A golden opportunity presented itself just as they were formulating their diversion.
With sudden, explosive momentum, the Ogrekin launched a fierce assault on the Sorcerer’s Castle. Using their attack as a decoy, Rest and his team charged toward the fortress.
To get inside, they first had to breach the outer perimeter. The fortress was constructed of magically reinforced sand and stone, granting it a durability that rivaled steel.
"Let’s go! We’re breaking through!"
Bareia Catreia, the unit’s commander, was the first to leap forward.
He closed the distance like a charging Earth Dragon, burying the tip of his spear into the exterior wall.
"Nngh...!"
He let out a heavy grunt of exertion. Despite putting his full weight behind the strike, the spear only managed a shallow gouge. The structure was unnervingly resilient.
"Lord Bareia, stand back," Rest called out. "Let me handle this with magic—"
"Don't look down on me! My spear won't be stopped by mere sand and stone!"
Bareia shouted as he flooded his weapon with mana. The spearhead began to glow, turning a fierce, incandescent red.
"Burst!"
A heartbeat later, the point of impact detonated. The fire and wind magic imbued into the spearhead erupted in unison, pulverizing the wall and gouging out a massive hole.
An explosion that should have compromised their stealth echoed through the air, but the anti-sound barriers Dieble had erected kept the noise from leaking out to the surrounding forest.
"Move! Inside, before the breach closes!"
The castle possessed self-repair capabilities; the stone was already beginning to knit itself back together. They had to enter immediately.
The knights, the mages, and their guide, Rou, all scrambled through the opening. However, just as Rest was about to follow, Bareia held up a hand to stop him.
"Count Clover, stay outside."
"What? Why?"
"To prepare for any eventuality. You and Lord Dieble will infiltrate from a different direction. If there are traps inside, we can avoid being wiped out all at once while you exploit the enemy's openings."
Bareia Catreia, the son of the Knight Commander, was living up to his reputation. It was clear now: he was more than just an overprotective brother with a sister complex. Even in the heat of battle, he was thinking tactically, proposing a pincer movement to keep the enemy off-balance.
The Ogrekin attack was a diversion for the Kingdom Army's breach, which would, in turn, serve as a diversion for this third strike. From the enemy's perspective, it would be a layers-deep deception.
It was a gamble that split their war potential, but Rest saw the value in it. He nodded and stepped back as the wall began to fuse shut.
"Understood. We'll see you inside."
"Lord Rest, this way," Dieble said.
As the Ogrekin pressured the front and the Kingdom Army struck from the rear, the two of them broke away from the main group. If they were to find a third point of entry, there was only one logical choice.
"The roof," Rest realized. "We're taking the high ground."
"We shall fly. Surely you are capable?"
Without waiting for an answer, Dieble kicked off the ground and soared into the air. He rose steadily, defying gravity as he ascended toward the clouds.
"Of course. I could hardly call myself a mage if I couldn't fly."
Rest followed close behind. In this world, the ability to take flight was often the measuring stick for a true mage. Utilizing Wind Control and Floating magic, they quickly rose above the castle's highest point.
"Now then, Lord Rest," Dieble noted, looking down at the structure. "The roof is likely protected by the same defensive wards. Can you pierce it?"
"Easily. It’ll be a piece of cake."
If his only goal was destruction, Rest had over a dozen ways to handle it. He decided to unleash his first original creation.
"Star Eater."
A black sphere manifested in Rest's palm—a miniature dark star capable of consuming everything in its path.
"Hah!"
With a sharp grunt of concentration, he slammed the sphere into the roof. The dark star swallowed the reinforced stone instantly, hollowing out a massive circular entrance.
Dieble dived into the void first, and a heartbeat later, Rest followed him down into the depths of the Sorcerer’s Castle.