Marvel Magic Case Files

Even without a direct hit, and without the use of power armor or other protective measures, this was the first time Tatiana had ever seen someone survive a hit from a plasma pistol. However, she wasn't sure how long this fragile life could last, because the equally charred skin beneath the blackened robe was rapidly swelling.

The shield blocked most of the heat, but the heat escaping from the edges of the shield was too much for an unskilled sorcerer to withstand. This overly dull psionicist couldn't even cast another protective spell before losing focus due to the heat in the air and being scorched by the incandescent plasma flames.

Before the field medic arrived, no one knew how long the arcane apprentice would live. However, Tatiana didn't care much about the apprentice's life or death; she only paused briefly before continuing to lead her squad forward. As the vanguard of the arrowhead formation, she and her fellow combat sisters were also responsible for providing cover as the engineers of the First Secret Regiment installed the molten metal.

The heavy gates used to separate the courtyards of Kamar-Taj are not something that can be pushed open or destroyed by ordinary human power. The tactical plan states that the gates, imbued with psionic magic, are strong enough to withstand a single shot from an Abrams main battle tank, or more precisely, an M829 A4 depleted uranium fin-stabilized discarding sabot round fired from an Rh-120 smoothbore gun.

No matter how strong the armor is, it is not indestructible under the action of subatomic flames and metal jets.

Tatiana stepped to the side and left the cover, turning her gun and quickly passing through the destroyed metal and wooden gate. Soldiers and combat sisters from the First Secret Regiment poured in through the gap created by the molten metal bomb, while sparks flickered from the circuit board-like psionic traces along the edge of the gap.

She slammed her armored knee into a sorcerer wielding a Vatum's Scepter, simultaneously shattering the swinging Living Tribunal's Scepter mid-air with astonishing marksmanship. Another soldier rushed forward, incapacitating the sorcerer with his stun weapon. Tatiana frowned but didn't interfere further. Clearly, these soldiers of the First Secret Regiment were adhering to the operational principles given by the Regent and the Emperor. Considering the bombardment undertaken to break the Kamar-Taj psionic shield, it was best to de-escalate the situation while these sorcerers were on edge; unnecessary casualties would only escalate the conflict.

However, the Sisterhood viewed these sorcerers' act of rebellion as a blatant disregard for the Emperor's authority, deserving severe punishment. Even human girls like Tatiana held this view, let alone the androids.

"Calm down, we are the Emperor's soldiers." The First Secret Regiment assault team leader shouted repeatedly through the megaphone, "Those behind the door, do not resist, we will escort you to a safe area. Kamar-Taj is now under martial law, do not engage in any futile resistance, or you will be considered the enemy."

Similar announcements were also repeated on the loudspeakers of the armored vehicles behind.

The Royal Guard, Amphitryon, entered the courtyard and saw a group of sorcerers being controlled by gun barrels.

"What should we do, Modu?"

"Should we wake up the old man dormant in the meditation room?"

"Should we inform the Venerable Master?"

Hearing the faint sounds approaching from afar, Mordo narrowed his eyes, his expression turning hostile, his fingers gripping the Scepter of the Living Tribunal tightly. "Silence! His Holiness is in seclusion. Do not disturb him," he shouted, calming the mystical deacons around him, including the semi-retired guardian of the New York Temple, Master Daniel. "All the evidence points to the Sorcerer Supreme's disciple having betrayed Kamar-Taj. He knows us. Even if we open the barrier and seal Kamar-Taj as His Holiness instructed, he can still break through the most powerful protective spell." He addressed the mystics, "He will come here. His target is the Sorcerer Supreme. We must stop him by all means possible. We absolutely cannot let him disturb His Holiness!"

Not all of Kamar-Taj's barriers were destroyed, but Mordo, who controlled a portion of them, still sensed that many of the psionic nodes in the outer courtyard were under attack. The speed at which the destruction was happening, from the psionic ley lines to the decorations in the courtyard, could only mean that the Emperor had provided crucial intelligence, and only someone so trusted by His Holiness could know such confidential information.

"Why didn't the Venerable One step in to stop him?"

"I don't know, but His Holiness must have a good reason," Mordo said coldly. With the outermost psionic shield breached, the temperature in the backyard was plummeting; a thin layer of ice had formed on the water tanks, and many robed mages were beginning to feel the cold. "Today I will request the Sorcerer Supreme's intervention. Even if everyone perishes before then, we must do everything in our power to stop the greatest traitor in Kamar-Taj's history."

Mordo tried hard to control his expression, afraid of venting his anger on others.

"Karmar-Taj raised him, giving him all knowledge and power, and yet he turned around and attacked this sanctuary, attempting to murder the Sorcerer Supreme! This is the greatest disgrace to Kamar-Taj. I said from the beginning, do not adopt him, do not let him live in Kamar-Taj! If I hadn't seen the cannonballs, I would never have believed he would do such a thing!"

"Why would he do that?" asked Master Daniel in a languid tone that seemed out of place with the surrounding atmosphere.

Dozens of arcane mages hurried past them, carrying common artifacts from the armory. One of them handed a sword to Mordo before immediately turning to organize the mages for defense. They planned to temporarily construct a psionic barrier to withstand potential heavy artillery bombardment. Sorcerer Daniel watched as Mordo sheathed the powerful Dragonfang Sword on his back—a trophy of the Sorcerer Supreme, from a dragon in the Aether Sea. After defeating the dragon, the Sorcerer Supreme had sanctified and forged the fang into this powerful longsword. It was a dangerous weapon, forbidden even to temple deacons without the Sorcerer Supreme's permission—Mordo noticed the strange looks from the others but ignored them, offering no explanation.

"We all know he's very rational; he must have had a reason for doing this. So what is that reason?"

"I don't know! It could be ambition, it could be some kind of curse, or it could be that he finally believes he can expose his vicious betrayal without restraint! The Cosmic Cauldron gave no clues, indicating that this betrayal was premeditated, even going so far as to erase all traces of the conspiracy in the Etheric Sea. We've all been deceived!"

Mordo gritted his teeth, the scepter of the Tribunal of Life in his hand constantly spewing sparks, poised to strike.

"I don't care about the reasons, I only know that he will come here, and his target is the Sorcerer Supreme! Now, everyone go to the front yard to organize the resistance forces and gather those low-ranking apprentices who don't know what's going on. We must ensure the safety of the apprentices! We must also notify the mages in the Moon's Attilan Fortress, especially Magister Hamil and Magister Wu Guiyue, to remind them that the act of betrayal is taking place."

"Why hasn't the Venerable One shown himself since returning from the void?" Venerable Daniel asked in his usual lazy tone. "Is this related to his actions? Have we misunderstood the cause and effect? ​​You are the only one who saw the Venerable One after his return from the void. We heard that all the orders issued by the Venerable One were conveyed by you. Do you know any clues?"

"Don't point your suspicions at me, Guardian Daniel." Mordo suppressed his anger, lest he punch the old man in the face. "The flames of betrayal have spread to Kamar-Taj, and we were completely unprepared. The Library has fallen; the genetic monsters he created lurk in its darkness, and the dungeons have been overrun by his terrifying machines. We must repel this attack and reclaim everything that belongs to Kamar-Taj."

Why don't you ask the Lady of Calamity?

"That madwoman? Although His Holiness took her in, who knows if the one manipulating her isn't that disgrace of Kamar-Taj? A puppet used to cover up his betrayal!" Mordo scoffed at the suggestion. "I don't want you to raise objections again, Mage Daniel. The most important thing now is to defeat the traitors. If you have any ideas, you should raise them with His Holiness after the war!"

"One last question, Mordo. Do you think His Holiness would be unaware of his plans?"

The heavy assault transport boat released its clamps, and the anti-gravity engines of the Guardian Order's anti-gravity armored vehicles immediately started. The hydraulic ramps slowly lowered, revealing only two awakened servants in the empty crew compartment. Amon accompanied the Emperor and Wanda Maximfa onto the anti-gravity armored vehicle. He entered the driver's compartment and ordered the servants connected to the driver's seat to proceed along a pre-set route—the only road leading to Kamar-Taj headquarters. Once the Emperor had sufficient assets and personnel, he immediately repaired this road, transforming it into a sturdy path capable of accommodating armored vehicles and war engines. The Sisterhood's armored vehicles proceeded along this road until they reached the gates of Kamar-Taj—the Emperor did not sit in the crew compartment; he continuously observed the internal movements of Kamar-Taj through feedback images from reconnaissance drones on his data panel.

The servant came up to wipe Amon's armor, as usual carrying out a trivial but very important pre-battle preparation.

The Imperial Guard waved the servant aside; he had no interest in repeating a ceremony that had already been performed.

Only after Wanda Maximov was secured with her seatbelt did the Imperial Guard begin to speak with the Emperor.

"Modu will stop our forces, and under his organization, the other mages will also stop us." Amon's voice could only be heard over the communication channel. "Even if they don't know it, their act of resistance will make them accomplices. You have already shown them enough mercy; there is no need to worry excessively about their safety. You have done more than enough for them."

"I will explain the situation to them, but if they remain obstinate, I will kill them myself." Amon seemed to see a fleeting look of pain on the Emperor's face. "We must act quickly to salvage the situation before it deteriorates further. The veil of the dream is about to open; I must ensure the Venerable One's soul remains pure, and I must also ensure the safety of this world."

"The Sorcerer Supreme should not have fallen into such a trap, My Lord. Was your decision to go to Kamar-Taj also part of the Sorcerer Supreme's plan?"

"It makes no difference whether it is or isn't. I have made a vow that I must go to Kamar-Taj, whether to save the Sorcerer Supreme or to save humanity."