If possible, the people inside probably hoped others would assume that.
Unfortunately, aside from those hired mercenaries, there were two individuals who knew the true level of power they were dealing with.
With a sharp BOOM, Allen slammed his palm into the ground. The seeds he had previously scattered began to sprout wildly across the barren desert, weaving themselves into a massive, sprawling net.
At the section of the net closest to the sand pit, more than a dozen strange, half-human-sized flowers burst out of the ground. They quickly bore fruit, but these fruits were neither sweet nor edible. Instead, they were sharp, needle-like spikes. After a soft popping sound, the spikes vanished, only to reappear embedded deep into the shadowy figure that had been revealed after the explosion.
Yes, despite the violent blast, that figure remained completely unharmed.
Although Allen's group had managed to initiate a successful ambush, they miscalculated one thing, Voldemort relied on magically adhered sand to surround and shield his body while moving. Those very layers of sand now served as the most natural, impenetrable armor.
In truth, only the three Aurors' piercing spells had managed to cause real damage, that was why Aurors were always the ones standing at the vanguard against dark magic.
The damp sand didn't generate much smoke. When the air cleared, everyone could clearly see the enormous target pierced by Allen's plant spikes, an immense sand-formed creature nearly five meters tall, now resembling a giant hedgehog.
Yet the sight was far from amusing. As the outer layer of sand fell away, the spikes broke off with it, only for the ground below to stir once more as fresh sand rose to replenish the creature's form.
Allen could even hear the three Aurors behind him swallowing nervously. The African mercenary sorcerers beside them gasped in pure shock, clearly, the creature before them surpassed their expectations. Their attack hadn't even scratched its armor!
But Allen's spell was not done. With another flick of his wand, the previously summoned plant-net withered rapidly. At the same time, the regions where the spikes had fallen erupted with thorn-covered vines, rushing upward at impossible speed. Before anyone could react, the vines had wrapped around Voldemort's sand-giant form, forming a massive, constricting web.
"What are you all stunned for? Attack!" Allen shouted while maintaining the growing net.
The moment his voice fell, Annie hurled Tibbers into the air. With a burst of blazing flame, the ten-meter-tall bear slammed down hard onto the restrained Voldemort.
As Tibbers struck, the other wizards finally launched their attacks. Fearing they might burn away the vines, the African mages refrained from their usual coordinated fire spell. Instead, with rhythmic snaps of their fingers, hundreds of spectral spears appeared behind them and hurled themselves toward the target. Where each spear landed, patches of sickly green bloomed, they had coated their attacks in poison.
Allen nearly smacked his forehead, Seriously? You try to poison something made of sand?
But a moment later, he realized he owed them an apology. As the number of spears increased, the green spread across Voldemort's entire body, and Allen felt his vines grow stronger.
So that wasn't poison, it was a curse.
A curse that extracted life force, causing fresh plant matter to rapidly grow from the affected area, perfectly amplifying his own spell.
If he wasn't busy maintaining the web right now, he would've given them a big thumbs-up. These guys know how to play!
Meanwhile, the three American Aurors launched their spells again, this time aiming directly for the creature's head, the obvious weak point of any living being.
The attack didn't pierce all the way through, but it hurt.
The massive sand-giant let out a deep, painful roar, struggling violently to tear away the vines. But there was no way brute strength alone was breaking free from something sustained by Allen's full focus.
"Keep going! Don't stop!"
Not that anyone planned to stop. Even the African mages now aimed for the creature's head, despite the distance, its enormous size made the target unmissable.
With that wave of attacks finished, Voldemort's struggle intensified. A powerful surge of force rippled from its body.
"STOP ATTACKING! DEFEND, NOW!" Allen shouted.
He grabbed Annie. A shield of flame instantly flared around her, while a thick layer of violet energy encased the two of them together.
Everyone present was experienced, they immediately ceased attacking and grouped up with their teams. Defensive shields flickered to life around them.
Only moments later, a deafening BOOOOM erupted, followed by sand exploding everywhere like a storm.
More accurately, an enchanted sandburst.
Every grain of magically charged sand carried the destructive force of a full spell. And there were countless grains. The devastation was inevitable.
As the storm finally subsided, the protective barrier clinging to Allen's body flickered and vanished, he had been forced to layer shield after shield until no more could be sustained.
He released Annie, who was flushed red from holding her breath in the cramped space.
What remained of the battlefield was utter ruin.
So then…
Was Voldemort dead?
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