Emilia’s strategy was actually quite well thought out on paper.
However, they had severely underestimated the number of enemies waiting for them in the actual battlefield.
The moment their feet stepped into the narrow gap between the steep cliffs that served as the bandits’ main hideout, the situation instantly turned into a tactical nightmare.
“INTRUDERS! SURROUND THEM! DO NOT LET THEM ESCAPE!”
Hundreds of heavily armed bandits suddenly emerged from the darkness between the rocks, completely sealing off every possible escape route.
Emilia’s forces had walked straight into a brutal ambush.
A bloody battle erupted in an instant.
The clash of metal swords and the savage cries of the bandits echoed throughout the canyon.
Although Emilia’s soldiers fought bravely, her ten knights quickly became overwhelmed and pushed back due to the overwhelming difference in numbers.
Several soldiers had already suffered serious injuries from enemy attacks.
Seeing that the situation had become impossible to overcome through normal means, Emilia cut down the bandit in front of her before turning around while breathing heavily.
Her eyes landed on Ryuu.
The vampire had been standing calmly at the very back of the formation the entire time.
“Hey, Vampire!” Emilia shouted, her breathing rough and desperate, a small trail of blood flowing from the corner of her pale lips.
“Run while you still can! We will hold this defensive line here! Don’t throw your life away in this cursed place!”
I looked at Emilia’s trembling back.
Her body was already showing clear signs of exhaustion, yet she still refused to retreat even a single step because she wanted to protect the people behind her.
Such a heroic sense of pride.
How troublesome.
I let out a long sigh, feeling slightly annoyed by the unnecessary drama.
Keeping both hands inside my pockets, I calmly stepped forward, walking past Emilia as if I was simply taking a stroll through my own garden.
“Run? What a troublesome idea,” I muttered casually, my cold voice cutting through the chaos of the battlefield.
“It would be much faster if I just cleaned everything up right now.”
I circulated the mana within my body and activated my first spell.
[ ENHANCED GRAVITY MAGIC : PRESSURE INCREASED BY 4 TIMES ]
BOOM!
The gravitational pressure in the entire canyon increased fourfold, crushing everything within its range.
BRESSS!
The hundreds of bandits who had been laughing and shouting moments ago suddenly froze in shock.
Their bodies were forcefully slammed onto the ground at the same time.
Every single one of them collapsed onto the stone floor, unable to even lift their heads due to the overwhelming gravitational force crushing their bodies.
Before anyone could even understand what had happened, I activated another combination of magic.
Time magic.
And speed enhancement.
[ ENHANCED TIME MAGIC : STOP TIME ]
[ ENHANCED SPEED MAGIC : MAXIMUM ]
Click.
The world suddenly died.
Time stopped moving.
To be continued