A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 72

Chapter 72. Terror (4)

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Delthaheim, the capital of the Prilechia Kingdom, now faced its darkest hour.
The assault by Outer, which had begun with the attack on the Royal Palace, proceeded with thoroughness and ruthlessness.
Whether they had studied the city’s vital infrastructure meticulously to devise their strategy, their movements were swift. They overwhelmed the Defense Force soldiers guarding key facilities in mere moments and seized control of them.
Under these circumstances, the Delthaheim Defense Force established a temporary command center and evacuation shelter in the stadium where the Yellow Ocean Tournament had been held, a venue with capacity enough to house vast numbers of people, and began responding to the terror with calculated resolve.
Yet reclaiming the already-occupied facilities proved no simple task.
Outer was a collective shrouded in mystery—their identity unclear, their purpose inscrutable. Without first determining their true objective, they could not afford to commit forces recklessly.
It was under these circumstances that the Dezir Party regrouped.
“Thank goodness you’re all unharmed.”
As Dezir regarded Romantica, Azest, and Fram, a breath of relief escaped him. From what he’d heard, they had confronted Outer, yet he was grateful to see them without a scratch.
With the group gathered, Romantica gestured toward the Defense Force in the distance, pointing out the citizens evacuating in that direction.
“You three should evacuate with them and remain under their protection until this situation settles.”
She surveyed Delthaheim, where flames were now rising from multiple points across the city.
“To think they would do such a thing… I will never forgive them. I’m going to help the Defense Force and protect Delthaheim.”
What was happening here was, to Dezir, Azest, and Fram, entirely their own affair.
But to Romantica, this place was home. Her anger was justified.
Dezir sighed.
“I thought you’d say that. Azest, Fram—I believe we should help the soldiers and stand against Outer. If we turn a blind eye now, I think we’ll regret it later.”
Fram and Azest nodded.
“I agree. I don’t think we should ignore a situation like this.”
“I’m with you.”
Upon hearing their exchange, Romantica cried out.
“I can’t drag you all into my country’s troubles!”
“Romantica, I’m just as concerned about you as you are about us. I won’t let you face this alone.”
“That’s right, Romantica. If anything were to happen to you…”
Fram’s eyes glistened with tears at the mere thought of it.
“But… but…”
“Romantica, don’t you understand Dezir yet? He never changes his mind.”
Azest’s words proved decisive. Romantica lowered her head and murmured,
“…Thank you. All of you.”
The Dezir Party reached consensus: they would aid the Defense Force in repelling Outer and reclaiming the capital. They proceeded toward the temporary command center and requested to join the military effort.
“We are a party from Hebrion Academy. All four of us are Single Rankers, and we wish to offer our assistance in the current crisis.”
Upon presenting the Closure Line and Badge to prove their status as Single Rankers from Hebrion, the Dezir Party’s participation was approved.
An administrator was dispatched to provide the party with a tactical briefing.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Dezir Armang, leading this party.”
“Administrator Donal,” the man replied.
His tone was clipped and bureaucratic. It was evident he found Hebrion’s assistance unpalatable.
Donal unfurled a map he had brought—a blueprint of Delthaheim. Scattered across its surface were several symbols indicating where Outer currently held positions and which areas needed to be retaken.
“The overall situation is not dire, but there is one location of critical concern.”
Among the unfolded blueprint of Delthaheim, he pointed to a single spot.
It was the location of the Spatial Transfer Gate.
“This place has fallen under Outer’s control.”
The Spatial Transfer Gate served as a conduit for distinguished visitors and military operations, its location enchanted with magic capable of spanning great distances in mere moments. Through it, a constant stream of reinforcements could flow.
“So that’s why reinforcements haven’t been arriving.”
When the terror began, Outer had concentrated their full force to seize this location first.
Currently, enemy forces were pouring in through the Spatial Transfer Gate, making this the site of Delthaheim’s fiercest battle.
“Our operation is to retake this location and destroy the Spatial Transfer Gate. We ask that you assist our Defense Force in taking this stronghold.”
“If we destroy the gate, we ourselves won’t be able to receive reinforcements either, will we?”
“That’s unavoidable. At present, there is no mage in the capital with the ability to recalibrate the gate’s coordinates.”
“As for that, I believe I can be of service.”
Donal’s eyes widened instantly.
“Are you perhaps a 5th Circle or Above Mage?”
“No, I’m not. But I have a method. I’ve adjusted it a few times before.”
Donal spoke with admiration.
“…That’s extraordinary. If you could reset the gate’s coordinates, the tide of battle would certainly turn in our favor.”

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Scorching sunlight blazed down. Shouts and screams, the crack of magical explosions and incantations, carried on the wind.
The building housing the Spatial Transfer Gate was two stories tall—massive enough to accommodate troop movements in an emergency, and as a critical state facility, it was protected by defensive magic of considerable potency.
Outer had positioned shield-bearing warriors in front and mages in the rear, holding the Defense Force at bay. They were fewer in number, but far superior in skill to their opponents.
This stalemate continued until the moment it didn’t.
Outer concentrated their forces at a single point of the line, and the Defense Force crumbled.
One section of the collapsing front.
An Outer fighter hefted a heavy shield and an enormous axe. When he thrust the shield forward, a Defense Force soldier was knocked sprawling.
The Outer fighter caught sight of him, grinned wickedly, then ran his hand along the axe’s edge as he advanced. The soldier turned to flee, showing his back.
The Outer fighter raised the massive axe high, ready to split the soldier’s skull in two.
Bang.
His body lurched violently backward. From the fist-sized hole in his chest, blood fountained out. He didn’t even have time to scream before he fell.
The soldier whose life had been saved looked back in bewilderment. In the distance, he saw a girl with a long silver metal rod shouldered like a rifle.
It was Romantica.
Bang.
She was steadily thinning Outer’s ranks through her Sniping.
“Gaaaah!”
She was not alone.
A swordsman wielding the Three Swords displayed extraordinarily rapid Sword Technique, swiftly and precisely subduing every enemy before him.
The speed of his blade was too fast for the eye to follow; even Outer fighters who had been holding their own against the soldiers fell helplessly before him.
But among them all, the platinum-haired girl was utterly dominant. She wielded both magic and Sword Technique simultaneously, and no one among Outer could stand against her.
Realizing that these newcomers posed a serious threat, Outer began preparing a concentrated magical barrage in their direction. Clear Magical Formulas traced themselves in the air.
“Watch out!”
The soldier was about to shout a warning.
The magic Outer was deploying suddenly blurred and vanished.
Before anyone could make sense of it, a young man’s voice rang out.
“Spell Reversal complete! They can’t use magic anymore! Go ahead and charge!”
Fram and Azest pushed forward into direct combat.
With just four reinforcements, the situation reversed dramatically.
The Defense Force surged forward, driving Outer back. Caught off-guard, Outer began retreating step by step.
“Reinforcements!”
“A 3rd Circle Mage!”
Morale soared. With Dezir’s party in action, Outer’s momentum shattered completely.
“Retreat!”
Outer could not hold. They ordered a withdrawal. The Defense Force and Dezir’s party pursued them to the end, but eventually had to stop.
A powerful Defensive Magic had activated. Outer fortified themselves in that stronghold, defended by magic and physical barriers alike.
Dezir turned to Azest.
“Azest, I’ll reverse the Defensive Magic. Then blow the front gate apart.”
“Leave it to me.”
Whiiiiing!
Dezir sensed the Defensive Magic surrounding the place. He began discerning the intricately woven Formulas, then launched into complex calculations in his mind. As he examined the internal Magical Formula, Dezir let out a soft laugh.
‘They’ve woven together the Reignition Formula and Plate Theory cunningly, structuring it to withstand physical impact. Strong magic, certainly, but far too antiquated.’
Though the complexity of the Formula was considerable, Dezir’s Spell Reversal took effect in less than ten minutes.
Click!
The intricately linked connections between the layers of Defensive Magic came undone, and the front gate stood completely exposed and defenseless.
Azest’s Freeze Magic activated next, obliterating the gate entirely.
Boom!
Outer hadn’t believed it could be breached; their faces went blank with shock.
“Charge in!”
“All forces, advance!”
The soldiers surged inside without hesitation.
Dezir’s party followed close behind.
Combat erupted inside. Outer couldn’t withstand the Defense Force’s momentum and continued to fall back. Their remaining numbers dwindled.
Having swept through the first floor, the Defense Force and Dezir’s party stormed into the second floor where the Spatial Transfer Gate lay.
The gate stood at the center, with a vast courtyard-like space around it to accommodate troop movements.
Various Magical Formulas filled the chamber in dizzying complexity.
“If I reverse that spell…”
That was when it happened.
The magical formula turned red, and then the gate began to activate.

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