In the northern reaches of the Fulminar Empire, a sleek, 20-meter-long flying ship skimmed through the dense foliage of the Forest of Death. Resembling a majestic air balloon, it moved with the speed of a rocket and precision of a dragonfly, effortlessly weaving through the towering trees. Despite its rapid pace, the magical beasts that inhabited the forest paid it no mind; after all, the ship was cloaked in invisibility and concealment spells.
Inside the ship's control room, Sir Cedric and Sir Archibald stood before a large screen displaying the surroundings.
"Report, Sir! We've detected ten level 2 magic beasts closing in on the target," announced a wizard, his eyes fixed on the monitoring screen.
"Hmm... Can we reach the infant before they do?" inquired Sir Archibald, his gaze focused on the unfolding situation.
"Yes, sir. We should arrive at the location in another minute," reassured the wizard.
"Hey, hey, don't go doubting the fastest magical vessel ever crafted, a result of the entire tower's collaboration," teased Sir Cedric, flashing a confident smirk.
"Just ensuring everything runs smoothly. We can't afford any slip-ups, especially not with Lady Evangeline or, worse, Sir Zack watching," replied Sir Archibald, casting a side glance at his companion.
"Tch, just trying to lighten the mood. With the esteemed ones aboard, failure isn't an option," retorted Sir Cedric with a click of his tongue.
Suddenly, a loud beeping emanated from their badges. Sir Cedric and Sir Archibald exchanged a glance before simultaneously pressing their badges. In an instant, beams of light shot from their badges, merging to form the holographic figure of Lady Evangeline, the master of the Lightning Tower.
"We've received news: the locations of the other babies have been discovered simultaneously. The magic beasts have also located them. Abandon Plan A and move to Plan B," Lady Evangeline instructed before her silhouette vanished.
Sir Archibald wasted no time, barking orders to the wizards in the control room, "Disable invisibility! Allocate all resources to speed!"
The wizards sprang into action, manipulating controls. Gradually, the ship's transparency waned, revealing its true form. As the cloak dissolved, level 2 magic beasts behind them sensed their presence and quickened their pace, but it was futile. With the invisibility gone, the ship surged forward at an unprecedented speed, leaving the beasts trailing in its wake.
Five seconds later, above Duke Moonson's grand mansion in the bustling city of Haguevin, a magical vessel materialized seemingly out of thin air. The ship's door swung open, and six wizards, including Sir Cedric and Sir Archibald, emerged. Four peak-level wizards dispersed across the estate, deploying various devices. Meanwhile, Sir Cedric hovered beneath the ship, stationed at the mansion's heart, while Sir Archibald stood sentry by his side.
Right after the ship's arrival, the mansion's guards were on high alert, quickly reporting the unexpected airship to Duke Moonson. Recognizing its origin, Duke Moonson ordered his guards to stand down, "Lower your arms! This is the airship from the Lightning Magic Tower."
After assuring the guards and instructing them to calm the servants and residents, Duke Moonson retrieved a massive axe from his study, strapping it to his back before lightning enveloped his form. In an instant, he materialized before Sir Archibald, offering a respectful salute.
"Greetings, Sir Wizard. To what pleasure do I owe the honor of your presence in my humble abode?" Duke Moonson inquired with respectful curiosity.
"Greetings, Duke Moonson. Your timing is fortuitous. Several months ago, we received news of a baby who caused a massive lightning storm at birth. We've traced the child to this location. Can you assist us in locating and bringing the baby to me? I believe you know which baby it is," Sir Archibald instructed.
Dumbfounded, Duke Moonson momentarily forgot about the wizards placing devices around the mansion. "Forgive me, Sir Wizard, but this is my domain. Even if it weren't, I can't entertain unreasonable demands within my territory," he replied, his expression growing stern.
Unbeknownst to Sir Archibald, Duke Moonson harbored another reason for his reluctance. The baby in question was his own son. Determined to groom him as a magic knight, Duke Moonson intended to leverage his son's abilities to liberate the Moonson Duchy from the Lightning Tower's influence.
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the mansion, followed by the arrival of a wizard with emerald wings crafted from swirling winds. Cradled in his arms was a bundle—a sight that caused Duke Moonson's heart to skip a beat. It was Aldric, his son, the very child the tower sought.
"THEOBALD!" Duke Moonson's voice boomed, his gaze burning with betrayal as he locked eyes with the wizard who cradled Aldric. Theobald, one of his most trusted aides, had betrayed him, and Duke Moonson's rage knew no bounds.
In an instant, Duke Moonson vanished from his spot.
BOOM!
As the swirling winds subsided, Duke Moonson observed his axe, crackling with lightning, halted by a shield of similar energy. Behind the shield, Theobald stood pale-faced, sweat dripping down his brow. He had barely reacted to Duke Moonson's strike; had Sir Archibald not intervened, Theobald might have lost his head then and there.
"I'm afraid that's not an option, Duke," Sir Archibald stated firmly.
With a snarl, Duke Moonson cloaked himself in lightning before disappearing once more.
BOOM!
He reappeared behind Sir Archibald, swinging his axe with ferocious intent. This time, the clash resulted in an even bigger thunderous explosion, the force reverberating through the air.
Peering out from behind his shield, Sir Archibald addressed Duke Moonson calmly, "You may not believe it, Duke, but we're not here to harm the baby. We're here to protect the child. Did you know that at least ten level 2 magic beasts are closing in on this location as we speak?"
Duke Moonson's resolve wavered, torn between fury and doubt at Sir Archibald's words.
"Regardless, even if you don't want to cooperate, you'll have no choice but to do so. You'll understand soon enough," Sir Archibald continued, his tone unwavering.
"You!" Duke Moonson seethed, the implications of Sir Archibald's words not lost on him. Rumors swirled about a lightning wizard who had brought down the pope and thwarted the grand paladin, yet the Lightning Tower's behavior remained unchanged, humble and not expanding its control. Could this mysterious figure truly be an ally of the tower or not?
That's why Duke Moonson chose to resist, albeit with caution. Aware that the Lightning Tower still boasted three level 2 wizards, he refrained from escalating the situation further, opting for a display of intent rather than lethal force.
Meanwhile, though Sir Archibald appeared composed outwardly, inwardly he seethed with anger. In the past, during the reign of the previous tower master, even the Emperor had shown deference to the tower's wizards. Now, a mere duke dared to challenge him. Sir Archibald took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm. 'With the esteemed ones aboard the ship, the duke wouldn't dare to act rashly. Besides, he'll relay the message to the empire: the Lightning Tower now boasted not just one, but two level 3 wizards.'
He turned to Sir Cedric, shouting, "How's the barrier, Sir Cedric?"
Instead of replying, a complex, massive formation materialized above and below Sir Cedric. The upper formation emitted a beam of light toward the magic vessel, while the lower formation dispersed rays across the ground. In an instant, a thick, blue, transparent barrier enveloped a one-kilometer radius, with Sir Cedric at its center, shielding the entire mansion complex.
Furious, Duke Moonson prepared to question Sir Archibald about the tower's intentions. But before he could utter a word, two imposing auras descended upon them. Instantly, Duke Moonson lost control of his flight and plummeted toward the ground. Boom!
On the ground, Duke Moonson strained against the overwhelming pressure, his body immobilized as if weighed down by a colossal mountain. Sensing the majestic aura, he was reminded of the feeling of insignificance in the presence of a dragon, where a mere gesture could end his existence. This was the aura of a level 3 powerhouse—a realization that drained the color from his face. 'Two level 3 powerhouses? It can't be,' he thought, his heart sinking.
Realizing his grave error, Duke Moonson summoned all his remaining strength to plead with the two silhouettes standing before the magic airship's door, the source of the formidable aura. "Please! Forgive my impudence. Take my life as compensation, spare my people," he begged, his voice strained.
As he finished speaking, the crushing aura dissipated. Seconds ticked by, each one filled with dread as Duke Moonson awaited his fate. Minutes passed with no action, leaving him confused and apprehensive. When he finally mustered the courage to glance up at the airship, the figures had vanished, leaving only Sir Cedric and Sir Archibald below.
Approaching Sir Archibald, Duke Moonson bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Sir Wizard. Do you have any instructions? If you seek my life, I offer it willingly. But please spare my people," he implored.
"Hmph. Consider yourself fortunate that our lord spared your life. Inform your people to remain indoors for a few minutes. And we'll be taking the baby," Sir Archibald replied dismissively.
As Sir Archibald's tone rang out and the realization that they intended to take his son sank in, Duke Moonson gritted his teeth so fiercely that blood stained his gums, accompanied by a chilling grinding sound. Despite the agony, he managed to force out, "As you command, Sir Wizard."
Sir Archibald, noting Duke Moonson's reluctance, sneered. "Consider yourself lucky. Today, you'll witness our esteemed ones in action."
"Sir Cedric, back to the ship. Let's prepare for departure," Sir Archibald ordered, turning to his companion after addressing Duke Moonson.
Duke Moonson remained bowed until Sir Archibald and Sir Cedric had departed, as he hadn't been granted permission to raise his head. His gaze burned with resentment, hatred, and a profound sense of powerlessness. With the Lightning Tower backed by level 3 wizards, he realized the Empire would once again become subservient to their whims. Now, he understood the Emperor's warning: "Do not mess with the Lightning Tower."
His territory lay far from the battlegrounds of the pope, the grand paladin, and the mysterious wizard. Thus, despite experiencing earthquakes and witnessing the western horizon illuminated like day, he failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. If the mysterious wizard had even the slightest connection to the Lightning Tower, the Empire would have no chance of breaking free. That must be why the Emperor had sent the warning message. They were even more helpless than under the previous tower master's prime.
Now, Duke Moonson's instincts told him that the two level 3 wizards he had faced weren't the ones responsible for the Cataclysmic battle years ago. Yet, their overwhelming aura had rendered him helpless. He shuddered to think how he'd fare against the mysterious wizard, if indeed they were connected. At the very least, it was clear the Lightning Tower had the backing of two additional level 3 wizards. He needed to report this to the Emperor.
Setting aside these troubling thoughts, he summoned a subordinate and issued instructions to calm the residents of the mansion and, more importantly, the citizens of Haguevin.
Suddenly, a rumble shook the ground, and Duke Moonson sensed a massive surge of lightning mana in the distance. BOOM! BOOM! RUMBLE! Massive explosions echoed, accompanied by sporadic bursts of light outside the city, causing vibrations that reverberated through the city.
Just from the mana fluctuations, Duke Moonson knew that if the esteemed ones were intent on attacking the city, it would be obliterated, leaving nothing in their wake. He clenched his fists, lamenting the absence of a level 3 being within the Empire's ranks.
Meanwhile, aboard the magic airship, thanks to the latest invention from the Magic Artifact Department—an unmanned stealth surveillance drone deployed in various areas outside the city—Sir Cedric and Sir Archibald witnessed Lord Gandril and Mystara engaging the level 2 magic beasts. One word summed up the scene: massacre. With a single spell from each lord, the beasts were either reduced to charcoal or flattened into paste.
Lord Mystara's method of attack was particularly noteworthy, using a massive shield to crush the magic beasts. Though Sir Cedric and Sir Archibald pretended not to hear his muttering, "Defense is the best offense."
Meanwhile, Lord Gandril relied solely on explosive magic, a simple yet devastating approach. With a flick of his hand, lightning balls sped towards the beasts, tearing through their defenses and finally exploding, reducing them to chunks of meat. Again, the wizards ignored Lord Gandril's repetitive muttering, "Explosion is art."
The confidence and the reliable feeling they had felt while witnessing the lords suppress Duke Moonson now wavered. They exchanged a look, silently questioning the future of the Lightning Tower.
Regardless of their concerns, Lord Gandril and Mystara swiftly dispatched the magic beasts within five minutes before returning to the magic airship.
Following further instructions, the barrier surrounding the mansion was lifted, the drones were retrieved, and the airship prepared to depart for another location where the other magic towers had located their chosen babies.
BOOM! The airship sliced through the air, disappearing into the horizon.