Bab 70: Using Magic to Defeat Magic

The Hoelscher Empire is a country that adheres to the principle of strength above all, and as its emperor, Gahard's power is naturally formidable—ranking among the strongest in the world.

Ignoring the pleas of the knights around him, Gahard stepped through their protective barrier with a haughty smile, approaching Eriri and the others.

"So, you're the invaders?"

Observing Eriri up close, her ethereal beauty left an indelible impression on Gahard. Standing just three meters away, he stared at her with a gaze that held a glimmer of fervent desire.

Gahard had always been a man driven by strong desires. Whether it was overwhelming power or a woman he fancied, he would stop at nothing to possess them. As the emperor who commanded tens of thousands of warriors, such things seemed his due.

Eriri found Gahard's gaze deeply repulsive, and this feeling was evident on her face as she responded bluntly, "Can you take your disgusting eyes off me? It's making me want to beat you to a pulp."

"Hmph, how insolent." Gahard's expression darkened, feeling that his authority was being gravely challenged by Eriri's words. With a sharp look, he directed a powerful aura toward Eriri and her companions.

Gahard's sudden attack had no effect on Eriri and Arifureta, but it caused Shea and Reina to shudder. The six-year-old Reina, unable to breathe under the pressure, turned pale.

Sensing their distress, Eriri quickly waved her hand, casting a barrier around them that nullified Gahard's aura.

Gahard's actions completely enraged Eriri, prompting her to curse, "Are you messing with me?"

With that, she telekinetically slapped Gahard across the face, sending him flying several meters back, crashing into his throne.

Though Eriri hadn't used much force, it was more than enough to incapacitate Gahard. He lay slumped on the throne, his face severely distorted, blood gushing from his mouth, soaking his armor red. He couldn't even move a finger, as if every bone in his body had been shattered.

The slap was both an extreme humiliation and a devastating blow.

This dramatic scene left everyone in the room utterly horrified. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at their once-mighty emperor, now bleeding profusely on his throne. Eriri's slap had shattered their understanding of the world.

"Your Majesty!" At that moment, six formidable bodyguards appeared at Gahard's side, surrounding him with anxious expressions.

These six were far stronger than the imperial knights and must have been Gahard's personal guards, hidden nearby. They had been caught completely off-guard by Eriri's sudden attack, and while they were filled with self-reproach, they also directed intense killing intent toward Eriri.

The next instant, they exchanged a glance and, with determination, turned to launch a magical assault on Eriri. The imperial knights, who had just recovered from their shock, followed suit, unleashing a barrage of powerful spells at Eriri and her companions.

"Explosive Flame!"

"Thunder Spear!"

"Wind Blast!"

"Light Blade!"

Various elemental spells surged toward Eriri and her group, filling the air with vibrant, dazzling colors—a scene as beautiful as it was deadly.

[Asuna: Wow, these spells are gorgeous—way prettier than fireworks.]

[Flower Hashira: They really are beautiful, so many colors.]

[Chika Fujiwara: Asuna, if these imperial knights knew you were comparing their attacks to fireworks, they might just die of anger.]

[Archangel Gabriel: Asuna, why are you still watching the stream? Aren't you supposed to be in class?]

[Asuna: Uh… I took the day off just to watch this stream. Why are you always picking on me, Gabriel?]

[Archangel Gabriel: I'm just waiting for you to join me as a fellow slacker.]

[Asuna: …]

[Kashiwagi Eri: Hey, Gabriel, stop trying to drag Asuna down with you.]

[Archangel Gabriel: I'm not! I didn't say anything like that!]

[Kashiwagi Eri: Right… Anyway, aren't you all worried?]

[Chika Fujiwara: Worried about you guys or the enemies? With your power, you could stand there and not even feel their attacks… Jealous.jpg.]

[Ashen Witch: These spells are weak, just about at a mage's level.]

[Arifureta (Group Leader): Sisters, watch me shine.]

After posting this in the group chat, Arifureta took two steps forward, raising her hand toward the oncoming storm of spells.

"Holy Absolution!"

Arifureta's soft voice called out, and a white barrier materialized above her, blocking the incoming magical assault. As the opposing spells collided with the barrier, a series of explosions echoed, but Arifureta's light magic remained unshaken.

"Wow, Arifureta, that was amazing! You blocked all those attacks without a scratch," Shea exclaimed, her previous tension replaced with admiration.

"Piece of cake! The real show's just beginning." Arifureta smiled smugly, turning her gaze back to the imperial knights. Their second wave of spells was already prepared, surging toward Eriri and her group once more.

This time, Arifureta decided to go on the offensive, using magic to counter magic.

"Thunder Dragon!"

Arifureta channeled all her mana into a top-tier lightning spell, conjuring a golden dragon over ten meters long. The dragon surged forward, swallowing the incoming spells whole. The imperial knights and Gahard's six bodyguards were left frozen in place.

The overwhelming power disparity was evident. After devouring their spells, the Thunder Dragon continued its assault, crashing into the palace with a deafening roar. A section of the massive palace wall was obliterated, leaving a giant crater in the ground, and the enemies who had been too slow to escape were nowhere to be seen.