The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 612: Volume 16: Hazy Dark Fog - 5: The Skin Does Not Exist

Chapter 612: Volume 16: Hazy Dark Fog Chapter 5: The Skin Does Not Exist

The commander of the distant Beastman Army suddenly changed color. Mortal magic had always been the nightmare of the Beastman soldiers. With their intellect, they couldn’t fathom why the heavens had bestowed such an exotic power upon these mortals, stand-ins for the weak that should have been eliminated. Various magical spells over the centuries had caused great suffering for the Beastman Army in the wilderness and between city walls – whether it was the raging inferno, thunder striking from the sky, freezing frost or slicing wind blades. Today, they once again felt the punishment given by mortals using the force of nature.

The Storm Tornado swept past, and within a twenty-meter radius of its center, all objects were instantly uprooted and sucked into midair. Hundreds to thousands of Beastman soldiers didn’t even have the chance to react before they, along with more than a dozen battering rams and scattered bricks and tiles, were violently lifted off the ground and swirled into it. The ashy-grey tornado turned pitch black from the large amount of debris it ingested, and the swirling air currents emitted a piercing howl, as if intent on tearing apart everything it contained. The strong currents twisted and turned left and right, like the wind god himself had arrived, rushing forward for hundreds of meters without diminishing in force. Under Cawendi’s gritted persistence, the Storm Tornado swept through the gap in the Beastman Army and then moved along the city wall. Like a deformed monster eager to devour heaven and earth, any object close to it was instantly sucked into its belly, ascending with the spiraling vortex. In the dark turmoil, there was no light for the sun or the moon – the world seemed to change color.

No matter how frantically the Beastman officers blew their whistles to alert their soldiers to scatter quickly, the tornado was too fast. The Minotaur soldiers had just managed to start retreating backward when the tornado hit. Along with the mud, leaves, bricks, stones, and countless half-beast soldiers who couldn’t escape in time, they were instantly swept up, unable to break free, screaming and struggling as they flew into the air. That scene was unforgettable.

Feltermites excitedly rubbed his hands together. No wonder magicians held such a lofty status in the kingdom. Although he had participated in many counterattacks against the beastmen, never had he felt the importance of mages more acutely. With just one person’s power, the tide was turned. If only the coverage of the Storm Tornado could be wider, if only it could last a bit longer, maybe they could take the opportunity to launch a beautiful counterattack, to let the Beastmen feel the power of the Iron Cross Corps – that would have been perfect.

But seeing the pale-faced, sweat-drenched Cawendi, Feltermites knew he had been indulging in wishful thinking. The two magicians were equally ashen, swaying as if about to collapse. It was clear the three had exhausted the last of their mana, and sustaining the battle to this point was already pushing their limits.

As the Storm Tornado continued its crazed sweep at the base of the city wall, it had barely managed to charge to the front when suddenly the sky brightened as if the clouds after rain had parted. The Tornado Storm vanished in an instant. Countless Beast Warriors and battering rams, along with other objects that had been lifted hundreds of meters into the air, suddenly lost their support and crashed down. The force from such a great height claimed the lives of most Beast Warriors on impact. The Beastman commander’s cherished battering rams were destroyed beyond redemption.

The soldiers of the Iron Cross Corps had already received orders to retreat out of the storm’s range at the onset of the Tornado. Although Feltermites knew the first hurdle was finally overcome, to slow the intensity of the Beastmen’s attack, they had to seize this moment to strike back. The cavalry hidden behind the gate swarmed out and launched an assault on the disoriented Minotaur soldiers and Berserker Bear Warriors. Despite the commandingshouts of their leaders, these Beastman soldiers who had faced such supernatural forces for the first time clearly lacked the composure of battle-hardened veterans. Panic-stricken, they lost their fighting spirit, disrupting their own formations. They could face neck-high swords and spears of mortal soldiers without fear, but such overwhelming forces of nature were beyond their comprehension and left them in utter terror.

Despite the Beastman commander’s scolding shouts, the Beastman formation inexorably descended into chaos. Though they still held a numerical advantage, in such a state, no one could turn the tide. Luckily for the Beastmen, a formation of seasoned soldiers timely blocked the mortals’ surging assault, thwarting Feltermites’ hope for a decisive retreat. Fortunately, Feltermites had anticipated this and ordered the assault troops to withdraw steadily to the fortress. Once the Beastmen regrouped, it would be difficult to escape again.

When the newly rallied Beastman Army returned the next day, they were shocked to find the border fortress already deserted, not just this fortress but also the castles connected by the long wall – all were empty. Other than a scene of devastation, nothing was left for the Beastmen to take.

The Iron Cross Corps had retreated under the cover of night. Although Feltermites was reluctant, seeing the semi-conscious Cawendi and the mages nearly drained of their strength, he acknowledged that this battle indeed turned out exactly as Cawendi had predicted. The Beastmen had suffered because they had too many new soldiers. Had there been more experienced veterans, they likely would have immediately regrouped for an assault as soon as the Storm Tornado dissipated. In such a scenario, it would have been difficult for the Iron Cross to escape the Kachaf Fortress Group alive. Facing a Beastman Army several times their number and with a combat strength no less than the Iron Cross, a few magical attacks would not suffice to completely hollow out their momentum. Cawendi had already forewarned that magical attacks could only provide a chance to escape. To expect that a few mages could stabilize the situation was unrealistic; even if those seven mages and magicians had stayed, it would have been extremely difficult to win the fight.

Ill news spread like wild, and The Kingdom of Nicosia was engulfed in turmoil—if the collapse of the Golden Oak Legion had already shattered the spirits of Nicosian nobles, then the loss of the Kachaf Fortress Group plunged them into utter despair. Although the Iron Cross Corps had not been defeated, but instead had regrouped in Kerman City with the support of the Kingdom Court Mage Corps’ magicians, everyone knew what a retreat meant. It signified the inability to contend with the Beastman Army. If even the strongholds couldn’t hold back the enemy, could the flatlands of the kingdom’s north ever stand a chance against the Beastman forces?

Katya’s expression was gentle, as she leisurely lifted a cup of coffee, a curious beverage from the south that was all the rage in high society across the Northern Alliance. Yet, she was reluctant to taste it. Sitting opposite her, the pudgy merchant named Palermo maintained his usual composure; however, the suffocating atmosphere in the room was proof enough that both were in a foul mood.

"Palermo, are you certain that the Iron Cross Corps can hold Kerman City?" Katya set down her coffee cup and casually picked up the fresh flowers a maid had brought, slowly twirling the petals and bringing them to her nose for a deep sniff. The faint fragrance was intoxicating, bringing a measure of cheerfulness even amidst the worst of moods.

"No, Your Highness, the situation is dire. If not for the extraordinary performance of the mage named Cawendi at the Kachaf Fortress Group, the Iron Cross Corps would have suffered terrible losses there. Kerman City is far less defensible than Kachaf, and I’ve heard that the number of beastmen is still increasing. I’m not optimistic about their chances, even with the kingdom sending more magicians to their aid. And considering that more Beastman forces are amassing to the north, do you think the Blue Dove Corps can withstand their onslaught? Relying solely on the Fire Shadow Knights and court magicians is insufficient to turn the tide. Haven’t you heard the discussions in the Royal City? Perhaps His Majesty should consider the issue of relocating the capital."

Palermo wasn’t as upset as Katya. He thought Jazair was too far north, disliking its climate, and he was put-off by the haughty demeanor of the local nobility. In truth, other than boasting and swindling merchants from outside their domain, they had no other talents. According to Palermo, the gradual decline of the kingdom was precisely due to these parasites. With the north on the brink of collapse, not much was left to be cherished. The Central Kingdom had failed to plan carefully, outmaneuvered by a few Great Lords, leading to a fall that might prove irreversible. Without seeking a new path, the Romanov Dynasty might indeed be facing its end.

"Relocate the capital? Hmph, to where? The south is nothing but Philip and Zellin’s strongholds; the kingdom directly controls less than a third of the area compared to their territories. Moving the capital there would only invite trouble. I’m afraid in less than two years, The Kingdom of Nicosia would be replaced by the Galle Duchy and Homer Duchy. His Majesty won’t agree to that."

With a gentle sigh, how well did Katya understand the urgency of the situation. The trap of Saint Nicholas Fortress in the north was obviously set after the northern lords reached a secret pact with the beastmen. It baffled the upper echelons of the Central Kingdom when the northern lords became so daring.

For years, the Ferdinand and Heine Families had kept a low profile among the Four Great Lords, far less ostentatious than Zellin and Philip. Yet, they struck decisively at a critical moment, effectively stabbing the kingdom in the back and nearly stripping it of its ability to counterattack. It was truly a case of staying silent until making a move that shocked all. Surely, there was something strange behind it all; otherwise, the Ferdinand and Heine Families would not have bided their time, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal their trump card. They must understand that there could be no peace with the beastmen. Had they not heard the proverb, "Without the skin, the hair cannot stick"?’

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