Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 564: One bathed in Holy Light

The so-called first-strike advantage of an Arcanist Mage was built upon rising from beneath the water, where no one could see, up to the surface, then suddenly launching an attack, using large-scale destructive magic to inflict irreversible losses upon the enemy’s military strength.

In the original storyline, the Valeria Empire had been retreating step by step under the onslaught of the Church Knights, losing vast amounts of territory and wealth, nearly reaching a point of no return.

It was then that Anthony, Dean of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, suddenly appeared before a strategically important military fortress on the side of the Kingdom of Velys, using his self-developed Arcanist magic to obliterate all defensive installations and living forces, pushing the entire war into its next phase.

In other words, once the Valeria Empire figured out the maximum pressure threshold the Kingdom of Velys could endure, they could easily predict the opponent’s deployment and actions involving Arcanist-rank mages. The so-called first-strike advantage would naturally vanish into thin air.

In the center of the battlefield, Charlotte watched the orderly retreat of the city defenders. The delicate ring on her slender finger flickered faintly, and a simple yet ancient-looking staff, exuding an ethereal aura, quickly appeared in her palm.

Since ascending to the rank of Arcanist Mage, Charlotte rarely needed to rely on magical implements like staves to cast specific spells. In daily instruction of Magnus far weaker than herself, silently reciting incantations and communicating with elemental forces was more than sufficient.

Now, however, the Kingdom of Velys had deployed at least three Arcanist Mages, perhaps even shadows of Peak tier Arcanist Mages. If she continues holding back, she will be the one to suffer.

High above in the sky, Charles in his black robes clashed blade to blade with a magically projected Church knight. Ferocious sword energy swept wildly through the air, each casual strike powerful enough to repel gales and create brief vacuums of elemental particles. When stray strikes occasionally landed on the ground, they gouged grotesque scars into the hard-frozen soil.

Another wave of light particles, sharp as arrows, rained down toward the graceful beauty atop the bell tower. Charlotte unfurled wind wings from her back. The gust beneath her boots propelled her flight forward, and the trembling wind wings enhanced the oncoming torrent, scattering the waves of light. Her body lifted from the ground, soaring high into the sky with a broad, panoramic view.

Within her elemental vision, the patterns of magical energy flow were clearly visible. And their sources were naturally those Arcanist Mages emanating immensely powerful auras.

According to Astrid and Charles’s assessment, the Kingdom of Velys’s intended breakthrough point might not be just the most obvious target, White Maple Town. There were many other towns along the second defensive line that could serve as gateways to deeper cities. However, White Maple Town was the closest in spatial distance and the weakest link in the entire defensive line.

In other words, within the contingency plan, Astrid had considered the possibility that the Kingdom of Velys might use a few Arcanist Mages alongside their full conventional military to feint an attack on White Maple Town, while secretly gathering the majority of their Arcanist forces to strike elsewhere, aiming directly at Losterling City.

The exact determination will depend on the number of Arcanist Mages appearing on the battlefield. If anything seemed abnormal, the Arcanist Mages patrolling the flanks would remain at their posts, continuing their vigilance.

And if the enemy committed all their forces, including Arcanist Mages, in a full frontal assault on White Maple Town, the noble bodyguards stationed near the central battlefield would receive word and rush to the front lines immediately.

As Charlotte continued ascending until the entire battlefield lay beneath her gaze, she detected no further signs of Arcanist Mages. At least for now, only three were visibly engaged, two Commanders, and a Bishop who seemed to be manipulating a residual light-elemental phantom in fierce combat with Grand Duke Charles.

Three Arcanist Mages... The Valeria Empire’s openly stationed military forces in White Maple Town alone exceeds that number...

If the Church of Light intended to use first-strike advantage to eliminate Arcanist-rank forces, this scale of attack was far from sufficient.

Elsewhere, Astrid lowered her crossed black-stockinged legs, her crimson eyes slightly downcast. She had just received rudimentary intelligence by observing light magic signals launched into the sky, similar to ancient beacon fires used for communication.

Could it be that the Kingdom of Velys’s attack on White Maple Town was truly just a feint, aiming at another sector?

At this moment, Charles was already locked in combat with an Arcanist Mage, unable to conduct detailed commands. The true person coordinating the entire operation had now become the highest-ranking noble closest to the battlefield, the Regent, Astrid herself.

Every step she took from here on would be crucial.

The intelligence indicates three key personnel, Arcanist Mages. There had been no reports from either flank about suspicious individuals breaching the no-fly zone or suffering sudden attacks.

If only Monica could still be contacted, if only since the fall of Liya Tower Fortress, the Saintess hadn’t seemed to have appeared on the front lines...

"Put Losterling City on wartime defense alert. All city guards remain on high alert."

"Additionally, relay my order: immediately mobilize the two Arcanist Mages responsible for the eastern and western district defenses of the city to proceed at once to White Maple Town and strengthen the front lines."

Upon hearing Astrid’s words, Elise immediately relayed the message to the attendants waiting in the estate for military orders. The Regent’s decree was transmitted at lightning speed to the designated individuals. Within minutes, two Arcanist Mages activated wind magic and headed northwest, toward White Maple Town.

In name, these forces were meant to protect the Regent’s personal safety and prevent the Church Knights from launching a sudden strike on Losterling City via some special means. In truth, the city’s defensive strength was not inferior to White Maple Town at all. Two transcendent figures from the royal family, along with noble bodyguards dispatched to the battlefield under orders, were all Arcanist-rank mages.

Since the Kingdom of Velys hadn’t sent Arcanist Mages to launch a surprise attack on Losterling City, Astrid might as well commit these forces to White Maple Town, preparing for the upcoming military counteroffensive.

In terms of distance, White Maple Town was close enough to Losterling City. Charles and Charlotte had successfully repelled the first wave of assault. Even if some forces were temporarily redeployed, there would still be time to strengthen the defenses later.

"Elise, keep monitoring the battle reports, especially the town defenses on both flanks."

The battle continued. A single misstep in the clash between Arcanist Mages could lead to utter annihilation. Even though strategically Astrid’s plan had already succeeded halfway, the unpredictable variables in any single battle remained uncertain.

If Charlotte or Lyra suffer any misfortune, then for Astrid, this entire battle could hardly be called a victory.

"Yes, Miss."

Hearing the faint tension hidden within Astrid’s voice, the head maid replied gently.

............

At the same time, inside the White Maple Town command room, Lyra’s mind was intensely focused. Even her hand gripping the scabbard had begun to secretly a faint, fragrant sweat.

Although Charlotte and Charles were intentionally minimizing the impact of their magic on the town’s infrastructure and actively intercepting enemy spells, the scale of combat between Arcanist Mages was simply too vast. Even the shockwaves alone were overwhelming for her to handle.

Earlier, when she was unable to avoid a glancing strike from a "Blazing Sun" spell, Lyra had already sensed a weakening in her connection to the spell circle. The trembling dome shield seemed to strike against her consciousness itself, creating a dizziness almost akin to her brain and skull vibrating in unison.

Although the dome shield was said to last fifteen minutes, in reality, Lyra had no real idea how long it would hold. She could no longer maintain a full 360-degree defensive field like she had at the start of the battle, resisting every incoming boulder and magic infused with elemental particles.

Instead, she submerged her mind as deeply as possible in the virtual ocean of mental feedback, closely monitoring the angles of every incoming spell. She selectively abandoned defense against those spell remnants she couldn’t block or that would severely destroy the dome. As for Magnus-level spells, she intercepted as few as possible. Most of the time, soldiers had to evade on their own.

Only when spells were cast directly into the retreat path, blocking the way forward and beyond the soldiers’ ability to dodge, would Lyra use her limited spell circle to attempt interception.

The previous attack had been such a case, Lyra had noticed a fleeting slash of radiant light, cast carelessly by the illusory figure battling Charles above, slicing toward a small group of retreating city defenders. The speed and force of it made evasion impossible, leaving her no choice but to forcibly activate her spell circle to block it.

The people were saved, but the lingering tremor constantly reminded Lyra: she could block one, maybe two such strikes, but not the ever-spreading remnants of this battle.

High in the sky, the illustration figure was severed at the waist, its light particles scattering like snowflakes. Harmless to Charles, they became reapers of death for countless ordinary soldiers.

Fortunately, a gust of wind blew through, scattering most of the searing light into the ranks of the Church Knights. Lyra only needed to watch out for the few stragglers.

Stones on the wall caught the burning light, instantly turning pitch black. As soldiers retreated, they saw haystacks in the distance and cotton quilts hanging outside homes ignited into blazing infernos. Occasionally, a fragment of light landed near their feet. Even through their boots, they could feel the scorching heat, and they scrambled to avoid it.

Nearby, massive boulders continued to be launched into the town’s interior. Soldiers still on the wall who hadn’t evacuated yet buried their heads behind stone blocks, waiting for the shadow to pass and the wall in front of them to stop trembling from impacts before daring to raise their mana-fire rifles. They fired off the last stored particles of elemental crystals in their chambers.

As for the few surviving wall-mounted mana cannons, veteran soldiers who could still steadily morale directed others to adjust their angles. After one final volley, an arrow from an unknown source struck straight into a cannon barrel. Then, under the control of light-elemental magic, it detonated rapidly.

Without spell circle protection, these magical constructs, masterpieces of mage ingenuity, became extremely fragile. Let alone the fact that they now faced swarms of Sorcerers, some of whom were even powerful Magnus.

Charlotte, currently restrained by another Arcanist Mage, also noticed the walls being gradually eroded. Although she had already mentally prepared to abandon White Maple Town, if the Church Knights managed to breach the walls now, the soldiers who hadn’t retreated in time would all fall beneath their blades.

With a casual "Air Cannon" spell, Charlotte destroyed nearly half the trebuchets. Seizing the moment, Kales, the commander of the Church Knights, who had been locked in direct combat with the elegant mage, triggered a sudden surge. The warm sun behind the woman flared into searing brilliance, the sudden heat radiating from behind sent a faint sense of mortal danger through Charlotte. She twisted her body midair to evade, though the outermost layer of her coat singed slightly.

Compared to large-scale magical barrages, such close-range high-damage spells were far more lethal.

Her long, ink-black hair fluttered in the wind, revealing a sliver of her pale swan-like neck. Charlotte maintained her graceful demeanor, encouraging that the danger of that one second was punishment for underestimating her opponent.

With two evenly matched Arcanist Mages engaged in battle, there was no room for distraction.

Regaining her focus, the winds swirling around her blocked all heat. Charlotte blinked her tea-colored eyes gently. The cold northern wind descended from the sky to the earth, forming a blade circle as sharp as possible.

At that very moment, completely unaware that she would now have to rely solely on herself, Lyra continued manipulating the defensive spell circle. Her mental link grew increasingly strained, draining her mental power at an accelerating rate, yet achieving minimal results.

Just then, a low female voice suddenly reached Lyra’s ears, the other Peak tier Magnus who had helped form the skyward dome.

"Knight-Captain Lyra... I can no longer connect to the circle."

As one of the pillars supporting the dome with mental power, if one fails, the remaining mages will bear even greater pressure.

Was it because of that Blazing Sun spell earlier?

It had only been less than five minutes since the Arcanist Mages entered the battlefield, and the circle was already on the verge of collapse.

After a brief pause, Lyra spoke softly.

"Disconnect from the circle. Go build elemental shields and assist the soldiers’ retreat."

"Understood."

Having issued the order, Lyra leapt out of the window. mental power formed wings, carrying her toward the frontline.

The dome shield still held, but it wouldn’t last much longer. As the overall commander, it was time for her to take her position at top of the wall and assume full command.

Her iron-shod heels struck the stone tiles. Pink hair cascaded over her holy armor. She pointed her blade at the ground, lightly tapping it.

The next instant, the stream of light-elemental particles guided by the Church Knights’ formation was absorbed by Lyra’s [Sword of Light], becoming the natural medium for her to unleash [Lightfall].

Gentle holy light welled from the tip of her sword, flowing over Lyra’s body. Her silver-white, radiant armor gleamed brilliantly under the sun. Her sapphire-blue eyes were filled with determination. The soft, creamy-white silk-clad legs visible between the gaps of her armor reflect a delicate, graceful glow.

Below the wall, a severely wounded Church Knight, struck by the city’s mana cannon, mustered his strength and hurled his sword at Lyra. The pink-haired girl raised her hand, and the sharp blade halted ten centimeters from her palm, then disintegrated piece by piece before the solidified mental force.

"Go quickly. Leave this to me." Lyra said calmly, noting the defenders still holding their ground at that location.

The shattered fragments of the blade clattered to the ground. Lyra raised her holy sword. The blade, infused with holy light, seemed to break free from its constraints. The ripples emanating from it lingered in the air.

In that very instant, sensing the aura radiating from Lyra, a gray-haired old man at the rear of the Church Knights’ formation, who had been observing the two other Arcanist Mages approaching from the direction of Losterling City, slowly opened his eyes, the holy scriptures in his hand tightening.