience like you’re not yourself? There are many mental illnesses associated in dealing with magic, so..."

"What..." Pandora became speechless.

Unable to bear the unrelenting questions of the old man, she decided to tell him a gist about her gift’s ability.

’It’s not like he means any harm... he’s just worried and I don’t want to hear any more of his questions.’

Was her thought as she told him how her gift was to copy others’ magic spells.

Hearing her words, a relieved expression appeared on Eldrin’s face, "Thank goodness. I’m initially worried that my soon-to-be apprentice turns out to be a crazy person..."

"What do you mean by that? And I told you already, I’m not interested..."

Before she could finish, the old man smiled, "I can tell when someone has a strong passion for magic. At least let me have the chance to teach you something..."

"In fact, let me teach you something right now."

Eldrin then raised his staff, not giving Pandora the time to reply.

"If you can copy someone’s magic perfectly, then you should be able to copy mine, right?"

"I’ll show you something, and tell me what you see."

"Alright." Pandora replied, interested in what the only Master Magician of Bakurad would show her.

Eldrin did not waste any more time as he chanted.

[Master Rank MAgic: Tempestum Fulminare]

***

BOOM—!!!!

A huge pillar of lightning descended on top of the demonic worshippers’ army.

Its size could only be described a gigantic with its circumference reaching more than three hundred meters.

The demonic worshippers had fear written all over their faces.

But at this time, a voice sounded from inside the carriage.

"Keep advancing. The puny magic of those humans can do nothing to us."

The voice had a commanding intonation as it was filled with an aura of authority.

As the mysterious voice spoke, a pure black hexagonal shield that was around half a kilometer wide manifested, directly blocking the pillar of lightning.

Seeing this, the morale of the demonic worshippers increased.

"RAHHHH!!!"

"Kill those puny humans!!"

"Destroy the fortress!!!"

Their shout was so loud, it echoed all the way to the fortress walls.

At that moment, Larkson’s voice rang out from beneath the battlements.

"Don’t be intimidated! They’re nothing but barking pests who only know how to shout!"

"Let’s show them the might of Bakurad Fortress!"

Following his cry, the soldiers of the fortress roared in unison.

"The commander’s right!!"

"Let’s crush those demonic bastards!!!"

"Protect the fortress!!!!"

Steel flashed along the walls as the fortress forces raised their weapons, ready to meet the incoming demonic army.

Meanwhile, the archers and mages on top of the battlements continued their attacks.

However, Eldrin had a serious expression as he glared at the carriage at the end of the marching demonic army.

Beside him, Pandora said, "That magic spell was beautiful."

"Ehem... will it hurt you to sound a little more amazed?"

"Yes."

Her nonchalant reply made the old man speechless.

"Though that magic really was beautiful..."

"Heh..." Eldrin rubbed his nose, "At least you’re not blind. So? What can you say about it? Are you interested in becoming my disco—"

"...only that it’s been blocked so easily by the demonic army."

"Ehem—"

The old man could not help but cough with an embarrassed expression.

"It was blocked, but not easily, okay!?"

Pandora then raised her staff and cast magic spells once again, "Why don’t you help with the battle instead of arguing with a kid?"

"You don’t need to tell me, I-I was about to do that anyway..."

"About what you said earlier, can you teach me how to perfect my magic spells after this?"

"Of course! Who do you think I am? Such a thing is..."

"Wait, you just agreed to be my apprentice, right!?"

"I’ll think about it if you can help me perfect my magic..."