Chapter 99: Is This Magic?

“Pegasus! Is that Pegasus up there?” someone in the crowd shouted, their voice echoing over the walls.

People looked up, and sure enough, a winged horse, brilliant and shimmering in the dawn light, was streaking across the sky. Riding upon it was a figure draped in a flowing robe, with long, flowing hair that glinted silver as the first rays of sunlight hit it. This was no ordinary sight; it was a spectacle that stopped the undead army in its tracks, and the despair in the city seemed to ease, replaced by hope and wonder.

Sofia squinted toward the horizon, where the radiant figure on the winged horse grew larger and more distinct as it approached the battlefield. Her heart pounded with a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration. Was it truly him? Had her desperate gamble paid off?

The undead soldiers, under Brutus’s control, faltered momentarily, their mindless obedience disrupted by the sheer awe inspired by this arrival. The sky seemed to part, and a bright, swirling vortex formed around the figure as he descended, his robes billowing in the wind. The entire city, from exhausted citizens to her remaining guards, erupted in cheers as they recognized the emblem emblazoned on the figure’s robe—the mark of Tesla, the legendary archmage.

With a mere wave of his hand, the air around him began to pulse with a powerful, ancient magic. The sky darkened, thunder rumbled, and brilliant arcs of lightning slashed through the heavens, illuminating his stern face as he gazed down upon the undead masses below.

Brutus, high on his perch overseeing the battlefield, sneered at the sight. “So, the legendary Tesla finally arrives. But what can one man do against an army of death?” he spat, his bony fingers clenching around his twisted staff.

Yet, as Tesla raised his hand, the entire field went silent. His voice, commanding and powerful, echoed across the battlefield: “You who desecrate the dead and defy the natural order… face true magic!”

With that, he brought his staff down, and a massive surge of energy shot from the heavens, hitting the ground with explosive force.

“Yes! It’s the lost art of magic that hasn’t been seen for a hundred years!” someone whispered in awe.

The entire city watched, holding their breath, as the vibrant rainbow Pegasus burst through the sickly green cloud, flames consuming every toxic particle of the deadly plague cloud. It was a feat that seemed like legend brought to life. Down below, the once panicked defenders now looked up, feeling the full force of the arrival’s power and assurance.

“Look! He’s shielding the duchess and everyone!” someone shouted, awe-stricken.

Sofia, who had been bracing herself for the fatal blow of the attack, looked up in disbelief at the magical display before her. There, atop the radiant Pegasus, stood Downs, Tesla’s first disciple, his face calm yet fierce, his eyes blazing with a mix of power and resolve.

She barely had time to grasp what had just happened when another uproar erupted among her people.

“Tesla’s disciple has deflected the plague cloud!”

“It’s true—this is real magic! We can hold on!”

The courage in the crowd grew tenfold. Even those who moments earlier had been on the verge of despair now found new strength in their hearts. They took up their weapons again, rallying under Sofia’s flag, ready to fight for their homeland.

Brutus, watching this from his perch, hissed with rage. “Downs… you’re nothing more than an upstart in the shadow of your master. No one defies me!”

But before he could command his next move, Downs lifted his staff and pointed it directly at Brutus, his voice carrying with unshakable authority.

“Prepare yourself, Brutus. By dawn’s first light, your reign of terror ends.”

And with that, the dawn broke over the battlefield, illuminating a glimmer of hope for the living and casting shadows that would soon befall the undead.