"That's enough for now. This time I'm only lightly injured, no need to worry!"
In under two seconds, Alfreed who had just been knocked away quickly stood back up, far swifter than the several minutes it took him to recover previously. Waving off Eleanora's further healing, he quickly checked himself over before re-engaging Mirium.
The same happened to Mike - with his superior physical prowess, being knocked back barely slowed him. He instantly bounced up from the ground to re-join the fray, though they were both swiftly battered away again...
This repeated several times. At a glance it seemed Mirium still had the upper hand, but after numerous exchanges even her dense nature noticed something amiss.
"What trickery have you cast upon yourselves?"
Clearly, her vaunted monstrous strength had been severely diminished, her blows reduced to an ordinary level devoid of lethality.
Meanwhile, we not only had Alfreed and Mike sustaining close-quarters assaults, but Brennan's spellcraft alongside my own ranged attacks alongside Cyra and Eleanora's constant barrage. Soon Mirium found herself thoroughly besieged.
"Even if an ant's bite inflicts minuscule damage, even if a dragon's defenses are maximized, enough accumulation eventually proves fatal. So...is that a modified Light Shield?"
Even Cyra deduced our tactic, being familiar with that spell herself. She promptly attempted to cast it on herself, only to instantly deplete her light element reserves as "Cysper" before collapsing, unable to rise for a while.
"Are you daft? Altering spells is far from easy!" I chided her impatiently. The inspiration actually came from Reed's Gas Collectors.
The humble Light Shield may seem like a basic angelic spell, but this modified version drastically increased its mana cost. An angel could handle it, but the pope lacking wings could never sustain such elemental expenditure - no wonder she fainted!
However, this "Light Shield" variation differed from conventional solid light barriers. This "shield" was more akin to a viscous gaseous shroud.
Though its defensive potency diminished, it gained an expanded area of effect and superior endurance. The light elemental aura could omnidirectionally enshroud one's entire body like a localized force-field.
Against ordinary foes, such a buff would render one nigh-invulnerable. But Mirium's unnatural might could still inflict some damage. Fortunately, we had Eleanora's unmatched healing prowess! Whenever we got knocked away, she could rapidly revive us within seconds to rejoin the fight.
"Sustainable warfare is key! It's like an army of immortal high-tier undead - we're basically unkillable with infinite healing!"
I boasted proudly, but circumstances immediately took a dark turn.
The dragon race's fearsome reputation was well-earned! Seeing her attacks had no effect, Mirium abandoned fending off the harrassing Mike and Alfreed to charge straight at us.
"Quickly Eleanora, run!"
Her intent was glaringly obvious. I desperately warned her, but unlike remaining sedentary beside Adrian earlier, Mirium now had no restraints in resolving us with lethal force.
Despite me, Cyra and Brennan intercepting her deadly advance, Mirium's overwhelming power breached our defenses. She snatched Eleanora up by the throat with one hand.
"Your infantile tactics are pitiful. Did you think I couldn't discern how to nullify them?"
Ignoring Eleanora's frantic struggling, Mirium mercilessly twisted her neck with an audible crack, coldly dropping the lifeless body without a shred of hesitation.
"Eleanora!!"
Alfreed and Brennan went berserk, recklessly charging Mirium yet unable to approach. With just her wings, she easily repelled them before contemptuously discarding Eleanora's corpse.
"She's beyond saving now. Let's see how you cope next?"
This was clearly a retort to my earlier boast. I never imagined she could break through our defenses so swiftly - I had severely underestimated the dragonkin's might!
"We can still manage without Eleanora!"
I spat bitterly, feeling unexpectedly sorrowful. I had somewhat respected Mirium for previously sparing me, but now revealed her vicious ruthlessness.
On the opposite side, a distraught Alfreed furiously assaulted Mirium after losing their healer support. But within a few exchanges he was too gravely wounded to continue, leaving only Mike able to persist marginally longer, though not for long either.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're from the Star Glory knight order, aren't you? Clearly far more seasoned! But speaking of which, your pope has been sprawled there a while - not concerned at all?"
Having shed most pressure, Mirium seemed rather amused taunting him, in no hurry to finish the rest of us.
As for the possessed pope she mentioned...
That idiot was still lying motionless, completely useless! At least it solved my worry over Mirium dealing with her for now.
Seizing this interim opportunity, I rushed over to Eleanora's side where Brennan had already fruitlessly attempted revival.
"Let me try!"
Thankfully I had learned some healing magic. First a basic water restoration spell - but against her shattered cervical vertebrae, it proved utterly insufficient. With no choice, I transformed into my blue-winged angelic form.
Originally I intended saving this trump card against the enigmatic foe Fernando. But saving Eleanora took priority now.
"Huh?"
Mirium seemed mildly surprised witnessing my transformation. Momentarily distracted, Mike seized the opportunity to land a powerful blow square on her face, nearly knocking her down.
Fernando also reacted similarly, his focus previously drifting between the throne and overhead skies. Now, like the others, his full attention centered solely upon me.
How did advanced water healing magic operate again?
I had no leisure to ponder their responses, but fortunately Eleanora's countless prior healing spells provided ample perfect references to guide me.