The Royal Mark-Chapter 356: Barrier
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Advent_Nnko for giving this book a 5-Star review. It made my day and motivated me to keep on writing. Thank you so much for appreciating my work! I am forever grateful!
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Lulu, her sisters, and their father took turns digging the tunnel to Vrenada, while Beatrice ensured Elsa did not overexert herself helping the family. Beatrice watched over her while making sure they had food and water ready to eat and drink and calling Elsa to rest whenever she seemed tired from using her power.
Their work was interrupted when one of the bells attached to Leon’s tripwire rang, signaling that they were no longer alone in the tunnel. Someone had opened the door at one of the entrances and was now on their way to catch them. They had been discovered!
The girls and Leon hurriedly dug the tunnel, and even Beatrice picked up a pickaxe, striking the dirt wall.
Elsa, who was resting at that time, stood up weakly and called out to one of the girls. "Lily, help me move the rocks and dirt to the middle to block the incoming demons. It will at least slow them down."
Lily nodded and quickly joined her. Together, they moved everything that had been dumped on the sides into the middle, creating a barrier between them and the approaching forces.
When the barrier was strong enough, Elsa instructed Lily to move back and continue helping her family. She stood in front of the barrier with closed eyes. Her hands were raised on her sides with her palms facing the walls of the tunnel.
Beatrice and Leon heard some noises coming from the earth which caught their attention and prompted them to look at Elsa. They saw her hands glowing and it’s becoming brighter as each minute goes by.
The next thing that they saw was roots of different sizes coming out from every direction around the barrier, slowly enveloping it. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Elsa felt she had an audience and glanced a bit behind her and said, "This will strengthen the barrier. The traps that you had laid in the tunnel are quite good but not enough to keep them busy. I hope they take some time to completely demolish this one."
Leon went back in digging the tunnel but Beatrice stayed on her spot watching Elsa which she saw.
"Beatrice, please continue helping them. Staring at me won’t help. We need to get away from this hole as soon as possible," Elsa requested.
"B-But, My Queen, I am worried that you will overdo this. I am just looking after you."
"I know, and I promise I will stop if I feel that it is doing me harm. But manipulating the roots of the trees above us is not that difficult. I assure you, I can manage."
Beatrice sighed, completely helpless. She agreed that Elsa was right, standing there wouldn’t make the digging faster. So she turned around and continued helping her family.
When Elsa was done strengthening the barrier, she went back to the end of the tunnel where everyone was. Lulu and the twins were becoming better and better at using their earth magic and they dug faster than before.
Almost an hour had passed when suddenly, the sounds of demons battering the barrier echoed through the tunnel. The earth shook with each hit, and the roots began to strain under the pressure. The demon soldiers had reached the barrier and were starting to destroy it.
"We have to hurry!" Leon shouted, his pickaxe striking the wall with renewed urgency.
"Lala, Lily, remember what we talked about?" Lulu asked her sisters, who nodded quickly. "Now is that time. Your magic is stronger than mine when combined, go and fortify the barrier!"
The twins swiftly ran to the barrier which was not that far from where they at now and moved in unison as they prepared for their joint earth spell move.
It was the first time that Elsa saw two people perform a single earth spell together and she was utterly amazed at how flawless they move and cast their spell.
The twins briskly pulled a chunk of earth from the ground going up till it reached half of the barrier. They did it several times and continued to pull chunks of dirt around the barrier, making it thicker and stronger.
However, the demons behind that barrier were greater in number and force, more than the twins could handle. The barrier began to crack, and the roots splintered. The demons’ relentless assault was wearing it down faster than Elsa had hoped.
She rushed to the front line, her hands trembling but determined. She was already feeling weak and drained from the previous magic that she performed but she had no choice. Lulu must keep digging and she’s the only one who could help the twins, who were already panting hard after using a lot of mana just to do their fused magic.
"Your Majesty, no!" Beatrice cried out, seeing Elsa’s condition.
"I have to help the twins," Elsa insisted, her voice weak but resolute.
With a nod, the twins moved forward, positioning themselves beside Elsa. They created walls of earth to shield against the demon onslaught, their magic flaring with every strike. Elsa joined them, her power intertwining with theirs, creating a formidable defense.
Lulu focused on digging and pushed herself to her limits. Sweat poured down her face as her earth magic rhythmically struck and moved the dirt. Every second counted as the sounds of the breaking barrier grew louder.
Just as the barrier finally gave way and the demons began to pour through. Lulu and her parents scream and moan in anguish and fear as they move and dig faster, not minding their fatigue.
The twins quickly stepped forward in front of Elsa in a protective stance. They were determined to not let any demon reach their human queen. Even though they were born and grew up in Kurzen, the hope and opportunity that Elsa gave them were already more than enough for them to exchange their lives with her. They will protect and defend her until their last breath.
A bright light suddenly covered them and when they looked behind them, they saw Elsa extending her hands towards them.
"My mana and strength are no longer enough for me to cast any offensive spell. But I can use every last bit of it to cast a protective shield on you two. It’s time to show those demons, what human mages can do!"
