It was because of this reason that Lucas and the others were struggling. It was easy to deal with Lesser Ghouls that rushed at you without any thought. However, the Greater Ghouls who knew how to fight and could use skills were tricky to deal with.
And then there was also their numbers, even the Greater Ghouls were in the hundreds. It was really like fighting the entire Black Town. The humans were truly despairing.
"It was just like this that you cornered Master at that time and forced him into a dead end. I will never forget the feeling he felt that day, the betrayal, the despair, the refusal and the dejection that overwhelmed his mind. I swear at the title of Valkyrie bestowed to me by master, that I will let you experience what he felt that day ten times; no hundred times more" Annette vowed.
Flooding the enemy with overwhelming numbers, showing them false hope and crushing their spirits was uncharacteristic of Annette. She usually fought enemies by herself using her magic instead of relying on numbers to tire them out.
The only reason she was doing something that was so unlike her, was because this was a revenge. Revenge for her master who had once been driven to a corner just like this.
Benny Beckerman, one of the main perpetrators who had antagonised their master time and time again was with the group. Since this was an opportunity, Annette made sure that he experienced what her master did back then. Hence the reason behind the group's current predicament.
It could be said that Benny Beckerman was the reason why their group was suffering right now. As Annette watched them with cold callous eyes one of the warriors among the group got bitten.
"Dammit, he got bitten. Everyone, get away from him" Benny cursed. He used his thunder magic to instantly disintegrate hordes of ghouls around him.
"Lucas, if you don't use your magic now, we won't be able to hold on for long" He shouted looking at the mage wearing bright red robes in the backlines.
"You don't need to tell me, my magic is complete, I just needed everyone to fall back"
Lucas stated, his voice rang out amidst his incantation. With the coagulation of mana around him as the indication, the group that was fighting the ghouls backed down. Immediately afterwards, the air in the surroundings took on a crimson hue and a massive amount of flames rolled in.
Like clouds, the golden flames or the infernal magic materialised in the air and with Lucas's swift motion they started to rain down on the Ghouls.
"[Infernal Magic Mastery]— Infernal Misery"
The purging golden rain looked dazzling to the eye. However, make no mistake, this advanced magic that took so long to conjure, was extremely lethal and covered a large area. All the ghouls whether they be lesser ghouls or greater ghouls, all ignited into flames when the golden droplets dropped on them.
Like pouring gasoline into the fire, the flames blazed hotter and hotter the more the droplets fell. Just like the name of the magic, the scene was truly an infernal Misery.
And just like this, a large amount of Ghouls was taken out by Lucas. The remaining ones were handled by Benny and the others who used their powerful rare and ancient tiers skills to quickly sweep the ghouls.
"Oi Lucas, I can no longer guarantee that we can return back safe and soundly. You better give up on chasing after the princess. Depending on the situation we might even have to run"...
"What?" Hearing Benny's pessimistic words, Lucas was shocked. He couldn't believe that the man heralded as the strongest in the kingdom, would say something like this.
"How can you suggest to run? Didn't you use to say that an adventurer is someone who seeks romance in danger and can turn any situation around? You were the one.. ".
"All that was in the past. Many things have changed since then. I'm no longer an adventurer nor am I still the guild leader who once led the most powerful and prestigious guild of the kingdom. Now I am nothing but a loser who has lost everything and is currently employed under his highness to earn some spare change. What else do you expect from me?"
Benny retorted back. After he lost Godwin, Raven and some of his best people on the trial grounds, the Sea God's Trident just like the other five top guilds was almost but finished.
It was only a guild in name, what proved it still existed was the headquarters which now lay in ruins after the war between Ellsemere and Balckthorn broke out. Right now, he was nothing but his former shell.
"Dammit even though I was so close to meeting her" Lucas clenched his fist and sighed. He looked at the overwhelming numbers of the enemy and the exhausted people on his side before making his decision.
"Alright, let's leave. We can't win with our current numbers". A sound decision considering that they were severely outnumbered.
Lucas and his group tried to back towards the Air Engine. However, how could Annette who went through the trouble to prepare all of this to avenge her master, just let these people walk away?
Needless to say, she had already foreseen the situation and had prepared something beforehand. As the humans slowly retreated, their backs suddenly collided with an invisible wall that wasn't there when they came here.
"What is this?"
BANG... BANG... the wall rippled like water in a pond when attacked. However, no matter how much force they used or punch they threw, the invisible wall refused to budge.
"Everyone get back. I'll use an advance magic and force it to budge down" Lucas spoke waving his staff.
"No, wait" Just as he was about to conjure his magic, he was stopped by Benny.
"Don't bother, you can't break the wall with brute force. This is an array, to break it you need to either go for the person who laid it or destroy the formation core".
Being the most knowledgeable one amongst the lot, Benny quickly realised that the invisible wall barring their retreat was a formation.