A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 405 Turning Point

Richard experienced the unpleasant feeling of the anti-magic tsunami for the second time. It was not only the surging waves that disrupted his magic, but also the emptiness and pain of the spellcaster, like a fish thrown into the desert, as the environmental magic was expelled.

His colleagues around him also looked dizzy and groaned at the airship in the sky.

At this moment, the Empire was surprisingly on the defensive. The enemy was charging like madmen, disrupting both infantry lines. Richard desperately wanted to join the battle; his rigorous training ensured that even without magical abilities, he possessed ample martial spirit.

However, the entire mage corps was on standby, and the other accompanying mages might not be as skilled in both magic and physical arts as he was.

Fortunately, the enemy had not yet reached this area. The hastily assembled National Guard did not have enough cavalry to penetrate the enemy's lines.

Richard's relief was short-lived. A shell struck the mage squad, sending them sprawling. Several more shells followed, and Richard realized this was no accident. He immediately removed his Imperial Army mage robes and shouted, "We're locked on! Spread out! Take cover!"

He tightened the reins and dispersed to areas outside the artillery fire zone. Fortunately, the shells were not very powerful, and he was only scratched on the right cheek by flying lead scrapers.

"Those who can't cast spells are truly fragile," he thought, wiping away the blood and observing where the artillery fire was coming from. After identifying Paul and Pascal's positions, he quickly planned a route and estimated the time.

When I arrive, my spellcasting ability will be restored.

"Those who still have fighting power, follow me!" he called out, and two spellcasters joined his group, skillfully avoiding the main battlefield and charging toward the artillery positions.

Meanwhile, the Second Artillery Battalion, oblivious to the approaching danger, was ecstatic. Colonel Drouot, noticing the artillery battalion's concentrated fire, arrived at the position: "Hey! Who gave you permission to change targets!"

"Sir, look! We've wiped out an elite cavalry force!" An observer pointed to Drouot.

The colonel was pleased upon seeing it: "Well done! Who? Who discovered it?"

Paul was immediately praised. However, Pascal remained calm: "Our focused fire might reveal our position, so..."

Before he could finish speaking, a large cloud of dark green mist suddenly rose from the front lines, and Valois soldiers could be seen falling at the edge of the mist.

After the charge, Richard's already weakened lines were easily breached by his men, who advanced straight to the high ground. Emerging from the fog, the mages behind him began casting illusions to conceal themselves. Pascal stared into the thick fog, then realized his spellcasting ability had returned. He immediately activated Arcane Vision and witnessed three beams of light bursting out of the fog.

"Enemy attack! Three enemy mages!" Pascal's roar shattered the cheerful atmosphere at the artillery position, and Paul tensed up as well. Drouot immediately made a decision: "Odd-numbered gun crews, load your rifles and prepare to fire! Even-numbered gun crews, move your guns!"

However, in Pascal's vision, the figure of the approaching person gradually became clearer, and the magical inspiration outlined hooves. Combined with the speed of the charge, it could be determined that the other party was riding a horse, and the horse displayed extraordinary jumping ability, climbing and approaching as quickly as a ibex.

The leader, who released poison mist, broke through the infantry line. One of them was responsible for illusionary invisibility, while the other provided movement enhancement. The combat skills displayed by the Imperial Army's accompanying mages made Pascal's scalp tingle.

"They're here," Pascal warned as he prepared to cast his spell. No sooner had he spoken than three men and three horses appeared, swooping down from the sky. Richard, the leader, delivered a heavy stomp to Pascal, who was observing from the edge of the highlands.

Unfortunately, Pascal had already erected a barrier. The horse's hooves trembled as if they had stepped on metal, causing it to neigh. Richard had already flipped over and, after determining that the opponent was using a [Force Field Wall], he delivered a punch with [Corrosive Claw] to the barrier. The magical punch disrupted the force field.

However, Pascal's defenses were not completely breached; beneath the dissipated force field lay a second [blue light barrier].

The situation was beyond Richard's expectations. First, he did not expect there to be mages in the artillery positions. Second, he did not expect that the mages of Valuwa were not bad in combat, and that they were able to set up two different defensive barriers in a very short time.

Pascal's first thought was: Thank goodness it wasn't Rorschach!

He began preparing his next spell, shouting, "Paul!"

Without Pascal's command, Paul was already prepared to attack. The enemy was coming from below and needed time to gain a foothold, so Paul immediately used a move he had used against Rorschach: [Acid Splash]!

Richard's horse was struck by the concentrated acid before it could dodge, and a pitiful cry rang out. The mage on horseback was forced to abandon his mount, letting it tumble down the hillside, and scramble back up himself. Clearly, Richard was not alone; this mage accompanying the army was also unprepared for the presence of spellcasters among the enemy.

Pascal completed his spell, and not only him, but Paul and his other comrades also received the [Battle Inspiration] buff. This was the result of his training; previously, he could only apply it to himself, but now all five of them received the buff.

Paul, his spirits lifted, swung his dagger and stabbed the dismounted mage, then rolled and shoved Pascal away from Richard. With an opening, the artillerymen, having loaded their muskets, immediately seized the opportunity to fire.

As expected, the Imperial mages blocked the barrage with their shields, but Pascal and Paul gained the upper hand again. Pascal conjured a fireball, which was only slightly larger than his head due to insufficient power. Paul, however, skillfully threw out an unknown alchemical potion, which swelled up after entering the fireball and transformed into a more dangerous blue flame.

Richard dodged it, but his companion did not; a man covered in blue flames screamed and tumbled to the ground.

Richard realized the situation was dire; their initial surprise attack had lost its advantage. Still on horseback, he looked down at the two enemy mages and nodded: "Richard."

"Hupaska".

"Paul, you're a nobleman? Then tell me your surname. I'm from Gascecogne."

Before Paul could finish speaking, Richard suddenly opened his mouth wide, and a scorching, torrent of flames shot out, sweeping across the artillery position like a dragon's breath.

"Playing dirty tricks! Your behavior is disgraceful to the nobility!" Paul was still cursing when Pascal was doing his best to set up a barrier. Soon, Paul's blue light barrier was also activated. However, even with their combined efforts, dragon breath still hit their comrades and destroyed a cannon.

Fortunately, the artillery had already prioritized moving the gunpowder, so there was no secondary explosion. For Richard, it was a regret; he retreated on horseback amidst the flames, pulling up his comrades, who were covered in burns, at the foot of the mountain.

Not only Richard, but the entire Imperial army retreated. The airships that had penetrated deep into the Valois army were also intercepted by mages who had regained their spellcasting abilities, failing to achieve the effect the Imperial army had hoped for.

As the smoke cleared and the flowing blood stained the fields black, the soldiers of Valois stood firm, watching the enemy move in the opposite direction from the capital.

"We have won! Valuvana is safe! Our motherland is saved!"

Although the National Guard achieved victory despite heavy casualties, the sparse number of soldiers standing on the front lines indicated that they were no longer able to pursue and could only watch the Imperial Army retreat in an orderly fashion.

Regardless, the imperial forces had met their first major obstacle, their invincible status had been shattered, and the lightning operation planned by the command was on the verge of collapse.

As winter turned to spring, the war on the mainland reached a turning point.

(End of this chapter)