Avaros spread his arms, an arc of lightning forming between his palms.
"[Chain Lightning]!" He shouted, and an arc of electricity spread through the invading monsters and savages.
A bead of sweat ran down his face. I hope Azure handles the leader quickly. I am starting to get exhausted!
Then, a wave of screamers besieged the gate. "Everyone, cover your ears!"
For a moment, the spell barrage stopped and was replaced by a grating shriek from the opposing side.
The enemy took the opportunity, and the large monstrosities charged into the gate.
Besomars and Bauks hit the purple barrier, making it wobble and sending a shockwave through the walls.
He snapped toward Mia. "Mia, we won't be able to hold onto this position for long. Do we have a way to retreat?"
The girl conjured a slicing whirlwind, which she quickly launched toward the besomars. She then withdrew her weapon and shot at the distant screamer, knocking it over, yet only doing minor damage.
"We can retreat toward the main academy building, but we will be surrounded on all sides!" She responded, shooting the charging bauk, making it stumble.
Avaros rubbed his chin. His eyes scanned the melee defenders who were busy at work constructing hasty barriers.
That won't work, without Azure or Sheira, the building will quickly be demolished. He lifted his head upward, observing the barrier, which was still being besieged by various spells.
Neither will this defense last forever. He swiped his hand, and countless shards of ice formed around him. He stretched his hand forward and closed his fist, conjuring an artificial blizzard inside the monster ranks.
A rumble on earth reached them from the west.
At least Sheira seems to have her area handled. He grinned and continued pushing himself, fire, earth, and ice, he had to put everything he had access to if his friends were to survive.
It was his duty as Aqua's friend to do all in his power to protect what she cherished.
I kind of don't want to know what will happen if Azure or Sheira dies. He shuddered.
"This is bad!" Mia shouted, forcing Avaros and other defenders to glance at her.
"They are sending a detachment to the eastern segment!" A panic seeped into her voice.
Since when do the beasts use coordinated attacks?
It was unprecedented. The beginning of the assault made sense: they were charging at them and their defenses, yet now they were sending forces to split the defenders.
"Lady Mia, Lady Aurora, please take the melee combatants and attempt to defend the eastern wall! I need to remain here!"
The two ladies saluted and quickly gestured for Enlil and the rest of the melee combatants to follow them.
He was left on the wall with only four other spell-capable professors, yet they were looking ragged, sweat ran down their faces, and their bodies shook.
They are on the verge of mana exhaustion.
Another rumble reverberated from the west, causing the walls to shake.
Come on, princess. There is no way you haven't won yet. A faint smell of melted flesh invaded his nose.
The earth shook, and the savages retreated.
Huh? He could not relax, something felt horribly wrong.
The stench grew thicker, and the ground shook violently.
In the distance, a massive green creature, covered in eyes and tentacles, melted everything around it.
Avaros widened his eyes. "Argus! Everyone retreat!" he barked the order.
The legendary monster drew closer and stopped some distance away from the gate. It shrank back, and its unsettling eyes stared right at him.
Before Avaros could even blink, a glob of Argussian Acid hit the barrier, melting it away.
Despite its attempts to reconstruct, the barrier was eaten, leaving a gaping hole in it.
The professors and Avaros scrambled from the wall.
"Argus…" Zora said, his fingers shaking. "The vile goddess wishes for our end". The other professors shrank into themselves, their hope leaving them.
"We cannot surrender to fear!"
Not like I am any less afraid. Despite his fear, it was his duty as future duke to remain steadfast against any danger and protect his people.
"Sheira, Azure. Come on, get over here quickly!" He said, gritting his teeth.
The spells rained inside the barrier, battering the field around them. Avaros quickly erected a barrier around him and the professors, yet the power forced him to his knees.
The wooden gate that prevented the invading force from entering melted away, an Argussian tentacle pushing through the wood as if it were water, allowing the horde of monsters and savages to push through into the courtyard.
"Retreat into the building!" Avaros ordered, and the defenders ran as fast as their legs could carry them, leaving only him to face the invaders led by an Argus. "I will at least buy them time!"
A true noble fears no death! He grinned. A lightning arc formed in his hands.
He raised his hands in the air, and the lightning spread through the incoming attack. "Come at me, savages. I will die with honor befitting a duke!"
A lightning strike pierced through the dozens of savages, and the monster troops were stunned for a mere moment.
Yet, that moment was all that was needed. A massive pillar of white fire engulfed the invaders, its heat making Avaros sweat and close his eyes as the flame consumed the enemies, leaving no trace behind, with the sole exception of Argus.
"Finally, you came to assist?" He asked, exhaling and wiping sweat from his brow.
"Sorry about the wait, I had to deal with a couple of very strange, spindly monsters that just wouldn't die," Sheira said, rubbing the back of her head.
The Argus launched the attack, its tentacle slamming into Sheira's back.
The princess looked behind her. "Rude," She said, grabbing the tentacle and bringing the Argus close to her.
She looked into its numerous eyes before pushing her tongue out and launching a powerful punch right into the middle of its head.
The monster tumbled back, crashing into the invading horde.
"Avaros, go assist others. I can handle it from here."
The young heir nodded and bolted away from the battlefield. "Don't need to tell me twice! I will go assist Mia and Aurora."
Sheira rubbed her shoulders. "At least you take damage, unlike those creatures."
She stretched her hand forward, and the massive fireball was sent flying toward the Argus. It crossed its tentacles, and the fire slowly pushed and burned, yet soon the Argus was able to defend against the spell.
The monster's eyes glinted, and she felt her whole being pushed into the ground.
Each moment in combat, instead of getting tired, she gained energy. The thrill of the battle filled her very soul.
"Now I see why Azure likes combat!" Sheira shouted, conjuring an immense amount of power between her hands.
The Argus lunged forward, its acidic tentacle hitting her body, yet while her clothing dissolved at the touch, her body remained unharmed.
No monster, including Argus, could harm the divine flesh.
Sheira grinned, her eyes glancing at the stalled horde. If she had defeated Argus in front of the savages, then the horde would most certainly retreat.
She charged forth, unleashing her divinity, making the air crackle with electricity.
She ran behind the Argus and dug her hand into its acidic flesh. Instead of losing her hand, she conjured a ball of fire, making the monster's hide expand and burst open.
The princess jumped back and wiped the remaining flesh off her.
Yet, despite the damage, the monster remained moving, its eyes staring at her with malice.
Legends weren't kidding about that thing's durability. I know my divinity is dampened, but that was a lot of pure mana!
The blood of Argus dripped onto the stone, melting it away.
She lunged forth and grabbed its tentacle.
She spun around and soon launched the Argus into the atmosphere, then she stretched her hand toward it, and a barrage of fireballs enveloped its form.
A rain of acid fell over the academy, destroying parts of the wall and the structures inside.
Whoops. She shrank back.
The rain also hit the horde, melting both monsters and savages alike, leaving them as only a mere puddle of acid.
Seeing the destruction of their most powerful monster, the horde turned its tail and ran. A warhorn resounded once more, yet this time in retreat.
Or it was what was supposed to happen.
Just as Sheira was about to give chase and start destroying the remaining savages, the smell of rot overwhelmed her. "They aren't dead?!" She shouted as a dark tentacle burst out of the ground, launching her into the air.
The same two spindly faceless monsters stood before her, burn marks still visible on them, yet no substantial damage remained.
A bead of sweat ran down Sheira's forehead. "I was sure they were dead!"
A sense of dread crept up her spine. Despite her being vastly more powerful than the monsters, they were nearly unkillable.
Her eyes widened, and her lips straightened. "Crap, I hope Azure didn't run into these!"