Orlando Barnett possessed a formidable stature, clad in the distinctive blue and white uniform of his rank.
His long, lustrous blond hair was bound in a ponytail, and at his side hung a ceremonial sword, a testament to his esteemed position within the kingdom.
He was recently appointed as the 4th commander, and now, he was assigned to lead a contingent comprising 300 elite magic knights and 1,700 knights. They were entrusted with his inaugural mission to quell the rebellion in the eastern reaches of the kingdom's domain.
Commander of the Black Wolf Brigade.
He obtained this title after dedicating his life to service to the Ruri Kingdom.
His exceptional prowess had not gone unnoticed. As a matter of fact, he had received numerous invitations, including that one asking him to join the enigmatic Arcane Bureau, a testament to his standing within the kingdom's military hierarchy.
Guiding his troops with an imposing demeanor, Orlando pressed onward in search of the castle that they were tasked with encircling.
However, their advance was abruptly interrupted by the harrowing spectacle unfolding in the skies above, as a horde of Vengeful Spirits and Shadow Wraiths emerged to assail the Airships.
'Are we going to face a Necromancer this time? How did the rebels hire such a powerful Dark Arcanist? Tsk… We should've asked the church to join us.' Orland silently thought as he issued his command.
"Swiftly, advance! This is our opportunity to strike at the castle. They summoned hundreds of spirits and defended against the bombardment! There's a potential vulnerability in their defenses! Hurry!" Orlando bellowed, recognizing the pivotal moment to leverage the chaos and mount an assault on the stronghold.
Orlando employed his swift movement technique, and the 300 magic knights swiftly mirrored his actions, hastening their approach.
After analyzing the situation, he knew that they should capitalize on the distraction caused by the Necromancer's engagement with the Airships. They had to launch a covert assault on the castle.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhoosh~
As they were moving, several figures came into their view. Orland then realized that there were enemies waiting for them!
"Halt!"
Orland declared as he used his detection spells.
"Specters?"
Apparently, ten Moonlight Specters materialized before them, ready to intercept his brigade!
"Huh… You're looking down on us? Kill them quickly!"
In the next moment, the ten specters clashed against the 300 elite knights with their ethereal forms and formidable powers. They engaged the valiant knights in a tumultuous battle that barely lasted for a minute.
A sudden calm fell over the battlefield as the last of the Moonlight Specters were vanquished, their spectral forms dissipating into the ether.
"Good work!" Orlando said as he retracted his sword.
The knights displayed remarkable coordination and skill as they used their Magic Swords and movement techniques to win.
The Moonlight Specters may be a Fusion Spell, but in front of the numerous Magic Knights, they could only die helplessly after injuring 5 Magic Knights who were at the front of the brigade.
"So you killed them already? That's fast… But at least they bought enough time for me."
As Orlando was about to command his team to move forward, a figure emerged from the shadows, exuding an aura of eerie elegance and vampiric allure.
It was a daunting female Vampire.
She had just materialized before Orlando and his knights, and none of them noticed her arrival until she had spoken.
"A Vampire, huh…"
Orlando frowned at the Vampire's arrival as he didn't expect that such a powerful being would leave its castle.
Her crimson gaze fixed upon them with an unsettling intensity, and Orlando could not help but feel a chill from that stare alone.
There was no avoiding this battle, so he immediately issued a command!
Encircle the Vampire! Keep your Arcane Hearts active! Do not succumb to her charm!" Orlando commanded urgently. His voice was even enhanced by a Spell as he rallied his knights to form a defensive perimeter around the alluring yet perilous Vampire.
He knew very well the multifaceted danger posed by Vampires since this was not his first time facing them.
Beyond their bloodthirsty nature, Orlando was keenly aware of the array of potent spells at their disposal that could pose a grave threat to his Magic Knights.
'We don't have the priests or shamans here. However, we can overwhelm the Vampire with our number. We can win this.' Orlando thought as he continued resisting the charm of the Vampire.
Despite the formidable wards of his Arcane Heart, Orlando found himself struggling against the beguiling allure of the Vampire, a testament to the overwhelming charm and mesmerizing power she wielded.
He was lucky that there were plenty of them, so they were sharing the effects of the Vampire's charm. If he faced her alone, he knew he would be defeated!
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm'Arcane Hearts only lasts 10 minutes. We have to kill her before the duration ends…'
As Orlando thought of this, he heard the Vampire speak.
"Since you dare to assail the castle, then you leave me no choice but to eradicate the threat…" The female Vampire declared, her voice carrying an ominous weight as she invoked her formidable Darkness Veil, shrouding the battlefield in an eerie, enveloping shadow.
Whoosh~
As the Darkness Veil unfurled, the Vampire seamlessly moved like a ghost within the cover of the darkness.
With a flicker of movement, she vanished into the darkness, reappearing with disorienting speed through her Shadow Step, mystifying the knights and sowing confusion among their ranks.
As she did this, hundreds of bats suddenly appeared and started assaulting the Knights!
"Defend yourself!" Orland shouted as the chaos erupted.
In the next instant, the Vampire assumed a haunting Mist Form, her figure becoming an elusive wisp that defied conventional attacks, her movements fluid and enigmatic.
None of the Knights' swords or magic could hit her!
Then, a vampiric eye formed in the darkness as the Vampire unleashed her entrancing Spell.
Hypnotic Gaze!
The Spell was incredibly strong, and only a few Knights with a higher-tier Arcane Heart could resist it!
This Spell ensnared the minds of several knights, rendering them momentarily incapacitated by her bewitching influence.
The Knights who couldn't find the Vampire couldn't do anything!