The sunlight illuminated everything on the lake, the islands, and the shore, revealing every detail and dispelling all shadows.
Yet the light and heat gathered here were several times stronger than the sunlight in distant Vizima. When the light fell upon Geralt, Triss, and the others below, they felt no burning or stinging. The light was warm and gentle, like a mother's hand, softly caressing each person's body. The unpleasant sensations caused by the pervasive aura of the evil god quickly faded under the light, like melting ice and snow.
Miali raised her gaze and stared intently at the "golden sun" in the sky, shaped like a human figure. Her emerald-green eyes reflected the dazzling golden light, filled with excitement, reverence, and boundless emotion. She murmured softly but clearly to herself: "This... is divine power..."
"Possessing immense power that mortals cannot comprehend or grasp..."
"Wherever He is, all that is connected to Him is under His authority and obeys His commands..."
Miali's words echoed the shared shock that reigned in the hearts of everyone present at that moment. Could a simple gesture change the heavens? Could it gather sunlight and dispel darkness? This... this was completely beyond the bounds of "ordinary magic."
If Margarita had previously harboured some doubts about Karl's "divine" nature... then this scene, unfolding before her eyes and defying the laws of nature, undoubtedly put those doubts to rest. This was, truly, a miracle.
Triss raised her gaze to the blurred golden figure in the air and quietly sniffed with her little nose. She slightly pouted and muttered in a voice only she could hear: "She hid it so well... I've never seen anything like it before..."
Her words carried a slight grievance at being kept in the dark, but above all, they conveyed an indescribable sense of pride and confidence. With Karl on their side... it seemed even the most formidable enemy was not invincible.
Everyone quickly came to their senses, understanding that the final moment was approaching. They stopped looking up and quickly dispersed according to their pre-assigned tasks, immersing themselves in the final preparations.
Geralt swiftly set the last few triggering devices in the pre-designated trap area. Triss, Keira, and the other mages inspected and refined the magical nodes of the traps. Margarita and Tissaia stood on a slightly higher vantage point, their hands glowing with magical light as they probed the surroundings. Dalton and his companion led the knights into a tight semicircular defensive formation, shields interlocked behind the lines established by the mages. Mousesack recited prayers on the flanks and rear of the formation, his wooden staff firmly planted in the earth. An emerald-green light emanated from his feet, resonating with the ground and the plants.
---
Soon, all combat readiness work was completed.
In the distance, Foltest himself led a contingent of dozens in plate armour to the designated blockade position on the outer perimeter. Hen's "Illusion Karl" stood to Foltest's right, speaking to him in a low voice, occasionally pointing toward the centre of the lake as if issuing tactical instructions. To Foltest's left stood his court advisor, Fercart. His face was pale, sweat streaming from his forehead; he seemed to be trying to hide his discomfort and looked about to vomit. After all, being this close to the magic-dampening gold was too overwhelming for a warlock like him.
Foltest remained grim, frowning as he occasionally questioned "Illusion Karl" and issued orders to his personal guard. It was clear that he had no idea the "Karl" beside him was an imposter. This was not only because Hen's illusion was realistic enough, but also because his words, actions, and even subtle facial expressions were perfectly reproduced. More importantly, it was due to Foltest's own inner world — that excessive self-confidence inherent in a king, and his own judgment. He believed that the armour and weapons he wore, infused with magic-resistant gold, effectively countered the effects of magic, and that mages could not cast spells while he was nearby.
However, he did not know that the magic-blocking gold had little effect on high-level mages such as Hen and Tissaia. They were even capable of channelling magic to complete spells while under the double pressure of an anti-magic field and magic-blocking shackles. This had been done with the possibility in mind that the royal retinue might carry magic-dampening equipment that could interfere with spellcasting. This crucial "realistic illusion" had been created and maintained by Hen himself.
On one side of Foltest's group was the combat unit commanded by Dalton, Philipp, and Geralt. Further to the rear were the support and ranged combat positions of mages such as Hen, Tissaia, and Margarita. Everything was in place. Triss and Yennefer exchanged glances and nodded.
They simultaneously raised their hands, palms up, and gently lifted them, causing several bright luminous spheres to gather above their palms. Then they rose into the air, merged into one, and radiated a blue light. The luminous sphere began to pulse rhythmically, emitting distinct magical fluctuations.
Miali, on the shore, secretly observed the proceedings. Seeing the pulsing sphere of light rising into the sky, she cast one last look at Karl, who hovered in the air like the sun. Trust and faith shone in her eyes. Then she took a deep breath and turned to face the small island in the middle of the lake, where the thickest mist stood.
She raised her hands, her slender fingers tracing mysterious and intricate lines in the air. As she chanted the incantation, a transparent barrier enveloped the island. Like morning mist dispersed by the wind, it rapidly became thin and transparent, and then vanished entirely.
The moment the barrier disappeared, a roar erupted —
"ROOOAR!!!"
"HISSSS!!!"
"Gurgle... Heh-heh..."
From the island, no longer protected, suddenly came countless distorted, hoarse, inhuman roars and howls. A thick, impenetrable black mist rose above the island, like a living organism, and rapidly spread to the surroundings. In the pitch darkness, countless monstrous figures, their forms severely distorted, appeared and disappeared intermittently.
Some were covered in pustules and had extra limbs, while others had bulging eyes and mouths that split open to their ears. Some had festering skin oozing mucus, wielded rusted weapons, or simply had deformed claws and teeth... All emanated a fierce malevolence, their crimson eyes fixed on the crowd on the shore.
With low, piercing cries, these mutated fish-men leaped into the water, cutting through the waves at incredible speed and surging toward the lakeshore. Behind them, like a living shadow, the black mist churned, leaving a layer of ink on the lake's surface.
Having removed the barrier, Miali did not pause for a moment. Her gestures became even more complex and rapid as she began to unseal Dagon's prison.
At this moment, Dalton and Philipp did something that caught Foltest's attention and even puzzled him.