Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 53: The Final Gambit

Above the battlefield, Keira and Alice hovered in the night sky, their figures illuminated only by the occasional flicker of distant torches below. The stronghold of Count Gregor stood imposing beneath them, its stone walls bristling with archers and battlemages, all unaware of the impending devastation.

Keira gripped the Veilbreaker Staff tightly, its white and purple crystals pulsing in sync with her mana flow. Beside her, Alice’s spirit crystal radiated a soft glow, her body infused with stored magical energy. Keira took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "On my mark, we unleash the first strike. Aim for their defenses."

Alice nodded, her movements precise as always. "Understood, Keira. Synchronizing mana output."

Both mages raised their hands, mana surging between them. A blinding light coalesced into two massive spheres of condensed energy—Proton Cannons. With a flick of their wrists, the spheres elongated into streams of pure destruction, lancing towards the fortress walls.

The impact was immediate and catastrophic. A shimmering golden barrier flared to life in a desperate attempt to deflect the attack, but the sheer magnitude of their combined power overwhelmed it. Cracks formed, spiderwebbing outward before shattering entirely. A thunderous explosion rocked the fortress as a section of the outer wall disintegrated, sending debris cascading below.

Screams echoed through the night as soldiers were flung from the battlements. Any defenders who remained standing were swiftly dispatched as Keira and Alice rained down precise magical strikes, thinning enemy ranks and ensuring Victor’s forces would face minimal resistance upon entry.

Keira exhaled sharply, satisfied. "The breach is open. Victor should have no trouble breaking through now."

Alice turned her gaze to their next target, her expression unwavering. "Master’s orders were clear. We move to the secondary objective."

Without another word, they soared across the battlefield, vanishing into the darkened sky.

Meanwhile, Kael landed his Aetherwing Skiff near Pietro’s forward assault team. As he stepped onto the ground, the skiff disappeared into his infinite storage. Pietro, a seasoned warrior with a calculating gaze, was already waiting.

Kael wasted no time. "Victor will lead a small force through the first breach. His attack will serve as a diversion, forcing Gregor’s forces to split. Once Keira and Alice take down the first location, you will lead the first assault."

Victor, standing nearby, nodded. "Understood." He turned to his men, raising his twin Voidsteel swords. "We move out. No mercy for Gregor’s forces."

A thousand warriors surged forward, entering the ruined breach. Steel clashed against steel as Victor cut through Gregor’s soldiers like a tempest. Nightsbane and Dawnbreaker moved in tandem, leaving trails of dark and crimson energy in their wake. The ground was soon littered with bodies as the enemy fell under the relentless assault.

Amidst the chaos, Kael observed, his mind calculating the next phase. "Pietro, hold your forces. We wait for the second breach."

Pietro clenched his fists but obeyed. "Just give the signal."

High above, Keira and Alice arrived at their second target—a fortified supply depot crucial to Gregor’s defenses. Wasting no time, they summoned their magic once more.

"Same strategy," Keira murmured. "We break the barrier, then destroy their defenses."

Alice acknowledged with a nod. Together, they unleashed another pair of Proton Cannons. Just like before, a defensive barrier flared to life, struggling against the might of their combined assault. It held for a fraction longer than the first but met the same fate—shattering under the immense power.

The explosion consumed the supply depot, flames rising high into the night. Gregor’s forces scrambled in panic as their walls went up in smoke.

From below, Pietro saw the flames and gave the signal. "Now! Attack!"

Four thousand Valtieri soldiers stormed through the second breach, overwhelming Gregor’s divided forces. Chaos engulfed the battlefield as Gregor’s domain was assaulted from multiple sides.

Count Gregor arrived at the fortress and immediately assessed the situation. His expression darkened as he realized the extent of the assault. "Deploy two thousand men at each breach," he commanded, his voice cold and resolute. "Hold the breaches at all costs."

Beside him, Livius smirked as he scanned the sky, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I found her," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation. "I’ll handle her."

Gregor’s greed flared. "Retrieve the staff. Do not fail me."

Livius chuckled arrogantly. "I’ll take care of it."

As he vanished into the night, Gregor turned to Corven, who stood silently beside him, holding a locked chest. Within it lay the cursed staff—his trump card.

---

The night sky crackled with arcane energy as Keira and Alice hovered above the battlefield, their figures barely visible against the dark expanse. The battlefield below was a sea of chaos—Gregor’s forces scrambled to reorganize after the initial breach, while Pietro’s assault team carved through the enemy ranks like a relentless tide.

Keira steadied her breath, gripping the Veilbreaker Staff as her keen eyes scanned the enemy lines. "Alice, keep an eye out for enemy mages. We can’t afford to get blindsided."

Alice nodded, her silver-gray hair flowing as she observed the battlefield. Her spirit crystal pulsed as she processed incoming threats. "Understood. Initiating counteroffensive."

With synchronized precision, they unleashed a hail of destructive spells. Keira’s Veilbreaker Staff flared, sending concentrated arcs of energy that struck down enemy mages attempting to prepare counterspells. Alice, using her inhuman reflexes, blinked between aerial positions, redirecting enemy fire and neutralizing threats before they could manifest.

Below, Pietro’s forces surged forward. Wielding his Celestial Edge, Pietro’s form became a blur, the divine sword cutting through Gregor’s soldiers with almost supernatural ease. Each swing left a radiant afterimage, and bodies crumpled as if sliced by light itself.

Gregor’s remaining forces, numbering 2,500, desperately tried to form a defensive line at the second breach. But they were no match for the sheer brutality of Pietro’s assault team. Shields shattered, weapons clattered to the ground, and screams filled the air.

Amidst the chaos, a lone figure strode through the battlefield with eerie confidence—Livius Gregor. His eyes, filled with cunning and arrogance, locked onto the sky, where Keira hovered above. A smirk played on his lips.

"Time to clip your wings, little bird," he murmured, raising his right hand. His five mana cores flared as he chanted under his breath, forming an orb of condensed fire no larger than a baseball. Inferno Orb—5th Tier Fire Magic.

With a flick of his wrist, the fiery sphere rocketed toward Keira at blinding speed—its sheer velocity threatening to strike her before she could react.

But before impact, a streak of silver shot across the sky.

Alice.

In an instant, Alice materialized next to Keira, her runes flashing as she raised her left hand. The moment the Inferno Orb made contact with her palm, an explosion erupted above the battlefield, illuminating the night like a fiery dawn.

Livius staggered back, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Impossible... That was a 5th-tier spell! How did she—"

Alice turned her piercing gray eyes to him, her tone calm and unwavering. "Irrelevant. You missed."

Keira wasted no time. Taking advantage of Livius’s shock, she raised her staff. "Arcane Lance."

A spear of concentrated mana shot toward Livius. The young noble barely had time to cast a defensive barrier before the attack struck, sending him skidding backward across the battlefield.

Regaining his footing, Livius wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his grin returning. "This just got interesting."

Below, Pietro’s forces continued their push. Victor Dalmont led a charge on the western flank, his Nightsbane and Dawnbreaker flashing through enemy lines. The swords’ unique properties—one cutting through defenses and the other draining enemy stamina—left devastation in his wake.

In the heart of Gregor’s fortress, Count Gregor himself observed the battlefield from his command post. His eyes, filled with calculating menace, locked onto the distant skirmish between Livius and the airborne mages.

Beside him, an ominous chest sat on an iron pedestal, covered in layers of magical seals. Gregor’s fingers traced the ancient runes on its surface, his voice a whisper. "If my son cannot win this battle... then perhaps it is time to unveil the true might of chantless magic."

The seals on the chest flickered, and with a gesture, Gregor began to undo the complex locks. The air around him hummed with arcane energy as he prepared to unleash the power within.

Back on the battlefield, Kael coordinated with his forces, his mind racing through scenarios and contingencies. He knew that every second counted. "Pietro, push forward! We need to take control of their command post."

Pietro nodded and rallied his men, their morale bolstered by the success of the initial breaches. "Forward! For Valtieri!"

As the Valtieri forces advanced, the clash of steel and the roar of spells filled the air. Keira and Alice continued their aerial assault, supporting the ground troops with pinpoint strikes that decimated enemy formations.

Livius, still reeling from Keira’s Arcane Lance, regrouped and summoned another speed casted spell. "Pyroclasm," he intoned, a wave of searing flames erupting from his outstretched hands. The firestorm surged towards Keira and Alice, threatening to engulf them.

Keira and Alice reacted swiftly, channeling their combined mana to form a protective barrier. The flames licked at the edges of their shield but failed to penetrate. Keira’s eyes narrowed in determination. "We can’t let him stall us. Alice, let’s finish this."

Alice nodded, her runes glowing brighter. Together, they focused their energy, preparing a final, devastating attack. "Proton Sphere," they chanted in unison, a brilliant sphere of pure light forming between them. The sphere expanded, its radiance growing until it threatened to outshine the moon.

With a synchronized effort, they unleashed the Proton Sphere. The blinding light engulfed Livius, who tried to counter with a defensive spell but was overwhelmed by the sheer power. The explosion rocked the battlefield, leaving a smoldering crater where Livius had stood.

As the dust settled, Kael’s voice rang out. "Press the advantage! We have them on the run!"

The Valtieri forces surged forward with renewed vigor, pushing Gregor’s troops back. Count Gregor, witnessing the tide turning against him, clenched his fists in frustration. He cast a final, desperate glance at the chest before him.

"If this is our last stand, then so be it," he growled. With a swift motion, he unlocked the final seal and opened the chest, revealing a dark, pulsating staff within. As he grasped it, a malevolent energy surged through him, amplifying his power.

The battle for Gregor’s stronghold was far from over.

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