Combat Maid Harem

"W-What are you planning?"

Lawrend took a step back and pretended to be afraid. Ember straightened her posture and readied her hand to attack.

"Hah! Do you think conspiring with the Trunden Empire could save you!? We gained support from Crescent Empire! We had been continuously winning against those scums from the Trunden Empire!" Riston revealed arrogantly.

"Hm?"

Lawrend raised an eyebrow when he heard his words. That was unexpected and not considered in their plan.

"Scared now? The two of you, wear this handcuff."

Riston threw them two handcuffs. Lawrend didn't catch them.

"Do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?" Riston threatened grimly.

Lawrend stopped pretending and raised his head.

"You are an Earth-element Earth Mage. It seemed like you were ready to collapse this place and escape," Lawrend said.

"H-Huh!? How did you know?!"

Riston took a step back in shock. He didn't reveal anything and even used a fake name. How could this king from a kingdom under them know his identity!?

"Your plan is commendable. First, you spread rumors and scared the nobles to submission. And then you took over the city lord position. You planned to lead me here and force me into submission by threatening me with this silly trap," Lawrend explained calmly.

"You know!? But so what! You're not an Earth Mage. Kill me, and you will be buried here alive," Riston snarled.

"And then you will take over this city and swallow up my kingdom. Am I not correct?" Lawrend continued.

"You're smart, but also stupid. If you knew everything, why did you follow me here?"

Lawrend rubbed his chin and turned his head to the old man. He swiftly touched his chest and sent powerful, divine lightning inside him. It instantly destroyed the curse that held the old man's life hostage.

"Because I can do that!"

Lawrend turned back to face Riston. He raised his head high arrogantly.

"What!?"

"Old man, run and stabilize the formation. I will take care of this guy," Lawrend said.

"Y-Yes!"

The old man nodded his head and ran deeper inside.

Riston's face changed, and an earthen staff appeared in his hand. At the same time, a lightning staff also appeared in Lawrend's grasp.

Riston swung his staff to the ceiling. Lawrend pointed his staff, and a powerful lightning arc hit it accurately.

Ember reacted swiftly too. Her staff was also in her hand. She released Lawrend's hand and flew to Riston with a flap of her phoenix wings.

The fiery wings were smaller compared to what she had used before. It was enough to fit in this small hallway. Nevertheless, it was enough to fly that short distance.

Riston's attempt to shatter the formation was interrupted. He threw out a stone toward Ember. He already knew before that she was an Earth Mage.

At his level, nothing could escape his eyes. He could sense the powerful energy inside her body.

Ember stopped in her tracks and straightened her staff. A blazing flame shot forward and covered that stone.

*Boom!*

A shockwave spread through this hallway. Cracks appeared everywhere, and dust fell down. It almost caused the whole earth above to collapse on them.

Ember's flame stopped the stone from approaching her, but it still threw her body away like a rag doll. Lawrend stepped in and caught her in his arms.

She was bloodied, and her maid uniform was a mess.

As for Riston, an earthen glow covered his whole body. It protected him from the explosion.

"The two of you won't be able to stop me!" Riston shouted.

He stabbed his staff on the ground.

"Not good!" Lawrend grimaced.

The earth mana in this place gathered around him and formed a dome. It extended and also protected Kenova's prison cell.

*Boom!* *Crack!*

The earth was torn apart, and the whole hallway collapsed. It quickly spread through the whole prison. The prisoners shook their prison cells but had no way to escape.

"NOOOO!!"

"SOMEONE SAVE ME!!!"

The listless prisoners gained the strength to shout at the top of their lungs. Unfortunately, there was no savior here.

The earth fell on top of Riston's head, but the earthen glow that covered his body protected him. He also felt the earth mana gather around Lawrend.

He couldn't believe it. He pointed his staff to the blockage and split it apart.

He saw Lawrend exuding a faint power of earth mana through the gap.

"You can use the Earth element!" Riston shouted in horror.

This plan was supposed to be flawless. It was all properly calculated. He assumed Lawrend was too arrogant and confident in himself when he willingly walked into his trap.

It seemed like he did it because he was confident about surviving.

"Master!"

Ember was horrified. She could feel the feeble earth mana that Lawrend was releasing. It was only at the True Mage level.

It was a miracle that he was able to stop the earth from crushing them. In fact, he used his vast magic knowledge to forcefully gather the earth mana here to support this spell he imagined.

"Hmph. Futile attempt. You're not escaping death today."

Riston saw this and pointed his staff forward.

"Noo!" Ember screamed.

She was a fire mage and powerless to stop Riston. She didn't dare to leave Lawrend's protection, or she would just be fish on the chopping board in front of Riston.

A powerful burst of earth mana shot out from the tip of Riston's staff and shattered Lawrend's spell like brittle glass. The earth on top of them immediately fell down.

"Phoenix!" Ember shouted.

Ember's body broke away, and she turned into a powerful fire phoenix. She embraced Lawrend and covered his body with her wings before they were covered by the earth.

"Hah. Finally."

Riston waited for a bit and sensed the earth mana around him. After a while, he confirmed that there were no more disturbances. He was confident of their deaths.

The earth didn't move, and no signs of someone controlling the earth mana. He nodded his head in satisfaction and flew upwards. The earth split apart and made way for him.