The pale green phosphorescence faded as the Emerald Leaf Witch deactivated her "Plant Growth" magic to prevent the flames from spreading along the vegetation and causing secondary damage.
With no plants left as fuel, the flames were completely dissipated by a gust of cold wind, revealing three figures atop the carriage.
"They blocked it?"
A Magic Caster positioned on the left hill saw that the "Fireball" he released hadn't caused the expected destruction, and his expression shifted.
"Is it the effect of a magic item?"
"Fireball!"
A sphere of burning orange-red fire was released once more, while blue electrical light simultaneously burst forth from the slope on the right.
"Lightning Bolt!"
Two types of Tier 3 elemental magic once again flew toward the Ghost Hound and the carriage respectively. Though the spells were simple, their clearly targeted nature immediately suppressed Lyle's party.
"Lightning Bolt" was an extremely fast piercing spell capable of suppressing the Ghost Hound, while "Fireball" would explode the moment it made contact with its target.
With the ordinary human Enri on the carriage, the area-of-effect explosions could also restrict the movements of Lyle's trio.
"Kill!"
"Slaughter these guys."
"We're going to be rich!"
"Hahaha!"
Meanwhile, members of a mercenary group—numbering a full forty men—charged down from both hills. Under the magical suppression of the two Magic Casters from the "Death Spreading Sword Sect," they had already reached the bottom of the slopes.
Faced with such a scene...
Even Enri snapped out of her daze, her knuckles white as she gripped her short sword, looking warily at the mercenaries rushing in from all sides.
"Roar!"
The Ghost Hound let out a roar and quickly leaped away, its fierce beastly pupils staring at the oncoming blue electrical light.
It violently whipped its head.
Whoosh! The Bone Chain coiled around its body shot out like slithering snakes.
Boom!
The Bone Chain collided with the Lightning Bolt mid-air, producing a piercing roar. The blue electricity exploded, causing the surrounding brightness to momentarily dim.
The "Bone Chain" looked like black metal chains, but they were actually made of a very lightweight, hard bone, so they weren't conductive.
Pshhh! Wisps of white steam rose from the glowing red tips of the Bone Chain!
The Ghost Hound's limbs landed from the air, sliding about two meters. It pulled the Bone Chain back and recoiled them around its body.
The Magic Caster who had cast "Lightning Bolt" widened his eyes: "How can this be!"
This was Tier 3 magic.
It was just a mere Ghost Hound; it would be one thing if it dodged, but it actually took the hit head-on!
"Corrosive Destruction!"
Boom!
A mass of acidic, rotting liquid collided with the fireball and exploded, the two forces canceling each other out.
On the other side.
Brian and Captain Feikampa, who had been watching the battle, both fixed their gazes on the Ghost Hound.
It wasn't unexpected that the green-haired Magic Caster girl could easily block the "Fireball" attack.
But...
"I remember the difficulty level of a monster like a Ghost Hound is only between 40 and 45, right?"
Captain Feikampa was first surprised, then his expression turned even uglier: "Tier 3 magic should be enough to kill it, yet it managed to block it!"
The plan was failing time and time again.
Captain Feikampa's expression became more distorted, his entire body radiating a murderous aura.
First, the trap failed to trigger. Then, the plan to kill the Ghost Hound pulling the carriage to prevent Lyle's party from leaving easily had also failed.
"Heh."
"In the face of raw strength, so-called plans and arrangements are nothing but garbage."
Brian spoke lazily, one hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. After his brown eyes briefly lingered on the Ghost Hound and the Emerald Leaf Witch, he looked toward the true target.
Even from a distance...
Though he couldn't see Lyle's facial expression clearly, Brian could still sense a feeling of composure from the man's posture.
"Haha, your words are as unpleasant as ever," Captain Feikampa barked with a grin, not showing a hint of anger.
Because the true trump card of the "Death Spreading Sword Sect" was Brian himself.
On the road below.
Screams and wails of agony began to ring out gradually.
The Magic Casters on the small hills briefly suppressed the Ghost Hound and the Emerald Leaf Witch by continuously releasing magic.
But the extent to which they could be suppressed was clearly limited!
Facing the mercenary group members closing in from all directions with weapons in hand, the Ghost Hound and the Emerald Leaf Witch were still able to mount a counterattack.
However, with the advantage of numbers, many mercenaries soon broke through the defenses of the Ghost Hound and the Emerald Leaf Witch, gradually approaching the carriage.
"My Lord." The Emerald Leaf Witch's gaze was incredibly cold, her green hair swaying slightly.
She was already itching to slaughter all these humans before her, but the magic she specialized in didn't include area-of-effect offensive spells.
"There really are a lot of them. Numerical advantage does have its uses," Lyle glanced around and waved a hand at the Emerald Leaf Witch.
He knew the Emerald Leaf Witch wanted to let the Dense Mist Witch hidden within her body take action, but Lyle waved his hand to stop her.
"The true protagonist hasn't appeared yet. Are they trying to test me? Fine."
Lyle mused, his eyelids lifting slightly.
"Tier 2 Magic: Shockwave!"
"Rapid Thrust!"