"Chaos scum!" Ryan raised his hand. "Psychic Storm!"
"Flame of Sorcery!" Carlos's staff pointed directly at Ryan's body. It chanted incantations, and multicolored flames tore through space, colliding with the lightning of the Psychic Storm. The immense energy explosion on the city wall went unnoticed by the Chaos Great Daemon. While intensifying the Flame of Tzeentch to directly oppose Ryan's Psychic Storm, its other head instinctively looked towards the other side of the wall.
"Die, Chaos scum!" Several young knight-errants charged at the Chaos Great Daemon, shouting the name of the Lady of the Lake: "For the Lady!"
Demonic fire spewed from its other hand, and the young knight-errants were reduced to writhing masses of flesh on the ground after the multicolored flames consumed them. As if anticipating it, Carlos casually created a magical barrier that blocked Teresa's Ice Arrows, Morgiana's Lightning Arrows, and the Dwarf musketeers' bullets. The Chaos Great Daemon pointed at Morgiana's location, causing the Lake Witch to be thrown aside.
Teresa sensed danger and immediately raised her Violet Staff. "Ice Barrier!"
The next second, the Ice Barrier shattered into pieces, and Teresa was flung several meters away, landing not far off. Witnessing this, Ryan became enraged. He roared, increasing the power of his Psychic Storm. Simultaneously, Thunder's Hammer swept upward, its lightning-infused tip aiming for the Chaos Great Daemon's right head.
"All your actions are seen through by me." The Tzeentchian Great Daemon laughed shrilly, prepared in advance.
When Ryan initiated his attack, Carlos had already discerned his trajectory. Its staff descended from above, precisely striking Ryan's wrist.
"Ugh!" With his wrist struck, Ryan growled, attempting to roll back and create distance. However, just as he stepped back, the Chaos Great Daemon's sharp claws grabbed his throat.
"Trying to retreat and distance yourself?"
"Not a chance!"
As soon as the words were out, the Chaos Great Daemon roared, hurling Ryan like a cannonball. He smashed into a tower wall, creating a large crater.
Carlos spread its wings, instantly flying to Ryan's side, and Ryan countered with Thunder's Hammer.
"Seen through!"
As before, Carlos effortlessly read Ryan's attack path. Its staff struck Ryan's wrist again. With his old force gone and new force not yet formed, Carlos grabbed Ryan's throat again. "Your every move is under the great Saint Tzeentch's control! Let me tell you, you..."
"How about this?!" Ryan suddenly grabbed the hand clutching his throat, unleashing his full psychic power. The resulting Psychic Storm engulfed both Carlos and himself.
The Tzeentchian Great Daemon screamed in pain as both fell from the city wall.
The swamp near Spire Palace splashed with mud and water. Ryan felt a heavy weight fall on him and immediately rolled to his feet. As he stood, Carlos's staff's flames swept the area, evaporating the swamp's moisture.
Ryan felt the cold, damp environment of Mousillon, standing up and angrily attacking with his warhammer. The griffon Impris had heard his call, and the massive beast flew swiftly towards Ryan from Spire Palace.
"Ugh!" Carlos climbed up, releasing an angry roar. It raised its hand, and chaotic lightning and Tzeentchian fire engulfed Ryan's body.
Carlos wore a pleased expression. Such powerful magic should be unstoppable for any mortal. It raised its staff to deliver a fatal blow to Ryan!
However, reality disappointed it. A silver arc dispelled the flames and lightning. Ryan leapt out from the multicolored flames and burning lightning, his warhammer raised high. "Die, Chaos scum!"
"Seen through!" Carlos reacted in surprise. Both its bird heads focused on Ryan's movements.
The Lady's chosen champion descended from above, and as his warhammer was about to strike Carlos, the chaotic domain erupted into a whirlpool. Blue-green sorcerous flames covered Carlos's body. The Tzeentchian Great Daemon's whispers echoed in Ryan's ears. Under boundless power, Carlos felt no fear.
Even without using his foresight powers, the Weaver of Fate knew the strength of Ryan's blow. If he wasn't careful, Carlos would fall under this human hero's hammer and sword.
But as long as there was a path to follow, not even Ryan-Marcador could defeat the first Great Daemon under Tzeentch!
Carlos let out a sharp screech, deftly dodging at a perfect moment to evade Ryan's attack.
The timing was so precise. If Carlos dodged too quickly, Ryan would change his stance. If too slow, Carlos would be struck by the warhammer. The Tzeentchian Great Daemon masterfully managed the timing. Its claw extended from the blue chaotic armor and white robe, pressing Ryan's head to the ground.
"Ugh!" Missing his attack, Ryan was pinned down painfully. He tried to draw his sword Vengeance for a desperate strike. "Damn!"
All of Ryan's movements were under Carlos's control. The Tzeentchian Great Daemon's staff swept horizontally, striking Ryan's hand. A kick sent Ryan flying. The Weaver of Fate sneered, pointing his staff at the ground, releasing a massive surge of blue sorcerous flames.
Recently sprouted trees turned to ash under the sorcerous flames' power.
In the distance, Morgiana's green eyes widened. The Lake Witch couldn't comprehend how Carlos predicted and countered her magic.
Now was not the time for such thoughts. Morgiana immediately chanted a new spell: "Chain Lightning!"
Lightning arcs swept the battlefield, leaping frantically among the Chaos Daemons. Explosions rang out as all daemons in their path turned to ash. The Weaver of Fate disdainfully ordered dozens of low-level Tzeentchian Daemons to absorb Morgiana's Chain Lightning.
Then, a beam of blue fire, capable of melting anything, forced the Lake Witch back. The blue flame touched the city wall.
The once-solid walls of Spire Palace melted. Morgiana watched in horror as the terrifying scene unfolded.
In short, the entire Spire Palace was melting. Tzeentch Fireborn had climbed the walls, hurling fireballs at their enemies. The walls were collapsing under the sorcerous flames, streets turned to ruins, granaries burned to cinders, and defenders were reduced to charred meat.
The entire wall was leveled. Human and Dwarf allied forces fought daemons amidst the rubble. The breach was too wide. Teresa's ice walls couldn't hold the gap, and the fall of the city was imminent.
But the Tzeentchian army miscalculated. As the daemon horde poured into the castle, King Belegar of Eight Peaks noticed the leveled wall. The Dwarf king stood on the Oathstone, personally announcing his arrival.
The Dwarven songs drowned out the chaotic daemon roars. Dwarven warhammers crushed daemon skulls, Dwarven axes cleaved Chaos armor. The Angrund Oathguard, led by Belegar, joined the fray, shattering the daemon assault.
"For the Lady! For Bretonnia!" Following them were swarms of Bretonnian knights, their cries echoing through the sky. Led by Sir Gerald and Grail Knight Fedemond, each knight squad was commanded by a Grail Knight. Their charge significantly slowed the Tzeentchian army's advance. The Lake God's banners shone brightly, protecting the knights from harm.
But this was not enough to defeat Tzeentch's strongest army, the Eternal Legion. The entire Spire Palace melted under the daemon flames. Carlos summoned more Tzeentchian troops to the battlefield and refocused on the returning Ryan.
"Morgiana, support our army! Order our troops to retreat!" Kicked away by Carlos, Ryan returned to fight the Great Daemon. Their actions were too fast to see. "If we keep fighting, we'll lose! Retreat now!"
"...I understand!" Morgiana nodded immediately. The Lake Witch cast a powerful healing spell for the allied forces, then ordered the troops to retreat before more Tzeentchian daemons joined the battle.
Outside the melting walls, the battle between Ryan and Carlos continued.
Ryan's warhammer shattered the Weaver of Fate's magical barrier like crystal. Ryan unleashed a Psychic Storm, burning Carlos's skin. The beautiful blue wings were scorched black. The Tzeentchian Great Daemon howled in pain but still easily dodged Thunder's Hammer and Vengeance's slashes.
Then, Carlos cast a long-prepared spell. Nine sacred incantations of Tzeentch resounded in its chant, bursting with star-like brilliance.
Ryan knew he couldn't let Carlos complete such a terrifying spell. His Psychic Storm burned Carlos's body, tearing chunks of flesh from the Weaver of Fate. Vengeance struck the Great Daemon's arm, spraying foul blood. The nauseating fluids heightened Ryan's senses, giving him new insight.
The Tzeentchian Great Daemon could foresee all his actions, but it couldn't maintain both foresight and incantation simultaneously. Ryan realized his attacks would be seen through, but Psychic Storm's area damage disrupted Carlos's foresight temporarily.
But when Ryan tried to push his advantage, Carlos completed its spell.
Dense energy enveloped Ryan's body, and four vine-like energy strands wrapped the Grey Knight Primarch, solidifying into heavy crystal chains.
"Ever considered switching masters, Ryan-Marcador?" Carlos maintained the spellbinding with glee. It was about to declare the Lake God's chosen champion as its prisoner when Ryan's roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Don't think you can trap me with this junk!!!"
With Ryan's bellow, the crystal chains began to crack under his power. It took him five seconds to gather his strength, and then he twisted his body with all his might, shattering the chains into countless fragments.
The Tzeentchian Great Daemon was in disbelief that its meticulously prepared Chaos spell had little effect on Ryan. Instinctively panicking, it spread its wings and flew to evade Ryan's psychic spears, heading towards Spire Palace.
When Ryan attempted to reengage Carlos, he realized he couldn't afford to be reckless because the battle situation had changed.
He could continue fighting Carlos, but his army couldn't hold on.
The Tzeentchian army was too powerful. The human and Dwarf allied forces were teetering on the edge of retreat and defeat. The griffon Impris flew from afar, and Ryan mounted it to cover the allied forces as they retreated from Spire Palace, carrying some supplies and the wounded. "My soldiers, retreat for now! Retreat!!!"
Seeing Ryan appear and personally covering their retreat, the army's morale lifted, and they gradually withdrew from the battlefield, crossing the floating bridge towards the Forest of Chalons.
To everyone's surprise, during the human and Dwarf allied forces' retreat across the floating bridge, the most vulnerable moment, Carlos ordered a halt to the pursuit.
Carlos had no interest in fighting the humans and Dwarves to the death, only to let the undead reap the benefits. That wasn't the Tzeentchian Great Daemon's purpose for coming to the mortal world. Its agreement with Matthew Bard was to "defeat Ryan-Marcador."
Now that Ryan was forced to retreat, Carlos had fulfilled its promise. A retreat could also be considered a defeat, depending on one's perspective.
By this time, Spire Palace had completely melted into ruins. Neither wood, stone, nor steel could withstand the sorcerous flames of the Tzeentch Fireborn.
Among the ruins, Carlos extended its injured claw, rummaging through a pile of corpses to find a lance.
It was the lance of the former Duke of Artois, Gilfrey, one of the holy relics given by the Lady of the Lake to the first twelve Grail Knights: the Boar Lance.
"The first relic!"
"My power, strengthened!"
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