All MILFs are Mine Chapter 307: You have my attention

*Step-step-step-step-step*

The Royal Cavalry had halted their advance, positioned several kilometers away from the entrance to Duran Mountain.

Standing at the front of the battalion, two royal mages exchanged puzzled looks as they conversed.

"Is there an issue?" Adwin inquired, his expression mirroring the confusion of the mages as he observed them.

"Your Majesty... This magical barrier is exceptionally resilient. I believe the sacrifice of artifacts will be necessary to penetrate it," one mage answered with a composed face.

"Indeed, Your Majesty," the second mage added, bowing deeply before Adwin.

"Then proceed with the sacrifice... What are you waiting for?" Adwin demanded, his tone turning serious.

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty," the royal mages stammered, their expressions filled with hesitation as they quickly retreated from Adwin’s presence.

"You should be the one to sacrifice your locket."

"Why me? Your artifact is weaker than mine... You sacrifice yours."

"My locket is C-rank, and your ring is also C-rank... They are of equal grade."

"My locket can summon a familiar, while your ring is merely a spatial—"

*Creeeeeeaaak*

The argument was cut short as three carriages pulled up and stopped alongside Adwin’s mount.

*Click*

A door swung open and Ruben stepped out, offering a low bow to Adwin in greeting.

"Your Majesty."

"It appears we have arrived a bit late," Gris remarked with a grin, stepping out of the carriage and giving Adwin a slight bow.

"Greetings to my King."

"Hello, Gris... I was under the impression you were traveling with Dreulis? Where has he gone?" Adwin asked, looking into the empty carriage with a bewildered expression.

"Ah... He spotted a peculiar flower in the heart of the forest and vanished from the carriage," Gris explained nonchalantly.

"Well... That is the inevitable result of keeping him confined to that tower," Adwin replied, a smile tugging at his lips.

"We couldn't restrain him even if we tried. He wanders as he pleases," Gris said with a smirk.

"Pardon me... Your Majesty, why has the march stopped here?" Ruben asked, looking at Adwin in confusion.

"A formidable barrier spans the entire valley. The royal mages are currently determining the best way to shatter it," Adwin replied calmly, gesturing toward the shimmering wall of force.

"A barrier?" Gris questioned. He walked toward the boundary and extended his hand to touch the air.

His palm was halted mid-air by a powerful, unseen pressure pushing back against him.

"Hmm... It isn't weak, though it isn't invincible either. This ward requires an artifact sacrifice and—" Before Gris could finish his thought, a skeletal hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"It won't..." As the flat, hollow voice reached his ears, a smile spread across Gris's face.

"Did you finish inspecting that flower of yours?" Gris asked playfully, turning to find Dreulis standing directly behind him.

"I did... It was merely a common Guonlud flower, nothing of note. However, this structure here is truly exquisite," Dreulis replied. He stepped toward the barrier, touching it with his bony fingers. Suddenly, the blue flames flickering within his eye sockets flared with intensity.

"What is your assessment?" Adwin asked from behind, dismounting his horse to join Dreulis.

"This barrier... it is woven from undead magic. Another Lich is present here, the one who cast this. Interesting, very interesting," Dreulis remarked solemnly. He opened his skeletal hand and then began to close it.

Before his fist could fully clench, a staff manifested within his grasp.

It was a massive staff; the base was carved from white wood, the center from brown wood, and it was crowned with a dark crystal orb.

"Let us see... if I can invert this ward using its own spell. Hehehehe..." Dreulis let out a creepy laugh as he pressed the tip of the crystal against the barrier.

"HELIOS..."

Deep within the Valley,

Leon sat upon a tree stump, his expression hidden behind a mask of neutrality as he continued to gaze at Melare’s severed head.

Rees and Enid stood beside him, the group appearing as though they were anticipating an arrival.

Dusk lay on the ground nearby, lazily scanning the surroundings.

High above in the canopy of a large tree, Fruela kept watch for any sign of movement.

"Are you certain he will show up?" Leon asked, casting a questioning glance toward Enid.

"I am quite sure he is on his way to—" Enid began, but Rees cut him off.

"Master... something is wrong," Rees spoke with grave seriousness, his eyes turned toward the sky.

"What is it?" Leon asked, his voice sharpening.

"Someone is attempting to dismantle my barrier. It isn't a common mage, nor even a Royal mage," Rees said, his hand tightening around his staff.

"Then who is it?" Leon demanded, rising from the stump with a serious look.

"An undead... a Lich like myself, though one more ancient and knowledgeable. He is reversing the spell's flow, converting it into a null-spell to dissolve the barrier. I can only maintain the ward for a few more minutes; after that, it will collapse," Rees explained, channeling more mana into his staff.

"Let it go... Dispel the barrier," Leon commanded in a neutral tone, a smirk forming on his face.

"What!?" Enid exclaimed, his face a mask of shock and confusion.

"As you wish, Sir," Rees obeyed, lifting his wand from the ground. Instantly, the barrier vanished.

"Master, why did you order the barrier removed?" Dusk asked, looking at Leon with a puzzled expression.

"You will have your answer very soon," Leon replied, smiling.

...

At the Valley’s entrance,

*SWISH*

"Hmm...? The barrier has broken," one of the Royal mages noted, raising his hand to find the resistance gone.

"Your Majesty, the path is clear."

"Excellent work, Dreulis. EVERYONE, MARCH FORWARD!" Adwin bellowed. The army immediately followed his command, beginning their trek into the valley behind him.

"You didn't actually break it, did you?" Gris asked with a knowing smile as he walked toward Dreulis.

"No," Dreulis answered in a heavy, rasping voice.

"It seems whoever erected that ward wanted to keep us out—or keep something in. Well, this promises to be entertaining," Gris remarked, heading back toward the carriage.

"Very well... you have piqued my interest," Dreulis muttered under his breath, the blue flames in his eyes flickering wildly.