Published at 7th of May 2026 7:17 am

Chapter 1720 Furious Tide

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Holden's hand was encased in a layer of ice.

Black necrotic energy swirled around it as he thrust it straight toward

Balthazar's heart. His lips curled into a predatory grin. He was close to finally dealing with this nuisance.

Once Balthazar was dead, he and Diggory would go on to help the other cultists. And after that, the enemies would start dropping like flies.

Holden's attack was mere inches away from piercing through Balthazar's back.

But right at that moment...

A terrifying chill gripped the cultist's heart. His instincts screamed at him to retreat. He lowered his gaze, his eyes trembling at what he witnessed.

Razor-sharp teeth gleamed with a cold, menacing light. A gaping maw emerged from beneath him, ready to snap his figure in half.

Holden gritted his teeth and quickly backed away. He knew what would happen if he continued his attack.

Snap!

Just as the cultist retreated, the gaping maw snapped shut.

Valerian, in his proud draconic form, flapped his wings and hovered right behind Balthazar. His topaz eyes gleamed fiercely as he coldly gazed at Holden.

"What's the matter, insect?" A deep voice rolled off his maw. "Scared of becoming food?"

Holden arrived beside Diggory. He gazed at the gray dragon, his eyes flickering with awe and terror. The mythical beast had arrived out of nowhere. He was only able to sense the dragon at the last moment when the latter's killing intent involuntarily slipped out.

To be able to conceal itself so expertly, so much so that it deceived even the senses of a Mana Core Magus, Holden knew the beast was proficient in the School of Illusion.

But what surprised him was that the dragon was radiating the aura of a Mana Vortex Magus. It did not make sense. But then again... so did the appearance of a dragon.

Balthazar's expression was pale. Blood continued to gush out of his gaping injury. He slowly turned around and saw the gray dragon hovering between him and the cultists.

"You..." he murmured softly. "What're you doing here?"

Valerian snorted in ridicule. He replied without turning around, "Don't get me wrong. I'm not here to help you!"

He turned his head ever so slightly, his topaz eye piercing through Blackfire. "I'm here to make sure we don't lose."

Balthazar's eyes flickered with complicated emotions. He retrieved a healing potion and poured it over his injury. Then, he murmured, "Thank you..."

"Hmph!" Valerian turned back around. "You are not welcome!"

He studied his enemies. One of them looked pale as spoiled milk, while the other looked apprehensive. "Can you fight?" he asked without turning around. Balthazar took out another healing potion and consumed it. He then hovered right beside Valerian and said in a grim voice, "I have enough mana left."

"Good." Valerian's eyes narrowed. "You attack. I provide support."

With that, he flapped his wings and rushed toward his enemies like a gray bolt of lightning. Midway through his flight, he cast an illusion spell and

disappeared.

Balthazar flew forward, black flames rolling off him like a furious tide. The battle continued.

***

Back on the ground, Prince Marlow stood on the battlements, his expression turning increasingly grim as the seconds passed by.

Night had fallen over the lands. The red glow from the still-burning port illuminated the sky in an eerie crimson glow.

Below him, the undead army continued to recklessly attack the barrier. Hundreds of these monsters had already perished from fire magic being cast off the walls. Hundreds more were falling from being repeatedly maimed.

Yet they continued to attack the barrier. Meanwhile, the orc army hadn't made a single move.

Marlow's gaze shifted to the two figures at the center of the sea of green. He noticed that one was the necromancer, while the other was the undead knight guarding him.

Why haven't they made a move yet? He couldn't help but wonder.

For some strange reason, Marlow's heart was gripped by a foreboding feeling. His gut was telling him that something was wrong.

By now, the necromancer must have realized the undead horde is incapable of breaking through the mana barrier.

Then what is he waiting for?

Everything was going according to his plan. He had also just spoken to his father, who was proactively working on stabilizing the mana barrier. Maximilian had to constantly infuse a steady stream of mana into the artifact to keep the barrier functioning. Hence, the reason why he wasn't participating in the battle of the Mana Core Magi. However, his work was no less important. For if he were disturbed, so would the barrier.

Valerian had just left through a breach in the barrier to assist the allies in the sky. The naval battle in the south was over. His men stationed at the harbor had not sighted anything unexpected. The barrier continued to hold against the

undead's onslaught.

So then what was this strange feeling of dread?

His question was soon answered.

The sound of static tore through the commotion and echoed in his ears. His communication artifact lit up, and King Maximilian's voice sounded. It was filled

with panic.

"Marlow! The node chambers are under attack!"

Prince Marlow's eyes widened. One question after another emerged in his

mind.

How did the enemy know about the node chambers? How did they even pass through the city's defensive barrier?

Could someone have betrayed them? If so, then who?

Marlow quickly turned around and went to the other side. His hands gripped

the stone railing as he scanned the city below. His heart pounded in fright, and

then he saw it...

An inconspicuous building in a certain section of the city had already crumbled. Dust and debris covered that area. In another part of the city, a two-story

building was burning in flames.

Marlow's breath caught in his throat. "Impossible..."

Without wasting another moment, he rushed toward the ground. "Kasper, take command!" he barked instructions and took a few men along with him.

He quickly ran down the stairs and went toward the nearest node chamber, terror and panic completely gripping his heart.

Two nodes were already down. If all four of them were destroyed, then there was nothing separating the city from the dangers beyond the wall.

As he ran through the empty streets of Amberfall, a distant explosion shook the ground. Marlow turned toward the source and realized that it was exactly the location where one of the remaining node chambers was located.

Three down. One to go.

A few minutes later, Prince Marlow and a handful of men arrived at an

unassuming building. The final node chamber still stood.

However...

A group of orcs was already there.

They stood across the empty cobbled street from Marlow and his men, their

eyes gleaming with malice.

A few moments passed, and neither side made a move. Marlow resolved himself, his ruby eyes gleaming with esperation. His sword

artifact came to life, and fire swirled around its blade. Then he gave the

command.

"Attack!"

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