Erwin nodded. "Alright, then follow my instructions!"
He gazed at the dark forest stretching out before them. The trees formed a dense, shadowed wall, but deep within, the silhouettes of towering pines could be glimpsed.
Erwin raised his hand. "Let's move!"
At his command, the Acolytes and the Cavendish family forces formed a disciplined line. The Aurors, following Erwin's specific orders, took point and stepped into the shadowed depths of the forest.
Erwin turned to Vinda. "Aunt Vinda, you are injured. Stay outside with a reserve team. Be ready to provide backup."
Vinda nodded. Though she yearned to join the advance, she knew guarding the perimeter was just as vital. She couldn't afford a single mistake, especially with unknown dangers lurking ahead.
Erwin left a contingent of Acolytes and Cavendish family members at the forest's edge. Then, he led Charlotte and the main force into the darkness.
The moment Erwin vanished beneath the canopy, news traveled fast.
At the Solent Manor, Alan was already on his feet.
"Master," a subordinate reported, "Cavendish's forces have arrived."
Alan straightened his collar. "How many?"
"The entire Order is here. Plus the Cavendish contingent from Germany and Aurors from the Ministry. Over fifty wizards."
Alan smiled coldly. "It seems Erwin intends to end the Solent family entirely."
"And your orders, Master?"
Alan's eyes gleamed. "Send our men out. We must offer Erwin a proper welcome, shouldn't we?"
"Yes, Master!"
After the subordinate departed, Alan walked to the window, looking out at the endless expanse of the forest. A slow, calculating smile crept across his face.
"I hope the preparations I've made satisfy you," he murmured. "I just wonder if you're capable of handling them."
A flash of crimson burned in his eyes.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest, Erwin suddenly paused.
He looked south.
"Charlotte," he said, his voice calm. "Order the column to turn south."
"Yes, my lord."
As they ventured deeper, the trees grew taller, their canopies blocking out the sky. Only dappled sunlight filtered through the thick foliage.
Suddenly, a roar shattered the silence—the screech of dragons from above.
The Aurors and Cavendish wizards tensed instantly, looking upward.
Erwin stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze piercing the gaps in the trees. Several massive dragons were swooping toward them, riders mounted on their backs.
But that was only part of the threat. From the undergrowth ahead, figures in black robes materialized. They launched a ferocious volley of curses without warning.
Several Aurors, caught off guard, crumpled to the ground.
The Cavendish forces and the Acolytes retaliated instantly. Spells of blinding colors crisscrossed through the gloom of the forest.
Erwin ignored the skirmish.
He continued walking forward, Charlotte trailing him like a shadow. Curses flew toward him, but he didn't even raise his wand. They simply shattered against an invisible barrier surrounding him.
Erwin's forces advanced in his wake, cutting through the black-robed attackers with ruthless efficiency.
Then, the dragons arrived.
Spouts of searing dragonfire rained down. This was a dense forest; unchecked flames could lead to disaster.
Erwin took a single step forward.
Magical energy surged from him, forming a massive, translucent dome that shot upward. The dragonfire struck the shield and deflected violently, hurtling back toward the dragons.
The riders panicked, banking hard to avoid their own attack.
Erwin glanced at Charlotte. She understood immediately.
With a wave of her hand, she led a team of elite Cavendish wizards and Acolytes into the air. Dark magic and coordinated spells rose as they engaged the riders directly.
Erwin didn't watch. He knew Charlotte's team was more than capable. While dragons were formidable, the Acolytes possessed the ability to Apparate short distances mid-flight—tactics that made them elusive targets.
The aerial battle erupted.
Erwin's forces, relying on agility and teleportation, completely outmaneuvered the dragon riders. Within ten minutes, the screams of falling riders filled the air. The first dragon plummeted, its rider struck by Charlotte.
She ignored the confused beast and surged toward another rider.
The battle was over quickly. Ten minutes later, all the riders were dead. Only a few dragons remained, circling the canopy uncertainly.
Charlotte descended to Erwin's side.
Erwin looked up at the circling beasts. "Come down," he commanded.
His voice resonated with undeniable authority. The ferocious dragons obeyed, landing with earth-shaking thuds that crushed the undergrowth.
Erwin approached the lead dragon. "Where are you from?"
The dragon roared twice—a guttural, primal sound.
"Are the others from the same clutch?" Erwin asked.
The dragon lowered its massive head.
"From now on, you serve me," Erwin stated.
The dragon bowed its head in submission. The others followed suit.
In the forest below, the black-robed attackers had been almost entirely eliminated. The Aurors had suffered heavy losses—nearly twenty had entered, and barely half remained. The Cavendish forces and Acolytes, however, had suffered minimal casualties.
Erwin frowned, looking at the bodies strewn across the forest floor.
What is Alan thinking?
This wasn't a battle; it was a massacre. The attackers were woefully outmatched in numbers and power.
Is he deliberately sending them to their deaths? What is he trying to achieve?
Erwin's instincts screamed that something was wrong. He walked over to a fallen attacker, bending down to examine the corpse.
He pulled back the collar of the black robe.
"Drained," he murmured. "Completely exsanguinated."