Of course, there were ways to circumvent this. For example, changing the air in the lungs to water or melting the armor off with a fire spell… By indirectly attacking the enemy, it was possible to avoid the barrier of interference and Will. However, this was easier said than done because Arcania and any phenomenon altering needed to overcome the existing world's interference force through Will. This meant that Will had a finite range and speed, necessary to travel through the world. It could not instantly influence something from far away. It became projectile-like. This was why Ten Dawn Iris and Krogan needed to approach the Yunyun Stronghold to use their large-scale tactical spell, Diffusion Void. They could not project their Will far enough. This range and speed naturally increased with Core Level. Protector Avin could summon the World Energy from across the capital city due to this. Currently, Elizabeth and Freon, as Half-Condensed Drop Arcanists, had limited range in their spell's influence… To put it simply, they needed to be very close to their enemies to cast their spells, but their enemies would clearly notice and retaliate. They would be killed before they knew it. Therefore, it was not possible.
Double-casting was already mentally exhausting since they had to focus on two spells at once. In addition to that, they had to cast it on four people each, or eight times in total. If these spells were simpler, or less taxing, then it might have been okay, except they were not. They were quite heavy! Elizabeth and Freon found their mental strength depleting rapidly. Compared to their large-scale destruction spells like Eclipsing Theatre or Infernal Dragon that could defeat hundreds of people at once, this seemed like a losing battle. It could not reverse the odds. Likewise, Sir Winstin and the other Royal Guards had similar thoughts. The spells could enhance their combat potential, but not their stamina. This would eventually boil down to a battle of attrition and against this many opponents, the result was obvious. They would lose! Sir Winstin gestured to his peers. They would focus all their strength to defeat the Imperial Sentinels as quickly as possible! Sir Winstin and the others charged out at blinding speeds.
Elizabeth glanced at Ten Dawn Iris, who was supposed to be helping the other Ten Dawns recover. Unfortunately, it became clear that they were too wounded and too disorientated to understand what was happening, much less cast a recovery spell on themselves. Their backlashes were severe. Normally, Freon would cast Verdant Apathy on them to help them regain their clarity, except he was currently casting it on Sir Winstin and the Royal Guards. To change targets, he would need to stop casting and recast it on everyone. This was a dangerous option. Although his casting speed had improved, there was still a slight delay between recasting. That delay where the effects of Verdant Apathy disappeared could throw the Royal Guards off, leaving them vulnerable to a counterattack. This was especially the case in a battle between Perception Realms where the smallest mistake could be fatal. He could not risk it. He found himself stuck in an awkward position.
"Freon, use your partial Bloodline Ability on Three-Pointed Barrier and recast Verdant Apathy. Ten Dawn Iris and I will cover you!" Elizabeth shouted.
Her plan was simple: by using his partial Bloodline Ability on the barrier spell, he would dramatically strengthen the defenses around the Royal Guards. This would grant him the leeway to recast Verdant Apathy without consequence. That said, the problem was that this would require even more concentration and energy on his part. Setting aside whether he could succeed or not, any interruption would lead to a heavy backlash. It was extremely risky to him. He would be directly placing his life in Elizabeth's hands. A normal person would waver and hesitate when faced with such a hard decision. After all, this was a matter of life and death they were talking about. However, after fighting together for so long, he had absolute trust in her. Since she said she would cover him, then she would. It was that simple!
Thinking this way, he readily agreed, "I'll leave it to you then!"
Elizabeth then fearlessly stepped in front of Freon to guard him, despite being everyone's target. Although she wore some armor, this was a battlefield where any stray flying strike could bisect a person. It was basically equivalent to no armor at all. And yet, she did not hesitate to step up here. It could be seen how courageous she was. Freon was like family to her. She would not let anything happen to him, Benedict, or Shirley! That was her promise! As courageous as she was though, standing there with her rapier, her close combat ability was near zero, and she had to focus on double-casting too. It was unreasonable to expect a strong defense from her.
Thankfully, Ten Dawn Iris could supplement with her spells. A large curtain of wind formed around everyone, separating them from the outside battle. It might not block a person from entering, but it could block arrows and the like. Flying strikes were probably out of the question though. The woman coughed up some blood between casting. Unlike Elizabeth and Freon, her injuries were still present, and this was pushing it a bit far. Regardless, this was a battle that decided their life or death. If there was any time to persevere, it would be now!
Freon took a deep breath and focused. He had to maintain his double-casting on four people at once, while activating his Bloodline Ability. This was not easy. To make an analogy, it was like trying to draw two separate paintings at once, while trying to draw a third with a paint brush from his mouth. That level of magical dexterity and concentration… It was honestly ridiculous! He was not confident in his ability to succeed. Of course, that would be the case. Barely more than a year ago, he was still a Low Gaseous Fog Arcanist, someone who would struggle with the most basic of spells. He never dreamt he could scale these heights, to stand on this battlefield as a Half-Condensed Drop Core! His aura fluctuated in response to his emotions. No! He shook his head. He could not let these thoughts distract him. Right now, everyone needed him, so he needed to live up to their expectations. Not just for them, but for his sister, and most importantly himself!
He calmed down. Three-Pointed Barrier and Verdant Apathy… These two spells, when double-casted, required his full attention. Whenever he tried to shift his energy towards his Bloodline Ability, his Magic Circles would dim. It proved to be impossible to split his focus, despite his many attempts. Furthermore, he had to be very careful to not lose focus and trigger a backlash. Another miracle where they were fully healed would not happen twice. Freon identified the problem quickly: his Magic Energy density was lacking. If his Channels and spells were likened to pipes and buckets, then he was currently using his Core's full flow to fill up the buckets. There was fundamentally not enough resource to divert elsewhere. The only way around this was to increase his energy density. In other words, he had to become a Low Condensed Drop Arcanist!
Condensed Drop Core Level. Before Protector Avin's return, this was the absolute pinnacle of Arcania in the world. Only eleven people, namely the Ten Dawns and the Conquestian, managed to achieve it! It was a level that everyone, including Freon, aspired to reach one day. No, Freon probably yearned for it more than most people. After all, he stood in his little sister's shadow: the youngest Ten Dawn in history, the once-in-a-generation prodigy, Nassandra Adnire! She managed the impossible and became a Condensed Drop Arcanist at twelve years old, thoroughly surpassing every record imaginable. She was truly 'unparalleled'. Naturally, Freon, as her older brother, was never once jealous nor resentful. He was very proud to have such an outstanding little sister. However, he had seen firsthand how she was forced to become a tool… No, a weapon for the Zino Kingdom, and it broke his heart. A child her age should be out enjoying life with friends, free of worry and concern, living innocently and naively. That was what every child deserved, to be sheltered from the harshness of the adult world. It was something that Freon should have fought harder to protect and yet… He clenched his fists tightly. What a useless older brother he was!