"Why are they firing arrows at a time like this? Damn it, how did the wind change?"
Looking at the rain of arrows flying toward him, Melibra felt both puzzled and unlucky.
However, he had no idea that none of this was accidental, the enemy commanded a power far beyond his imagination.
His personal guards instinctively stepped in front of him, raising their shields.
Arrows struck the shields one after another with dull thuds. The force of the impacts made the guards' arms tremble, but at least they managed to hold them off.
Unfortunately, ordinary soldiers were not so fortunate.
Because the charge order had been issued hastily, the formation of the Heracleopolis army had already become chaotic as they ran forward.
Egyptian soldiers already lacked proper armor.
Although many carried leather shields, in such a disordered formation it was impossible to form a tight shield wall, and a single leather shield could not fully protect even one person.
The locust-like rain of arrows continued to fall. Many soldiers were struck, crying out in pain as they collapsed to the ground.
The charging formation quickly became sparse.
"Damn it! Everyone, charge faster! We only have a chance if we close the distance!"
Melibra now fully understood the enemy's sinister intent. The alternating attacks of archers and catapults were designed to inflict maximum casualties.
The explosive stone projectiles from the catapults were impossible to defend against, but their volleys were limited in number, if the formation was spread out, the losses could be reduced.
However, to defend against arrows, they needed a dense formation, using shields to create a defensive wall.
With both weapons attacking at once, Melibra was immediately forced into a dilemma.
But after only a moment's thought, he decided to continue charging in a relatively loose formation.
At the very least, although a loose formation could not defend against arrows, it could reduce the damage to some extent.
The army under Melibra's command truly lived up to being elite troops he had personally trained.
Even under heavy casualties, they continued their charge toward the enemy.
Eighty paces.
Sixty paces.
Fifty paces.
Forty paces.
Thirty paces…
Under normal circumstances, Egyptian armies would stop at thirty paces and exchange fire with their primitive bows.
But Melibra still did not give the order to halt.
He knew that if he wanted to break the enemy in one decisive blow, he absolutely could not stop at this moment.
Otherwise, once the soldiers were no longer focused on charging and had time to notice the casualties around them, they would fall into despair, after all, losses had already exceeded thirty percent, and lose the will to fight.
Yes, under the long-range attacks of arrows and catapults, the Heracleopolis army had already suffered nearly five thousand casualties.
On the Pharaoh's side, however, Nitocris watched as the enemy drew closer, maintaining a calm and composed expression, as if what approached her was nothing more than a swarm of ants.
The generals and soldiers around her had initially felt uneasy seeing the enemy closing in, but upon noticing their commander's unwavering composure, unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before her, they quickly steadied themselves.
As the enemy crossed the thirty-meter line, Nitocris finally raised her hand once more.
"Mage corps," she called out loudly, "follow my magical guidance! Metamagic, Multiple Casting, Spell Extension, Spell Shaping, Ra's Solar Flare Burst!"
At her command, the mage corps immediately formed a unified casting formation, with Nitocris herself acting as the conductor of the ritual.
Only now did people witness the true brilliance of this Queen of Magic.
Under the guidance of the ring formation, immense magical power flowed between the mage corps and Nitocris.
The pure energy radiated dazzling light. Her long purple hair fluttered, and her entire body lifted into the air, suspended within the field of magic like a divine being.
"What kind of trick is this now?"
Watching the Pharaoh floating three feet above the ground, arms spread and eyes closed, Melibra's frown deepened as he charged forward.
He could no longer comprehend his opponent at all.
This strange supernatural power sent a chill through his heart.
Unfortunately, he had no idea what the enemy was preparing, let alone how to counter it. The only thing he could do was continue charging, charging, and charging again.
He did not know that he was leading his men straight toward the path of the underworld.
For the ordinary mages of the war mage corps, Ra's Solar Flare Burst was undoubtedly an advanced spell far beyond their reach.
They could not cast it alone, let alone apply three layers of metamagic enhancements.
Multiple Casting allowed several Solar Flare Bursts to be released simultaneously from a single preparation.
Spell Extension expanded the area of effect, allowing more enemies to be engulfed.
Spell Shaping altered the spell's form. Originally, the Solar Flare Burst affected a spherical area centered on a single point, indiscriminately affecting all within.
But under Spell Shaping, it now only affected the direction of the enemy.
Within the ring formation, each mage performed their role.
The spell was broken down into numerous components, handled collectively by the mages, while the critical control nodes remained firmly in Nitocris's hands.
As each mage reported readiness through their mental link, Nitocris finally opened her eyes.
Filled with immense magical power, her eyes now emitted a violet glow.
"Ra's Solar Flare Burst!"
Pointing forward with her hand, Nitocris unleashed the spell at last.
Two or three blazing spheres of light, like miniature suns descending to earth, appeared in the sky above the enemy army.
These suddenly appearing orbs drew everyone's attention, but their brilliance was overwhelming.
Those who looked directly at them felt as though they were staring at the sun itself, their vision spinning with dizziness.
Those closer even felt sharp pain in their eyes.
"W-What… what are those?" Melibra glanced up at the spheres, then immediately shut his eyes, deeply unsettled by their origin.
"Is this… the power of the gods?" A chill ran through his heart. If that were true, then they were truly doomed.
In the next moment, the spheres erupted silently.
Melibra's army was instantly engulfed in light.
Light!
Light!
Light!
Blinding radiance filled everything. The army of Heracleopolis was swallowed by the golden brilliance of the blazing sun.
Even closing their eyes could not block its terrifying penetration.
Just as the spell's name implied, its essence was the light and heat of the sun itself.
Within a fan-shaped area extending dozens of meters from the point of detonation, every soldier felt an unbearable burning sensation, as if they had been thrown into the sun.
In mere seconds, they were reduced to ashes.
Those farther away did not die, but the overwhelming light completely destroyed their retinas. From that moment on, they were likely to remain blind for the rest of their lives.
Such was the terror of a legion spell.