"SCREEE!"
An eagle’s cry tore through the sky. A pair of gray wings, large enough to blot out the heavens, beat powerfully, stirring the air and parting the churning gray mist as it dove down like a bolt of gray lightning.
Atop the eagle’s back, Princess Louisa came clearly into everyone’s view.
The rushing wind made her cerulean, silver-trimmed Mage robe flap loudly. Her golden hair, as brilliant as sunlight, streamed behind her. Her gaze cut across the battlefield to meet the distant eyes of Simo Barnes on the hill.
Then, without hesitation, she raised the Magic Staff in her hand, inlaid with a Magic Gemstone.
[Magic Missile]
The Gemstone at the tip of the Magic Staff flared, gathering the surrounding Magic Elements. In the blink of an eye, five missiles shot toward Simo on the hill. Their surfaces swirled with dazzling stardust, like a miniature galaxy, and profound Runes could be seen faintly flowing across them.
"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"
’Her Highness?!’ Simo was startled.
’What is she doing here? And this Magic...’
He had no time to think. Combat instincts took over, and he subconsciously brought his massive warhammer up before him like a shield.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The five Magic Missiles struck the warhammer one after another, setting off a series of deafening explosions.
The force of each explosion far exceeded Simo’s expectations. He felt a colossal impact from the front, the ground beneath his feet cracking inch by inch. He was thrown backward, tumbling wretchedly for several rotations before he could barely regain his footing.
’This power... It’s definitely at the Extraordinary Level!’
Simo’s mind was in turmoil.
’The Kingdom’s fourth princess, Princess Louisa—the one who had always kept a low profile, the one many considered to be nothing more than a pretty face—was actually a hidden Extraordinary Mage?!’
By the time he scrambled to his feet, the giant Gray Eagle was already carrying Louisa high into the sky.
’Another damn aerial unit!’
Simo stared at the figure in the sky, his expression turning ugly.
In that instant, he understood everything.
The Demon Legion’s invasion, the Arevalo Clan’s betrayal—it was all probably connected to the princess who had been branded a traitor.
He threw his head back and roared at the sky, "Your Highness, do you have any idea what the consequences will be if Storm Fortress falls to this demonic tide?!"
"Countless civilians will be exposed to the claws of the demons! The Golden Grain Plain will be turned to scorched earth! Is that what you want?!"
From the sky, Princess Louisa’s calm voice drifted back, tinged with a hint of pity.
"Mister Simo, I believe you understand better than anyone that Storm Fortress no longer belongs entirely to the Kingdom."
"Your power, and the patrons behind you, are not as hidden as you might think. In fact, many nobles and ministers within the Kingdom have long since seen the truth."
"Without their covert support and protection, how could I have ever escaped the Sun Church’s judgment?"
"Mister Simo, it is not too late to turn back and stand on the side of justice and order."
As soon as her voice fell, the Magic Staff in her hand once again bloomed with a dazzling crimson light, and a scorching heat instantly filled the air.
[Summon Elemental Creatures]
She pointed her Magic Staff toward the battlefield below. A Magic Array, blazing with roaring flames, materialized in midair. Then, a colossal Fireball, like a miniature sun, plummeted from the array with a thunderous roar.
"BOOM!!!"
The Fireball crashed into the demonic tide. Amidst the deafening explosion, all demons within a hundred-meter radius were instantly vaporized by the terrifying heat. The ground was turned to scorched earth, and even the distant Simo could feel the heatwave washing over him.
And from within the churning flames and thick smoke, a colossal figure made entirely of fire and magma—a Flame Lord—slowly rose to its full height. With every step it took, the ground beneath its feet transformed into a pool of lava, radiating a suffocating heat.
Gazing at the Flame Lord standing tall upon the scorched earth, Simo’s expression flickered with indecision.
But soon, a blurry black shadow flashed past him. In an instant, the hesitation on his face vanished, replaced by resolve.
"As expected of the princess who colludes with Demons. She certainly has a way of bewitching people."
He let out a furious roar, as if trying to convince himself. "I, Simo Barnes, Guardian of Storm Fortress, will not allow you to advance one step further!"
Without a trace of fear, Simo stepped directly into the Flame Lord’s Flame Domain, a field of heat intense enough to melt steel. The searing flames licked at his heavy armor, producing a "TSSSSSS" sound.
The Flame Lord seemed enraged by the provocation of this tiny creature. It let out a silent roar and raised a giant fist of molten rock, smashing it down violently toward Simo.
"Bring it on!" Simo did not dodge or evade. Roaring, he swung his warhammer and met the attack head-on.
"DOOOM!!!"
The warhammer and the molten fist collided like a meteorite striking the earth. A visible shockwave radiated outward in a ring, blasting away nearby demons and debris.
Pure physical strength and elemental power clashed in a primal battle on the scorched earth. Each collision made the ground tremble violently, as if shuddering in awe of the fight.
Meanwhile, Princess Louisa and Celeste passed through the Shield of the Realm unimpeded, flew into the Demon Legion’s formation, and finally landed on Peggy’s back.
Celeste, in her eagle form, exchanged a look with Peggy below. Then, not wanting to look like a pet, she silently transformed back to her original form, holding Louisa as they landed steadily.
Chen Yu waved a small Gel hand at them in welcome.