Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 350: The War of Nobles (2) The Bait Taken

Chapter 350: The War of Nobles (2) The Bait Taken

The battle descended into chaos faster than Lucan could have anticipated. What had begun as a carefully orchestrated siege quickly spiraled out of control. Hektor’s army, alongside the forces of Verlan and Astoria, had marched confidently toward Grafen, but now they were faced with a nightmare.

The moment Verlan’s mercenaries had breached the southern gate, the city’s defenses, which had seemed disorganized, suddenly snapped into place with terrifying precision. Living statues carved from stone, with glowing eyes and monstrous strength, had emerged from hidden alcoves within the walls, tearing through the mercenaries like paper. Undead soldiers, risen from the very earth beneath Grafen, surged forward in relentless waves, their hollow eyes glowing with an eerie light. And worst of all were the summoned creatures—monstrous beasts that defied description, leaping from the shadows to wreak havoc on Hektor’s forces.

Lucan’s horse reared back as the first explosion of magic sent a column of fire into the sky. He barely had time to react as a wave of burning debris rained down from one of the magical traps Lyan had set. He could hear the screams of men, Verlan’s forces already in disarray as they realized they had been lured into a death trap.

"Fall back! FALL BACK!" Lucan shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the battle.

His father, Hektor, cursed under his breath as he yanked his horse around, eyes narrowing in fury. "Damn it! We’ve been outplayed! Sound the retreat!"

But it was already too late. The men who had poured into Grafen through the southern gate were cut off, Verlan’s mercenaries slaughtered in droves as the undead tore through their ranks. Those still outside the walls were no better off—arrows and siege magic rained down from Grafen’s ramparts, sending soldiers scrambling for cover. The once-organized attack had collapsed into panic, and in the distance, Lucan could see Astoria’s forces struggling to maintain cohesion as they were ambushed from the western flank.

"Where’s Verlan?" Lucan asked, his voice tight with panic as his horse stumbled over a fallen soldier’s body.

Hektor didn’t look at him, his jaw clenched. "He’s gone. His forces are wiped out."

Lucan’s stomach dropped. They had lost Verlan, and with him, one of their strongest battalions. Now it was just a matter of survival. The ambush had been devastatingly effective, and Hektor’s soldiers—those still alive—were in full retreat.

Suddenly, a blast of energy tore through the sky above them, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Lucan turned, his heart pounding in his chest, and saw a figure standing atop the walls of Grafen.

It was Lyan Arkanium Evocatore, the Lord of Grafen, his expression calm but menacing as he looked down upon the retreating forces. He stood tall, his long black cloak fluttering in the wind, his hand outstretched as a surge of magical energy pulsed around him. He looked every bit the warlord the rumors had painted him to be—unshakable, in control, and commanding powers beyond their understanding.

Flanking him were his most dangerous allies. Alice, the famous [Small General] with her dark armor glinting in the sunlight, wielding her enchanted blade with lethal precision; Emilia, her hands aglow with fire on one hand and one holding her greatsword with a fierce smile, ready to unleash devastation at a moment’s notice; Surena, the Deadly Gale, standing poised and elegant with her daggers ready; and Wilhelmina, her cold eyes observing the battlefield with meticulous precision.

As Lucan watched in horror, Lyan raised his hand, and with a single gesture, unleashed his forces.

"Retreat!" Hektor bellowed, already turning his horse, but the order came too late. The gate slammed shut behind them, and Grafen’s forces surged forward like a tide.

___

Lyan Arkanium Evocatore stood atop the walls of Grafen, his keen eyes scanning the battlefield below as the retreating forces of Lord Hektor scrambled in disarray. The once-confident nobles had now descended into chaos, their formations broken and their men scattered across the valley like ants underfoot. Hektor himself, visibly shaken, was urging his horse to move faster, his once proud expression replaced by fear and frustration.

"Look at them, getting afraid of a mere illusion. It’s supposed to be a simple illusion spell, but it seems their mental power are too weak to notice," Lyan said with a faint smile. He turned to his allies, the women who had fought alongside him through countless battles. "Wonderful play, Alice. Wilhelmina. He’s as scared as we thought."

Alice, the Small General, her platinum blonde hair barely moving in the wind, gave a small nod. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, never left the retreating forces. "It was expected," she said coldly. "Men like Hektor rely on fear and power, but when they lose control, they become easy prey."

Wilhelmina, ever the tactician, stood beside her, her posture as rigid and flawless as ever. "They have nowhere left to run. The men trapped inside the walls are our priority. Let’s finish this quickly and deal with Hektor later."

Lyan’s smile widened. He turned back toward the battlefield, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the hunt. "Yes," he agreed. "Let’s finish off the nobles who dared to step inside Grafen. After that, we’ll take care of Hektor once and for all."

He raised his hand, signaling to the forces below.

Within moments, the ground rumbled beneath the city as Lyan’s army moved into action. From the underground tunnels, the acid ants swarmed out in organized columns, their gleaming exoskeletons reflecting the sunlight as they scuttled with terrifying precision. Above, Seltas drones took to the sky, spitting acid projectiles and raining them down upon any unlucky soldier still outside the walls. Their acidic venom burned through armor and flesh alike, leaving twisted, smoking corpses in their wake.

The gates of Grafen, which had been left open to lure Verlan’s forces inside, now shut with a thunderous boom. The living statues, once dormant, came to life. Towering figures carved from enchanted stone, their eyes glowing with ethereal energy, began cutting through the panicked soldiers like scythes through wheat. Swords clanged uselessly against their stone bodies as they swung massive stone fists, crushing men into the ground.

Inside the walls, the carnage was even worse.

Lyan’s monsters, his prized summons, moved with a ferocity that left nothing standing. The Galewing Butterfly, its iridescent wings shimmering, unleashed powerful gusts of wind that tore through ranks of soldiers, sending them flying into the air like ragdolls. Behind it, the Papilio Slime, deceptively beautiful with its glowing blue surface, absorbed the energy from spells and weapons alike, turning the very attacks of the enemy into fuel for its devastating counterattacks. Any soldier who came too close was engulfed in its mass, never to be seen again.

The Griffin, a majestic yet terrifying beast of claws and feathers, swooped down from the skies, grabbing men in its talons and flinging them into the walls of Grafen with bone-shattering force. Its screech echoed across the battlefield, a chilling reminder of Lyan’s mastery over these mythical creatures.

At ground level, Grimclaw the Deadlight, a towering beast made from shadow and bone, moved with deadly precision. Its hollow eyes glowed with an unholy light, and with every swipe of its massive claws, entire squads of soldiers were ripped apart. Grimclaw’s roar chilled the hearts of those who heard it, and the ground trembled beneath its steps.

By its side, Winter Wolves, sleek and deadly, darted in and out of the shadows, their icy breath freezing the blood of any who crossed their path. They moved in packs, taking down soldiers in coordinated strikes. The ground was soon littered with frozen bodies, their expressions twisted in terror.

The Ice Golem and the Rock Golem, massive constructs of ice and stone, respectively, crashed through the gates of Grafen, their huge forms making quick work of the enemy. The Rock Golem’s fists smashed through barricades and walls, sending debris flying, while the Ice Golem froze entire sections of the battlefield, leaving soldiers trapped in solid blocks of ice, their limbs shattering as they tried to move. The other monsters also helping leaving no chance for their enemies.

Lyan’s personal forces were no less terrifying.

Ravia and Raine, the deadly sisters, moved through the battlefield like shadows, their blades gleaming. Ravia’s speed was unmatched, her curved daggers flashing in the light as she took down one soldier after another, her movements so fast and fluid they were barely more than a blur. Raine, more methodical, followed behind, her strikes precise and lethal, her smile never leaving her face.

Abraham, the great assassin, moved silently through the fray, his blades finding the hearts of noble commanders and officers who thought they were safe in the chaos. His kills were swift, clean, and efficient, leaving only a trail of bodies in his wake.

Alina, her dark magic swirling around her, unleashed devastating blasts of energy, her power sending waves of soldiers flying with every incantation. Her control over the battlefield was absolute, and with a single gesture, she called forth tendrils of dark energy that ensnared her enemies, choking the life from them before they could even raise their weapons.

Xena and Belle, their bond with Lyan unbreakable, stood together at the frontlines led by Josephine with her morningstar. Xena, her twin swords flashing, fought with deadly grace, cutting through her enemies with the skill of a seasoned warrior. Belle, more calculating, directed the Seltas drones and acid ants, using them to rain death from above and below, ensuring that no enemy could escape.

Above the city, the Galewing Butterfly flew low, creating gusts of wind that sent soldiers scattering in terror. The Papilio Slime, a seemingly harmless creature, turned deadly as it absorbed the energy of those who attempted to harm it, growing larger and more lethal with each passing second.

From the rooftops, the three mountain tribe girls—Lara, Tara, and Sigrid—stood, their bows ready. They fired arrows with deadly accuracy, each one finding its mark in the chaos below. Their primitive language could be heard as they communicated with one another, their laughter and taunts echoing in the air.

The battle was fierce, but it was short-lived. Within the span of an hour, the invaders who had dared step inside Grafen’s walls were either dead or retreating into the city’s traps. The acid ants, moving swiftly through the underground tunnels, picked off those foolish enough to try and escape through the hidden passages. Their venomous bites melted flesh and bone, leaving nothing but scorched earth in their wake.

Outside the gates, Lyan’s forces surged forward, cutting down any soldier who tried to flee. The Seltas drones spat acid from above, their projectiles raining death on Hektor’s men as they struggled to retreat. The walls of Grafen, which had seemed so impenetrable before, now stood as silent witnesses to the massacre unfolding before them.

The citizens of Grafen, hiding within their homes, peeked out from behind shuttered windows, watching in awe and terror as Lyan’s forces tore through the invaders. They had always known their lord was powerful, but today they witnessed the full extent of his might. The undead skeletons, their hollow eyes glowing with an eerie light, moved in perfect unison, their weapons striking down any who dared resist. The people watched in stunned silence as Lyan’s summoned creatures—monsters of legend and nightmare—decimated the noble armies with ruthless efficiency.

As the last of the enemy soldiers fell, the battlefield grew quiet. The only sounds that remained were the crackling of fire from the magical traps and the distant wails of those still clinging to life.

Lyan stood at the center of it all, his eyes sweeping across the carnage. His forces had performed flawlessly, and Grafen had been defended with ease. But there was still work to be done.

"Hektor won’t get far," Lyan said, his voice calm and measured. "Alice, Wilhelmina, gather the troops. We’re heading to Hektor’s land for real."

Alice nodded, her expression as cold as ever. "I guess he’ll be dead before the next sunrise."

Wilhelmina smiled faintly, her sharp eyes gleaming. "Well, I need to say that this is very different from the war of nobles I have in mind, but well, he won’t see it coming."

Lyan turned, his black cloak billowing behind him as he began to walk toward the gates. His army, a mythical force of monsters, assassins, and warriors, followed in his wake.

The battle for Grafen was over, but the war against Hektor had just begun.

And Lyan intended to finish it.