The originally overcast sky was torn open, and sunlight poured down as if it had substance.
Yet the expected scene did not unfold.
The undead struck by the holy magic should have rapidly dissolved into dust, but they simply stood there, their hollow eye sockets seemingly filled with mockery.
Fang Zhiyi grinned. Anti-magic coating—this was one of his research achievements, and he had the books from the Mage Tower to thank for it.
"How is this possible?" The priest's jaw dropped. Holy magic had no effect on these creatures of death! The bones that should have been scorched by sunlight now gleamed brilliantly.
"A priest? I have those too." Fang Zhiyi waved his hand, and several hooded figures stepped forward, raising their hands in unison. The skeleton soldiers assaulting the city walls suddenly moved with heightened speed, as if bolstered by some enhancement.
What filled the defenders with despair, however, was the sight of the ghouls halting their attacks and instead drawing eerie magic circles on the ground.
The archmage reacted first: "Stop them!"
"Too late." With Fang Zhiyi's mocking smile, countless hands burst forth from the earth on the battlefield—some green with decay, others already reduced to bone.
The defenders were stunned. No wonder they had chosen to attack the eastern gate! Countless humans and orcs had died here just days ago.
Facing the endless tide of the undead, Vivian finally stepped forward.
She had waited for this moment, though she hadn’t been certain it would come.
"Fang Zhiyi!"
Fang Zhiyi obligingly looked up, simultaneously signaling his undead forces to halt their advance.
"I want to negotiate with you." Vivian took a deep breath, her expression fearless.
This was the moment—if she could just take his hand and whisper sweet words, he would obediently retreat, only to return to her side later, a hidden tool lurking in the shadows.
Among the crowd, Rhein’s face remained dark.
Suddenly, Fang Zhiyi stood and bowed deeply to Vivian. "Your Highness, wasn’t it you who summoned me? The plan to kill the Crown Prince isn’t yet complete."
Vivian froze. What did he mean?
The people around her stared at her with strange expressions.
Realizing the implication, Vivian frantically waved her hands. "When did I ever tell you to kill my brother? Don’t spout nonsense!"
Fang Zhiyi feigned sudden understanding. "Ah, my mistake. Yes, I came of my own accord. Listen well—if you value your lives, hand over the Crown Prince!"
The crowd’s gazes at Vivian now carried unmistakable conviction.
"Fang Zhiyi!" Vivian couldn’t comprehend why he would say such things. How did he know she wanted her brother dead?
Fang Zhiyi clapped his hands as if struck by another realization. "Understood! I await your next command! Retreat!"
The vast undead army withdrew without hesitation, marching swiftly and orderly back to their territory, leaving behind a bewildered Vivian and the city’s defenders, their faces a mix of shock and suspicion.
What had they just heard?
Princess Vivian had conspired to kill the Crown Prince? And that necromancer was her subordinate? The sight of the breached gates and the retreating undead only cemented their belief.
"It’s not true! I never ordered him to come!" Inside the palace, Vivian stood helpless, desperately pleading with her grim-faced brother. The high-ranking officials of the Mage Association and the Holy Church were present, along with the two captains of the Knight Order.
"As much as I’d like to believe you, Your Highness," the Knight Captain said coldly, "explain to me why an endless undead army that had already broken through our gates suddenly retreated." His grudge against Fang Zhiyi—stemming from his son’s fate—now extended to the princess he saw as a traitor.
His words carried weight. No one would believe a necromancer commanding tens of thousands of undead would stage such an attack just to frame a princess.
"It’s not like that! Truly!" Vivian couldn’t fathom how things had spiraled so out of control.
"So this is the truth," Rhein said, stepping out from behind a pillar, his face alight with vindication. "This is why you distanced yourself from me and fawned over him."
His words reminded the mages—Vivian had indeed gone to great lengths to protect Fang Zhiyi, even taking a sword strike meant for him.
Meanwhile, rumors spread among the people: Princess Vivian, outwardly a holy mage, had secretly embraced darkness. She had even seduced the necromancer to secure her bid for the throne.
The already terrified populace grew furious. Many had lost friends or family hanged as accomplices of necromancers. Now, they gathered outside the palace, demanding the princess be handed over.
The Knight Order uncovered letters hidden in Vivian’s chambers, including a freshly intercepted third one. The Knight Captain read it aloud before the assembly:
"Your Highness, I’ve fulfilled our agreement. Once your brother is dead, you’ll be queen. Though I advise against killing the Knight Captain and his useless son just yet—the kingdom still needs their protection."
"Slander!" The Holy Church’s leader spoke for the first time, unwilling to see his beloved disciple fall.
The Knight Captain ignored him and continued: "You confided that the Holy Church’s leader is your mentor—a fact unknown to others. With their support, your reign will be secure. As for the Mage Association’s selfish lot, leave them to me. A queen must keep her hands clean. I await your next orders." The letter was signed.
The Holy Church leader stared at Vivian in disbelief. She had revealed their relationship to the necromancer? Could this be true?
Panicked, Vivian didn’t know how Fang Zhiyi had learned these secrets.
"It’s not true!" she repeated, her usual grace and composure gone.
Her brother demanded sharply, "Then swear it! Swear on your holy magic that his words are false!"
Vivian hesitated. She couldn’t—because while Fang Zhiyi’s claims were fabricated, the ambitions he described were hers.
Seeing her silence, the Crown Prince understood. Wearily, he waved his hand. "Cast her out of the palace. From this day forth, she is no longer royalty."
Banished from the palace, Vivian was then stripped of her magic by the archmages. The light that had always accompanied her vanished.
As the furious mob dragged her toward the pyre, she finally understood.
This was just like Fang Zhiyi’s fate. Had he, too, seen this future through some dark magic?
Now everything made sense—the rumors spreading through the city, the letters professing loyalty, the feigned siege—it was all just to punish himself! To punish himself for failing to save him!
As the flames rose, she stared at those furious faces and let out a bitter laugh.
These foolish commoners... How detestable they were as weapons.