Visually, Cipher and Aglaea both witnessed a faint crimson beam of light descending from the sky and striking the bonfire at the center of the Artemis Priests' circle. The bonfire ignited instantly, but instead of the usual bright flames, it burned with a deep crimson glow, resembling boiling blood.
Moreover, the fire didn't crackle and pop like burning wood. Instead, it emitted a piercing shriek that seemed to penetrate the very soul, causing those who heard it to grimace in pain.
At the precise moment the fire ignited, all the Artemis Priests surrounding the bonfire, as well as all the locals wearing red clothing, froze as if someone had pressed a pause button. Meanwhile, the foreign visitors not wearing red clothing gradually turned blank-faced, their eyes losing focus.
This was clearly a psychic influence effect!
"Wait, what's happening?"
After a brief moment of disorientation, Feidric swiftly began chanting an incantation and casting a spell. "Second-level Abjuration School, Mind Barrier!"
The target of the spell was undoubtedly Aria. As a Paladin of the Oath of Devotion, she possessed a passive ability that allowed her to intercept Control Effects targeting her teammates, redirecting them all to herself. Then, relying on her formidable willpower, she would endure them.
In the past, Aria had shrugged off Human Immobilization Spells, merely stumbling slightly without being fully immobilized. But now, her brow furrowed deeply, and her expression clearly showed discomfort.
Though Feidric didn't know exactly what was happening, seeing everyone around them frozen stiff except for their group, coupled with Aria's pained expression, instantly made him realize the situation.
Mind Barrier, as the name suggests, was a spell that defended against mental and spiritual attacks. It offered no physical protection, but even a commoner using it could likely resist Control Spells like the Human Immobilization Spell.
Sure enough, after Feidric cast the spell, Aria's expression visibly improved. However, maintaining the Mind Barrier drained his Magic Power at an alarming rate.
"Something's wrong here! We need to get out of here now!"
He couldn't help but recall the disheveled man the Adventurer's Guild had thrown out earlier that day. At the time, they had dismissed the man's rantings as nonsense, but now it seemed the fellow had been telling the truth all along.
However, the moment Feidric spoke those words, the entire crowd—previously still as statues—swiveled their heads in unison, their eyes now glowing crimson, as if they had rehearsed the movement countless times. The synchronized, eerily precise motion sent shivers of dread down the spines of Feidric and his companions.
"I'll clear the way!" Douglas declared, using his imposing height and bulk to shove through the crowd behind them. But because they had arrived early to secure a good spot near the front, hoping for a clear view of the ceremony, they now found themselves trapped in the heart of the gathering.
Moreover, having come to attend the festival, Douglas wasn't wearing his Plate Armor nor carrying any weapons, effectively halving his combat capabilities.
Douglas stepped forward, shoving aside four or five people, but more quickly pressed in to fill the gap. The same was happening everywhere else, as people swarmed in from all directions.
Aria looked utterly bewildered. "Now... what do we do now?!"
Like Douglas, she had come unarmed. Or rather, she hadn't even bought a new weapon yet, so even if she wanted to, she couldn't have brought one.
Even if she did have a weapon, Aria wasn't sure she could bring herself to use it. Weren't these just ordinary people?
Aria clearly saw the snack stall uncle who had sold her grilled skewers just moments ago, now pressing toward her with a blank stare.
Cold sweat trickled down Feidric's forehead as he continued chanting, trying to cast his second spell. But besides these eerily ordinary residents, there was also a group of Artemis Priests present!
The priests had clearly noticed the commotion. One of them stopped praying, pointed at Feidric, and shouted, "Third-Level Divine Spell, New Moon Divine Light!"
The original effect of this Divine Magic should have been to summon a silver pillar of light, approximately one meter in diameter, to descend from the sky and continuously inflict ice-based damage upon the enemy—at least while the moon remained silver.
However, the pillar of light summoned by the Artemis Priest was now blood-red, casting a crimson moonlight from the sky. Feidric was forced to interrupt the Magic he had been about to cast and instead activate his most proficient Shield Spell.
A semi-transparent barrier materialized above the group, blocking the descending red light. However, at the point where the red light met the barrier, a sizzling, corrosive sound erupted.
Douglas once again pushed aside five or six people, only to be shoved back into the crowd. Observing the situation, he frowned, took a step back, and crouched down, cradling the Holy Radiance in his hands, preparing to unleash his own Divine Magic.
Just then, Aria, Douglas, and Feidric suddenly noticed that the ceaselessly jostling crowd had abruptly frozen, as if someone had pressed the pause button.
Just as they were puzzling over the sudden stillness, the crowd ahead of them suddenly parted, revealing a narrow path just wide enough for one person to pass. A tall figure in a black robe emerged, accompanied by the crisp tap-tap of footsteps, slowly approaching them.
"We're done for," Feidric thought immediately. The boss has arrived. If they were already struggling to handle these mind-controlled civilians, facing an obviously stronger opponent meant certain defeat.
But then Feidric noticed something else: the Artemis Priests among the crowd were breaking out of their prayerful trance, their faces shifting to vigilance as they began casting Divine Magic.
These spells weren't targeting Feidric and his companions; they were aimed at the newly arrived figure in black!
"Third-Level Divine Spell: New Moon Divine Light!"
"Fourth-Level Divine Spell: Nightmare Manifestation!"
"Third-Level Divine Spell: Flesh Growth!"
The first two spells at least retained a semblance of Artemis's divine nature, but the third didn't even bother with the pretense.
In response, the black-robed figure—Aglaea—merely raised her right hand and crooked a finger. Strands of Golden Thread rapidly tightened.