The reinforcement that came to Aurebor was only the mobile fortress. The main army at Hydrurond was moving at a slow march toward Liguritudum. It was difficult to mask the movement of such a large army. Hence, John had the main army continue heading to Liguritdum.
He intended to attract Liguritudum's attention. With Liguritudum believing the combined force of Themisphere, Sangrod, Palgrost, and Hydrurond was heading in their direction, it would be unlikely for them to send reinforcement to Aurebor.
The second reason was that the joined army had a slow marching speed. Some of the soldiers still rode common steeds. Additionally, they needed to build a supply line while marching into Liguritudum. They couldn't move fast.
The mobile fortress, however, could. With the upgrade of its movement speed, it could travel at a speed equal to a rare-grade steed.
It might be difficult to mask something as large as the mobile fortress, but with the knowledge John and Peniel possessed, they were able to pick a route less conspicuous. They picked a route where high-level monsters used to roam. If enemy scouts entered the areas they were passing, these scouts would most likely be killed by the monsters.
Most monsters scuttered away after seeing the mobile fortress. Only mythical-grade monsters dared to come in the fortress' path. If such a monster appeared, Jack and the others happily dispatched it for exp points.
Hence, the mobile fortress was able to move toward Aurebor without the enemy's detection.
Since the mobile fortress marched by itself, it didn't bring an army except for the one staying inside it. They cleared out most of the supplies inside the mobile fortress and let the main army bring those supplies. The mobile fortress was filled with players to the brim. A lot had to camp out in the mobile fortress' courtyard using tents because there was no space for them inside the keep.
Around 25,000 players came out of the mobile fortress and joined the invading force. The ones brought here were the top experts. Almost half were the members of Everlasting Heavenly Legends.
On the top of the keep were Jack, John, Paytowin, and Grace. They combined their Hope's Sanctification and aimed Hope's Light at the eldritch beholder. It was not a full-power Hope's Light since Jeanny was not available but it was still powerful enough to keep the eldritch beholder from dodging it.
The eldritch beholder was taken by surprise. This ball of light that was assailing her looked like a spell but her anti-magic planar wall didn't work against it. She tried casting teleportation but the ball of light confined her position. She couldn't teleport away. She sensed strong divine power from the light and she felt her soul getting burned.
She emitted a cry that caused a massive mental blast to the nearby soldiers. Whether they were allies or foes, they dropped to the ground with their head reeling.
When Hope's Light ended, the eldritch beholder lost 20% of her life and she lost her flying ability. Her titanic body fell to the ground, crushing many soldiers under her. She was unable to move. The Verremor and Themisphere troops in the vicinity immediately sent their attacks to the powerless country guardian.
The eldritch beholder had been too cocky that she only relied on her anti-magic planar wall to defend herself. She didn't cast any defensive buff on herself. Thus, she received the full damage and effects of Hope's Light, unlike the Herald in the ancient battleground.
"Too bad Jeanny isn't here. Our Hope's Light should be able to take out more HP from that abomination if she is here," Paytowin remarked.
"We should be grateful we successfully get a jump on it," Jack said, adopting a half-glass-full attitude.
Jack took out his king badge and companion badge. He first summoned his eleven royal agents, most of whom he sent back to Themisphere to train after the battle in Hydrurond. He instructed these royal agents to aid the invading armies against the Aurebor army. Paytowin and Grace advanced with these royal agents.
Jack then summoned Broidrireg and Arlcard.
When Broidrireg descended from heaven, he was surprised when he laid eyes on the eldritch beholder.
The eldritch beholder had recovered from the Hope's Light's after-effect. She immediately unleashed a shockwave that threw the soldiers attacking her to the ground. She followed up with a spell that conjured multiple dark balls that spread out and exploded upon impact, damaging those helpless soldiers.
The eldritch beholder was angry that these insects dared to attack her when she was vulnerable. She was about to continue teaching these soldiers more lessons when a voice drew her attention.
"You… How did you break out from your seal?" Broidrireg asked from above.
The eldritch beholder looked up upon hearing Broidrireg's voice. At that instant, she forgot about taking revenge on the soldiers around her. A bigger subject of her vengeful desire had appeared. Her giant body floated back up into the air.
"The person who broke me out promised me that I would face you as long as I became her country guardian. She didn't lie," The eldritch beholder said.
"The queen of Aurebor broke you out?" Broidrireg asked.
"Didn't I tell you that your seal won't hold me forever?" The eldritch beholder then noticed a peculiar tattoo on Broidrireg's chest. "I see you seal another one. Who is the poor thing? I'm surprised you use yourself as the object of the sealing. This one must be special."
"There is no need for you to worry about others. You have more to worry about."
"Haha. Very confident you are. The last time, you brought your entire family to take me down. I don't see any true dragon with you. You are alone this time," The eldritch beholder said mockingly.
"I might be old, but I'm not senile yet. I also remember you had your entire brood with you at the time. Not those newly-born critters below."
"That might be true, but you should know that I am the worst opponent for you. When you sealed me, you had your brother who excelled in physical battles to weaken me. I don't see him. You won't seal me again this time."
"I don't need to seal you anymore," Broidrireg returned. "After the incident with you the last time, I've studied hard and created a new spell. One that can kill even an undying creature such as you."
"I thought you said you aren't senile yet? Whatever you created, it is still magic, isn't it?" The eldritch beholder laughed mockingly.
"We will see," Broidrireg wasn't upset by the eldritch beholder's mockery. "Oh, and one other thing. Who said that I'm alone?"
The eldritch beholder then found four other beings surrounding her. One was a vampire. Another was a strange construct with bladed limbs and bladed wings. The third one was something she remembered to be called a Therras Beast, but this one was larger, wore armor, and had weird wings. It was also covered in horns. The last one was a humanoid being composed of pure lightning.
All four gave off an aura that gave even a being like her a sense of danger.
