Vanessa was flustered, not understanding what was happening.
Even 6th-circle mages couldn't withstand it. Alpoi, a 5th-circle mage, should have already collapsed from exhaustion.
However, Vanessa quickly realized the reason.
"You didn't... properly supply your mana."
That was it. Alpoi had gotten scared and slipped away midway.
He had been brought here specifically to prevent that from happening.
Knowing Alpoi's personality, it was obvious that without supervision, he would slack off and fail to provide the necessary mana.
But in the midst of the crisis, while Vanessa was distracted, he had sneaked away again.
"Just what is wrong with you, Lord Alpoi…?"
Disappointment flickered in Vanessa's eyes, but it quickly vanished. Right now, it was actually a good thing. She needed someone's help.
It was impossible for Alpoi to control the mages' mana, but transferring it should be feasible.
'The dragon has been on the defensive so far. To overturn the situation in one move…'
The clever Vanessa swiftly reached a conclusion.
Now that the dragon's magic seal was broken, he would definitely try to cast a powerful spell.
Alpoi was an expert at transferring mana. If they could endure just a little longer with his help, they could hold out.
Afterward, the dragon wouldn't have enough mana left to cast any more powerful spells. The remaining mages could continue dispelling its magic.
"Lord Alpoi… please transfer your mana to me…"
Vanessa tried to continue, but stopped after realizing her own condition.
Her body wasn't in a normal state. Even now, she was vomiting blood.
At this rate, even if she received a mana transfer, she would pass out immediately.
Vanessa thought of another method. Right now, it seemed like the more viable option.
"Lord Alpoi… just for a moment, control the flow—"
Hearing this, Alpoi panicked and shouted, "Wh-what? How can I do that? I can't!"
"You can do it. Your mana control skills are excellent… It's just for a brief moment."
Alpoi's mana control skills were widely recognized. He had honed his ability through years of practical work on construction sites.
For a controller, what mattered wasn't the amount of mana but the ability to handle massive flows of it.
Alpoi could likely manage it, albeit for a short time. It was risky, but there was no other option.
"Hurry… just control it… Only when the dragon casts his spell…"
"I-I can't! I said I can't!"
Alpoi stepped back in fear as Vanessa looked at him with desperation.
Booooooom!
Already, Artherion's immense mana was engulfing the battlefield. The mages stationed at each fortress were trying to dispel it, but none succeeded.
The problem was they were trying to dismantle a unified spell in separate parts.
Artherion would push through with overwhelming force, using a high-circle spell capable of affecting everyone even if parts of the spell were disrupted.
Such magic required enormous amounts of mana.
Conversely, if they could block this spell, Artherion wouldn't be able to use any more high-level magic.
"Sir Alpoi… please… just for a moment… you can do it."
Even if everyone dismissed him, Vanessa believed in Alpoi's potential. After all, he was the successor of the Mage Tower.
Back when she was a maid, Alpoi had been her object of admiration and aspiration.
Now, their roles were reversed, and the gap in their abilities was so vast that Alpoi didn't even realize it.
But despite Vanessa's pleas, Alpoi shook his head.
"I-I can't. I told you, I can't do it."
Alpoi was terrified. Even the mighty 8th and 7th-circle mages had fallen simultaneously.
As a mage, he knew how immense the dragon's mana was.
Even the residual force of its breath could freeze him solid. That overwhelming power instilled pure terror.
And now they wanted him to control that kind of mana? No matter how good his control skills were, his body would burst apart.
Alpoi spoke his true feelings without realizing it.
"Why… why do I have to sacrifice myself for this…?"
He didn't understand why others risked their lives like this. He didn't want to know.
Some might fight out of loyalty, others to protect people, but there were also those who had been forced into this fight.
He belonged to the latter group. Strictly speaking, he had been dragged into this as a slave. Sure, it was his fault, but still…
And it wasn't as if he had been treated well. This territory disgusted him. He had always dreamed of escaping.
Now was his chance. No one would stop him. Everyone was too busy fighting the dragon.
"I-I'm leaving. I don't want to fight anymore."
"Lord Alpoi…"
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
He just had to leave. Find somewhere far away and hide.
It was what he had always wanted.
So why was he crying?
With tears streaming down his face, Alpoi spoke.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry. I… I'm not the kind of person who can do this. I'm… I'm pathetic."
He finally admitted it.
Everyone was right—he was pathetic.
He was scared. No matter how much he pretended otherwise, he didn't have the courage to risk his life like the others.
He wanted to kneel before the dragon and beg for his life. The pressure of the mana made his heart feel like it would stop.
So Alpoi turned away. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, running away.
Vanessa watched his retreating back with tired, sorrowful eyes.
"Lord Alpoi…"
There was no more hope. The controllers were gone. The remaining mages would have to dismantle the dragon's spell bit by bit.
But…
Those fighting the dragon wouldn't survive even a weakened spell.
The dragon had gathered all his remaining mana to unleash an overwhelming attack.
"Cough."
Vanessa coughed up more blood and collapsed. Even her strong willpower couldn't sustain her any longer.
Tears fell down her cheeks and froze instantly. Her lips turned blue and cracked.
Jerome and the other mages who had fainted were in similar states. Their pale faces were covered in frost, as though they would never wake again.
Boooooooom!
Artherion spread his massive wings. The dragon exuded confidence, no longer feeling threatened by anything.
None dared to approach him.
Ancient power flickered in Artherion's eyes as he gazed mockingly at the crumbling fortress.
"Did you really think the power of a dragon was so laughable?"
His voice echoed like thunder. The mana in the air trembled.
Artherion gathered his remaining mana to cast a spell beyond human imagination.
Ruuuuumble!
The earth roared. Giant cracks appeared, revealing a frozen world beneath.
Crack!
Ice pillars shot up, piercing the sky. As Artherion spread his wings, a blizzard swept through the land.
The world turned white. Snowflakes danced in the air, each carrying mana.
The frozen earth writhed like a living creature, expanding its domain.
Rumble!
The world was turning to ice.
"Damn it…"
Ghislain bit his lip. He had seen this magic before in his past life.
In a single casting of that spell, most of the army sent to slay the dragon had been wiped out. It was that powerful.
Frost settled on the bodies of the superhumans. The cold seeped into their bones, hindering their movements.
Every breath felt like their lungs were freezing solid, bringing excruciating pain.
"Attack now! We have to stop him!"
Ghislain shouted, and the others began to move again. But then Artherion flapped his wings once more.
Whoooosh!
A massive snowstorm swept over them like a hurricane, pushing everyone back.
Just stepping on the ground made their bodies freeze. Facing the wind felt like blades cutting into their flesh.
It was as if the end of the world had arrived.
Rumble!
Ghislain and the others pushed their mana to the limit. Thanks to Parniel and Piote's holy power, they barely managed to hold on and move.
But holy power couldn't last forever.
The battle had reset to square one—or worse, their situation was now more dire.
Thud!
Ghislain gritted his teeth and unleashed his aura blade even more fiercely.
It burned like the last flame resisting this frozen world.
'Should I use it now?'
By amplifying his strength through Dark's power, he could unleash greater force. But he had planned to use it only after pushing Artherion further back.
If he used it now and failed to overwhelm the dragon, defeat was certain.
While Ghislain hesitated, the dragon continued to create miracles with his overwhelming magic.
The mages managed to dispel portions of the spell, but the battlefield was transforming into a frozen wasteland faster than they could stop it.
Eventually, the mages started to hesitate. It was clear whose magic had the upper hand.
'Wh-what should we do?'
'We don't stand a chance like this!'
'We… we need to run.'
The snowstorm grew fiercer, and the pace of dispelling the magic slowed even further. The mages' resolve wavered.
Some began conserving their mana and preparing to flee. But the more they hesitated, the faster the icy world expanded.
Crunch.
Ghislain clenched his teeth. It had been an even fight, but the momentum had completely shifted.
He knew how important morale was. Many battles had been won simply by boosting the soldiers' spirits.
He had to take the risk and unleash his full power to create an opening.
"Don't hold back! Push forward! I'll go first!"
The others nodded at Ghislain's command.
The original plan had been to conserve energy for a prolonged battle. But now, they had no choice but to pour out everything to turn the tide.
Grrr…
Artherion's laughter echoed across the battlefield.
"It seems this is the end. You worms were stronger than I expected. I'll remember you."
Rumble!
The ground trembled as if it were screaming. Artherion gathered all his remaining mana to turn this place into an eternal prison of ice.
On this frozen land, no one could defeat him. The enemies would exhaust all their strength just trying to survive the cold.
Even now, it could see them slowing down. Their holy power was fading.
Thud!
"Now, let's finish this."
Artherion landed and glared at them with sharp eyes. As their bodies froze further, it would be easier to deliver a fatal blow, even against divine protection.
Ghislain gripped his sword tightly, preparing to amplify his strength for one decisive strike.
Just as both sides were about to make their move—
Ssssshhhh…
Suddenly, the snowstorm began to calm.
The frozen ground quickly melted, and the ice pillars crumbled.
The cold retreated, replaced by a wave of warmth that enveloped their bodies.
"What…?"
Artherion's voice was filled with disbelief.
The controllers were down, so how was his magic being dispelled?
It made no sense. Even with many mages, they could only dismantle the spell piece by piece. It shouldn't have unraveled this quickly.
Ghislain turned his head in surprise. He had seen Jerome and Vanessa collapse earlier.
There was no one left capable of controlling the mana.
Who was dispelling the magic?
Ghislain's eyes widened as he looked toward the control fortress.
In the midst of the fallen, one man stood alone, gripping two staffs.
Ghislain muttered under his breath.
"Alpoi?"
The man who had run away—Alpoi—had returned and was now controlling the mana.
His robe flapped wildly, unable to withstand the sheer force of the magic.
Blood poured from his nose, ears, and mouth. His entire body trembled, veins bulging as he struggled to stay upright.
"Ughhh…"
The mana was too immense for even Jerome and Vanessa to handle alone, so they had shared the burden.
Despite Alpoi's exceptional mana control, enduring such overwhelming power was impossible.
His body looked like it could explode at any moment, but Alpoi gritted his teeth and endured.
Fear and pain made him want to give up and run again, but he resisted.
Just this once.
If he could just stop this one overwhelming spell…
The others would take care of the rest.
"Aaaaaargh!"
His mind told him it was possible, but the pain was unbearable. Alpoi screamed repeatedly.
Even as blood poured from his body, he held on.
Whooooosh!
The massive mana Alpoi controlled clashed with the dragon's magic, amplifying his agony.
"Ughhh…!"
It hurt. It was agonizing. It was terrifying. He wanted to give up.
Even in this brief moment, those thoughts haunted him.
But…
He couldn't forget the sorrowful, pleading look in Vanessa's eyes.
She was the only one who had ever acknowledged him, despite his countless failures.
He couldn't let her die here.
Shoving aside his fear, Alpoi screamed in defiance.
"I am—!"
When everyone else mocked him, there was one thing that sustained his pride.
A title he believed only he possessed in this world.
Even the strict Parniel had let it slide, as long as he didn't brag too loudly.
And now, Alpoi shouted it louder than ever before.
"The man who defeated the goddess—!"
Fwoooosh!
With his cry, the overwhelming mana finally pierced through the dragon's spell.
The frozen wasteland of Artherion's blizzard—
Ssssshhh…
—Vanished like a mirage.