全城危机

The space around Aleyria collapsed inwards as she teleported herself away. Everyone looked at the empty space where Aleyria disappeared in horror and then quickly turned to look at the banshee leader which was almost upon them.

Space rippled from behind it and Aleyria calmly stepped out.

She raised her hand at the lead banshee and a brilliant light erupted from her. It was so bright that it blinded everyone present.

Kan-Dari and Shira screamed in shock and immediately fell to the ground. Liz\'An howled and clutched at her eyes, trying to protect it from the light. The dragon outside the barrier roared mightily.

Alexander bent his head down, closed his eyes, covered it with his hands and counted to five. After that he opened it and tried to look for Aleyria.

The light had died out and there was no trace of the lead banshee or of Aleyria.

Alexander frowned as he looked intently at the screaming banshees who were in disarray. He was absolutely cool under fire. Every great general had to be. But even he was surprised at what happened next.

"I\'m here." A weak voice sounded next to him.

"Aleyria!" Alexander cried. He turned around and caught Aleyria just as she was falling down.

"What have you done?!" Alexander whispered as he painfully checked Aleyria for injuries.

"I\'m fine. I had merely overdrawn my magical energy to cast that forbidden spell. That lead banshee is no more." She whispered back with a smile. "Let me rest for a few moments, those remaining banshees.."

"Rest. Do not worry about anything else." Alexander said firmly.

Aleyria raised her finger weakly and touched Alexander\'s forehead. A searing hot wave of energy entered his mind. It was a seal of some sort. Thankfully the pain disappeared as quickly as it came.

"The control seal for the Higher Fire Elemental." Aleyria said with her eyes closed.

Alexander blinked a few times as he adjusted his mind to the addition of the seal. Somehow he felt like he had a strong connection to the dragon outside. A sense of superiority.

"Cast your breath of fire! Kill all the banshees at all costs!" Alexander shouted.

Immediately, the Higher Fire Elemental opened its great maw and released another fiery breath that lit up several banshees in its path. It moved its head left, then right, catching many more banshees and burning them up to their second deaths.

That dragon breath galvanized the remaining banshees into action. Tens of banshees still alive wailed their miserable cries and charged. Though many died to the merciless dragon breath, many more still managed to reach the dragon.

A flurry of claws and fangs and incredible sound attacks smashed into the Higher Fire Elemental viciously, tearing out chunks of its body and sending him reeling from the pain.

The Higher Fire Elemental fought back desperately, biting and slashing and sending its massive tail smashing into several banshees. But for all his attempts to fight back, he was slowly but surely losing.

"Get Shira to send fire attacks on the dragon! It will absorb the attacks and gain strength!" Bucchephalas cried out urgently.

"Shira! Fire attack on the dragon, NOW!" Alexander shouted.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Shira took a deep breath and raised both hands toward the dragon.

A highly compressed wave of fire, hotter than even the Higher Fire Elemental\'s dragon breath, burst forth from Shira\'s outstretched hands like a volcanic eruption and hit the dragon\'s back.

Although Shira\'s wave of fire seemed tiny compared to the Higher Fire Elemental, like a needle to a human, it\'s effects were extraordinary. Much like a human receiving a needle shot too, but one filled with adrenalin.

The flames around the Higher Fire Elemental began to burn even brighter, slowly turning from yellow to white. It roared and released another dragon breath as it spread its fiery wings wide. It gave a mighty leap and began to flap its wings hard.

Liz\'An sent a powerful gust of wind which quickly pushed the Higher Fire Elemental up into flight. Next to her, Kan-Dari focused on casting barriers on the Higher Fire Elemental.

​ As it rose majestically to the skies, the screeching banshees followed it like flies, flitting around it and trying to deal as much damage as they could.

But the layer of flames around the dragon was not the same as before. Each time the banshees slashed at the dragon, they too took damage from the white hot flames.

They screeched and shrieked in anger. They couldn\'t fall back, their orders were to kill the human male. But that cursed human male was hiding behind a powerful barrier! And they could not attack the barrier if the cursed dragon was still around! So they had no choice but to focus fire on the dragon.

But curses! Violent curses on the cursed dragon! It\'s defensive flames were burning white hot and it became so difficult to attack!

And now that the Higher Fire Elemental had taken to the skies, it was much more agile than before. It swooped and spun rapidly, dishing out slashes and bites that viciously ripped the banshees apart.

From below, Shira sent highly compressed fire bolts blasting to the skies from both outstretched arms. Most missed their mark, but occasionally, a banshee would get hit and explode in a beautiful display of fireworks.

The banshees continued to attack relentlessly. A force much greater than their own wills seemed to be driving them.

WOOOOOOO!!! WOOOOOO!!! Their high pitched screams filled the air, causing the Higher Fire Elemental to reel as it maneuvered in the sky.

The collision between sound waves and fire was unlike anything the world had ever seen before. Both the Higher Fire Elemental and the banshees found it impossible to resist each other\'s attacks, dealing grievous damage to each other. The Higher Fire Elemental had it slightly better as the banshees had to rip through Kan-Dari\'s barriers before reaching it. But even then, the numerical advantage of the banshees more than compensated for any advantages Kan-Dari\'s barrier provided the dragon.

Alexander watched the aerial battle grimly. If the Higher Fire Elemental fell, then it would be their turn next. He glanced at Shira, who had turned slightly pale due to magical fatigue.

Bang! She hit another banshee and sent it exploding out of the sky.

Alexander frowned deeply. If this went on, there was no telling who would be the final victor. He analyzed the battle from various angles and aspects, trying to find a solution that could save them. As he did so, his body began to glow bronze.

A list of various factors that had contributed to the battle began to appear in his mind. Even the terrain, weather and other things that he had observed were listed out.

"Hmmm? What is this?" Buccephalas said in surprise.

Alexander took the data that mysteriously appeared in his mind in stride and began to analyze it. "Banshee\'s main weakness. Fire. Fire resources at hand, more than sufficient?? Fire resources utilization efficiency, 43%???"

He glanced once more at Shira and then at the Higher Fire Elemental. It was true that he had more than enough fire power at hand. The only issue was how it was being deployed.

He continued analyzing the data in his mind. "Supporting resources relevant to the battle, Liz\'An." Immediately, the path to victory became clear in his mind.

"Shira, Liz\'An do your fire tornado combo. We need a giant fire tornado. Though it will deal less damage than compressed fire bolts, we would be able to harass more banshees and give that dragon some breathing room and a few easy targets."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liz\'An and Shira nodded.

A giant tornado began to form and spin near the Higher Fire Elemental.

"We\'re sending over a giant fire tornado. Brace yourself." Alexander sent a mental message to the Higher Fire Elemental. "In fact you should boost the tornado with your own fire skills too."

"Understood." The once-haughty Higher Fire Elemental replied curtly and rather agreeably.

Shira released continuous waves of fire at the giant tornado which seemed to eat it up. Slowly, the grey tornado turned orange as the fire intensified.

The Higher Fire Elemental gave a loud roar and released its dragon breath on the tornado. It seemed to light up as a massive deluge of fire energy filled it up and turned the entire tornado yellow.

The sound coming out of such a massive fire tornado drowned out the wails of the banshees. As the fire tornado swirled and roared powerfully, it slowly grew in strength. The banshees drew back slightly to regroup and avoid the ever growing suction force of the tornado, hissing and wailing and shrieking in the way that banshees do.

It took a great toll on everyone, but the banshees were finally placed on their back foot.

However, before the tornado could be sent to do its deadly work, a bright pillar of light pierced down from the sky and hit the banshees.