The caravan moved toward the rumored location of the Citadel. Sam was lost in thought, processing the information he had received. Ammy's healing magic worked wonders, and he felt his strength returning with each passing hour. Around him, the air was filled with conversations, each offering snippets of lore about the Citadel and the land they were heading into.Sam listened intently, his mind racing. "What do we know about its defenses? If it's a stronghold, it must be well-protected."One of the scouts, a wiry man, spoke up. "From what I've gathered, the Citadel is surrounded by natural barriers. The mountains are steep, and the plains are vast. But it's the unknown that worries me. No one knows exactly what lies beyond those mountains."Ammy, while channeling her healing energy into Sam, added softly, "The Archbishop has been gathering energy from the ice spires and transferring it there. Whatever they're planning, it has something to do with that energy. We need to be prepared for

Welzon, the Archmage of Necromancy, nodded in agreement. "Even though we call it a great exodus, it’s more like a series of small migrations from many insignificant settlements on the outskirts, places that the Holy Church and the Magic Empire don’t care about."“Orphans, the poor, and survivors from various places are on the move,” Aria said.Ammy, ever curious, interjected, “But where are they heading? Is this the Archbishop’s promised land?”“Come on, tell us the exact location, Dora,” Sam urged.Dora, who had been quietly listening, spoke up hesitantly. “I don’t know exactly where they’re going. The Archbishop kept most of us in the dark about the specifics. We were told to believe in the vision of a better future.”Freythia added, “We were promised greatness, a holy land. But it was all vague, just enough to keep us hopeful and obedient.”“Don’t worry!” Eldrak said with a laugh, his eyes gleaming with resolve. “I’ve got the answers. The movements I’ve tracked point to a specific

The tension in the camp was palpable. Sam and his companions stood in a tight circle, watching as cultists rifled through their belongings. Mother Elara, with her serene yet unnervingly watchful eyes, oversaw the search. Sam could feel his heart pounding in his chest. They had only just managed to steal the critical document that hinted about the Archbishop’s true plans. If it were found, they were as good as dead.“Check the tents thoroughly,” Mother Elara ordered, her voice calm but commanding.Sam’s mind raced. The document needed to be hidden, and fast. Suddenly, he remembered the Daemonic Vault, a gift from a Friedo. It allowed him to store items in a pocket dimension, or more precisely, the daemonic realm.When a cultist moved closer, Sam subtly used that skill, feeling a slight tug as the document vanished from his hand into the void. The cultist's search turned up nothing but mundane items.“Looks like you’re clean,” one of the cultists muttered, moving on.Mother Elara's eyes

Sam unleashed his new combined spell, a breathtaking display of power that merged fire and shadow into a swirling vortex of destruction. The energy roared forth, its ferocity like a tempest unleashed from the depths of his soul. The barrier around the citadel stood no chance; it shattered under the relentless assault, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and ground. Sam and Aria surged forward, their resolve unshaken despite the overwhelming odds.Inside the citadel, the Archbishop's eyes widened as he felt the tremor. His calm demeanor faltered for just a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. “So, they’ve arrived,” he muttered, his voice laced with a mix of irritation and intrigue.Eldrak continued to wreak havoc from above, his massive form descending upon a tower. His roars echoed through the valley, shaking the very foundations of the citadel as he engaged with the cult’s airborne defenses. Cultists ran to and fro, their panic evident as they tried to respond to th

Sam, feeling the weight of the battle on his shoulders, made a quick decision. "Good idea! Take it, old man!" he said, tapping Welzon on the shoulder. Instantly, the golem spell transferred to Welzon. "Oh, and this too!" Sam added, tapping again to transfer the Stone Castle power. "And take care of the garden too!" With another tap, he passed on the Thorn Labyrinth spell.Welzon placed a hand on his head, protesting, "Sam, you’re giving me too much!"Sam laughed it off. "You can handle it, old man!"Welzon began controlling the golem guards along the stone pathway. "You are amazing," Sam complimented.Welzon's expression turned serious. "You don’t understand, Sam. It’s not entirely my power either. I have help from them.""Them? The deaths from the Great War? Didn’t we purge them in the Blighted Plains?""Some were stubborn and followed me still. But you should have realized there are more dead here now," Welzon said in a cold tone.Sam understood the grim reality. Despite his efforts