Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Strange Attack on the Capital (2)
[Third Person's PoV]
Rades, the dark summoner of the undead, sneered as he surveyed Asta and Stephen with a twisted satisfaction.
Stephen glanced at Asta, determination in his gaze. "Can I leave him to you? I'm going to set up a protective barrier and bring the civilians inside."
Asta grinned fiercely, his voice brimming with confidence. "Is that even a question!? Leave it all to me! You go do what needs to be done!"
Rades' eyes gleamed with malice as he raised his hands, calling forth an army of undead minions that began to encircle them. "Oh, I don't think so! Do you really believe you can escape? Get them! Don't let them escape!"
Stephen knelt down to lift Marie, a young girl clinging tightly to his neck, her eyes filled with worry. He offered her a reassuring smile. "Hold on tight, Marie," he said gently, before shooting into the sky, his Cloak of Levitation billowing around him.
As they soared over the chaos below, Marie clutched his shoulders, her voice trembling. "What about your friend?"
Stephen smirked confidently as they flew higher. "Asta? Don't worry about him. He might not look like much, but he's incredibly strong."
The capital stretched out below them, a city in turmoil. Explosions rocked the streets, and black smoke curled into the air from multiple areas under siege. Stephen's heart pounded as he flew toward the central district. When he finally landed, he found himself facing the Silva siblings—Solid, Nebra, and Nozel—who were in the middle of receiving praise for thwarting an attack.
Solid and Nebra shot Stephen harsh looks, their expressions twisted with disdain. "This isn't the time to start trouble," Solid said, his voice cold.
Stephen held up a hand, his tone unwavering. "I know. I'm not here for that. We need to put our differences aside for now—there are people who need our help."
Nozel studied Stephen's face, scrutinizing his resolve before finally giving a curt nod. "Agreed. But don't think this means anything between us has changed."
Stephen rolled his eyes, exasperated but focused. "Fine. Besides, you still owe Noelle an apology, but that can wait. I'm casting a powerful barrier now."
Without waiting for a response, Stephen shot upward once more, stopping high above the district. He stretched out his hands, conjuring an intricate Eldritch Circle in front of him, rotating his hands to weave lines and interlocking geometric symbols inside it. As he finished, he raised the luminous circle above him, releasing it to cast a massive dome over the district.
[Arcane Magic: Sanctuary of Aether]
The dome shimmered to life, expanding from the circle and encompassing the entire central district in a protective, radiant sphere. Stephen descended slowly back toward Nozel and the others, who were now staring up at the dome in awe.
Nozel nodded with grudging respect. "How strong is it?"
Stephen met his gaze, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It's the strongest defensive spell I have. I'll be teleporting civilians inside to keep them safe. You're free to leave, but no one else will be able to enter without my say."
He hovered back into the air, creating a shimmering portal with his sling ring, which rippled around him. He shot forward, weaving through the sky above the noble district, his cloak streaming behind him. Each time he spotted civilians under attack by the undead, he would cast portals to transport them instantly into the sanctuary.
Back inside the dome, civilians appeared in flashes of golden light. Some huddled on the ground, shielding themselves in fear, while others looked around in confusion at the sudden change of scenery. All of them soon realized they were safe, and whispers of gratitude began to ripple through the crowd.
Nozel turned to his siblings, his expression resolute. He crafted a massive eagle of liquid mercury, its wings spreading wide as it awaited its riders. "Leave the protection of the civilians to him. We're taking down the attackers."
Solid and Nebra nodded, determination lighting their eyes. They climbed onto the mercury eagle, which took flight, passing out of the dome's barrier. Cheers erupted from the gathered civilians as they saw their protectors soaring into action.
…
Wanda's hands pulsed with a red, crackling energy as she unleashed powerful bolts of magic at the advancing undead. Her crimson aura wrapped around her fingers, glowing like embers as she clenched her fist. With a swift motion, she tightened her grip, and the undead in her path crumbled to dust, the force of her magic collapsing their forms with a sickening crunch.
In one fluid motion, Wanda raised her hands, and a massive piece of rubble from the ruined buildings around her floated into the air. She directed it forward with a flick of her wrist, slamming it down upon a group of undead, crushing them with a thunderous impact that shook the ground.
Nearby, Noelle stood frozen, her face pale as several of the undead lunged toward her. Her body trembled, and she shrank back in fear, her mind blank in terror. Suddenly, a roaring wave of flames incinerated the creatures mid-leap, reducing them to ash before they could reach her. The heat from the fire was intense, and as she looked up, she saw Fuegoleon approaching, encased in a blazing aura, flames curling around him like a fiery cloak.
"T-Thank you–" Noelle began, her voice wavering.
Whack!
Before she could finish, Fuegoleon delivered a firm karate chop to the top of her head, startling her. "Focus!" he barked, his voice a commanding roar.
"Ow!" Noelle exclaimed, rubbing her head, eyes wide with surprise.
Fuegoleon crossed his arms, his stern expression softened slightly by the steady glow of flames that danced around him. "Black Bulls girl, are you really going to let the words of your siblings control you here? This is a battlefield! There's no time for fear or hesitation! One wrong decision could cost a life!" His gaze was intense as he continued, his tone fierce but purposeful. "You stand here as a member of the Magic Knights. If you chose this path of your own free will, then steel yourself and become stronger."
He extended a finger towards her, his eyes unwavering. "Being weak isn't something to be ashamed of. But staying weak is."
Noelle eyes widened at Fuegoleon's words. Fuegoleon's words struck her deeply, clearing away some of her self-doubt. He gave her a small smile, recognizing the change in her expression. "And remember that boy—Stephen, wasn't it? He believed in you. He was even willing to fight with a Magic Knight Captain because he thought you weren't a failure. Are you going to prove him wrong by giving in?"
Her heart pounded as she replayed Stephen's words of encouragement in her mind. She looked down, her hands clenched into fists as she bit her lip, steeling herself. 'He's right… Stephen always believed in me. He worked so hard to teach me… I won't let him down!'
With a deep breath, Noelle raised her hands and slapped her cheeks, her face turning red as she snapped herself out of her fear. Her eyes sharpened with newfound determination.
Fuegoleon smirked, nodding approvingly. "Now that's the look of a Magic Knight," he said, giving her a thumbs-up.
Noelle turned to face the oncoming horde of undead, her wand steady as she extended it forward. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on her mana. Her grimoire floated beside her, glowing with a brilliant blue light as her body became enveloped in shimmering mana.
[Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Legion]
Bright, flowing water began to materialize around Noelle, forming intricate, powerful shapes. A school of aquatic creatures, shimmering piranhas with gleaming, razor-sharp teeth, appeared from the magic surrounding her. She opened her eyes, and with a graceful but powerful motion, sent her spell surging forward.
The piranhas shot through the air like a torrent, slicing through the ranks of the undead. They latched onto the limbs and torsos of each enemy they touched, glinting briefly before they exploded in bursts of water, tearing the undead apart with each aquatic blast.
Fuegoleon watched in awe as the undead army was torn apart, their remains dissolving in a flood of water and light. His eyes widened, his jaw dropping in astonishment. "You're supposed to be a failure? Little Missy, your siblings must be blind!" he said with a hearty laugh. "Hahaha!"
Noelle blushed, rubbing the back of her head, a small, proud smile breaking through her usual nervous demeanor. 'Thank you, Stephen…'
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