The invasion by Tzeentch's army caught the Garland Council completely off guard. The witches had never anticipated such an attack on Skykeep, believing that its location on a thousand-meter-high ridge of the World's End Mountains, along with the protection of magical barriers, made it impossible for an enemy to bypass defenses and attack the castle directly. As a result, no one foresaw the sudden appearance of Tzeentch's army within the castle after the grand gathering.
Inside Skykeep, the only defending force was the Garland Guard, a group of over 200 mercenaries. When the situation unfolded, these mercenaries were initially on edge. They contacted the outer watchposts and quickly realized the disturbance was coming from within the castle. Alarm bells and horn blasts confirmed the internal crisis. The mercenary captain, August von Geben, wasted no time organizing his troops. Those off-duty hurriedly donned their armor, while many refugees fled to the gates, reporting the horrors unfolding in the city.
Despite their small numbers, the Garland Guard was a loyal and battle-hardened force, handpicked by Speaker Margarita herself. Captain August, a soldier from the Ostermark Alliance, carefully analyzed the situation. The castle was ablaze, engulfed in magical light, so he wisely decided not to advance recklessly. Instead, he gathered his forces, regrouped the scattered defenders, and prepared to mount a defense.
In hindsight, August's cautious decision was the right one. Though his slower response delayed the rescue efforts, his men avoided being caught in the devastating effects of Tzeentch's champion, Tza-Zanek's Mutating Nova. By staying within the walls and castle gates, they also avoided being picked off piecemeal. With half of Skykeep already under Tzeentch's control, August managed to rally about 400 men and fully equip them, preparing to defend the central tower's sky bridges and prevent further incursions by Tzeentch's army.
By this time, Skykeep had descended into utter chaos. Half the districts were destroyed, while the remaining areas were overrun by demons and Chaos warriors. The recent gathering made the castle more crowded than usual, and though some residents barricaded themselves in their homes, praying to the Old World gods for protection, many were hunted down by Tzeentch's forces. Some were fortunate to evade detection, but others, especially the witch apprentices and adventurers who had come seeking tasks, banded together to resist, with some surviving long enough for Captain August to arrive—others did not.
Rumors and fear spread like wildfire, and the sounds of battle and burning fires seemed to come from all directions.
Theresa, helping her wounded mother Aurora, struggled to control the ice golem carrying them. After a rough bandaging and some treatment, Aurora's injuries had improved. She could see her daughter was nearing her limit. "That's enough, my dear. Dismiss the spell. I can walk on my own."
Theresa nodded, and the two women dismounted, hurrying through the chaos of the streets. Not far away, the central tower flickered with firelight, arcane energy crackling around it, though any magic quickly dissipated into the air.
"We've been tricked," Aurora quickly realized. "Theresa, this is bad! We've all fallen into Tza-Zanek's trap. He's using our magic to summon a Great Daemon of Tzeentch! He's drained the Winds of Magic around Skykeep, and he's deliberately baited us into wasting the last of our stored power, making it easier for him to complete the summoning!"
"What?" Theresa was shocked. She looked out into the distance.
Sure enough, within the ruined city, a summoning ritual for a Great Daemon of Tzeentch was underway.
A sharp wail and twisted magical winds filled the air. In the skies above the ruins, a mass of pure Chaos energy was coalescing, taking shape. A monstrous figure clad in gold and blue armor, with bird-like wings sprouting from its back, was slowly being summoned into the mortal world.
Theresa hesitated, glancing toward the gate and then toward the central tower. "Mother, what should we do now? Do we flee, or do we head to the tower to face them?"
"Do you think we can escape?" Aurora gritted her teeth. "We must defend the tower! It's our only chance. Three of the castle's six sorcerer towers have already fallen, and Kalelona has betrayed us! Our own tower has been nearly emptied, and the only functioning teleportation circle left is in the central tower's underground chamber."
Theresa said nothing more. With her magic nearly depleted, the sorceress focused on drawing what little power she could from the air while pulling out two flintlock pistols—Blue Love, treasures from the Lamian family that Ryan had obtained from beneath the Cathedral of Justice in Brunswick.
Theresa adapted her combat strategy, using the rune-engraved pistols to shoot at enemies alongside her mother. Together, they dodged enemy spells and fought their way toward the central tower.
Near the tower, Captain August had gathered the last defenders of Skykeep. He led his halberdiers and sword-and-shield men into a circular formation, holding off the advancing Tzeentchian warriors and sorcerers. The remaining Garland witches stood together, casting spells at the enemy, while those without magic left used swords or pistols, firing at the Chaos army.
Some mercenaries, consumed by desperation, threw themselves into melee combat with Chaos warriors, only to be quickly cut down by greatswords, halberds, or axes.
On the cobblestone road before the central tower, the black statue of Savior Ludwig stood, watching over the battle. The defenders fought valiantly, pushing back the Raven Guard and Tzeentch's forces wave after wave. The street was covered in corpses, making it impossible to see its original form.
Tzeentch's army struggled with direct combat. The Raven Guard repeatedly attempted to storm the central tower but were repelled each time. When the Tzeentchian sorcerers tried to blast through with magic, the combined efforts of the Garland witches and the magic-resistant armor worn by the Garland Guard dulled their attacks.
Above the central tower, scorching beams of sunlight shot out from the tower's defensive mechanisms, sweeping across the battlefield, turning Raven Guard champions and Tzeentch demons to ash and molten slag.
Survivors throughout Skykeep joined the fight. Cooks wielded knives, servants grabbed brooms and shovels, and cobblers and bakers armed themselves with makeshift weapons. The defense was on the verge of collapse, but somehow, it held firm.
Aurora and Theresa finally reached the tower and joined the battle, firing their pistols at the enemy while retreating. Margarita, the Speaker, had already arrived in her Light Magecar to meet the enemy. Each shot from the vehicle vaporized several foes in an instant.
Captain August, roaring encouragement, moved through the ranks, rallying the defenders. After the initial chaos, the people of Skykeep had finally organized for a proper fight. The battle raged through the streets near the central tower, and the tower's armory was opened. Weapons normally reserved for the witches—some of which were ancient relics—were distributed to the guards. Armed with these legendary weapons, the soldiers could finally pierce the impenetrable armor of the Chaos warriors. Artillery on the walls, now properly aimed, pounded Tzeentch's forces within the castle, forcing them to retreat.
Wherever Margarita's Light Magecar passed, cheers erupted from the witches and guards. The Tzeentch champions and demons hesitated before such a solid defense, with many Tzeentch fire demons doubting whether to charge, while the Tzeentch cultists, lacking numbers, were forced to pull back, leaving only the disk-riding Tzeentchian sorcerers circling above.
Tzeentch's changelings were targeted by halberds, greatswords, or bullets, and those caught by the scorching beams from the central tower melted like snow. Under Margarita's leadership, it seemed Tzeentch's army was on the verge of collapse.
Finally, after nearly an hour of bitter fighting, Tzeentch's army began to retreat, falling back to regroup. Aurora seized the moment to meet with Margarita. The two long-time rivals stood in silence, gazing at each other. Before Margarita could speak, a sharp, deafening roar shattered the air, nearly splitting everyone's eardrums. Almost simultaneously, a new Mutating Nova swept across the battlefield!
The blast obliterated the cheering soldiers, leaving nearly all of them writhing in agony on the ground, clutching their heads. Many Garland witches either mutated grotesquely or exploded on the spot, their remains consumed by Tzeentch's multicolored flames.
In stark contrast, Tzeentch's forces were instantly reinvigorated. The demons and cultists let out twisted cheers. Their god had blessed them! Their leader had arrived!
"Flaming Piercing Arrow." Tzeentch's chosen champion, Tza-Zanek, descended onto the battlefield. In an instant, all the witches' spells were nullified. The champion pointed his staff at the central tower's defensive mechanism, and the scorching beams and their control systems exploded into ruin. The top of the central tower was destroyed.
Tzeentch's army surged forward again.
By now, the defenders had reached their limits. With Tza-Zanek on the field, no one could oppose his power. Even Margarita's Exile Light spell only delayed him for less than a minute before he unraveled it with his superior magical
insight. Shouting the name of their god, the twisted Chaos followers charged forward, reinvigorated by Tza-Zanek and the blessings bestowed upon them.
Another Mutating Nova swept across the battlefield, signaling the arrival of something even more terrifying. A massive fireball descended from the sky, smashing the defenders' lines, killing dozens instantly. The survivors either fled or lost their will to fight.
From the crater left by the explosion, a giant bird-like creature crawled out.
A Greater Daemon of Tzeentch, the Changeling Lord, Sassoriel the Eternal Watcher, had entered the fray!
The situation grew even more dire. The scattered army retreated to the central tower, using the broken walls and remaining defenses to mount a last stand.
The bullets of Blue Love were exhausted, and Theresa finally regained a sliver of magical power. She tried to cast a spell but suddenly realized her violet staff had grown eyes and tendrils due to Chaos corruption! The staff, which had served her for decades, had developed self-awareness. Writhing in agony, it extended its tendrils, trying to attack its owner. Terrified, Theresa threw the staff away.
"Melting Stream of Destruction!" Tzeentch's Greater Daemon, Sassoriel, cast its first spell, shattering an entire floor of the central tower. Even the magically reinforced granite structures began to crack under the onslaught. A flood of molten metal swept across the battlefield, breaking the defenders' morale.
"Aurora, retreat! Get everyone down to the underground chamber!" Amidst the chaos of sorcerous light and firestorms, Margarita, using the last of her strength, raised a barrier of light. "Garland Grand Spell! Pyramid of Light Seal!"
Tzeentch's forces were temporarily held back by the barrier, but cracks were already forming under their relentless assault. Margarita turned to Aurora. "Retreat to the underground chamber and activate the teleportation circle. Take everyone and go! Leave this to me!"
"You?" Aurora, though injured, didn't hesitate. She commanded the remaining witches and apprentices to retreat into the central tower. "What about you?" she called back.
"Me? The Garland Council is everything to me. If it's gone, I have no reason to continue." Margarita gave a bitter smile. "If you get the chance, go to Nuln. Tell Ludwig—tell the black stone statue in Nuln—I will never forgive him for his choice. Never."
"I understand!" Aurora saw the light barrier cracking, with parts already crumbling under the assault. Without thinking further, she led the remaining witches into the tower's depths.
Margarita stood alone before the central tower, closing her eyes and reflecting on her life. Gripping her staff, she began chanting her final spell, using her life force to power it.
Aurora and Theresa, leading the last dozen witch councilors and several dozen apprentices, descended into the tower's depths. The violent sounds of battle from above filled them with fear, but the teleportation circle had already been activated. Several apprentices were already loading priceless magical tomes, valuable documents, and treasures from Margarita's private vault into the circle. Seeing this, Aurora ordered everyone into the circle, using her bloodline power to inject magic into it and speed up its activation.
"Thirty seconds!" Aurora shouted. "Theresa, watch the door and seal it!"
"Got it!" Theresa closed and barred the door, using the last of her bloodline power to seal it with a frost ward. As she did, heavy thuds echoed from the other side.
The door began to twist, warping from the other side as the bar cracked under the pressure. The frost ward shattered, and Theresa spat blood, flung backward onto the cold stone floor.
The surviving witches and apprentices screamed in terror as they realized the door wouldn't hold.
"Boom!" The next moment, the door exploded into pieces, and Tzeentch's chosen champion, Tza-Zanek, stepped through, a twisted smile on his face. "It's over, ladies! Welcome aboard, your one-way trip to the Realm of Chaos!"
Tza-Zanek rushed forward. With a flick of his twisted staff, he deflected the ice sword Theresa had summoned, sending it flying. His other hand, wielding the Sword of Tzeentch, stabbed straight at the sorceress's chest. "First ticket!"
"No! Theresa! No!!!"
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