Hector's threat was genuine, Damon could feel the rage and resentment boiling within the demon fox. However, Damon wasn't moved, in the end, he planned to kill Hector.
From the corner of his eyes, he noticed an orange magic array in the distance. Shifting his attention to it, Damon frowned to see a familiar figure chanting in mid-air.
"Flame ignite at my will, a spark of heat that burns so still!" Viscount Thornwell chanted loudly.
Tier 1 Fire Magic: Ember Flicker!
Thin, yet thick bursts of flame shot out from the Viscount Thornwell's fingertips, igniting objects it came in contact with as it sped in Damon's direction.
To this, Damon casually threw a glance at it before looking away, the tier 1 spell had no chance of breaking his defense. Such a weak spell could only be a distraction from the main attack and just as he suspected, it was true.
"Ice so cold, freeze and bind, lock them in your frigid mind!" Count Eldridge chanted, a grimoire hovering beside him.
Tier 2 Ice Magic: Frost Shackles!
Freezing tendrils of ice shoot up from the wooden roof, encircling Damon's legs and arms and instantly freezing them in place. This was followed by a cold breeze meant to slow Damon's movements.
"Winds of fury, twist and bind, trap them in your endless grind!" Count Valen's chant only got Damon rolling his eyes.
Tier 2 Wind Magic: Tempest Snare
A cyclone of wind wrapped around Damon, trapping him in a swirling vortex of air. The winds were strong enough to lift and suspend him off the ground, while the ice chains kept him rooted to a spot.
The coordination of the two patriarchs was commendable, but never meant to hurt Damon. Both spells were aimed at pinning Damon at a spot while Marquis Marlow made his move.
Hovering in mid-air, his body shrouded in faint blue mana Damon couldn't help but frown. Of all the nobles who came to Valtheris for the festival, only Marquis Marlow had true talent.
In his younger days, Marquis Marlow was considered a bright genius who possessed a unique talent that made him stand out.
Dual Casting!
In the world of magic, casting a tier-one spell is enough to make you a valuable member of society. However, having the ability to cast two tier-one spells at once is something that would get you a noble title and a land to rule over, even as a peasant.
Of all the noble heads present, Marquis Marlow was the true threat.
"This is where you die, my lord!" Hector laughed hysterically.
Fortunately for him, Damon didn't have the time to pay attention to him.
"Flames of fury, twist and rise, surge with power, reach the skies!"
Tier 3 Fire Magic: Inferno Whirlpool
"Arcane force, spin and grow, gather strength from all below!"
Tier 3 Arcane Magic: Arcane Spiral
Marquis Marlow levitated in mid-air with two grimoires hovering by his sides while he chanted both at once.
It was like two people were speaking at once, except it was the same person in this case, a very uncomfortable scene.
Marquis Marlow summoned a whirlpool of fire that spiraled around Damon, rapidly building up heat and power. Simultaneously, he weaved arcane energy into a spiraling torrent of raw magical power. The magic spiraled upwards, creating a glowing pillar of pure mana.
Combination Magic: Pillar of Raging Firestorm.
Marquis Marlow's eyes revealed a threatening flash, of his Inferno Whirlpool and Arcane Spiral combined. They merged into a massive pillar of fire infused with raw magic.
The pillar rose hundreds of feet into the air, burning with the intensity of a volcanic eruption and crackling with arcane energy. This spell devastates everything within the radius of the massive Forbidden Palace rooftop.
At the four edges of the flame vortex, Hector, Marquis Marlow, Count Valen, Count Eldridge, and Viscount Thornwell surrounded the rooftop, watching the raging arcane fire with satisfied smiles.
While Damon was unexplainably powerful with primary magic due to his use of world energy instead of mana, there was a limit to what he could do.
The higher the magic tier, the more powerful it becomes. Even Damon could not defend a tier 3 combination spell with primary magic of any form.
"Hahahahahahaha…" Damon's mocking laughter boomed like thunder within the raging flames.
"Very well, I will fight you with ten percent of my true strength." Damon's mocking voice boomed from the embrace of the scorching flames.
Hector frowned as he noticed a pair of massive skeletal hands, formed from enchanted bone and dark magic. These hands clasped together around Damon, acting as a shield.
"Tier 1 Death Magic: Devil's Embrace." Damon's words seemed to slow down time.
The world went dead silent as the moon turned green and the clouds turned black. Everyone saw the moon slowly open up like an eyelid, revealing a singular eye peering down on the world.
Buzz!
Duke Hail, Michael, and everyone in the kingdom of Valtheris felt their skins crawl. Unexplainable fear invaded their hearts and tragic thoughts invaded their minds. Many began hallucinating, visualizing their greatest fears in real life.
Wavelength Of Terror….
This was an effect that came along with using the power of Death.