A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 441 The Imperial Army's Empty City Stratagem?

"Super-level?" For a moment, no one could understand. Unfortunately, most of the mages and apprentices were quickly dismissed by Master Poincaré, leaving only Snow, Caroline, and Rorschach, who claimed to have just swum over from the Seine.

After using [Mirror Flower Water Moon] for a long time, he was indeed soaking wet.

"It's tenth-ring magic! I counted twice, and all eleven rings of the Tree of Truth are lit up!"

Rorschach and Caroline knew that the "Tree of Truth" the master spoke of referred to was the Tree of Law. Poincaré thought for a moment and his expression changed. Only Snow, who had just drunk his fifth bottle of concentrated violet, let out a bewildered burp.

"You've reached the Primal Layer? You saw the upside-down giant tree? Is the legend true?"

Kano ignored the other archmage's three consecutive questions: "The key point is! Ten rings! Super-rank! Spell!" He calmed himself down: "Although the nodes on the last two rings are still very faint, they have begun to flicker. Even if it requires a large-scale ritual, it is probably already in the preparation stage and could be activated at any time."

The audience members present were all terrified. Even though the possibility of a long-lost, legendary super-level spell reappearing was extremely slim, they could not ignore it, because Kano had confidently proclaimed that it was necromancy-based.

Historically, the first recorded appearance of a super-ninth-ring spell, possibly from the necromancy system, occurred at the end of the Second War of the Gods, before the Great Extinction of the Symbolic Realm. A plague swept across the continent, taking even more lives than those affected by the war between the gods.

We cannot let even the smallest possibility slip by.

"What means do we have to detect it? Inform the guild, then begin divination?" Poincaré's mind raced. However, his suggestion was interrupted by Cano:

"We can't report this to the guild, as it might leak information and alert the spellcasters, causing them to hide." Canobi, who was simply researching and teaching at the Tower of Stars, understood the current state of the magic guild better than Poincaré. He chose a compromise: "Let the Tower of Time, which has divination skills, try it, and then notify the Towers of Forest, Storm, Light, and Darkness."

"And the Arcane Tower," Caroline reminded her.

The Archmage objected: "No, the mages under Feuerbach are probably unreliable right now. Inform these mage towers first, and tell them to keep it a secret. We should even inform the Church of Order—no, only inform those charlatans after I give the order."

In addition to issuing a report, the existing forces of the Tower of Stars must also take action. However, the only clue at present is "suspected necromancy," and it is even possible that the Earth Mother's Order has been resurrected, since Her powers also have the cycle of life and death.

Secondly, the most suspicious is the renowned necromancer archmage and chief of the Imperial Army. Currently, the Holy Kingdom and the Empire are at war. If he can truly ignore the Holy Kingdom's archmage's deterrence and checks and balances and unleash a tenth-circle spell, he might be able to instantly overturn the current war situation.

"Insane!" Kano was still cursing as they drove the speedboat towards the Starlight Torch Tower. Their primary concern was protecting Valuwana, which was naturally the most likely target for any enemy attack using high-level magic.

Since they didn't know what kind of spell the "sword" hanging above their heads that hadn't fallen was, their defense was in a very passive position. Fortunately, Valuwana had a glorious history of withstanding attacks from riotous archangels, and the combination of Starlight Torch Tower Amplifier Garosha was reliable.

But what if the heart of the republic isn't the primary objective?

As they approached their destination, the speedboat slowed down, and only then could Rorschach see clearly that the pastoral avenue where nobles and high judges used to stroll had been replaced by rows of guillotines. Passersby were all dressed in tattered clothes and hurried along, indifferently stepping over the bloodstains flowing on the stone bricks.

Caroline was deeply shocked by the sight.

"Good news! Good news!" The newsboy's clear cries echoed through the street, rousing pedestrians to their spirits as they eagerly awaited the newsboy's announcement of the victory.

A child waving a newspaper responded to this expectation: "The main force of the National Guard has captured the Moncado fortress and recaptured the capital of the Condi region! The liberation of the motherland is just around the corner!"

The common people cheered, but the mages who heard the same news were thunderstruck. Kano, who had been following the war closely, knew that even if the National Guard had managed to achieve "victories" in the first two battles, this hastily assembled army could not possibly take the great fortress from the Imperial Army so easily.

The main force of the National Guard is currently concentrated in one city, and the necromancy of the tenth ring is in preparation. The last time the Imperial Army Chief appeared was when the Imperial Army decisively defeated the Church's holy war forces, and he showed signs of heading south.

A terrible thought took shape in Kano's mind. He wasn't afraid of the spell itself, but rather of the choice that presented itself—to concentrate his forces to defend Valuvana, or to go to Moncado Fortress?

Numerous clues point to the latter, but what if, by any chance, he made the wrong choice? Kano is the chief of the Tower of Stars, and at this moment, and in the future, he alone must take responsibility for this decision.

A breeze from the river swept over him. Having just witnessed the starry sky, Cano took a deep breath and placed his hand on Rorschach's shoulder: "Without the amplification of the Starlight Tower, could you stop a tenth-ring spell?"

"I'd like to know too, so let me give it a try."

"Master Luo Xia," the young man saw a rare seriousness in his teacher's expression, "this is not the time to casually say 'give it a try.' I don't know your stance, which country you support, or what system you support."

"I must tell you that if a tenth-ring necromancy spell is actually activated, and a mage kills tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even more civilians, it will cause serious harm to both the caster and the ordinary people, resulting in irreversible consequences."

"Times have changed. Everyone will remember this tragedy. Trauma cannot be healed by magic."

"So you must do everything in your power to stop it, okay? Please."

"I understand, it's the student council."

On the outskirts of Condi, the capital, two officers can be seen standing on the last high point of the Moncado fortress.

"I don't understand, we've worked so hard to repair this fortress, and we're just handing it over to them like this!" "Colonel Turtle" put down his binoculars and said indignantly. Due to his outstanding performance in the second battle, Hench was promoted, and now there are two Colonels Richard in the Imperial Army.

However, after completing his second masterpiece—the repair and reinforcement of the Moncado fortress—he was met with orders to withdraw his army from Condi's capital. Faced with the National Guard's disastrous siege, the Imperial Army was merely following orders, fighting and retreating, almost slipping out of the region.

The Richards, at the rear of the procession, witnessed the Valois reclaim their fortress and city.

"It's an order from above."

"The general is a fool!" Hench cursed, coughing twice after getting emotional.

The Imperial Army seems to be suffering from widespread acclimatization issues, with the number of sick soldiers increasing daily during their rest and recuperation at Moncado Fortress. Hench has also contracted a persistent cold.

Richard, who shared a dorm room with her, remained healthy. He shook his head: "I still want to go up there."

"The command headquarters is full of idiots, especially the dumb marshal. Everyone knows he has a friend whose profession is the crown prince."

Richard shook his head again: "I heard it has to be even higher up."

"..." Hench lit a cigarette. "I suddenly realized that His Majesty's decision was extremely wise. This is to lure the enemy deep into our territory, cultivate their arrogance, and make them think that even a siege can be won easily."

"When they rashly leave the city to pursue us, we can launch a surprise attack." It's a pity he hasn't read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, otherwise he could have found more angles to praise it from afar.

Although the rearguard never saw the National Guard emerge from the city.

"Sir, the troops are setting off!" A third horse appeared on the mountaintop, and a junior officer reminded the two men that it was time to depart. The junior officer hesitated for a moment, then decided to report a situation: "Major Schmidt has not returned to the unit."

Richard (French) and Schmidt played a crucial role in the breaching of the fortress, and both knew that there was an ancient mage's secret chamber beneath the Moncado fortress.

Was he trying to explore a secret room? Or had he fallen into a trap? Before the other two could react, Richard left with the words, "I know where he is, you guys go first," and then rode off the mountain.

"Tsk tsk, he jumped from that height." Hench watched Richard speeding towards the fortress and told the junior officer to join the ranks with him: "Don't waste your energy worrying about two mages. At this speed, the colonel can rejoin the team at any time."

Richard was unaware that, in addition to his comrades, his teacher, the chief of staff, was also in a secret chamber inside the Moncado fortress.

(End of this chapter)