"Terrynas, I know you've been deceived. If you stop now, I can still overlook your actions!"
"She's not my third sister, but an imposter in disguise! Capture her and escort me to the palace. As long as you bring me before my father, I can even secure a reward for you!"
As the words fell, everyone froze, even the soldiers halted their attack, glancing at each other in confusion.
Terrynas Gold furrowed his brows, casting a glance at Miranda Joy. Just as he was about to speak, a crisp voice interrupted: "Do you want to be the next prime minister, or live in constant fear of the new king turning against you?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Terrynas Gold's expression darkened as he roared, "These thieves are trying to sow discord! Everyone, listen up! Show no mercy, shoot them down!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
As his voice fell, Apollon Joy's face turned pale. The sharp sound of arrows tearing through the air echoed as a barrage of arrows rained down upon Dean Bruce and his men.
At that moment, Shelly William didn't hold back any longer. With a stomp of her foot, black mist surged from the ground. Along with the eerie sound of wailing ghosts, ethereal shadows emerged, floating through the air and intercepting all the arrows.
"Ghosts!"
"There really are ghosts!"
Seeing the phantom-like figures, the soldiers were filled with fear and began to retreat.
Miranda Joy's voice rang out coldly, "I knew these thieves were in disguise! The eldest daughter of the Quirell family is clearly a warrior. How could she possibly know dark magic? She's obviously an imposter! That means this person pretending to be my brother is a fake too! Don't hold back anymore, go all out!"
"Magicians, set up the formation immediately!"
As her words echoed, the mages stationed at the outer perimeter began to wave their staffs, chanting incantations.
Buzz—
Different colored lights radiated from their bodies, quickly forming a magical pattern.
The mages who had joined the legion, although capable of casting magic individually, had developed a habit of using connection spells. Whenever they acted, they did so by creating formations.
As magic surged from their bodies, a mystical pattern quickly transformed into a massive elephant. With a loud trumpet, the elephant raised its enormous foot and stomped down hard toward Dean Bruce and his companions.
Dean Bruce's true body remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for Miranda Joy to be alone. Meanwhile, his controlled avatar was casting a spell, The Compassion of Heaven and Earth.
Rumble!
The ground shook, stones flew into the air, and transformed into floating shields. These shields collided with the giant elephant's foot.
Boom!
The elephant's spectral form wavered under the impact, and the stone shields shattered into pieces.
Seizing this opportunity, Shelly William floated into the air once more. With a graceful wave of her pale hand, she gathered the ghostly figures that had previously blocked the arrows, forming them into a massive black scythe.
"Hah!"
Terrynas Gold didn't hesitate further. Drawing the sword from his waist, he charged directly toward Apollon Joy.
He wasn't a fool. He knew that both Apollon Joy and Miranda Joy were problematic, but he had already made his choice. By eliminating Apollon Joy and making Miranda Joy the sole heir, he would secure a high-ranking position and wealth.
However, Dean Bruce's avatar wasn't about to let that happen. He shouted, "Nicholas, hold off the people outside! Leave these strong ones to me!"
As his words fell, Dean Bruce's avatar erupted with crackling lightning, and in a flash, he dashed toward Terrynas Gold with blinding speed.
Dean Bruce didn't have much familiarity with Terrynas Joy and worried that he might have some other tricks to break free from control or resist magic.
The speed of lightning-based magic was nearly impossible to block, and if Dean Bruce wanted to stop Terrynas, he had to use lightning magic.
Sizzle—
As expected, lightning crackled, striking Terrynas Gold before he could react. His entire body lit up with electricity, paralyzing him in place.
At that moment, Nicholas William quickly responded, raising his staff and chanting, "This water is blacker than ink, flowing endlessly. I see souls, filthy and covered in mud, thrashing angrily, tearing at one another, their bodies broken and battered!"
Hearing the strange incantation, Miranda Joy furrowed her brows. By the time she realized what was happening, a dark water stream had materialized out of thin air, surging toward the soldiers.
The water moved so swiftly that even though the soldiers tried to retreat, they were engulfed in an instant.
The dark water continued to rush toward the soldiers operating the siege ballista.
Meanwhile, the soldiers caught in the water froze where they stood, their heads surrounded by ghostly soul apparitions, biting and clawing at each other.
Seeing this, Miranda Joy's eyes widened in shock, and she remarked, "So young, yet you've mastered such soul magic. Impressive! But if you think you can come here and disrupt my Empire of Lane Cloud, you're asking for death!"
Nicholas William ignored her, continuing to channel his magic furiously, directing the black water toward the soldiers manning the siege ballista.
However, Dean Bruce's true body observed the scene with some surprise. He could sense that Miranda Joy wasn't concerned in the slightest.
Splash—
The dark water swept swiftly, submerging the soldiers, leaving them in the same soul-splitting state. Their bodies stiffened, with ghostly forms tearing at each other.
But just as quickly, Miranda Joy raised her staff, her lips moving softly as a purple mist spread into the air, transforming into a swarm of purple butterflies that fluttered gracefully around them.
"Hm?"
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but watch in curiosity.
The butterflies flapped their wings, and with each flutter, clouds of purple pollen spread through the air.
Nicholas William, Dean Bruce's avatar, Shelly William, and Apollon Joy all retreated, wary that the pollen might affect them.
However, to their surprise, the pollen didn't drift toward them. Instead, it settled on the soldiers whose souls were locked in battle.
In the next moment, though the soldiers' souls continued to fight, their bodies mechanically picked up their bows and arrows or began channeling magic into the siege ballista once again!