In comparison, taking the initiative while the situation remains under control is undoubtedly the wiser course of action. If they could capture one or two key individuals, they might extract valuable information through interrogation.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Anluke," Priest Aaron said respectfully after careful consideration, bowing with reverence.
"Everything is by the Lord's command!" Anluke responded with ease. Suddenly, as if sensing something, without any visible movement, several brilliant light arrows materialized in the air, pinning four gray crows that were about to take flight to a tree in an instant.
Three seconds later, a dazzling fireball shot forth from the distant manor, illuminating the sky with a bright flash.
Anluke lifted his head, his vision enhanced by divine magic, cutting through hundreds of meters to gaze through an open third-floor window, where he saw Lynn and the others looking out.
Brown hair, medium build, handsome features...
That is the wizard named Karl, the one who killed Blaney!
"Everyone, advance at full speed!" Anluke ordered without hesitation.
Since they had been discovered, there was no longer any need to remain hidden. The previously slow-moving guards immediately broke into a run, the clashing of their armor resounding like crashing waves as they surged towards the central fortress from all directions...
After seven years, the manor gates were once again violently forced open. Armed with swords and shields, the guards formed squads of ten, methodically surrounding the entire castle.
Aaron led the charge, spearheading several squads straight through the main hall, heading toward the direction where Lynn and his group had been.
As they traversed the long and wide corridor, the soldiers at the front barely set foot in the antechamber before retreating in terror, their faces pale with fear.
Alas, they were still a step too late. Several scorching fireballs, like falling meteors, descended into the midst of their ranks.
A violent explosion followed, and the fireballs rapidly expanded and burst, transforming the once orderly formation into a chaotic sea of bodies.
"Ah—"
Amid the horrific screams, blood splattered everywhere, bodies were hurled through the air, and the stench of blood filled the air.
Even though the forces involved in this capture operation were elite soldiers handpicked from Nordland's army, fully armored and equipped, they still fell into disarray when confronted with powerful sorcery.
"Retreat, form ranks, fire crossbows in unison!" Aaron, the only one who remained calm, raised his staff and shouted loudly.
"Do not panic, Elara is with us!"
The chaotic ranks quickly steadied, regaining their order as every soldier's eyes lit up with a white glow, their fear gradually fading away, replaced by an inexplicable courage that filled their minds.
This was the effect of a divine spell—**Dispel Fear**!
Under Aaron's command, the shield-bearing soldiers raised their sturdy shields in front of them, advancing in large strides, while those behind them methodically readied their crossbows.
A distant volley has always been the perfect method to deal with apprentice wizards!
The turtle-shell-like shield formation greatly reduced the power of ordinary spells. **Magic Missile** could not breach the defense, and even the powerful fireball spell failed to achieve significant results.
The dense rain of arrows forced the group of wizard apprentices to retreat again and again, leaving them with no choice but to take cover behind walls. Barton, who was slower to react, was unfortunate enough to be struck by a crossbow bolt in the back, causing him to fall to the ground in a pathetic heap.
"Barton—!" Buck called out anxiously, leaping forward to try and help his brother to his feet.
Aaron, who had been waiting for this moment, gave the order again. Dozens of crossbows were aimed at the two brothers, and as the triggers were pulled, a dense barrage of arrows rained down like a meteor shower.
A high-level first-circle spell—**Ice Barrier**!
Without hesitation, Jonie stepped in front of the brothers, raising her hand to conjure a transparent curtain of water in the air, which instantly froze, forming a crystalline wall of ice.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The sound of rapid impacts echoed continuously as shards of ice scattered across the ground, and within just two seconds, the relentless barrage of arrows had shattered the **Ice Barrier**, with three stray bolts heading straight for Jonie!
Having just used **Mage Hand** to complete an overcharged spell, Jonie didn't have time to conjure a second **Ice Barrier**, and behind her were Buck and Barton...
"I can't dodge!"
Jonie bit her lip, forcibly stopping herself from moving, gripping her sword hilt, though she knew she had little chance of deflecting all the arrows headed her way.
At that moment, three magic missiles flew in from the side, precisely intercepting the arrows.
Jonie was momentarily stunned, barely having time to feel the relief of surviving, when she saw seven more **Magic Missiles** soar past her. Strangely, these magical constructs didn't follow a straight trajectory but instead arced in a bizarre manner, effortlessly bypassing the shield wall's defenses and striking directly at the crossbowmen behind them.
The brief chaos caused the steady rain of arrows to pause momentarily. Taking advantage of this, Jonie, Buck, and Barton quickly took cover behind a low wall, casting a surprised glance at Lynn and Pigeon standing nearby. A thought involuntarily sprang to their minds.
Since when had Pigeon become so powerful?
However, they quickly realized it wasn't Pigeon who had acted, because in the next moment, a full dozen **Magic Missiles** materialized in the air, hovering beside Lynn.
**Magic Barrage**!
With a mere thought, Lynn unleashed the missiles, sending them hurtling toward the soldiers.
Witnessing this strange magic, Aaron hastily commanded the shield-bearers to cluster together, stacking their shields layer by layer without leaving the slightest gap, forming a semicircle to protect the crossbowmen behind them.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, the dozen or so missiles veered off course, bypassing the shield wall entirely and flying toward the rear.
Did they miss?
Aaron wondered to himself but quickly dismissed the thought. If one or two **Magic Missiles** missed, that would be plausible, but if all of them deviated, it could only mean that their initial target had never been the shield wall!
Aaron whipped around, just in time to see the twelve missiles collide with the mottled pillar at the rear. Amid the swirling dust, the seven-meter-high pillar toppled over with a crash.
"Scatter! Everyone, scatter!" Aaron shouted hoarsely, raising his staff high, casting the only protective spell he knew—**Holy Word: Shield**!
But it was clear that this was a futile effort. The pure white shield had barely formed before it was crushed by the massive pillar, burying over a dozen shield-bearers and crossbowmen who hadn't managed to escape in time beneath its weight.
When Aaron turned back again, Lynn and the others had already vanished.
After a moment of hesitation, Aaron glanced at the bloodied, trapped soldiers still calling for help beneath the pillar. Gritting his teeth, he gave the order.
"Leave half the men to rescue them! The rest, follow me!"