"Hmm?"
At that moment, Vandix and the opposing Dark Elf Matron both turned their heads to one side.
"Vandix, I'll help you!"
Leilin approached rapidly, the strong wind whipping the hem of his clothes into a sharp flapping sound.
"Hidden Shadow Hand!"
A mass of shadows extended from behind Leilin, taking the form of a giant hand that shoved the Matron to one side.
"How are you doing? How much mana do you have left?" Leilin glanced at Vandix, whose face had already turned faintly pale.
"Half left. Enough for one high-power spell! How about your side?"
Vandix let out a heavy sigh of relief when he saw Leilin arrive.
"I've already dealt with that Matron. Now there's only her left!"
Leilin pointed at the female Matron opposite them. "I remember you still have one ultra-high-power offensive spell — Thunder Lock of the Abyss, right? I'll keep her busy, you get ready quickly!"
"Fine!" Vandix gritted his teeth.
Although he could more or less see through Leilin's intentions, the Matron across from him was his sworn enemy! In the previous wars, even the mortal Vandix Grand Duke had fallen to her forces. He naturally wished nothing more than for her to die!
Moreover, they were at war. Killing the opposing Matron would be a tremendous military achievement!
Leilin looked at the opposing female Matron, a faint smile playing across his face...
A few minutes later, with a tremendous roar from Vandix, dazzling blue lightning instantly blanketed the area. Countless bolts of electricity danced wildly, tightly wrapping the Matron within.
Thunder rumbled and churned. After a few minutes, fragments of charred remains and ash drifted down from midair.
"The Dark Elves are retreating!"
Just as Leilin and Vandix had finished dealing with their side, a second-rank female Wizard rushed over: "The Matron I was fighting suddenly received some news and fled. I couldn't possibly catch up... Ah! You — you killed her..."
The female Wizard clamped a hand over her mouth, shock written all over her face.
...
The Dark Elves besieging Dolun City quickly withdrew.
The three thousand Frostsilk Spider Knights that had attacked previously represented the bulk of the Eastern Domain's forces, many of them temporarily requisitioned from two other armies.
Now, after suffering the double blow of Leilin's poison and the subsequent counterattack, they had lost more than half their number. The siege of Dolun City was resolved in an instant, even triggering a chain reaction.
And that wasn't all — the death of a second-rank Matron thrust Dolun City into the spotlight.
But neither Vandix nor Leilin chose to rest. Instead, they pressed their advantage and led their armies to aid the other two major cities.
With the balance of power reversed, the Dark Elves retreated steadily and were finally driven completely out of the Eastern Domain, providing a much-needed shot of adrenaline for the humans.
As for the credit for slaying the Matron? Due to Leilin's deliberate modesty, it all fell into Vandix's hands.
He didn't care about such empty fame, but Vandix clearly needed it — it seemed there was some grudge involved. So he was happy to do the favor. After all, Vandix had helped him quite a bit before, and the other party had promised to repay him tenfold in the future.
...
"The Eastern Domain has won? That's wonderful!"
Meanwhile, in another city, Ailin received this news as well.
At the moment, he was wrapped in a tattered grey cloak, his face smudged with soot, and the fluctuation of his energy was hidden by the ring on his hand.
The entire city had plunged into an ocean of celebration.
Whether nobles, commoners, or Knights, the moment they received the news, they rushed into the streets, venting their wild elation without restraint.
The shadow of the Dark Elves had loomed over this region for far too long. Coupled with news of the Northern Domain's breach and the massacre of numerous mortal towns, fear had only deepened. People desperately needed good news to lift their spirits.
Even the City Lord's Manor generously opened up the plaza and ordered the cooks to prepare large quantities of oat bread and fruit preserves for the citizens.
"All of this is good news, but it's too far from where you need to be!"
From the black ring, a beam of white light shot out, projecting into Ailin's mind to form the appearance of a wise old man.
"Once you have the item, leave quickly! The Mambo Family that rules this place is no pushover!"
"I know!!" Ailin nodded heavily, then vanished into the sea of people.