039 | Artillery

My knock-off meteor spell that was based on Patricia's was pretty successful. Though there are a lot of cons in using it making it pretty situational.

After chucking the meteor, I grabbed Lisha's waist, carrying her and Rudif out of there.

"Let's not risk having the Grim Reaper chasing after us. My mana pool is quite low after that spell."

Lisha nodded though with a slightly reddened face.

Rudif asked about his cut, "So this Death Magic thing..."

"Don't worry," I said as I made my escape deep into the forest, "There are a few ways to neutralize Death Magic. Taking the root of the spell out or enclosing it if you were hit, or you could overpower the draining properties of Death Magic with a more powerful Rejuvenating spell."

"Is that why you told me not to bother with healing him?"

Seems like Lisha caught on.

"Right," I conjured a Rejuvenating spell on Rudif's cut. Healing his wounds at a fast rate.

"You're merely a newbie in terms of magic, there's no chance you have the control and mana necessary for a higher level Rejuvenating spell."

Lisha nodded her head slowly. Did I hurt her pride by stating the truth?

"I don't mean that you're bad at magic. You just started so you don't have to push yourself to fulfill others' expectations. You're already learning at an extremely fast pace, and that's sufficient enough."

"Alright...It's just that, I thought I was slow in learning magic, even though I have the experience from my past life."

I chuckled, what a funny joke.

"Compared to the average person and the mutt, you're not slow at all."

Rudif retaliated, "H-hey! What does that mean?"

I covered enough distance between the Grim Reaper and us. He wasn't following us, yet. I exhaled through my nose, satisfied, and put the two down.

"You know I could run by myself, right?"

"Can you transform yet, mutt?"

"N-no, but I'm not that wounded-"

"-Then can you match my top speed?"

"N-no..."

Lisha laughed, "Just give it up Rudif, Asher just wanted to make sure no one is left in range of the Grim Reaper's attacks. The faster we left that area, the better."

Rudif clenched his fists, "Asher, I'll be able to transform one day! Then I can EASILY outrun you!"

Well, maybe. Hoping for the best with this mutt. Although, there's no need to have a slow carriage. Transportation is only reliable if it's fast.

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah, do your best, mutt."

* * *

I never thought the day would come when I would witness such an astonishing spell.

I'm Waryun, Captain of the Knights.

It's a fine night today. Perfect for bashing a few skeleton skulls-

-Is what I thought before a meteor formed in the sky and struck the Grim Reaper's army. It was devastating. Us three, the captains, were merely spectators.

Felix was the most impacted out of all of us, ironic since HE'S the Sorcerer, not us.

The meteor began a small pebble in the sky and then slowly grew until it was a large ball of Earth. Whoever these mercenaries are that Pen enlisted to support us, they sure are miracle workers.

Quoting Felix's words, "That single spell, unbelievably, was capable of wiping out approximately half of their entire army. Probably even more if the Grim Reaper hadn't sent out his blades of Death Magic."

Though, that's a good thing. Their numbers were now half of what they started out with.

"And we didn't even do a thing."

I suffered quite the load of backlash from saying that.

"Shut up musclehead, YOU didn't do anything. Haydon defended us while I gave him more magic. Felix helped with thinning out the numbers even more. You just stood there!"

"Indeed, she does pose a valid point. I was hurling quite the number of spells."

"Haha! No need to expect him to do much considering how he is!"

Now I can interpret Haydon's comment in two ways.

One, I'm outright useless and not capable of anything.

Or two, I couldn't do anything BECAUSE I only specialize in Raw Energy.

I'll treat it as the latter.

"Regardless, you'll see me in action eventually."

"Right, but to be honest," Bridgette says, "I think we'd all prefer if none of us had to be in action."

"Haha! That is right! But that would mean that this war didn't exist in the first place!"

Felix shifted his glasses.

"Was there such a skilled Sorcerer lying dormant in Yanalia?"

Obviously, Bridgette, the Captain of the Scouts, whose specialty is information answered.

"None. You of all people should know of Yanalia's prowess. Raw Energy is rarely seen, not to mention those who've awakened their ability to use magic."

"Haha! It truly is quite different from the capital!"

"Then, who ARE those mercenaries? Pen didn't bring in any criminals...did he?"

Bridgette sighed and shook her head, "Now why would he do that? Nonetheless, let's focus on the threat in front of us, shall we?"

Everyone agreed.

The Grim Reaper was still fine. Although Felix mentioned that he sensed his magic power drop a little, he's still equally dangerous. As long as he's able to produce Death spells, we will always need to be on guard.

"So what's the plan?"

Haydon and Bridgette unsheathed their weapons. Felix seems to have picked up a stick from the ground-

"What the hell are you holding?"

Felix looked at me with a disappointed face. His eyes gleamed as if he was indirectly calling me stupid. Which he actually did after.

"You're stupid, this is my catalyst. It's a small wand that I bring along."

Right, Felix mentioned to me a long time ago that catalysts were basically items that promote magic power and control. Every Sorcerer in the Sorcerer's Guild would carry around some sort of catalyst.

"Oh, I thought you just picked up a stick from the ground."

"DOES THIS RESEMBLE A STICK TO YOU!?"

Looking at it with more focus, it still looks like a stick.

"Yes?"

"NOT AT ALL! IT'S STRAIGHT AND SMOOTH. NO TWIG OR STICK CAN OBTAIN THIS STRUCTURE NATURALLY, IT'S OBVIOUSLY ARTIFICIAL!"

Felix pointed out the various parts of his "wand" as if he was giving me a lesson on wand anatomy.

"Nerd."

I could tell he was fuming, though Haydon brought up a good point.

"Haha! We will have to continue that later my friends. He is coming."

It was not the time nor the place to be teasing Felix. That can be saved for another day.

If we even live until then...

The Grim Reaper and his army were charging straight for us. It seems he no longer had any interest in launching Death Magic at us.

"Everyone! Get ready! Archers, fire on my mark!"

I can't be sitting on the sidelines forever. I at least have to uphold my duty as the Captain of the Knights.

I could hear the sounds of bowstrings being pulled and arrows nocked.

Bridgette turned into a splash of water and disappeared.

Haydon and I exchanged a firm nod.

Each of us has to fulfill a role. The royal guards and Haydon will be the vanguard once we can no longer repel their numbers with our artillery. They will charge through and open an area for my knights and Bridgette's scouts to quickly decimate their numbers, hopefully, giving the three of us enough time to take them down.

I looked back and saw everyone get ready. Those that will soon be fighting on the frontlines got into position and the gate closed.

"You're going to stand out here by yourself?"

Felix asked while he crossed his hands. He flipped his wand on his right hand, twirling it around his fingers.

"The Captain always leads. I'm simply doing my duty."

"You don't mind if I stand here with you as well, do you?"

I smiled and shook my head, not at all.

The Grim Reaper's skeleton soldiers came within the firing range.

"Let's get this over with shall we?"

Felix nodded, he pointed his wand at the enemy and started to conjure up a spell. A green magic circle appeared in front of him and rotated around slowly.

The skeletons charged in.

"Fire!"

Hundreds of arrows were shot, they rained down upon the skeletons and took out many of them. Unfortunately, arrows can only do so much against those wearing protective gear. Despite being skeletons, those who had shields raised them up to protect those behind them.

Felix unleashed a flurry of concentrated balls of wind magic, pushing the skeletons back. It was an excellent spell choice, it managed to buy us a little more time to reload.

"Tch."

I looked behind and saw Pen, he gave me a thumbs up.

Good. He and other mercenaries were tasked with helping the squad responsible for our artillery.

"Ready! Fire!"

We shot out a few blasts from our cannons and with our limited catapults, we launched out large boulders which took out dozens of skeletons. Bones scattered around the fields.

"Reload!"

They weren't that close to us but it didn't last very long.

A good ten minutes passed as arrows, boulders, cannonballs, and magic spells rained down from the sky.

I saw a glowing blue fire, were those the Grim Reaper's eyes?

Several thin spears made of pitch-black mana shot up into the air and traveled past my head.

F*ck!

"EVERYONE GET DOWN, AVOID THAT AT ALL COSTS!!"

I'm sure Bridgette and her scouts relayed this information to everyone but it doesn't hurt to make sure.

No one should die off like this.

The spears of Death Magic rained down and struck.

Pen screamed at me, "They took out all our cannons!"

"Damn it. He wants an all-out attack. He's forcing us into a disadvantage."

"Relax, Waryun. You already planned this out with Bridgette and Haydon. It's just occurring faster than expected."

Felix was right. In war, you have to be wary of the unpredictable.

"The skeletons are here, it won't be safe for us if we continue launching volleys of arrows."

"They know. Everyone's probably grabbing a weapon right now."

The Grim Reaper's army was within a few hundred steps.

It's life or death now. You either live or get killed.

The gate lowered and Haydon was leading the charge on horseback with his royal guards following behind as well.

"Haha! None of you must die on my watch!"

His royal guards all replied: "Sir!"

Following them were a mix of mercenaries, knights, and scouts that charged out.

"Don't die, Felix!"

The Sorcerer nodded and went off to do his magical business. My body was covered in a familiar red aura. Raw Energy. I clenched my fists and ran straight into battle.

"For as long as we stand, none shall get to our families! Through my dead body!"