A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 380 Inside and Outside the Moncado Fortress

It seems Mr. Schmidt isn't entirely limited to using evocation techniques. After they infiltrated the fortress, Richard planned to move towards the fortress gate. Although the gate was now sealed off, piling up sandbags, and guarded by artillerymen on both sides, it remained the fortress's weakest point.

However, Schmidt stopped Richard, stating his own thoughts: "Don't you think something's off about today's fight?"

Richard thought about it carefully, but couldn't find anything wrong.

"Morale! Especially the tenacity of the garrison commanders!" Schmidt quickly analyzed, "In the past, the officers of the Holy Kingdom were all good at retreating. This is the first time our army has encountered such a tough opponent. It is very likely that the enemy's tenacity also exceeded the general's expectations, which is why we were able to infiltrate."

"One possibility is that the garrison commander is a tough guy who has enough confidence in the defense of the fortress."

"Secondly, Valuwana is behind Condi, and they are waiting for reinforcements. However, all three legions of the kingdom are tied down, and the capital cannot quickly send out a force capable of fighting us to relieve the siege."

"As a last resort, he still has a trump card! Just as our army has our spellcasters, the enemy also possesses extraordinary power. The defending commander is waiting for his forces to be ready to strike our army."

Schmidt believed the last possibility was most likely, and he had evidence: "The weather suddenly turned gloomy and changed drastically just now, which doesn't seem like winter weather! It's probably not a church charismatic figure, but a sorcerer."

Richard recalled that it was indeed extraordinary.

But the captain had one last concern: "But triggering such a large-scale spell is probably beyond our ability to confront head-on."

"No, if there really is an archmage willing to support the Holy Kingdom's army, then a more effective way would be to directly attack our side and inflict massive casualties. But now the spellcasters are holed up in the fortress, and the battle has been going on for so long; they should have cast their spells long ago." Richard ruled out the possibility of an archmage and instead guessed, "It's probably a group of low- to mid-level mages casting a spell."

Schmidt was only a low-level spellcaster and could not sense the macroscopic flow of magic. Fortunately, Richard was of a higher level and had received instruction from the chief, so he could try to track the magic convergence point in this place.

The two sneaked into a storeroom. Richard held his breath, focusing intently on the flow of magical energy, while simultaneously scattering fine powder. The powder rose into the air and suddenly converged towards the core of the fortress.

"This way!" Upon receiving the instruction, Schmidt did his best to lead Richard through the passages until they approached the secret chamber where a massive amount of magic energy was being released.

"Sirs, how much longer do we need to prepare the magic? The enemy is already at the first line of defense," a soldier's voice came from inside.

"Don't bother us! It'll be ready soon." The three mages were covered in sweat as they surrounded an exquisite wand. The wand was now the magic node within the fortress area, and the crystal at the top of the wand stored a ninth-circle spell, [Vengeful Storm].

The spell's name is fitting; it's their revenge against the invaders, and its effect is well-suited for the battlefield—once completed, enemies without shelter from the elements will face violent damage from wind, rain, lightning, and snow.

Unfortunately, this ancestral alchemical weapon had run out of energy, and a newly promoted intermediate mage and two novice spellcasters who were just there to make up the numbers couldn't even activate the crystal to fully unleash the ninth-circle magic.

They could tell from the messenger's constant reports and urging that the battle was urgent, but there was no use in being anxious. Even if they gritted their teeth until they bled, the spell was still just a little bit short of completion.

So close, so close.

However, a thick fog suddenly appeared in the enclosed space, and this fog also had the effect of absorbing light. The leading intermediate mage quickly realized that the fog was caused by negative energy.

"Enemy attack!" he roared, but the final strike of the ninth-circle spell made all three hesitate for a moment. It was in that instant that they completely lost their chance to counterattack. After Richard finished casting [Death Cloud], Schmidt smoothly followed up and ended the battle.

Richard couldn't help but ask the last survivor, "Will the mages within the Holy Kingdom also join the war? You'll be safe as long as you stay on the sidelines."

The dying monk struggled to reply, "Many people think that way. But I am first and foremost a Valuian, and only then a monk."

"Then you should go to the battlefield, raid key figures, and strike artillery and cavalry positions."

However, the other party was no longer able to reply.

As a low-level spellcaster, Schmidt could empathize with this: "Based on experience, when the density of projectiles and shells on the battlefield reaches a critical value, the [Spirit Armor] spell, which is most commonly used by low-level mages, can no longer provide sustainable protection, and spellcasters need to prioritize preserving their own lives."

"That's no excuse. We can come, and there are three of them who can go to the front lines." Richard picked up his wand. The crystal at the tip of the wand had shattered due to the imbalance of energy within it after it went out of control. Presumably, the large-scale magic intended for the borderlands should also be terminated.

Schmidt shook his head: "Major, most people possess both enthusiasm and cowardice; you shouldn't be too harsh on them. Besides, they have already given their lives for their country."

Meanwhile, Commander Karl grew increasingly anxious, constantly switching between checking his pocket watch and using his telescope. But the magic he awaited never arrived.

The first ring of the fortress has been breached by sporadic explosions, but there is still an even stronger barrier. If an attack is attempted solely through the breach, the bastion's design allows the defenders to layer their firepower, delivering a devastating blow to the invading enemy.

How many demolition teams do we have left?

"Including the reserves, we still have thirteen squads available for the mission, but we're running low on explosives. If this continues, we won't be able to break through the second line of defense. General, should we move the artillery positions forward?"

"Stand by." He picked up the binoculars again and looked at Moncardo across from him.

The turning point finally arrived! Earth and rocks were thrown up, and smoke and dust billowed into the sky. A violent explosion suddenly occurred inside the fortress, the noise drowning out all the sounds of the fighting. It struck the hearts of everyone on the battlefield like a heavy hammer, making them all tremble.

"It's a secondary explosion!" A six-pound cannon definitely couldn't have penetrated inside; it must have been two spellcasters who broke in!

Almost simultaneously, a pillar of fire erupted through the telescope, like the breath of a legendary red dragon washing over the city walls from inside the fortress. The cannons near the fortress gate were destroyed one after another, and the defenders lost their lives in the flames before they could even find the enemy.

"Great!" Karl cheered excitedly. He saw the massive iron-clad wooden fortress gate collapse with a crash after losing its hinges and support. The Holy Kingdom soldiers behind the sandbags were left only with horror and panic, and had no will to fight left.

Karl issued the final crucial order for the Battle of Moncado: "All troops, charge! Attack! Attack!"

"The capital of the Condi region has also fallen. According to the map, Valuvana is in danger." Rorschach sighed upon receiving the telegram reporting the battle situation.

He still thought the Holy Kingdom had some strength, but he didn't expect that the three legions would be beaten badly by the Imperial Army in the east and west of the kingdom, and then the battle to defend the capital would be launched quickly.

This battle situation was also beyond Byrne's expectations. His Majesty Albert did not expect that the Imperial Army had accumulated such strength. Feuerbach's plan to instigate him to declare independence and stab the Empire in the back was also shelved.

Upon receiving the news, Andrei was somewhat disheartened. After all, he was a Valois, and although life in Bain was stable, he still had the urge to return to his homeland and support the front lines.

Andrei was in charge of compiling the information, and he also obtained intelligence that "the defenders' fortress exploded at the last moment, and the city gate was destroyed by magic from the inside."

"No doubt about it, it was done by the Imperial Army, probably one of my classmates from the academy." Rorschach stroked his chin. "Now, surely some of the mages in the Holy Kingdom will be upset, right? The old folks can tolerate it, but I don't believe that passionate young people can stand by and watch their country fall."

Whether the Holy Kingdom attacked under the banner of defending the homeland and the achievements of the Great Transformation, or the current special military operation of the Empire aimed at "ending the chaos in the Holy Kingdom and restoring the authority and stable order of Charles XVI," this war has gone beyond the scope of past conflicts between lords. On the festering wounds of the battle, more spellcasters will inevitably be drawn into it.

"Let's get to work quickly, so we can take advantage of the chaos." For some reason, Rorschach was a little worried about his senior brother. He had a feeling that Pascal might go to the battlefield.

"There's one more thing," Andrei said, saving the most important one for last: "His Majesty the King has sent a letter inviting you, teacher, to the palace tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)