The mention of spies immediately caught the attention of the mages, and their heated argument subsided as they turned their full focus to Alan, the mage with fiery-red hair. They shifted from frustration to concern, and they exchanged worried glances.
Mage D, a seasoned mage with a stern demeanor, stepped forward and asked, "What do you mean by 'spies,' Alan? Are you suggesting that there might be infiltrators among us?"
Alan gave a wry smile, his emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I'm not suggesting anything," he replied cryptically. "I just happened to overhear some 'interesting ' conversations while I was away. You see, not everyone is as loyal to the Magical Academy as you might think. I couldn't believe what I was hearing myself when I stumbled upon their little gathering. They were talking about sharing information with that Dr. Kintovar. “
The revelation about potential spies sharing information with Dr. Kintovar sent shockwaves through the group of mages. Their looks shifted from concern to deep worry, and anxious murmurs rippled through their ranks.
Mage E, who had earlier left to clear his head, returned at the sound of this alarming news. "Spies? Sharing information with Dr. Kintovar?" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "That's a disaster waiting to happen! We can't let our secrets fall into her hands!"
Mage F nodded vigorously in agreement. "If Dr. Kintovar gains access to our knowledge and magical research, it could jeopardize the entire academy," he added.
Mage G, who had also left with the others, returned with a sense of urgency. "We need to identify these traitors immediately," he declared, "We can't afford to let our guard down with the Mana Extractors.”
As Alan continued to speak to the group of mages about the potential spies, Risebelle seized the moment. She activated her cannon in silencer mode, making it nearly impossible for the others to hear the faint humming of her weapon. With swift and precise movements, she aimed her cannon at the mages who were engaged in the discussion.
Roselle and Runebelle watched in silent as Risebelle began to eliminate the mages one by one, her shots striking with deadly accuracy. The mages who had been talking about sharing information with Dr. Kintovar didn't even have a chance to react.
The first mage to fall was Mage D, who had been the most vocal about the potential spies. His eyes widened in shock as he collapsed, a small, smoking hole in his robe where the shot had struck. Before the others could fully comprehend what was happening, Risebelle's cannon found its next target, and another mage fell silently.
Panic and confusion erupted among the mages as they witnessed their comrades falling one by one, seemingly without warning. They scrambled for cover, and shouted in alarm as they tried to make sense of the sudden chaos.
Mage E shouted, "Get down! Take cover!" as he dove behind a nearby tree, his heart pounding with fear.
Mage F frantically cast a protective barrier around himself, his hands trembling as he tried to shield against the unseen threat.
Mage G, his eyes wide with terror, scanned the surroundings, searching for any sign of the assailant.
Alan, the mage with fiery-red hair, looked deadly serious as he followed the trajectory of the shots, his emerald eyes narrowing. He knew they were under attack, and he had to act quickly to protect himself and the remaining mages.
Risebelle leaned closer to Roselle with a whisper , "Roselle, can you distract the red-haired one? I need a clear shot."
Roselle nodded, with clear understanding of the game plan.
Roselle moved stealthily through the forest to a position where she would be right infront of them. She fired her massive cannon, the deafening blast echoed through the clearing, and her shots hit their marks with deadly precision. Several mages fell, their robes smoking with gigantic holes in their bodies from the impact as they fell lifeless. The sudden attack sent shockwaves through the remaining mages, and they scrambled for cover.
Meanwhile, the red-haired mage, Alan, had his attention firmly fixed on Roselle as she unleashed her devastating shots. His emerald eyes widened with surprise as the cannon fire rained down upon their group.
Roselle aimed a Shot at Alan. Alan’s face shifted from surprise to a glare. He muttered a few incantations under his breath, and a fiery aura enveloped him. Flames danced around his body as he channeled his affinity for fire.
With a fierce growl, he unleashed a torrent of flames in all directions, creating a blazing inferno that consumed the cannon blasts and pushed back Roselle's attacks. The fire roared around him, forming a protective barrier that shielded him from harm.
Alan's eyes locked onto Roselle, "You'll have to do better than that if you want to take me down, mage."
Roselle emerged from the shadows, her cannon held at the ready. Despite the flames that surrounded Alan, she remained composed and focused. Her yellow hair cascaded around her as she stepped forward with fire in her eyes.
As the flames continued to swirl around him, Alan's keen observation led him to a realization. He recognized that Roselle had no magical aura or signature. She lacked the telltale signs of a mage. His emerald eyes narrowed as he spoke, "You're no ordinary mage, are you?"
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Roselle, still holding her massive cannon, didn't respond verbally. Instead, she locked eyes with Alan. Her silence confirmed his suspicion: she was indeed not a traditional mage.
"You can afford not to respond, but can you handle this?"
Alan pulled back his fist, flames swirling around it, he launched a fiery punch towards Roselle. Quick to react, Roselle positioned her massive cannon as a makeshift shield, bracing herself for the impact.
The fiery punch collided with the cannon, creating a display of sparks and flames upon contact. The force of the attack pushed Roselle back, her feet skidding against the ground as she struggled to maintain her stance.
Risebelle and Runebelle, moving with a purpose, dashed over to reach the Mana Extractor, which was still surrounded by its magical barrier. Risebelle placed her hands gently on the barrier, her fingers lightly tracing its surface. She closed her eyes, focusing on the task at hand.
Runebelle watched her older sister with curiosity as she continued her efforts.
Risebelle began to concentrate, attempting to unlock the magical barrier as Dr. Kintovar had suggested.
With a deep focus on her objective, she whispered to herself, "Unlock the door, disrupt the flow of mana, and set it to our magic..."
She could feel the flow of mana within it, like a web of intricate threads. With a deep breath, she channeled her own magic into the barrier, seeking to disrupt its control.
Runebelle placed her hand on the barrier as well, adding her own magic to the effort.
The synchronized efforts of Risebelle and Runebelle yielded results. The barrier surrounding the Mana Extractor showed visible signs of destabilization as their magic flowed into it. It was as if the barrier itself was struggling to maintain its integrity in the face of their combined power.
Suddenly, a system message appeared in their minds:
System: Ability Unlocked: Hacking
This ability allows you to manipulate and disable magical barriers and systems by using your own magic to override the barrier.
Risebelle and Runebelle exchanged surprised glances, their eyes widening with realization. With this power of hacking, they continued their efforts to breach into the barrier, focusing their magic with even greater precision and intent.
As they did so, the barrier's resistance weakened further, and cracks began to appear on its surface. It was only a matter of time before they successfully disabled the Mana Extractor's protective field and completed their mission.
With a final surge of magic, the barrier shattered into a shower of shimmering fragments. Risebelle and Runebelle had successfully disabled the Mana Extractor's protective field, leaving it vulnerable and exposed.
At the same moment, Roselle faced off against Alan in a fierce battle. Alan's mastery over fire magic was evident as he unleashed a torrent of flames, pushing Roselle back and knocking her massive cannon out of her hands. The weapon clattered to the ground, leaving her momentarily defenseless.
Undeterred, Alan closed the distance between them, his fists wreathed in blazing fire. He struck out with swift and precise movements, aiming to land blows on Roselle. The flames danced around his fists, creating a deadly combination of fire and physical strikes.
Roselle, despite being weaponless, didn't back down. She dodged and weaved, using her agility to evade Alan's fiery punches.
Despite being physically overmatched, Roselle's combat instincts kept her in the fight. Her blue eyes locked onto Alan's emerald ones, and she spoke with conviction, "I won't let you stop us!"
Alan's lips curled into a slight smile as he continued to trade blows with Roselle. "You're a tough one, I'll give you that," he replied.
Risebelle shouted “NOW!!!!” loudly. Risebelle’s shout echoed through the clearing, a signal to Roselle that the moment had arrived. Roselle summoned her remaining strength, her feet kicking out to break free from Alan's fiery grip. It was a move he didn't expect.
Roselle's sudden burst of strength caught Alan off guard, and for a moment, he was stunned by her surprising maneuver. It was all the opening she needed.
With a swift and fluid motion, Roselle retrieved her massive cannon and unleashed a rapid barrage of shots towards the exposed Mana Extractor. The Powerful blasts struck the device with unerring accuracy.
Alan, recovering from his momentary surprise, attempted to stop Roselle and place a barrier around the Mana Extractor, but it was too late. The Mana Extractor, weakened by the removal of its protective barrier, could not withstand even the first shot of the onslaught. With a deafening explosion, it erupted in a burst of magical energy, sending shockwaves rippling through the clearing.
The explosion of the Mana Extractor was immense, creating a powerful shockwave that sent mages and debris flying in all directions. The clearing was now a chaotic battlefield, with the remnants of the barrier and the Mana Extractor scattered about.
As the smoke and dust began to settle, the mages who had survived the explosion struggled to regain their footing. Alan, still recovering from Roselle's surprise attack, found himself knocked to the ground by the force of the explosion.
Risebelle and Runebelle emerged from the smoke, their forms unscathed. Risebelle wore a triumphant smile as she looked at the destroyed Mana Extractor.
"One down, three to go," she declared.
Alan quickly got to his feet, his emerald eyes burning with rage. He wasted no time in rallying the surviving mages. "Don't let them escape!" he shouted, "We can't let them destroy the remaining Mana Extractors!"
The mages, shaken, began to regroup and follow Alan's orders. They unleashed a barrage of spells and attacks in an attempt to stop Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle from getting away.
The trio of sisters moved swiftly, dodging spells and projectiles as they retreated from the chaotic battlefield. They were ready to complete their mission and disable the remaining Mana Extractors.
As the mages gave chase, Risebelle, with quick thinking and magical skill, released a slippery blue energy substance onto the forest floor behind them. It created a slick surface that would prove difficult to traverse.
Several of the pursuing mages, caught off guard by the unexpected obstacle, lost their footing and tumbled to the ground. They struggled to regain their balance, slipping and sliding on the slippery surface, effectively slowing them down.
Meanwhile, Alan, always a step ahead, recognized the danger and came to a sudden halt, preventing himself from falling into the trap. His gaze remained fixed on the sisters as they continued their escape with growing frustration.
"They got away," he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kintovar ventured deeper into the forest. The dense foliage and towering trees created an eerie atmosphere, and her senses were on high alert. She knew that the Mana Extractor she sought was hidden somewhere in this part of the Mystic Forest.
Suddenly, two hooded figures emerged from the shadows, blocking her path. The hooded mages, their faces obscured by their cloaks.
One of them stepped forward and sounded muffled by the hood while they spoke. "Dr. Kintovar," she said, her tone hesitant but resolute, "we've been expecting you."