In parison, it was undoubtedly wiser to take the initiative while the situation was still under trol. If they could capture a few key figures, they might extract valuable information.

  "Thank you for yuidance, Lord Archbishop Anluke," Priest Aaron said, carefully p the situation and bowing respectfully.

  "Everything is guided by the Lord," Archbishop Anluke replied casually. Suddenly, as if he sensed something, without any visible movement, several radiant arrows materialized in the void, instantly pinning fray doves about to take flight to a tree.

  Three seds ter, a dazzling fireball shot out from a nearby estate, illuminating the sky.

  Archbishop Anluke lifted his head, his magically enhanced sight pierg hundreds of meters, passing through the open windows of the third floor, and he saw Lynn and the azing outward.

  Brown hair, medium build, handsome features...

  That was the wizard named Carl, the one who had killed Bine!

  "Everyone, adva full speed!" Archbishop Anluke anded without hesitation.

  Sihey had been discovered, there was o hide any lohe guards, who had been moving at a leisurely pace, immediately switched to a sprint, and the g of armor resounded as they surged towards the tral fortress from all dires.

  Seven years had passed, and the manates were violently flung open once muards armed with swords and shields formed groups of ten, surrounding the entire castle methodically.

  Aaron led several squads, heading straight for the dire where Lynn and the others had been.

  As they traversed the long and wide corridors, the guards at the forefront had just ehe main hall when they emerged one by oheir faces filled with fear.

  Unfortunately, they were too slow, and several scorg fireballs, like meteorites, rained down on the crowd.

  Soon after, a series of violent explosions occurred, and the orderly and tightly-knit formation turned into a chaotic sea of people.

  "Ahh!"

  Apanied by the pierg screams, blood spttered, bodies were flung, and the thick st of blood filled the air.

  Even though the partits in this encirclement were elite soldiers selected from the Nordnd army, each fully armed, they still instantly fell into disarray in the face of powerful magic.

  "Fall back as a formation, and archers, prepare to fire!" The only calm one otlefield was Aaron, who raised his staff high and shouted.

  "Don't panic, Eira is with us!"

  The disordered troops quickly regaiheir posure, rest order. The white glow in everyone's eyes shone brightly, and the inexplicable ce filled their minds.

  This was the magic of the first circle—Fear Removal!

  Under Aaron's and, the shield-bearing guards pced their sturdy shields in front, advang with rge steps, while the guards behind them drew their crossbows in unison.

  Le volleys had always been the best way to deal with wizard apprentices!

  The tortoise-shell-like shield formatioly reduced the effectiveness of ordinary magid magic missiles couldn't pee it. Even the powerful fireball spells couldn't produce signifit results.

  The dense rain of arrows forced the group of wizard appreo retreat, and they were forced to take cover behind walls. The slowest to react, Barton, was actally struck by a crossbow bolt in the bad tumbled to the ground in disarray.

  "Barton!" Buck urgently called his brother's name, rushing forward and struggling to help Barton up.

  Waiting for the right moment, Aaron issued orders once again, dozens of strong crossbooi the two of them. As the crossbers were pulled, a multitude of arrows poured down like a meteor shower.

  Sed-circle high-level magic—Frost Barrier.

  Jonny decisively stood in front of the two, raised his hand, and a transparent water s appeared in front of them. In an instant, it solidified into an icy crystalline wall.

  "Bang, bang, bang..."

  The dense sound of impacts echoed in succession, and icy crystal shards scattered on the ground as the tinuous rain of arrows broke through the Frost Barrier. Three arrows were aimed straight at Jonny!

  Jonny, who had just pleted an over-speed spell using Magid, didn't have time to create a sed ice wall. Behind her were Bud Barton, the two brothers...

  "No escape!"

  Jonny ched her lips, forcibly stopping her evasive movements, ahe hilt of her sword with ainty that she could intercept all the arrows ing her way.

  At that moment, three magic missiles flew in from the side, accurately shooting down the arrows.

  Jonny was momentarily stunned, uo fully grasp the joy of esg the peril. Then, she saw seven more Magic Missiles flying past her, curiously not following a straight path but taking a bizarre curved trajectory, easily bypassing the shield wall's prote, and heading directly for the guards behind holding crossbows.

  A brief moment of chaos caused the tinuous arrow rain to temporarily cease. Jonny, Buck, and Barton took the opportunity to hide behind a low wall, looking in astonishment at Lynn and Dove standing beside them, a thought fshing through their minds.

  When did Dove bee so powerful?

  But they quickly realized that it wasn't Dove who had acted because the moment, a full twelve Magic Missiles densed in the void and floated beside Lynn.

  Magic—Bullet Barrage!

  With a thought, Ly more than a dozen missiles hurtling toward the guards.

  Seeing the strange magic, Aaron immediately ahe shield-bearing guards to gather, yering their shields without leaving any gaps, f a semi-circur prote for the crossbowmen behind.

  However, what surprised everyone was that these dozen or so missiles, without any prireement, bypassed the shield wall and flew towards the rear.

  Did they miss their target?

  Aaron thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the possibility. If only one or two Magic Missiles had gone off course, that might be pusible, but if they all deviated from their path, it could only mean that their initial target was never here!

  Aaron abruptly turned around, and almost simultaneously, the twelve missiles hit the weathered pilr behind. In the billowing dust, the seveer-high pilr toppled straight down.

  "Spread out, get away from each other!" Aaron shouted hoarsely, raising his staff high and casting the only protective divine spell he possessed—Sanctified Word: Shield!

  But it was clear that it was a futile effort. The bright white shield had just formed and was instantly shattered by the massive stone pilr. Over ten shield-bearing guards and crossbowmen who hadn't had time to disperse were buried beh the fallen pilr.

  When Aaron turned around again, Lynn and the others had already vanished.

  After much hesitation and numerous g the guards trapped uhe pilr, g for help as they bled, Aaron ched his teeth and said, "Leave half the men behind to rescue them! The rest follow me!"

  Weebkun