Chapter 25 - The War of Lirest and Boaren (2)

Griffin had reentered Lirest's territory, but what he found was an increasingly chaotic state. Monsters have destroyed half of the houses and nearby buildings. Many of the mages in Lirest had died and lay motionless on the ground.

"Damn, the situation is more serious than I imagined."

Griffin didn't expect that there were so many monsters in this place. Everything started to get destroyed very fast.

Isabella fought with all her might. She continued to face the surrounding monsters. She kept fighting, but Griffin knew that she had reached her limit. It can be seen from her continuing to retreat when attacked by monsters. Isabella was exhausted from fighting Cody, and this long battle left her unable to fight any longer.

"The situation here is getting worse."

Griffin prepares to help Isabella, but suddenly something appears from the forest. A collection of black smoke that is so long that it forms tentacles. The black smoke quickly caught more than twenty witches from Lirest and pulled them into the middle of the forest.

"NO!"

Isabella, who saw them, intended to help the witches, but now she couldn't go because of little hell hounds in front of her. They were very agile and kept blocking Isabella's movements, making her unable to move freely.

Griffin wanted to chase after them, but he couldn't leave this place. There are still many witches who not had time to evacuate. If Griffin left now the monsters would destroy everything. And Isabella was no longer strong enough to protect this place. Her strength was almost gone, and his magic was definitely running low.

"If only Isabella could still use magic."

If Isabella was still able to use magic, things would definitely turn in their favour.

"Hold on, using magic?"

Griffin just remembered something.

"Why didn't I think of it before?"

[You activated skill "Clairvoyant" Level 1]

[Draconic Shackles]

[An A-grade shackles and one of the few equipment capable of sealing one's magic. Capable of sealing the magic of someone under level 20, but using two Draconic Shackles can seal a magician below level 30. Can only be released if flowing 300 mana points at once.]

Griffin smiled at the information that appeared in front of him. Draconic Shackles, the magic item that sealed Isabella.

"Isabella!"

With one move, Griffin dashed very fast towards Isabella. The movement of his feet helps him to easily avoid all the monsters around him.

Right after Griffin got to Isabella's side, he immediately grabbed the girl's hands.

Isabella became confused. Why did this person suddenly shout, then run and now hold her hand.

"Isabella, please deal with the monsters here. I will save the mages just now from that black smoke."

[You are flowing a large amount of mana.]

[Large amount of Mana is infused into Draconic Shackles.]

[300 mana points have been used]

[One of the Draconic Shackles that was restraining Isabella has been released.]

Griffin smiled as he saw one of the Draconic Shackles slip from Isabella's hand. His mana wasn't enough to release both of these seals at once, but this alone was enough to help Isabella.

[Draconic Shackles cannot resist the magic of a wizard over level 20.]

[Draconic Shackles' seal is released automatically.]

When all the notification screens kept appearing, Griffin didn't realize that the small hell hounds around them had approached and were preparing to bite them.

[Isabella activated skill "Hail Arrows" Level 3]

Arrow-shaped ice quickly flew up and pierced all of the small hell hound's heads. Not only that, dozens of arrows appeared from around Isabella which continued to shoot towards the monsters around their place.

"I don't know how you managed to do it, but thanks Griffin."

Isabella's body emits blue mana.

"Now I'm the only one who will look after this place."

[You activated skill "Clairvoyant" Level 1]

-

Name: Isabella Harriet

Levels: 28

Title: Lirest Protector

Species: Human

Phones: 174/355

Mps: 123/390

Age: 19

[Strength: 37] [Agility: 42] [Stamina:33] [Vitality: 30] [Magic: 44]

-

As Griffin had expected, Isabella's level was already over 20. That's why just one Draconic Shackles wouldn't be able to seal her magic.

"Then fight."

Griffin dashed swiftly into the forest, exactly the direction the witches had just been taken away from.

Meanwhile the crowds of monsters around were charging towards Isabella. The mana that came out of her body was conspicuous and caught the attention of the monsters there.

"Damn monsters, I will end your dinner this instant."

Isabella pointed her sword and glared at all the monsters there. She started slaughtering every beast who was there.

Inside the sinner cave, in the sinner prison to be exact, Raymond and Cody were still there, hearing screams and explosions above. They could confirm that a war had already happened. And the winner of this war, almost certainly will be Boaren.

Cody hasn't said anything since then. He lay there, motionless, for he had no strength left.

"When are you going to tell me?" Raymond asked as he was waiting for a response from Cody.

"What answer do you want?"

"Why did you betray Lirest?"

Cody paused for a moment before answering. "You could say that I betrayed Lirest, but I'm also doing this for Lirest's sake."

"That's the most ridiculous bullshit I could hear."

"If you don't believe it, fine. I won't force you. Talking now won't change any of the facts either."

"If you really did it for Lirest, why help Boaren in this war?"

"Boaren will destroy us sooner or later. Instead of letting them destroy us, it's better if I help him and then take over part of Lirest. That's the way of reducing losses that makes the most sense to me. Though I didn't know it would end up like this. Barnes will kill all of Lirest's mages and seize all the resources he can get his hands on."

"Yes, and it all happened because of your stupidity."

Cody clenched his fists when he heard those words.

"Stupid? Raymond Alfredo, look in the mirror before you comment on me. Who's the fool here?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you only listened to what I said and attacked Boaren first, we wouldn't be like this. Why can't you act decisively just once. Until when do you want to hide in a false peace that lasts a while like that. Father is also stupid, that's why he died at the hands of the enemy. And now, you are like that too."

"Cody, I've said this many times. War will not solve all problems."

"But it was war that Barnes wanted. He wants our destruction. If we don't act first, then he will move to destroy all of us. you should understand."

"And how many people will die because of the war we make?"

"And how many people will die if Barnes starts the war?!"

Raymond was silent.

Cody caught his breath for a moment because just now he was getting too emotional. "I'm just trying to choose a path where more magicians from Lirest can survive. If I can take over half of Lirest, I will at least be able to help those who are still alive."

"And now from the choice you made, all mages in Lirest will die."

"Not all of them will die if you attack Boaren first."

"I told you war is not the best option! It is also father's wish that all mages in Lirest can live in peace! Because he knows Barnes' strength is not small, so he never wanted to fight with Boaren."

"Hahahaha..." Cody laughed.

"Look? Again, our thinking is different. There is no point in talking, because from the very beginning our points of view differ. We can never agree with each other. I can't change your mind and you can't change mine. Always like this."

Raymond felt Cody was right. No matter how much they discussed it was pointless.

"Then I'll change my question. Did you feel guilty when you stabbed me?"

Cody didn't answer.

"Cody, answer."

"Ask me how I feel when I've done it is as pointless as our argument just now. This will change neither the past nor the future."

"But at least I got an answer."

Cody fell silent, again. He don't know how many times the atmosphere became silent because he was unable to answer Raymond's question.

"Yeah, I feel guilty. After all you are my big brother, my only brother. You took care of me after dad died. You taught me magic. You are the one who bears all the responsibility as a leader when I am confused and sad because of father's death. You were the one who tried to protect me when monsters attacked Lirest. You always help me when I'm in trouble."

Without realizing it, Cody was crying when he said these things.

"Sorry, I also know that I was wrong."

Cody covered his own eyes with his hands because he didn't dare look at Raymond.

"Sorry."