Seeing Miranda Joy's ability to control bodies, Dean Bruce was now completely certain—she was the one responsible for the disappearances in Pur-cloud Imperial Capital!
He also understood why Miranda Joy hadn't tried to stop Nicholas William's spellcasting.
In her eyes, controlling those soldiers made them even more effective.
When the soldiers were moving of their own accord, they naturally feared for their lives. But with Miranda Joy in control, she had no such reservations. She manipulated them without hesitation, forcing them to advance, firing arrow after arrow at Apollon Joy.
As long as Apollon Joy was killed, it didn't matter what Dean Bruce did—whether he escaped or not—she would undoubtedly secure the throne!
Her goal was clear.
Buzz—
Nearby, the siege ballista trembled violently, and it seemed as though the bolts could launch at any moment.
At this point, Dean Bruce no longer needed to hide. After all, Miranda Joy had positioned herself behind her soldiers, making it impossible for him to ambush her directly. His only option was to destroy the siege ballista!
But before making his move, Dean Bruce cast Thousand Mountains Fortress on himself, just in case the ballista's explosion harmed him.
With Thousand Mountains Fortress and Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain cast simultaneously, lightning surged from within Dean Bruce. In an instant, he dashed toward the siege ballista, his lightning-charged fist smashing directly into its core.
Boom!
A terrifying explosion rang out as flames erupted. The shockwave, carrying scorching heat, engulfed all the soldiers nearby.
Sizzle sizzle—
The sound of burning flesh filled the air. Even though the soldiers were under the control of the pink butterflies, they could no longer advance. Their bodies collapsed to the ground, slowly turning to ash.
As for the ghostly souls hovering over their heads, they began to weaken and fade.
When a person is near death, their soul naturally dissipates as well.
The blast's shockwave was so intense that after consuming the soldiers, the flames continued to surge toward the mages and Miranda Joy.
Sensing the intense heat and magic, Miranda Joy didn't dare resist. Suddenly, pink wings appeared on her back, lifting her swiftly into the air.
The mages weren't as lucky. Though the flames had weakened as they traveled, the mages were still hit, left writhing in agony on the ground, though not immediately consumed by the fire.
Miranda Joy scanned the battlefield swiftly and immediately raised her staff, preparing to cast a spell to rescue the fallen mages.
But Dean Bruce wasn't about to give her that chance.
Once again, he cast Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain. Pale mist appeared out of thin air, instantly isolating Miranda Joy, cutting off her vision and causing her to panic.
Sensing the surge of magic around Miranda Joy, Dean Bruce glanced toward Terrynas Gold, who was locked in fierce combat with his avatar and Shelly William. Without hesitation, he clasped his hands together, casting the powerful spell: Wailing Fiery Tomb.
Buzz—
In an instant, the entire battlefield rippled with strange waves and intense heat.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
"Even a Sage Magus wouldn't dare face hundreds of thousands of soldiers alone!"
She wasn't wrong. No matter how powerful a Sage Magus or warrior saint might be, their magic and stamina had limits. Without the ability to recover, no matter how many soldiers one could slay, the endless waves would eventually exhaust them, leading to their death.
Even Dean Bruce wasn't sure if he could battle soldiers all night and survive. But he had other means.
As long as he could buy enough time, victory would be his!
Dean Bruce's eyes glinted mischievously as he smirked. "You know, earlier this afternoon, you tried to seduce me by taking off all your clothes. How is it that now you've become so cold and heartless?"
"Terrynas, do you really think that once someone like her ascends to the throne, she'll honor any of her promises to you? She'll probably have you killed first!"
"Because you're the only one who knows just how many insane things she's done to get there."
Hearing this, Terrynas Gold's face subtly changed.
Miranda Joy, however, remained calm and indifferent to Dean Bruce's words. She said coolly, "If you agree to leave Apollon here, perhaps spending the night with you isn't out of the question."
As her words fell, everyone's expressions shifted dramatically. Their gazes toward Miranda Joy were now filled with horror.
This woman was ruthless beyond belief!
Sighing and shaking his head slightly, Dean Bruce still didn't give in. Seeing the nearby soldiers—thousands of them—charging forward, Miranda Joy's voice turned cold again. "Since you're so determined to die, I won't hold back!"
"Attack!"
At her command, the soldiers raised their bows once more, and another siege ballista was pushed forward.
Just as Dean Bruce was about to retaliate, an aged voice suddenly echoed through the air: "Miranda, enough. Stop this!"
"We know you're aiming for the throne, but such ruthless actions—kidnapping the families of your father's officials and attacking your brothers—have crossed the line!"
As these words rang out, the water in the air abruptly ceased, and a burst of searing fire erupted, evaporating all the water.
From the sky, a towering figure descended slowly. His head was crowned with fiery red hair, and his robes were emblazoned with the symbols of flame.
"Hmm?"
"Grandmaster, you've come?"
Terrynas Gold hurriedly bowed to the man, his face finally showing fear.
Miranda Joy, being a member of the royal family, wasn't at risk of losing her life no matter her actions. But Terrynas? He could easily become the scapegoat.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
The sound of cutting through the air followed, and several more figures landed. Each of them appeared older, some in their fifties, others even older, perhaps a hundred years or more.
Seeing this, Terrynas Gold collapsed to the ground in despair.
Miranda Joy, however, was shocked. "How did you all escape? I made sure to trap you with my array!"
The group didn't respond to Miranda Joy's question. Instead, they nodded slightly toward Dean Bruce, acknowledging him.