I stepped forward in front of the solid barrier that tightly wrapped around Togin Palace.
“Teacher, please be careful.”
Tanya and Bruno fortified the front, taking a combat position.
Ambrosia opened a holy book beside me.
“I wholeheartedly believe that the benevolent Goddess will look over the commoners.”
Her adorably cute voice recited the prayer, but it lacked the solemnity one might expect.
However, the performance was undeniable. A pure white divine power blossomed abundantly from her body.
I too took out my notebook.
“I learned this from Seymour.”
The spell involves three stages: recognition, activation, and casting before completion.
“Recognition. I confirm with knowledge what spell I am about to cast.”
Even though the skill window didn’t show it due to my return, I accurately remembered the countless spells I had used.
What I would use now is [Advanced Purification]. It’s a counter-spell against persistent defensive black magic and is effective against barriers.
Curse-type spells are debuffs, so purification won’t work; it needs to be countered with [Haeju].
While Advanced Purification is more difficult than the regular one, it can counter higher-tier black magic.
Simultaneously nullifying several black magics is called area purification, making it an even harder spell to execute.
“Clarifying related knowledge to complete recognition.”
Next comes activation, which in magic is the process of drawing the magic circle. A magic circle is akin to a mathematical formula.
Holy spells feel miraculous through prayer and faith, requiring no formulas.
This was also the reason I hadn’t deeply understood the principles of spells.
If magical spells construct orders in a precise equation-like style, holy spells are more like an artistic endeavor, throwing rings with sensation.
“When the forerunner of time chooses the path, the goddess governing fate turns her gaze.”
“That’s verse 7:101. Reciting such a difficult passage, are we?”
Ambrosia added a word in support of my prayer with her divine power. I responded with a light smile.
The activation of the holy spell is sufficient with this declaration. [Advanced Purification] materializes and reveals itself to the world.
The stat referenced here is faith. In magic, it’s mana.
For a fourth-tier spell, that stat should be stable at 50 to 60 for reliable activation.
If the stats are low, there’s a chance of failure at the activation stage. Just as it’s natural not to lift a heavy sword without strength.
Now, we enter the final stage of applying the spell’s effects: casting.
A spell ready for operation is like a car just shipped from the factory. If recognition is the blueprint and activation is the manufacturing process, that’s how to think of it.
Even if it’s a finished product, naturally, it won’t move without fuel.
The fuel for magic is mana, while for holy spells, it’s divine power.
Currently, I have 35 divine power remaining.
Though it’s not entirely sufficient for casting a fourth-tier spell, Ambrosia is assisting me right now.
Fwoosh—
The pure white aura emitted from me and Ambrosia rises like heat haze.
It’s a mystical aura that cleanses the heart just by looking at it.
I finished casting by uttering the spell’s name.
“Advanced Purification.”
Snap! I closed the notebook.
Fwoooosh!!
The divine power flew toward the barrier as if alive.
Unreservedly crashing, black and white intertwined and danced brilliantly.
From the point of contact, cracks formed as the barrier began to break little by little.
“Oooh!”
“Is this the purification spell?”
The knights squinted at the divine power in admiration, and soon a large enough entrance was created for a unit to safely enter.
“A passage has formed!”
“Maintain formation. We will enter.”
Sigmund raised his sword, and the knights advanced with the elite guards in front.
No sooner had they entered the main entrance than—
Boom!
An explosion erupted, and a few knights fell.
“A black magician!”
“Assume battle formation 2!”
From inside, palace magicians dressed as black magicians showed up, forming ranks.
They were Camilla’s disciples.
“Looks like it was a black magician. Sister, let’s support with blessings.”
“I’ll join you. I will take protection; please enhance us, Teacher.”
Ambrosia stretched out her arms as if demonstrating martial arts and cast the next spell.
“Though the girl’s arms may be short, the blessings will last longer than any river!”
The knights’ resistance to black magic increased. Even in real combat, their skills were considerable.
With just a bit more training, they’d fit right into a hero’s party. They really are shaping up.
In the rear, Acella began issuing commands. The Moonlight Palace knights joined the elite guards to break through the black magical bombardment.
“Hooh. You’ve trained your knights well, Acella.”
“I’m honored.”
The emperor admired and subtly complimented Acella. She seized the moment to command the knights for their next formation.
“What is that?”
“Be careful, there’s something… Aagh!”
In an instant, a third elite guard’s arm was devoured by darkness as they tried to advance.
Clatter, the sword he held fell to the floor. The knights retreated, leading the injured.
Thud, thud. Everyone froze in shock upon seeing the form that appeared inside the Imperial Palace.
“It’s a demon…!”
A large beast with red skin—a demon said to live in the void dimension.
“To think they were summoning demons, what sort of black magic experiment were they using the Togin Palace for? Camilla, show yourself!”
The emperor shouted majestically, filled with rage.
But there was no reply from a person; instead, the demon revealed its vicious teeth and roared.
“A demon! An upper demon! Isn’t it incredibly strong?!”
Ambrosia clutched her hat tightly as the pressure from the demon was overwhelming.
I gently massaged her shoulders to help her relax.
“Uggggh.”
“It’s alright, Sister. Not all demons are the same. Grade 1 is the strongest, while Grade 9 is the weakest; anything above Grade 3 is humanoid and can speak.”
“Wha-what? We’re all clustered together here…! Ugh.”
“Doesn’t that demon look like a beast? It’s probably just a watchdog, a Grade 6 or below. One head means our knights should have no problem taking it down.”
“How do you know that? Ugh, it’s fine… Ugh.”
“Tanya, do you want to challenge it?”
At my suggestion, Tanya’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Leave it to me.”
Tanya kicked off the ground, splitting the air and creating a wind pressure.
There was another typhoon. The elite guard’s Swordmaster, Sigmund, charged toward the enemy boldly.
“Light it up.”
His raised greatsword gleamed. It was an aura only a knight who reached Swordmaster level could wield.
Thud, thud. The beast dashed forward, leading its massive frame. The collision was just 5 meters away.
Boom!
When the demon’s fangs collided with the greatsword, the shockwave shattered the marble floor beneath as it flew into the air.
“Hmmm.”
Sigmund engaged in a struggle with the demon beast, glaring at its red eyes as if he would pierce them.
In that moment of standoff, a shadow cast over the demon beast’s face.
Tanya soared high behind Sigmund. She landed on the demon’s back, her sword making a clean cut.
Slash!
Tanya’s sharp sword cut through the thick hide, slicing the demon.
Not wasting the opening, Sigmund disengaged and swiftly executed a series of cuts to the demon beast’s head.
“Gaaah!!”
The demon beast writhed in pain, scratching at itself. Tanya skillfully demonstrated evasive maneuvers.
“Oho.”
Tanya and Sigmund shared a glance, and without needing further words, their eyes communicated to synchronize their attacks.
The combined trajectories of their swords were beautiful as they converged.
Slash!!
With a precision strike that pierced its weakness, the demon beast halted its swinging arm.
Its claws were just a centimeter away from Tanya’s eyes. She maintained her composure without a tremor.
With a slow, heavy thud, the massive form lost strength.
Thud!
The demon collapsed to the ground.
“Oooh, just like that, it’s down!”
“Indeed, that’s the Swordmaster’s sword.”
“Who’s the knight that fought alongside you?”
The elite guards buzzed with excitement. Sigmund swung his greatsword with ease, flicking away the blood like it was a twig, and addressed Tanya.
“An impressive talent. Knight, what is your name?”
Tanya answered without a hint of nervousness even before the Swordmaster.
“I am Tanya from the Moonlight Palace. I am tasked with escorting Teacher Gothberg.”
She sounded a bit overconfident, as if trying too hard to show off.
I think I’ll tease her about it later.
“Should you have an opportunity, visit the Imperial Palace barracks when you have free time.”
“With pleasure.”
The two knights exchanged light greetings.
As expected of Tanya. She stood out immediately in this joint operation.
Being influenced by Sigmund, she’d quickly become incredibly strong.
I might have to appoint her as my subordinate later.
Though we defeated the demon beast, the knights still didn’t let their guard down.
The most dangerous enemy had yet to reveal itself.
“Shall we proceed?”
“We need to regroup first. We have no idea what kind of traps may have been set inside the palace, making it dangerous.”
The emperor seemed to agree with Sigmund’s judgment, so he issued no further orders.
At that moment, Acella advised the emperor.
“Your Majesty, I have a means to draw out the black magician.”
“Is it magic?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Hmm.”
The emperor pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Go ahead, Acella.”
“Yes.”
Acella tapped her staff on the ground.
A large primary magic circle was engraved on the floor.
Then subsequent magic circles connected in succession like a castle being built.
A total of five tiers—Grade 5.
“Ice Fortress.”
Rumble rumble!
Acella’s golden mana manifested.
From the floor of Togin Palace, mountains of ice began rising, slowly engulfing the structure.
It quickly transformed the elegant marble into a crumbling ruin.
“Impressive.”
“Is the third princess a grand magician?”
Just for a moment, the elite guards were in awe, but the top floor of Togin Palace exploded.
The knights who spotted her heightened their vigilance more than ever, gripping their swords tightly.
The witch, Camilla, clad in black mana, levitated down from above.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
With a cold expression, she directed her disdain at the emperor.
“Camilla.”
“You too seem quite spirited, Acella.”
Seeing Camilla, Acella seemed tense and did not respond, merely lowering her chin.
Camilla, with hands modestly clasped, held her head high defiantly.
“I’m disappointed, Your Majesty. No, Balthasar.”
Camilla addressed the emperor by his name.
Naturally, it was an insult. No one could address the emperor by name since his ascension.
This was clearly an invitation to battle.
The emperor revealed no emotion as he looked toward Camilla.
“I will hunt you down, black magician.”
“In that case, I shall resist.”
Camilla’s eyes widened, igniting the dark depths of her irises.
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