457 Chaotic Tornado Array

Following the resulting explosion that swallowed countless volumes of lakewater, land, and people, Stormwind Lake was transformed into a misty region full of heavy rain and strong winds that obstructed everyone's vision of within and beyond.

The slushing sound of running water was heard as water from the Violent Tributary and Sleeping River flowed back into Stormwind Lake to replenish the lost water and restore it to normal levels, albeit slowly.

"A-Are you alright, Lord Aeliana?"

"I'm fine!"

Aeliana grumpily replied to Artemis's question with a dark yet pale look as she wiped the blood from her nose and lips with the back of her hand.

Even if she was a Mid-stage High Witch comparable to High-stage High Witches, holding back the three huge magic airships was almost too much for her, even in her Dryad Transformation state.

Fortunately, she was barely able to repel the three magic airships, even though she had to overexert herself to do so.

Thanks to her dual attributes in wood and light, her wounds quickly healed on their own, returning some strength to her weakened body.

"Get your head into gear, Lord Artemis. You have thousands of High Witches under your command!"

"I-I'm so sorry..."

Artemis recognized her mistake, but one could not fault her for losing her cool.

The war was more horrid than anyone could have imagined.

Both countries wield great power and magic technology that could easily tear apart each other. And in front of such destructive power, their lives were fleeting and insignificant.

Whether it was the battle witches or the holy soldiers, both sides wanted to destroy each other. But once the war began in full swing, they started to question how morally wrong it was. They shouldn't be slaughtering each other like this; it only brought pain and sadness to both sides.

Nevertheless, they could only steel their hearts and keep fighting; it was either kill or be killed.

"Quickly restore the fort's magic defense system unless you want to get bombed! There are still more enemy magic airships in the sky!"

"Yes, Lord Artemis!"

Following Artemis's orders, a group of battle witches rushed to the fort's magic core room and resupplied the exhausted magic core with mana.

"Lord Artemis, the mist and steam is blocking our vision of the lake! The empire is taking advantage of the cover to cross the lake while our spells are missing their target! At this rate, they will breach our defense!

"Deploy the Chaotic Tornado Array! Wind team, fire team, and ice team; take your positions! It's time to send these imperial bastards flying!"

"Yes, Lord Artemis!"

Meanwhile, on the Holy Knight Empire's side, the holy soldiers dragged away the huge ballistae and pushed forward small sail-less wooden boats into the water under Emperor Renardier's command.

Although they could only carry six men per boat, there were thousands of them.

However, they were a step too slow in their preparations. Before they could use their boats to cross the large lake, the wind suddenly picked up, forming several winding tornados.

Shattered wooden planks, metal chains, fallen bodies, burning oil...

The tornados lifted everything they caught and sent them swirling into the skies as they moved around unpredictably, sometimes even clashing with each other.

Seeing the wooden planks shredded to pieces by the wind blades, the might of the tornados couldn't be underestimated.

Although the region remained obscured by the mist and heavy winds, the lake became treacherous to cross.

The tornados would tear their fragile wooden boats to pieces. Even if the soldiers survived the wind blades, they wouldn't survive the big fall from the sky that followed.

"Your Imperial Majesty, Stormwind Lake has become impossible to cross! We can only pin our hopes on the western and eastern camps to succeed in their attacks!"

"Not necessarily! We still have the others leading the holy knights through the secret passages. However, we can't let the kingdom relax its guard against us and risk them failing. All units, flip your boats and enter the lake!"

Although the soldiers were initially surprised by Emperor Renardier's command, they quickly understood the idea.

Shortly after the boats were flipped over, the imperial soldiers carried them over their heads and submerged themselves inside the lake's water. They used the air pockets produced by the capsized boats to breathe underwater.

Even if the region over the lake suddenly cleared up at that moment, the Kingdom of Black Rose would not be able to see the tens of thousands of imperial soldiers crossing under the lake.

"What an interesting idea. Even I did not think of that, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Surely you jest, Marquis Salazar. It's a simple concept that anyone can understand. However, we wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to use it if we didn't have the cover of the mist."

While conversing with Marquis Salazar, Emperor Renardier continued to observe ahead with a solemn look.

He feared the possibility of the Kingdom of Black Rose even anticipating such a move.

In another location, deeper under the earth, Count Eldridge led a small army of ten thousand holy knights through the first secret passage previously used by the Deathsworn Group.

The passage was dark and suffocating due to the lack of light and air, but it was still bearable. They only feared the ceiling suddenly collapsing on them due to the tremors caused by explosions above.

Nevertheless, they safely reached the other end of the secret passage, where there was light...

"There's light? There shouldn't be any light down here..."

"As expected, this secret passage has already been compromised. However, we shall not shy away after making it this far. Whatever traps the kingdom has in store for us, we will crush them with our strength!"

"Yeah!"

The end of the secret passage was connected to a vast, deep pit found in the forest west of Fort Whitebridge. It appeared that the pit had been dug out to receive them.

There weren't any traps awaiting Count Eldridge's army, only an ambush. Astoria stood at the edge of the pit at the top, tall and proud, donned in a black, red set of dragon scale armor, and had her hands rested on the pommel end of her greatsword embedded in the ground of her.

At the same time, she stared down at Count Eldridge's army with a strict gaze.

"Count Eldridge, I will give you and your people another chance to surrender and live. Otherwise, this pit will be your grave."

"You know me?" Count Eldridge frowned.