As the King of Ice reached the bottom of the icy stairs, the blue light coming from the candles slightly dimmed as though a sinister shadow loomed over the throne room.
In an instant, Sasha and Ashley, the two Healers, tapped their umbrellas on the icy floor. After that, Donovan and company felt their energy being boosted, and their bodies becoming stronger.
Healers, as the name suggests, heals wounds and injuries. But they can also "buff" the strength of their teammates. This is why they are very valuable in team missions and must be protected at all costs.
The three Fighter-types, Sasha, Nick, and Joseph, stepped up in front of the group. Right after that, Juliana tapped her own umbrella on the floor. She had cast a basic spell for Tank-types—Invisible Barrier.
Although Mage-types had a similar ability, a Tank-type's barrier was obviously more superior.
Everyone had their bodies being protected by an invisible barrier.
After Juliana cast her own barrier spell, the two Rangers made their move. Rayman went to the back of the group. As for Vincent, using his agility, he climbed an icy pillar and positioned himself in a blind spot, unable to be seen by the enemy.
Vincent's and Rayman's plan was to provide fire from the ground and high above. Vincent would switch from pillar to pillar every time he's spotted by the enemy. As for Rayman, he'll stay on the ground, providing fire to his teammates.
As the King of Ice slowly walked towards them, Donovan noticed that Dean had disappeared at some point in time. Looking around, he couldn't spot him. He figured that Dean had already gone invisible, and was somewhere nearby.
The messenger, Johnny, continued to speak in that foreign language, determined to persuade the king to calm down. He didn't want this to escalate in a battle where they would most likely lose.
The Visitors still haven't attacked as The Freezing Death, Wilhelm Wraithson, slowly walked closer and closer.
The ice king did not respond to the messenger's words.
Instead, they said, "Time and time again, you fools keep invading my home…"
"I have made it clear… that I will not let this planet belong to you pathetic humans… But it would seem that you are incapable of listening…"
They paused, and stopped their advance. With a voice full of authority, they continued, "How would you feel… if guests, or rather, visitors appeared in your home… uninvited?"
Upon hearing their words, Donovan fell in thought.
So this entire planet is his home? And it seems that Umbrellas have indeed made previous expeditions here in the past, all with the sole purpose of… convincing this person to give this planet to Umbrellas?
Hm… Why would they need to convince this person? They could just send a Typhoon Rank to deal with him. Problem solved…!
Or could it be that Umbrellas need this "King of Ice," and they must not be killed whatsoever… Mr. Michael should've stayed with us after all…
Nevertheless, I must prepare myself for battle…
Suddenly, the messenger, Johnny, spoke in the English language, "Why is this planet so important to you? If you'd just give us what we want, we'll stop pestering you…"
At that moment, the king raised their right hand. There was what seemed to be blue dust in their palm.
"Blowing" on it, the dust scattered. Suddenly, the blue dust glowed a bright blue glow, and three humanoid figures appeared.
On the left, the figure's appearance oozed with authority and dread. It was wearing a crown, and wearing old, rusty armor. It also had a red cape, and a large sword on its waist. Its face was rotting, decayed. It was as though it was a zombie.
On the right, it was an old man holding a book on one hand and a trumpet on the other. It wore a dark cloak, and its face was hidden by a hood, except for its long, thick beard. But its hands weren't hidden, and it was also rotting and decayed, much like the one on the left.
Dean, who was behind a pillar and his body invisible, had his eyes widen at the sight of this. The figure on the right was the same one that he and Michael had fought and taken down in the forest from earlier!
In the center was a figure with white wings from behind. It had long, silver hair, and it was holding two swords that were imbued with fire. Instead of blue, it was orange, red and hot. It was wearing what seemed to be a white garment, an attire that an angel would wear. It also had beautiful, golden eyes.
Its skin was different from the other two. It wasn't rotting or decaying at all.
Donovan and the others had their gaze stuck to the one in the middle. This was because the one in the center was a very beautiful woman, and looked similar to an angel, despite the lack of a halo.
It, or rather, she was ethereal, dazzling, blinding. And despite her beauty, she still appeared to be pure and innocent.
But everyone quickly snapped out of it and focused. She was an enemy. And so were the two beside her. And so was the one behind the three of them.
"If you attack us, we will fight back with double the ferocity." Johnny's words echoed across the room.
This was very much a one-sided massacre instead of a battle. If the King of Ice, Wilhelm Wraithson, decides to attack, the Visitors of Umbrellas would lose. But this would change if a Typhoon Rank was with them.
Johnny wanted to avoid this as much as possible. Although Tiero was responsible for the lives of Donovan and company, Johnny was also responsible for them.
He's a messenger. All messengers of Umbrellas must learn the language of many planets, not just the language of Earth. He's a messenger, and also a mediator. And so are the many messengers of Umbrellas.
The king did not respond to Johnny's words. With a snap of their fingers, the three figures advanced.
The three Fighters—Clara, Nick, and Joseph, tensed as they gripped their umbrellas tighter.
The Freezing Death then said in a deep voice full of authority, "All of you will die here… and become part of my collection of souls."
As they finished speaking, the three figures that the king summoned rushed forward. Their movements were too fast for Nick and Joseph, and only Clara was able to react in time.
The beautiful female angel clashed her sword with Clara's umbrella. Then, the female angel sensed something as she deflected a bullet coming from high above with her sword on her right arm. She was holding two swords, after all.
Nick was only at Shower Rank. He wasn't as strong as Clara. As he saw the rotting figure wearing a crown appear in front of him, he then felt a sharp pain on his chest.
He was stabbed. Blood dripped down from his lips. Even with Juliana's barrier spell, he was still struck by the enemy.
They were just that strong. Then, he felt the sword twist on his chest, and the enemy brought the sword upwards. Nick's upper body was split vertically. His body fell to the icy floor as a pool of blood formed.
Nick had died a fast death.
As for Joseph, the moment he swung his umbrella, it was suddenly stopped by an invisible force. Then, it was as if his own arms had betrayed him, and then, he brought the tip of his umbrella to his head.
He then fell to the floor, his umbrella stuck and piercing his head. Juliana's barrier was ineffective here, because barriers only block the attacks coming from others, not attacks coming from themselves.
Just like that, two Visitors had already fallen.
This all happened in just two or three seconds. It all happened too fast, and Sasha and Ashley couldn't heal their teammates in time.
Vincent and Rayman began their assault, firing at their enemies.
The bullets that came for the figure with a thick beard, holding a book and a trumpet, stopped in mid-air, as if being halted by an invisible force.
Then, the bullets that were floating in mid-air "turned," now aimed at Vincent. Vincent's eyes widened, and he hurriedly hid behind the pillar. Unfortunately, he was too late, and a bullet had already struck his left shoulder.
Meanwhile, the female angel then grabbed Clara, smashed through the giant door, and arrived outside the castle. The angel let go of her, and she fell on the snow.
Standing up immediately, she watched as the angel slowly descended from above and into the snow, her bare feet making contact with the snow.
Inside the castle, Donovan flew high above, and immediately cast Lightning Strike at the figure wearing a crown.
The enemy quickly dodged. After dodging, from the enemy's point of view, he was met with the sight of a tall woman about to launch a punch. She was none other than Juliana. And from behind, Dean was already about to strike with his daggers.
He had appeared there at some point in time.