It happened in an instant. Countless massive fireballs, wrapped around stones, plummeted from the heavens like a spectacular meteor shower. Due to the sheer velocity, sharp whistling sounds sliced through the air.
Charlotte and the others looked up at the oncoming fireballs, their expressions remaining perfectly composed.
Just as these fireballs neared them, a barrier composed entirely of water elements abruptly materialized overhead. This was a spell cast by Maxin!
Logically, when the fireballs struck this shield, they should have generated enormous plumes of steam, but what was bizarre was that the moment the fireballs touched the barrier, they were actually repelled, all flying instead toward the 'Tornado Mercenary Group'!
The 'Tornado Mercenary Group' never anticipated that their sneak attack would backfire so spectacularly, leaving them dusty and utterly disheveled! Fortunately, as top-tier experts, they sustained no injuries from the impact!
The 'Tornado Mercenary Group' seemed undeterred and launched a second wave of magical assaults! This time, several mages simultaneously unleashed their spells, the combined power far eclipsing the previous 'Meteor Descent'!
Gazing at the howling torrent of multi-elemental magic, Maxin merely smiled and remarked, "It seems they intend to challenge us to a contest of magical might."
As her words faded, another barrier appeared, perfectly intercepting the incoming barrage!
The mages within the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' stared in utter horror at the shield that nullified their spells, their shock reaching an absolute zenith!
For the combined might of several of them to be unable to overcome a single woman—if they hadn't experienced it themselves, they would never have believed it!
"Oh, Lord of Fire, grant me infinite power! Display your wrath, and lend me your world-ending magic to destroy my sworn enemies! At this moment, let your anger and mine merge, revealing the strongest divine power—the Wrath of the Fire God!"
"Great Fire God-King, in the name of your contractor, I borrow your world-destroying magic to incinerate all evil in this realm, letting the flames of light scorch the earth—Roar of the Fire Dragon!"
They had not given up the offensive; another wave of magic coalesced!
Maxin effortlessly deflected these attacks while casting a look of wounded appeal toward Elena nearby, feigning a pitiful expression. "Sister Linna, look how many of them are ganging up on just me. Won't you offer a little assistance?"
Elena rolled her eyes. "You need my help against these few mages? If you really can't handle them, perhaps Young Master should give you some private training!"
Maxin immediately stuck out her tongue, having deeply experienced how grueling and exhausting being trained by Zhong Shenxiu truly was!
"Damn it! Why can't our magical attacks penetrate that barrier?"
"Are they even stronger than mages?"
At this point, the morale of the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' plummeted. They had already lost the summon exchange against the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' and had hoped to suppress them with magic, yet they hadn't anticipated the enemy's mastery of spellcasting to be so terrifying!
What kind of entity was this 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' that even an ordinary member was so formidable?
The deeper they fought, the more apprehension grew within the 'Tornado Mercenary Group.' They could clearly see that the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' had not yet unleashed its true strength; the final victor of this battle remained entirely uncertain!
Time ticked by, and Maxin finally grew tired of merely defending. She was ready to counterattack! Almost simultaneously with this thought, a colossal pillar of water materialized out of thin air around the 'Tornado Mercenary Group,' precisely encircling them.
If one looked closely, they would notice this massive water column was spinning rapidly, instantly bringing to mind a violent whirlpool.
"Th-this? What is this?" Adonis exclaimed, quickly turning to question the mages.
The mages stared back at the water pillar with baffled expressions, their sense of unease intensifying!
Just then, Maxin's voice drifted over. "Now, I shall begin my counterattack!"
As she spoke, the rapidly spinning water column transformed into solid ice pillars, which then violently erupted, unleashing countless ice spikes that attacked the members of the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' from all directions!
This was an undeniable all-encompassing strike. When an ice spike struck an existing ice pillar, it would instantly merge, forming a new spike—a perfect demonstration of 'closed-loop recycling'!
Faced with such relentless assault, the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' had no option but to defend desperately.
Three minutes later, the ice spikes vanished. By this time, over a dozen members of the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' were severely wounded, including the mages who had initiated the previous spells. If they didn't receive immediate treatment, they were certainly doomed!
Adonis, whose face was now ashen white, realized how monstrous that last spell was. Those ice spikes were clearly no ordinary projectiles. If he hadn't prepared himself when Maxin warned him, he too would have been forced to erect a protective barrier, leaving him unable to stand.
Terrifying.
This wasn't them eliminating the enemy; this was them being eliminated! This was the greatest crisis the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' had faced since its inception; death felt terrifyingly close!
If Maxin hadn't momentarily paused, they wouldn't have lasted much longer—perhaps that single spell alone would have annihilated them all!
They finally grasped just how utterly monstrous the target they were sent to kill truly was. Based on the current situation, this was far beyond the capabilities of the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' to contend with!
The thought of fleeing flashed through their minds instantly. The question was no longer about succeeding in the kill; it was now about their own survival!
The moment Maxin dissipated the ice pillars, Adonis suddenly shouted, "Retreat!"
Without waiting for anyone to react, he bolted back the way they came, not sparing a single glance for his companions lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. The creed of the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' was simple: if someone held no further utility, there was no reason for them to remain alive!
The lives of their comrades were no different from mere weeds in their eyes!
Calling them "comrades" was perhaps too generous; they were merely individuals—or rather, entities (as they could scarcely be called human)—gathered by shared interests or common goals!
The escape skills of the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' deserved some praise; within seconds, they had covered dozens of meters, moving with remarkable coordination, without any pushing or trampling! However, they had drastically underestimated the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'—they would not be allowed to flee so easily!
Just as Adonis dissolved his 'Black Cage,' a net woven from countless thin black threads suddenly appeared before them, perfectly replacing the former cage's position!
As a Necromancer, Adonis immediately recognized these black threads as Dark Magic, and not just any minor form! He clearly sensed the horrifying power emanating from them!
"Stop! Everyone stop!" Adonis roared abruptly.
But his warning was a fraction of a second too late; several members slammed directly into the black threads.
Instantly, cries of agony erupted from their throats. Despite frantic struggling, their bodies seemed glued fast, utterly unable to break free from the dark strands!
Then, before the eyes of Adonis and the others, the skin of those ensnared individuals began to blacken, and their entire bodies seemed to shrivel and desiccate, until finally, they were completely absorbed into the black threads, vanishing without a trace!
Witnessing this bizarre and horrifying spectacle, even men accustomed to slaughter felt icy chills tracing down their spines, their scalps tingling uncontrollably!
Moments ago, they had trapped the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'; now, it was their turn to be caught! These black threads had sealed off the surroundings completely. If one had to describe it, this move could be seen as a perversely upgraded version of the 'Black Cage'—perhaps best named the 'Black Slaughter Pen'! To escape from it seemed utterly impossible!
As Adonis and the others stood frozen in shock, the black threads shifted, beginning to contract slowly, pressing inward toward them!
Having no other recourse, they were forced to retreat temporarily, returning to a standoff against the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'!
"Welcome back," Faraday sneered mockingly.
These surrounding black threads were his handiwork. There was no need for sympathy toward villains; Zhong Shenxiu had long ago taught them that lesson through action!
Adonis glared at Faraday. He knew Faraday was also a Necromancer, but he hadn't expected his skill to so vastly surpass his own! In terms of footwork, Necromancy, Summoning, and general magic, the 'Tornado Mercenary Group' had been thoroughly defeated by the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group.' What leverage did they have left?
How could they possibly navigate this crisis?
After much deliberation, Adonis could devise no viable plan. Against these monsters before them, any strategy felt weak and useless. Yet, if they did nothing now, the outcome would surely be annihilation!
I'll risk it all!
Adonis inwardly gritted his teeth and sent a silent signal to his team. Then, dozens of high-grade Magical Beasts appeared before them, accompanied by seven or eight Magic Insects!
It seemed they intended to carve a path of slaughter using these summoned creatures!
The younger scions of the 'Tillarri Family,' upon seeing these beasts and insects, were genuinely startled, sensing that the real battle was about to commence. This was no longer a conflict ordinary people could participate in, so they wisely retreated behind the formation of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group.'
Watching the magical beasts and insects deployed by the 'Tornado Mercenary Group,' Charlotte and the others couldn't help but smile:
We aren't the only ones with Magical Beasts and Insects—we have them too!