"But what about the knights?!" one of the younger mages protested, their hands shaking as they maintained their spell.
"DO IT, OR YOU'LL DIE WITH THEM!" Gerhardt snapped, his voice harsh and unyielding.
The mages hesitated for only a fraction of a second before complying. The shimmering barriers that had once protected the knights collapsed inward, condensing around the mages in tight, impenetrable spheres of light.
The knights looked up in confusion and betrayal. "Wait—what are you doing?!" one of them shouted.
"PROTECT YOURSELVES!" Gerhardt barked, his voice trembling. "GET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER! SPREAD OUT!"
But it was too late.
The oppressive energy reached its zenith, and the first explosion tore through the ranks of the knights with a deafening BOOM.
A soldier at the front of the formation was thrown into the air like a ragdoll, his armor shattering into pieces before he hit the ground in a lifeless heap.
Then another.
