CHAPTER 219: FROM FALLING ASHES TO REBORN PHOENIXES

In front of a sealed tunnel entrance, hearts raced.

Cedar and the Imperial Wizard Army’s wizards had finally arrived and would have to confront their enemies soon.

Unfortunately for Hal, he would have to stop dabbling with his cards for now.

But on the positive side, he and his comrades were full of energy, determined to break through.

This would be a huge factor that would contribute to their success.

No one spoke, and everyone’s attention was focused on a single young man: Hal Fennec.

Hal’s heart was also racing, but for a different reason.

He was a bit nervous.

He had selected the attribute [Phasing] for his [Spirit Sparrow] spell card.

And so, everyone was waiting for him to check the situation outside, summoning his tiny avian and making it phase through from the sealed entrance.

He didn’t want to be the one to declare grim news, desperately wishing for the situation to be manageable outside.

The tiny sparrow flapped its wings, phasing through the fallen rocks and carefully making its way to the other side.

It was like a ghost, passing through tangible objects while invisible, but this didn’t guarantee safety.

The small summon could very well be destroyed the moment it emerged on the other side, especially if there were Fellkin Warriors or Fell Beasts with sharp perception watching the entrance.

And so, Hal controlled the sparrow, advancing ever consciously.

Centimeter by centimeter until suddenly, the scenery changed.

The Spirit Sparrow’s beak and a small part of its face finally made it through.

Hal’s brows raised at what he saw, and excitement washed over him.

The area was clear?!

Hal couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

However, his delight was short-lived, as immediately after he willed his sparrow to fly out and away, the space rippled—reminiscent of those produced by water when a pebble drops.

The scenery then changed once more, and while Hal didn’t pale, his heart sank.

In just those few short hours, the lands were ravaged by the Fell Beasts, thousands of spots sucked dry as around two thousand of the accursed creations roamed.

It was another cunning trap prepared by the Fellkin!

Hal sensed that gazes immediately locked onto the sparrow, so he hurriedly controlled it to fly back in, not looking back for even half a second.

Fortunately, his trusty summon made it back to the dark but safe confines of the Az Tunnel.

Hal quickly dismissed it and reported what he saw:

"Sir Cedar, there are currently only around two thousand Fell Beasts roaming outside, and they’re not in formation. We can utilize this chance to quickly break through! While I didn’t see any Fellkin Warriors, I’m certain they’re hiding somewhere, given that in front of us is an illusion trap they prepared. Do not be deceived by the peaceful exterior."

With Cedar and Rowan helping to relay the information to everyone through the trembling winds, excitement washed over the wizards of the Imperial Wizard Army, their morale shooting through the rocky ceiling.

There was a decent chance they’d be able to return to the empire!

They’d be able to meet their dearests again!

"I see." Cedar nodded, equally excited but keeping his composure.

Who would’ve expected that the grim rendezvous that left them lost and uncertain of their next actions would turn out to be a blessing in disguise?

The heavens gave them a path!

Clearing his throat, Cedar turned to face his men.

"It was unfortunate that we couldn’t defend our continent’s east, falling into the carefully laid trap of the fell race instead. However, this is only one of the many battles against the fell. In a war, a few defeats are inevitable, but with each, we grow tougher, stronger," the middle-aged man began.

"Humans of Maegrath, sons and daughters of the empire, we shall fight and live another day to avenge our fallen brothers.

Into ashes we fall, like reborn phoenixes we shall rise. Líetha Aeternus, Arcanum Imperium!"

"Líetha Aeternus, Arcanum Imperium!!"

In the next moment, the sealed entrance burst open, sending rocky shards flying and dust billowing as thousands of human wizards came flooding out, warcries echoing to the open night skies and footsteps thundering.

The fell race expected as much after detecting Hal’s Spirit Sparrow through the illusion’s ripple.

However, what they did not anticipate was the humans’ well-rested, well-fed, well-hydrated, and battle-hungry army.

Some of them could barely walk when they entered the tunnel.

While resting was possible, decent meals weren’t.

The humans had abandoned their resources in their battle camps!

How the hell were they able to procure food and water?!

There were only around a hundred and twenty Fellkin Warriors holding this side of the tunnel, while the others were circling along with half of the horde.

They could hold off or even defeat thousands of low-morale, hungry, thirsty, and despairing humans.

But a fresh army that almost numbered an entire regiment?

Oh hell no!

The Fellkin Warriors scrambled, informing their temporary leaders through their unique means of what was going on, while their Whisperers desperately gathered the Fell Beasts that roamed around the area, lining them up in a chaotic formation.

The fell creations’ harrowing cries reverberated in the winds as they clumsily charged at the humans.

"FIRE!!" roared the Imperial Army’s officers.

A volley of elemental spells then flew towards the approaching fell, crackling and howling as they tore through the air.

*BOOM!* *BOOM!*

Explosions that slew more than one hundred Fell Beasts occurred one after the other, wreaking havoc across the desperate Fell ranks.

The Fellkin Warriors naturally wouldn’t allow things to go too smoothly, raining Thunder Spears, shooting Void Blasts and Dark Orbs, and ripping through space with Spatial Rends.

A few courageous wizards inevitably fell into eternal slumber, including a few Zephyr Battalion members, due to the sneaky volley.

The mortality caused the morale of the human wizards to slightly waver.

But almost immediately after, a massive flaming tornado that approached the size and devastation caused by Zephyron’s Wind Tornadoes appeared among the fell ranks, incinerating a considerable number of beasts.

Ennya Kasai and her flames were back in business!

Although they didn’t have a Magna with them, didn’t they have two who had the potential to be?!

Into ashes they fall, and like reborn phoenixes they shall rise!

Soon, their wavering hearts stabilized, never to be shaken easily again in this battle.

While their morale wasn’t as high as it initially was, it was now locked firmly in place.

Cedar was satisfied with the current state of things, believing the situation couldn’t be any better for them when, suddenly, a black-haired young man rose above the army.

Hal raised his right palm to the sky, then dropped it weightily—the same way and pacing that Zephyron did, aiming it at the fell horde.

He exclaimed:

"Raging Tempest!!"