Decisions and goals

The roots came to us from the sky; the prisoners moved away and retreated in sharp fear. Soldiers shouted to raise the shields that they had to create barriers or auras of protection and use for what they saw from above.

Apart from what was done, however, the pressure of the roots increased.

The Magus Dante began to act, and set out physically to strike the roots and destroy them with his powerful punches, which he easily achieved; however, they were many. Soon many ranks began to be pressed and crushed from above. The defenses broke down, and what followed was complete chaos. Each ran to different sides, retreating, hiding among the houses, some trying to resist and trying to cut the roots that rolled up and crushed the soldiers or pierced them in vital spots. I backed down while cutting what came towards me. I tried to hide and ran into one of the houses. There were many soldiers, so I sped up and went to the farthest room with difficult access. There was one on the second floor of a house that looked to be a bedroom. I hid there.

“I need 15 seconds.” I started to concentrate my Numen and stay calm.

More and more cries of desperate soldiers could be heard from all sides.

In the end, it was us who were not prepared. They planned everything, even prepared for the Magus that the Empire would send, right?

Klaus knew what he was doing. All were used, including me.

The roots, they found me…

They approached…

This technique is still incomplete, but I have no choice. If what Magus Dante said was right, this is not an attack by a Magus. It’s basically his own body transformed into a confrontation…

“Air + Denial! Denial of the Breath of Life!”

My Ability, which consisted of denying my personal existence to anything that was nearby, made it as if my presence did not exist.

The roots stopped, and then retreated…

Your abilities are “Earth + Restriction + Transmutation”, aren’t they? If not of the sensory type, you’ll hardly notice me… Even more being just a person… The problem itself is its energy reserve. If it has accumulated energy from hundreds of thousands of people to create what they call an energy bomb, it means that it can continue attacking us no matter how much we resist.

I will try to stay focused and concentrate, take slow steps, and improve these abilities little by little. I planned to use it to distance myself and separate from the Empire later, not so soon. Well, I had no way of expecting us to be slaughtered like that right at the start. Of course, there has not been a battle with a Magus for decades, but this is unprecedented here for this current generation, and not even Magus Dante must have seen anything like it.

We are at a complete disadvantage…

I approached the window a little and observed soldiers fighting. Still, there should not be even 300 standing; most were retreating, only a few in good condition executing complex blows. I saw Flames Flaminius using a flaming sword, with his body surrounded by fire like armor, easily defending against attacks, and ordering some groups to retreat and another to help defend against those roots.

Is this some combination of “Fire + Creation”? As expected, this guy is dangerous. I saw Commander Valerius with an aura that indicated he had Vital Force Ability; besides, it seemed that a scratch on his face was healing. “Vital Force + Purification” possibly.

They were both strong…

I thought this as I started walking, going down the stairs while seeing the dead soldiers stretched everywhere. I started walking but soon I hid in another room closed with spoiled food; the prisoners were coming back from places they had hidden.

Then they began to attack the wounded and those who were nearby.

I could not see right or hear the sound of combat, but by what we assumed, the roots were concentrated only in the confrontation against Magus Dante. I could assume that because he could easily be recognized by the sound of his blows and jumps made on the ground.

I left that closed place after staying for a minute, looked around, and continued walking, passing through the houses door to door, advancing unnoticed. The prisoners moved forward, focusing on the rest of the army fighting in the streets next.

This battle will probably stay balanced for a while…

This is great for me to move forward without being noticed by anyone…

Of all the Mora soldiers present here, I suppose 10-15 have combined double abilities, dualism, which may allow them even with ease to resist this direct attack unless they have a combination that is very disadvantageous against it. Besides, the main technique of the enemy is useless with Magus Dante; it must have left a few hundred soldiers. But there was another Magus, the Rubeum Gulielmus.

And it was he who passed in the air, standing on a large flying bird being controlled by another subordinate. He was shouting:

"Fall back, regroup! And we’re going to advance with you in the rear!"

“Forward?! Now?” I said.

So soon… How?

Gradually dozens of soldiers were retreating, while Magus Dante, fighting already tired, held the advances of the roots that came from the sky using strong blows and kicks that hit and pushed them in a cascade effect because of the impact…

He’s trying too hard. Why spend so much energy like that? I understand that the soldiers are retreating, but at that point, they could do it more calmly; there is not so much left to be done and not many to save.

Then Magus Dante, backing away from what seemed to be another great leap into the sky to continue attacking the roots, pushed himself back and shouted:

“Gulielmus! You can start!”

Rubeum Gulielmus, from the skies, extended his hands and opened them and said:

“Marionette Theater, The Advance of the Living Dead!”

NOTE: The abilities of the Rubeum Gulielmus are: Vital Force+Insertion+Blessing

“What?”

Soon, lines of aura came out of his hands like threads of energy, branching and increasing towards the bodies of the dead soldiers. They began to rise up, then began to take their weapons and shields, enter formation, and began to attack the prisoners.

I was already right ahead, but I could see their terror at the sight of it.

The roots began to attack those undead, but even pierced and wounded, they continued to get close and fight back, cutting the roots—hundreds of soldiers.

These dead do not seem to have been resurrected; they are really puppets, being used as such…

What kind of dreadful technique is that? This power is frightening…

What kind of Ability combination would that allow?

The roots began to focus on Magus Rubeum Gulielmus, who retreated with his giant bird, and was protected by Magus Dante, who stopped their advance.

I started to speed up the pace. I know that this technique of mine is not yet complete. Besides, I can’t move very fast because of my difficulty in using the Ability to Deny.

But with the living dead, the rhythm of this battle changes.

I have to get to Wini as fast as I can.

These dead do not seem to have been resurrected; they are really puppets, being used as such…

With an army of more than a thousand dead soldiers from the Mora Empire.

Their territorial advance is inevitable.

If they organize the rear and maintain support for the Magus, they will keep gaining ground.

This big tree is just over a kilometer away... In 1 or 2 hours, they can get there. Less if they plan well.

And what can happen next are several possible scenarios.

Both the enemy and the Mora Empire planned very well for this battle.

From now on, I need to move fast, focusing primarily on my goal.

This is where my plan starts.

My real battle will start now!