Pale Emblem

Chapter 198 Falling short of success

Even though the mad dragoons' explosive power and speed increased exponentially, the threat they posed to Caligula actually decreased.

They lost their minds, threw away their weapons, had no tactical coordination with each other, and fought entirely on instinct. Although they were numerous, their attack was disorganized.

Even a senior bronze-rank knight wearing heavy armor and holding a sharp golden sword could kill all 50 cannon fodder dragon veins, not to mention that their opponent was the godly Caligula.

This also shows that the red dragon warmongers taken away by the dragon general Dicket are the truly powerful military force.

Now, the pressure is on Charlotte, Todd and Marcy.

Caligula rushed back to the rescue, but the mad dragoons entangled him tightly, making it impossible for him to escape for a while.

It should be said that the Red Dragon Queen of War left no blind spots when formulating tactics.

The Red Dragon Queen cast a spell to extract the blood magic of half of the dragon riders and used it to strengthen the Dragon General and the Red Dragon Warmonger, making them half dragon and half human. The dragon riders abandoned by the Dragon Queen also received a small amount of magic nourishment, and their legs showed obvious dragon symptoms, which gave them a higher ejection speed on the ground.

The frenzied dragoons' burst speed could catch up with Caligula.

Furthermore, their frenzied minds are almost completely immune to the negative effects of mind touch.

Aka had no other choice but to run back while killing all the crazy dragoons that caught up with him.

In this state of running and fighting at the same time, even the Glorious God of War's movement speed would be reduced by half.

Aka swung his hand back and slashed. The invisible force was like a sharp blade cutting through the air, making a sharp sound, and then cut the neck of the last mad dragoon, killing him on the spot.

Now, Aka finally rushed out of the primeval forest and saw the broken corpses of wild apes scattered across the wilderness.

The scaly-skinned ape and the berserk dragon rider designed and bred by the wizard Imoson have similar functions.

When a companion dies in battle, they will enter a state of rage, with their explosive power, movement speed, and attack speed all doubling, launching a relentless attack on the enemy.

The scaly-skinned apes form a team of 10. If they encounter an absolutely invincible enemy, if one of them dies, the whole team will die.

A-Ka found dozens of corpses of violent apes along the way, but only four red dragons were killed by violent apes. Another ten red dragons were killed by being slashed from behind by sharp blades. This was obviously the work of Charlotte, Todd, and Marcy.

The blood of the red dragon people was as hot as magma, scorching large areas of land and even burning the scaly-skinned apes to death.

The extraordinary power of magic may be the reason for the huge disparity in casualties between the two sides.

Aka was not so anxious now, because the battle here was over and everything that was supposed to happen had happened. Fortunately, they suffered heavy losses in their violent ape war beasts, but no one died. He just felt that Bettina was in a very bad mood.

There is a terrifying magical power brewing over there in the stone mountain, clearly announcing that the Chosen Mage is not in a very good mood right now.

A-Ka rubbed his scalp with his hands and hurried back to the Stone Mountain Camp. He saw several Eagle Lion Mystic Warriors cleaning up the battlefield. They were mainly collecting the corpses of the Scale-skinned Violent Ape. The flesh and blood corpses of the half-dragons were as dangerous as acid fire and could not be dealt with for the time being, so they could only be left where they were.

Aka jumped twice and flew to the top of the stone mountain. Wizard Imosen, Charlotte, Todd, and Marcy were all there.

At this moment, they all looked solemn and kept looking up, not even bothering to greet Aka who had rushed back.

The giant floating snake was winding and moving in the sky above the stone mountain, and above it was still hanging the intangible guardian spirit of the evil-winged giant bat.

Bettina stood on the back of the giant snake, holding a legendary staff, chanting spells continuously. Red and black runes emerged in the void around her, forming a profound and mysterious pattern.

The floating giant snake had lost the chimera head in the middle. Bettina was casting a spell to cause strange ashes and black smoke to pour out from the broken neck of the giant snake, trying to repair its head.

However, the sorceress's efforts did not work. The chimera's head composed of spiritual black smoke could not maintain stability, and it was naturally impossible to reconstruct flesh and blood.

There was a flash of blue light, and Bettina herself suddenly appeared on the top of the mountain, and then deep blue flames around her dissipated in the wind.

Psionic Warp, a five-ring psionic spell, sets 500 beacons within a range of 5 meters. The caster can flash instantly between the beacons. The shortest interval between each flash is 2 minutes, and the maximum number of flashes is 5 times a day.

With the blessing of the artifact [Heart of the Fairy Queen], Bettina has more beacons of psychic folding, a shorter casting interval, and a longer flash distance.

Normally, she would set up a psychic beacon through her pet "White Bread" and use psychic warping to get around, and she would not be stingy with the number of spells she cast.

贝尔蒂娜掌握的法术很多，除了正统的灵能系法术1到6环，她还精通灵能法术分支的死灵系法术1到8环，并且对于元素系法术、变形系法术和心智系法术的1到3环都有涉猎。

She can use an astonishing 82 spell slots per day.

Psionic Warp is a very useful spell for her, but it is not a particularly valuable spell.

The psychic array used to cultivate ancient evil wings is different. It is a comprehensive manifestation of magical power that spans multiple magic systems and is a great test of a mage's level and financial resources.

It can be said that the difference between spells and magic circles is like that between a clerk and a noble scholar. One is a smart person who can read and write; the other is not only knowledgeable, but also rich.

Most of the spellcasting materials that Bettina usually collected had been used up this time, and it was impossible to set up a new psychic array in the short term.

Now, the attempt to repair the floating giant snake has failed. Bettina is angry and anxious, stamping her feet repeatedly.

Today, Bettina is 1.8 meters tall and looks like a half-elf with the blood of high-level moon elves. She has exquisite facial features, black hair and black eyes, long legs, a slender and powerful waist, graceful body curves, and almost perfect proportions. She wears a simple robe, holding a staff, and an exquisite headdress woven with orchids on her smooth and full forehead. Her natural and otherworldly temperament makes her look like a fairy in the forest who has stepped into reality.

When Charlotte met Bell again, she actually felt that Bell's beauty was no less than that of Lady Sylvia. At least she looked very compatible with the handsome Prince Randall.

To be honest, Bettina's current temperament and the majesty of a superior spellcaster that she inadvertently exudes would even make her father, Imerson, feel in awe.

She was now furious and stamping her feet repeatedly, which reminded people of Bettina when she was a child.

Everyone couldn't help but smile.

Bertina turned around and glared at the smirking Caligula, and asked fiercely, "What are you laughing at?"

"Everyone laughed, Akka laughed too." Caligula looked confused and felt very aggrieved.

"Bell, don't blame Aka. I saw that you were laughing like a child when you were angry just now... I was not laughing at the ineffectiveness of your spell." Wizard Imosen explained.

The Portalos secret technique that Imosen had practiced for a long time had extraordinary effects on strengthening, prolonging life, and improving mental strength. He now looked much younger than before, but with the appearance and temperament of an ordinary middle-aged man in his thirties, he really couldn't show the momentum of a father in front of Bettina.

However, the power of the legendary wizard Imerson is not fake.

Bettina snorted coldly, frowned and sighed: "One good news and one bad news. The good news is that the plan to revive the ancient evil wing has failed, and I don't have to sacrifice my guardian spirit. The bad news is that the Dragon King Firuma will fly over soon, and I have already lost. It is impossible for me to defeat Him again."

"...All of you should leave now. Leave the Dragon Kingdom. The dragons will not hunt you down."

The dragon general Dicket led more than twenty red dragon warriors to attack Bettina's psychic magic circle.

Although Charlotte led her followers to intercept with all their might, the Dragon General's goal was very clear, which was to destroy the psychic array as quickly as possible at all costs.

Red dragon warmongers are smaller than dragon generals, but they are fourth-level dragonborn with spellcasting abilities, including dragon skin, fire bomb breathing, flaming claws, elementary dragon rage, and the troublesome burning blood.

It takes a great price for the Scaled Ape to kill a Red Dragon Warrior. Charlotte, Marcy, and Todd must also be careful to avoid being stained by the burning blood of these dragonborn.

Under the cover of the Red Dragon Warmonger, the dragon general Dict rushed to the top of the stone mountain and continuously cast dragon flame fireballs at the floating giant snake. Its dragon skin technique is stronger than that of the Red Dragon Warmonger, and long-range weapons have little effect on it; it also unfolds a flame aura, and enemies within 15 meters may cause supernatural flame burning damage when moving; flame shield, enemies who attack it in close combat will definitely be ignited by supernatural flames for one second.

After the Dragon General Dekter activated the Dragon Fury talent, his spells and bloodline talents received additional bonuses.

Since the Dragon Generals and the Warmongers were not afraid of death or injury, Charlotte and the others had no good way to deal with them.

Although Charlotte organized a strong attack, it was of little effect. The violent ape beasts suffered heavy losses, with only 31 left alive.

If it weren't for the Soul Fire's superb power-generating skills that could disperse the flames, and the excellent quality of the armor protecting their bodies, Charlotte and the others would probably have been burned to a crisp.

Anyway, the floating giant snake was burned badly, and the parts of it that were continuously attacked by fireballs were almost broken. Bettina had to suspend the operation of the psychic array and control the giant snake to start counterattacking.

Since the giant snake's venomous breath and liquid flame breath had no effect on the dragon general, they were absorbed by its flame shield instead. Bettina simply controlled the floating giant snake to swallow the dragon general directly.

As a result, the heads of the dragon general and the chimera of the floating giant snake exploded.

Poor Great Lord Dekter was bent on seeking revenge on the Wolf Witch, but ended up being cannon fodder for the Red Dragon Queen and never saw Bettina until his death.

Bettina was also very upset. The giant floating snake had not yet completed the final form of the ancient evil wings, and its main head was blown off by the dragon man. The huge loss of flesh and blood could not be repaired by magic.

Failure to do one's best means failure at the last hurdle.

A somewhat discouraged Bettina asked the family followers to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible.

"What about you?" Imerson asked with concern.

"I still have things to do...you can't help me. And I will be responsible for finding the master, you can go back to Randall Territory without worry." Bettina said impatiently.

Imosen looked at her and suddenly smiled. "Your father is not a fool. Can't he see that you are being coerced? It's just that the person who coerced you is very special. You can't even tell us his name."

"I guess the way he threatened you might be related to the whereabouts of the Earl."

"Don't be so clever! I can handle any problem myself!" Bell showed impatience. She tried to use her bad attitude to force her father and followers to stop pursuing the truth of the matter.

However, her father, Imerson, is also a powerful wizard who is no stranger to whisperers such as demons and evil spirits.

He had guessed the truth from Bettina's strange behavior. Although he was still unable to determine which whisperer was forcing Bettina to do things for him, as Bell's father, he could not just stand by and watch.

"You wanted to revive the ancient evil wing, and I, your father, helped you a lot! What does this prove? It proves that I am not useless, and you also need help!"

Wizard Emerson said righteously: "Besides, this matter involves the safety of the master. We can never abandon the master of the family and do nothing... Bell, don't forget that I am the chief wizard of the family who is valued by the master, and you are just the master's personal maid."

Imosen's remarks and stance are absolutely correct in the human kingdom. Although he is already a legendary wizard, he was born in a vassal family and has been educated to be loyal to his lord since childhood. Rescuing the lord in distress is his duty, his mission, and the glory of the virtue of loyalty.

However, this set of things is effective for little Bettina, but not for the current Queen of Miracles, because the extraordinary power she now possesses is enough to subvert any lord family and force a reshuffle of the power relationship within the family.

If Bettina thought that the ethical system of feudal lords and vassal vassals would be a shackle that would trap her, she could break this shackle.

With the years of education she received as a lord and noble, Charlotte immediately realized that Imerson had done stupid things and said stupid things.

He wanted to use his father's status and the justice of being a lord and vassal to suppress Bettina's arrogance and make her more obedient.

Imosen certainly did this with good intentions. On the surface, he was a father teaching his daughter a lesson, but secretly, he was using the righteous status of a monarch and his subjects to ask other followers to support Bell and share the pressure with her.

However, Imerson did not consider that if his pressure on Bell backfired, it would be a disaster for the fragile Randall family.

Suppose Belle did not recognize her status as a maid in the family and said something outrageous. The other followers should blame her to make their position clear.

Who dares to blame her?
If Belle is angered by the accusations of the crowd and she breaks with the family openly, then the followers should attack her.

Who can defeat her?
Those who should be blamed are not blamed, and those who should be punished are not punished. What is the position of the followers?

Followers without a stance cannot be considered loyal to the family, so it is better to disband as soon as possible.

Of course, Charlotte would not let things get out of control. With her feminine delicacy and intuition, she roughly understood what Bell wanted.

"What happened to the personal maid?"

Charlotte said loudly: "You can't control her, and I can't control her either... No one except the Lord can tell the Lord's personal maid what to do. This shows Victor's love and protection for Belle."

"...Besides, in history, there have been examples of personal maids becoming the mistress of a family, the wife of a lord, and even the queen of a country."

The corners of Bettina's mouth began to curl up, forming a charming arc, finally revealing a row of neat and white teeth.

"Did you hear that?" Belle put her hands on her hips and pointed at Imerson: "If I become a countess in the future, you will have to take the initiative to greet me when you see me."

This is certainly in line with the norms of family etiquette.

As long as the family rules can protect Bettina's interests, she is of course willing to maintain the family rules rather than break them.

That's fine.

Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief and took the initiative to ask, "Bell, you want to deal with the Dragon King, don't you have any chance now?"

Bettina stopped arguing with her father and turned to Charlotte and said, "I can't say there is no chance at all, but the possibility of winning is very small... Anyway, I still want to give it a try."

After saying this, she raised her magic stick and chanted a difficult spell. The guardian spirit floating above the giant snake turned into a billowing thick smoke and poured into the giant snake's body.

Immediately afterwards, the broken neck of the giant floating snake was wrapped in green light, and its shattered chimera head was instantly restored, which was like a miracle.

Bettina explained: "The ancient evil-winged beasts have the innate ability to go back in time. Any damage they suffer, even if their bodies are broken or their heads are shattered, can be instantly restored, making them almost immortal."

"Dragon King Firumat does not know the weakness of the Ancient Evil Wing. I am very confident that I can defeat Him."

"What a pity. Our Philip V is not the resurrection of the ancient evil wing...His head has not been completed yet, and it will never be completed in the future."

"My guardian spirit can only fight the Dragon King with Philip V for 30 minutes at most. After 30 minutes, Philip V's flesh and blood will collapse."

"So, I must severely damage the Dragon King's body within 30 minutes. This is our only chance of winning."

"Before the decisive battle, I need Dad to control [Philip V] to fly towards the Dragon's Nest to attract the Dragon King Firumat to change the battlefield."

"No problem. I'll take care of it." Wizard Imosen patted his chest and said, "Why do we need to change the battlefield? Where is the best place to change it?"

"The battlefield must be as far away from us as possible... Otherwise, if we lose the battle, the evil dragon will fly over and breathe fire to burn us all to death!"

Imosen thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Four hundred and twenty kilometers... The farthest distance my wisdom can guide is four hundred kilometers... Bell, can your guardian spirit withstand a battle four hundred kilometers away?"

"No problem at all! The battlefield is set to be 400 kilometers southwest. The time, um, is about two days from now... By then, the Dragon King should be here."