Chapter 517: Sorry, Playing Dead Again

The Grand Marshal's Battle Staff was no mere ornament for a noble house; it represented the pinnacle of Dalaran's magical achievements. Vereesa knew well that even if she were to shoot an arrow at it, the staff's inherent magic could deflect it.

Yet, there it lay, silent on the ground. From the point of impact, the earth was marked with a deathly, charred blackness. It was not mere scorching by fire but a terrifying blaze that obliterated everything, even the rock itself.

The magical aura lingering near the burn marks was so dense that it could not be concealed.

Vereesa felt as though she were falling apart.

Suddenly, she remembered all the moments she had shared with Duke.

All the wonders that had followed his appearance as her future brother-in-law: transforming the Stormwind Altar, legendary feats against armies, saving Lordaeron, and sneaking a thousand miles to rescue the Red Dragon Queen, even under a death curse.

Of course, what touched Vereesa the most was the time he had saved her from the fearsome dragon's breath.

Nothing could be more thrilling than a man you could rely on at the crucial moment.

Just when she felt she could get to know this "future brother-in-law" better, he was taken by Deathwing.

They were finally reunited, only to be parted... forever.

"I want you to be roasted in the flames of Hell for eternity!" With a roar of rage, Vereesa vanished from her spot.

The next second, a barrage of sharp arrows shot from all directions in a dark, massive cave.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

There were continuous steel-tipped arrows.

Silent elven wood arrows.

And the traceless wind-powered arrows.

Yet all were dissolved by the giant flaming wings behind Marian. Those wings were over two meters long, seeming to have a life of their own, each sweep turning at least three arrows to ashes.

"Hehehe! Too weak! You're too weak! Your strength can't even make me budge, and you talk about killing me? Hahaha!" Marian mocked, her eyes filled with wickedness, as though she could see Vereesa before her.

"Hmph!" With gritted teeth, Vereesa activated Aimed Shot.

Aimed Shot was practically the most powerful skill for a ranger. As powerful as it was, it required charging.

In such a duel, exposing her position was absolutely unfavorable for a ranger. A high-ranking mage's burst power far exceeded a ranger's.

Vereesa was betting on Marian's arrogance. Though she hated to admit it, the gap between their powers was vast.

Had it been Alleria, she might have had the upper hand against Marian. But Vereesa, not enhanced with extreme damage, couldn't think of any other move besides Aimed Shot to break the protection of those bizarre flaming wings.

Vereesa knew Marian wanted to destroy her ultimate attack and deal her a profound blow. But thinking of Duke, reduced to ashes, tears uncontrollably welled in her eyes.

"Duke! Bless me to kill her—"

"Heh!" Marian observed the arrow, charged with Vereesa's full strength, as it shot towards her with an air of arrogance.

Then... nothing more happened.

The usual flames easily consumed the entire arrow.

"It's over!" Marian elegantly lifted her left hand, her index finger forming a graceful curve with her arm. Even this simple gesture was imbued with an enchanting quality. A massive fireball formed at her fingertip.

The next second, the fireball would be launched, reducing Vereesa to ashes.

Just then, Marian sensed a wind behind her head.

Who? Alexstrasza?

She turned sharply to see a bewildered queen, clearly looking in the direction of...

Behind me?

Instinctively, Marian activated the power of the Demon Soul.

Regrettably, she made the same mistake as some foolish Orcish Warlock.

What appeared to be grand and wicked flames were easily popped like soap bubbles.

A brick made of ice materialized from the void, held by a swung arm, and came down with thunderous force.

Marian's magical shield activated.

In the same instant, a surge of arcane energy, not particularly strong but sharp as needles, effortlessly pierced her shield.

Finally...

"Thump!" A sound.

Crimson blood flowed from her forehead, quickly staining Marian's enchanting face.

"Heh! No matter how strong a mage, one hit and down." One brick knocked Marian unconscious, and that mysterious figure hummed incomprehensible words. Who was that?

Naturally, it was our Duke.

That signature sly grin, that face that screamed for a punch; Vereesa would recognize it even if she were reduced to ashes.

"Duke?"

"Duke!?"

The first voice was the queen's; the second was naturally Vereesa's.

"Yes." Duke smiled at Vereesa while handling Marian. "Killing a sister is bad luck, eh!"

So, Duke fastened a Spellbreaker's Manacle he had acquired from Quel'Thalas onto Marian. This item was designed to disrupt the magical energy circulation within a mage's body. For ordinary people, it was no different from regular manacles. For a mage, it could reduce a high-ranking mage to a helpless weakling.

Being a gentleman, Duke decided against using 'turtle shell binding,' especially with two important ladies present. He cuffed Marian properly and let it be.

"Duke?" Vereesa, leaving her bow behind, approached incredulously.

"Yes, what's up?"

"Duke!?" Vereesa's tone intensified.

"..." Duke blinked. "Your sister didn't tell you I can use Mirror Image?"

Duke continued his nonsense. Mirror Image, my foot! He really couldn't withstand being killed by Deathwing. Watching the system prompt's 90 soul points and 90% integrity, Duke was weeping inside.

But to keep Vereesa from worrying, he had to keep bluffing.

"Duke? Is it really you?"

Looking at Vereesa's bewildered eyes, filled with tears, Duke knew it wasn't that simple.

He sighed, "It's really me. If you don't believe me, come and touch."

"Duke—" From shock to joy, then to ecstasy, Vereesa finally did something neither Duke nor she herself expected.

With a flying leap, Vereesa tackled Duke to the ground and then, closing her eyes, kissed him deeply.

"Wuuwuuwuu!"