Chapter 587: Photon Barrage
Once a herd of ancient Cloudhorn Rhinos formed a charge formation, the earth-shaking, unstoppable momentum was no joke. Even the Dragonblood Orc, massive as he was, looked like a boastful child before a crowd of giants when faced with the colossal beasts.
There was no doubt—if the herd caught up, poor Hubert, the Dragonblood Orc, would be trampled into a puddle of meat.
Faced with the surging beast horde, Hubert turned pale with fright. Moving with unprecedented speed, he spun around, pointed his rear at the herd, and bolted like a shot...
Admittedly, Leon had Hubert stall the magical beasts not just to punish his usual laziness, but because it was a perfect use of his talents.
When it came to drawing the aggro of magical beasts, Hubert seemed to have a natural talent. In this respect, neither the Frost Dragon nor the Sky Rank Golem could compare to him.
With just a small act of provocation, the enraged herd completely ignored everyone else. Their bloodshot eyes locked onto the fleeing Hubert, heads lowered, the razor-sharp horn at the center of their foreheads aimed straight at his backside, chasing after him without a care.
Glancing back to see the sharp horn mere inches from his rear, poor Hubert went even paler. He frantically turned forward again, burying his head and running for his life, cursing his parents for not giving him two extra legs.
For a moment, amid the thunderous roar of the charging beasts, the clearing echoed with Hubert’s panicked, incoherent shrieks...
While Hubert successfully stalled the herd, the rest of the team wasn’t idle. All the Title Archmages began chanting high-level spells, unleashing them at the beasts chasing after Hubert.
High-level spells exploded across the jungle like fireworks with no price tag, lighting up the sun-starved forest. Years of decaying leaves were blasted into the air, filling the clearing with a pungent, earthy stench...
After the wild barrage, gray clouds of dust and earth shrouded both Hubert and the beast herd, blocking everyone’s view...
The Title Archmages exchanged glances, silent questions in their eyes. Had the ancient Cloudhorn Rhino herd finally been wiped out?
Clearly, things weren’t that simple...
No sooner had the spell bombardment ended than furious, deafening roars erupted from the dust. Mixed in were Hubert’s shrill cries—obviously, the attack hadn’t worked.
But that never stopped clever mages. After the infamous Cloudhorn Cataclysm, they quickly developed spells tailored to the beast’s traits. That’s right—Photon Barrage, the very spell the Black Tower Title Archmages are casting now...
Before anyone could prepare a second round of spells, hulking shapes burst from the lingering dust—at the very front was poor Hubert, half-dead with terror.
"Help—help! Master! Damn it, these rhinos have gone berserk—save me, I can’t hold them off any longer!" Hubert screamed, barreling toward the group. The nearest rhino’s sharp horn was nearly poking his rear.
This herd of ancient Cloudhorn Rhinos might not match the terrifying numbers described in the books, but their post-injury rage was still enough to make anyone’s heart pound.
Even Leon couldn’t help but be moved by the sight. Ancient magical beasts worthy of legend truly had their fearsome qualities.
Blazing flames erupted in an instant as Leon slipped into his Elemental Avatar form, radiating a surge of powerful magical energy...
Since entering the Primordial Forest, Leon hadn’t personally taken action—repairing the Sky Rank Golem’s endless formulas had consumed all his attention. Whenever ancient magical beasts blocked their path, he’d just send his subordinates to handle them.
But this time, it seemed he’d have to step in himself...
Just as Leon was about to cast a Flame Blink, a sudden surge of intense magical energy erupted nearby—so strong it even surpassed his own.
What the hell was going on?
Leon turned toward the source of the mana surge. Not far away, members of the Black Tower and Watson Family had gathered—Felton, Cyrus Watson, Suville, Reid Watson, and Weiss stood in a pentagon. As their spell chants neared completion, the magical energy around them grew even more intense...
When had these people teamed up? Leon narrowed his eyes, pausing his spell.
Soon, the five high-ranking Title Archmages uttered the final syllable of their incantation. At that moment, a dazzling orb of light crackling with electricity appeared before them...
Damn—it’s Photon Barrage!
Leon instantly recognized the name of the spell being cast.
No wonder it takes five high-ranking Title Archmages to cast this spell together. Photon Barrage is legendary for its power—second only to Forbidden Spells—but its mana consumption is absurd. Even a veteran like Felton, an Eighth Rank Title Archmage, couldn’t cast it solo.
Still, it’s the spell most recommended in the books for dealing with ancient Cloudhorn Rhinos...
Rhinos might have thick hides and natural magic resistance, but they aren’t without weaknesses. That razor-sharp horn atop their heads is both their greatest weapon—and their biggest vulnerability.
Inside the horn lies the densest section of the Cloudhorn Rhino’s nervous system. If the horn is seriously damaged, it means the beast’s most vital nerves have been struck.
Of course, the horn isn’t easily damaged. In fact, it’s much tougher than the rhino’s thick, resilient hide—ordinary attacks don’t even leave a scratch...
But that never stopped clever mages. After the infamous Cloudhorn Cataclysm, they quickly developed spells tailored to the beast’s traits. That’s right—Photon Barrage, the very spell the Black Tower mages are casting now...
Photon Barrage doesn’t attack the horn directly. Instead, it exploits the horn’s connection to the nervous system, using powerful electric pulses to penetrate the horn and strike the nerves within.
Pooling the mana of five high-ranking Title Archmages and unleashing the spell head-on at the herd is tactically sound—if Hubert weren’t in the way.
And that’s exactly the problem...
Leon’s subordinate, Hubert, was still at the front of the herd, desperately dodging their pursuit. The area-wide electric pulse would almost certainly hit him too...
Leon had no illusions that a Dragonblood Orc could withstand a high-level spell cast by five Title Archmages working together.
Damn it, are you trying to wipe out my subordinate while you're at it?
Seeing the devastating power of Photon Barrage about to be unleashed, Leon didn’t hesitate. He instantly cast Flame Blink, his Elemental Avatar blazing as he vanished from sight...
A heartbeat later, Leon appeared beside Hubert, grabbing him by the collar. With Photon Barrage roaring ahead and the beast herd charging behind, the poor Dragonblood Orc was pale with terror.
At that moment, countless electric currents erupted from the crackling orb of light, blanketing half the sky, raining down on the beast herd...
Thick, sparking currents struck the massive beasts, making the ancient Cloudhorn Rhinos convulse uncontrollably. The deadliest bolts hit their horns directly.
The powerful currents pierced the rhinos’ horns, instantly frying their nervous systems to a charred pulp.
The entire herd was caught in the spell’s overwhelming power. For a moment, even the air seemed to fill with the scent of roasted meat...
Another Flame Blink!
Leon, hauling the Dragonblood Orc whose legs had turned to jelly from fright, managed to reappear at their starting point just before the electric storm hit...
"I need an explanation." As the last of the Cloudhorn Rhinos collapsed, Leon—still wreathed in flames—strode over to Felton, Cyrus Watson, Suville, Reid Watson, and Weiss, his gaze cold and voice low.
"Explanation? What’s there to explain?" Councilor Suville sneered at Leon, glancing around before his eyes landed on Hubert. "Oh, you mean your subordinate? Hmph, he’s just an orc. If he got caught in Photon Barrage and died, so be it."
Felton didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids, utterly ignoring Leon’s challenge.
Cyrus Watson of the Watson Family just watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, clearly unconcerned. He hadn’t proposed Photon Barrage—he’d only joined in to help deal with the beast herd.
After all, everyone was on the same team, and the beast herd was a serious threat to all. Using a powerful spell like Photon Barrage was the only option. As for Hubert—well, who cared about a Dragonblood Orc’s life?
"The fate of my subordinates isn’t for others to decide..." Leon’s gaze swept from Felton to Suville, his expression calm but his voice edged with anger. "This won’t happen again. Or else..."