Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1723  Rivals Together

The main reason why progressing beyond the second wall was so difficult was because of the towers. These weren't ordinary defensive structures. The towers were powered by immense amounts of high-level beast crystals, packed so densely that the energy flowing through them seemed limitless. From what could be observed, there was only around a two-minute interval between each shot before they were fully recharged and ready to fire again. That alone made them a nightmare to deal with.

But the energy output wasn't even the worst part.

The towers could move.

They weren't fixed into the ground like traditional fortifications. They could reposition themselves, rotate, and shift angles, attacking from different directions and even pulling back when threatened. In a sense, they could retreat, creating distance whenever someone got too close. And even if someone managed to reach one, there was still the reflective barrier surrounding it, capable of bouncing back a wide variety of attacks regardless of element or force.

And that was just the towers.

That didn't even account for the giant golems stomping across the battlefield, the flying mages raining spells from above, or the mages on the ground equipped with countless different items and artifacts, each one glowing with layered enchantments.

Reno, who was in the middle of fighting several mages at once, drove his fist forward, aiming straight for the center of one mage's body. Instead of flesh giving way, a sharp clanging sound rang out as his fist struck metal beneath the robes.

"Haha! Your fists are useless, tired man!" the mage shouted mockingly.

"Tired man?" Reno replied calmly. In a blur, he jumped forward and clamped his hand directly over the mage's mouth. "I doubt your insides are made of metal. And your bodies are rather weak. So have a dose of poison."

When Reno released him, the mage staggered back, foam spilling from his mouth as his body convulsed. Within seconds, his life faded away completely, collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.

Elsewhere, some of the strongest members, like Mantis and Kizer, were dealing with the giant golems on their own. Mantis fully transformed his hybrid body and launched himself straight through the center of one golem, shattering its core from the inside and bursting out the other side in a spray of stone and debris.

But that was when the real trouble started.

The towers began to light up once more.

Energy gathered rapidly, beams forming as they prepared to fire again. This time, however, the attacks couldn't be precisely directed at a single location. And there was a reason for that. The bracelets controlling the towers worked well when there were only a few intruders, allowing the system to lock onto specific targets from every angle.

But now there were three thousand intruders.

Who were they supposed to prioritize?

When one of the energy beams finally fired, it tore through the battlefield indiscriminately. Several Pagna warriors were struck directly, their bodies crushed and erased on the spot. But at the same time, the beam swept across part of the Noble Guild's own forces, annihilating them just as easily.

For Tilion, there was no hesitation. He leapt in front of a large group of his allies and planted his shield firmly into the ground. As the laser-like beam slammed into it, Tilion braced himself, channeling everything he had. The shield absorbed the energy, gathering an enormous amount of power and stopping the attack entirely.

"These are legendary items crafted by the Dark Magus!" Tilion roared. "Do you really think you can break them so easily!"

Even so, they all knew the truth.

"We have to get rid of those towers before they attack again," Rayna said, her eyes locked onto the shifting structures.

"Agreed," Alba replied. "Since they can move and have that reflective barrier, we'll need a strong attack. I can gather a large amount of Qi and activate my weapons to surprise the tower and destroy it… but they'll see me moving in."

"Then I'll protect you while you do it," Rayna said without hesitation.

Under normal circumstances, the two of them would have been competing with each other, always trying to prove who was better. But this wasn't the time for that. Every second that passed meant more lives lost. There was no room for ego here.

Rayna surged forward first, placing herself ahead of Alba. Behind her, Alba began building Qi inside her body, concentrating it heavily into her arms. The mages noticed immediately. They could tell exactly where she was heading and what her target was.

Spells rained down.

Flames shot from rooftops, crashing toward her. Alba spun her spear rapidly, blocking the fire completely as sparks and heat scattered around her. Several mages followed up with more spells, but Alba continued advancing, swinging her spear through the attacks as if they were nothing.

The mages were confused.

Even if their attacks weren't dealing damage, how was she able to push through them without being knocked back?

Some of them switched tactics, casting powerful wind spells meant to throw her off balance and send her flying backward. But it didn't work.

The answer was simple.

It was her boots.

The special boots she wore carried an effect that prevented her from being knocked back, regardless of the force applied. It was an item she had relied on when facing some of the strongest Pagna warriors in existence, allowing her to stand her ground no matter what was thrown at her.

And now, it was doing the same.

As they closed in, they saw it clearly. The tower was beginning to move, shifting away from them.

"ALBA, YOU'RE UP!" Rayna shouted.

Alba didn't hesitate.

She activated her weapons, her power surging instantly. The cursed items she wielded doubled her strength in every aspect. There was a price to pay for using them. Something of hers would be lost. But none of that mattered now.

As Alba blasted forward, she swung her sword in a massive X-shaped arc.

The attack tore through the reflective barrier as if it wasn't even there. It slammed into the tower directly, and in an instant, the entire structure crumbled, collapsing to the ground and shattering into pieces.

"I would rather lose something," Alba said coldly, "than lose everything."

The first tower had fallen.

And with it, the battle began to shift.

***