Risebelle nodded in agreement, appreciating Roselle's readiness. "Good, Roselle. Now, here's the key to our plan," she said, leaning in even closer to ensure her sisters heard every word. "Runebelle and I can use our hacking abilities to disable the barrier around the mana extractor. It'll be a delicate process, and we'll need to concentrate, so that's where you come in."
She turned to Roselle and continued, "You have that massive cannon of yours, and you've shown how powerful it can be. Your job will be to cover us. If any mages try to stop us or get in our way, you use that cannon to eliminate them. But remember, we need to be careful. We don't want to draw too much attention until the barrier is down."
Risebelle became serious as she mentioned the elite mage. "And yes, there's likely an elite mage guarding the extractor. We can't avoid them, but we'll have to confront them together. The moment the barrier is down, we'll have to act fast and disable the extractor before any reinforcements arrive."
She looked at her sisters. "This won't be easy, but we're in this together. Let's go out there and complete this mission in the name of Kintovar!”
Risebelle crouched in the cover of the forest, her cannon at the ready. She adjusted her weapon to silencer mode, reducing the noise it would make when fired. Her blue eyes scanned the beach where the mages guarded the mana extractor.
"This is it," Risebelle whispered to herself, "Time to thin their numbers."
She took a deep breath, steadying her aim. The distance was a challenge, but she was confident in her skills. With focus, she muttered to herself, "Let's see how they handle a surprise from the shadows."
Risebelle squeezed the trigger of her cannon, sending a precisely aimed shot towards the mages on the beach. The silenced blast echoed faintly through the forest as she attempted to pick off a few of them,
As Risebelle's shots found their mark, eliminating a few of the mages, a sudden and disturbing phenomenon unfolded. The bodies of the mages who had been struck by her cannon's shots erupted in explosive bursts, sending shockwaves through the area. Debris and smoke filled the air as the mages' remains scattered across the beach.
Risebelle watched in shock and horror as the explosions occurred, her blue eyes widening. She quickly realized that this was no ordinary attack. Something was terribly wrong, and it left her deeply concerned for her sisters.
Her heart pounding, she sent a frantic message to Roselle and Runebelle.
"Hold your positions! There's something off about these mages. Don't get too close to their bodies!"
Amidst the tense situation on the beach, two figures stepped forward, their presence drawing the attention of both Risebelle and the sisters. A woman with her striking afro-like red hair, exuded a sense of rough confidence. Beside her stood another woman with medium-length hair that curled inward, dressed in a dark outfit. she held a magical staff emanating a dark aura, a symbol of her formidable power.
"Sylra," The woman acknowledged in an uptight tone.
Sylra grinned as she replied, "Arlysa, the plan worked like a charm. We've got them right where we want them!"
Arlysa, with her medium-length dark hair and unique dark outfit, turned her gaze toward Sylra. She had a wired tone herself as she responded, "Indeed, Sylra. We now know exactly where the sisters are."
The two women stood in front of the mana extractor, their presence shrouded in an aura of power.
Risebelle's instincts were on high alert as she glared at the two newcomers, Sylra and Arlysa. She could sense the potent magical energy emanating from both of them.
Sylra shouted loudly and it echoed across the beach. Her rough demeanor was on full display. "Quit hidin' and show yourselves! Come out now, or we'll blast ya to pieces!"
As Sylra's words echoed, other mages began to converge on the sisters' locations, their magical energy swirling around them ominously. The situation had escalated rapidly, and Risebelle, Roselle, and Runebelle were faced with no choice but to reveal themselves.
Roselle’s looked with concern as she whispered to Risebelle, "What do we do now, Risebelle?"
Risebelle thought frantically with pressure mounting. She wiped away a bead of sweat from her forehead, her mind racing for a plan.
"We need to buy some time," Risebelle replied quietly. "But we can't take them head-on. We'll use our abilities to create confusion and disarray among the mages. Try to disable the mana extractor's barrier while I keep them occupied."
Risebelle glanced at Runebelle, who nodded in understanding.
Sylra's eyes narrowed as she confronted the three sisters
"Which one of you is Roselle?" she asked, her tone rough and unforgiving. "The one who killed Thalindra, the forest Guardian. Speak up!"
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Risebelle stepped forward, her gaze locked onto Sylra as she replied, "I'm Risebelle, and these are my sisters, Roselle and Runebelle. We're here to put an end to the Magical Academy's plans, not to trade names."
A blast of energy suddenly struck Risebelle, she staggered back, feeling the searing pain of the attack. Gritting her teeth, she clenched her fists and steadied herself, refusing to give in to weakness.
Sylra's eyes blazed with anger as she continued to address the sisters. "You may have come here with lofty intentions, but you're in our territory now," she spat, emphasizing her dominance in the situation. "And in our territory, we decide who lives and who dies. Roselle, Show yourself, or i'll end your sister Risebelle right where she stands!"
Risebelle, despite the pain, maintained her resolve. She exchanged a quick glance with Roselle and Runebelle, a silent communication passing between them. They knew the situation was dire, and they had to think carefully.
Roselle stepped forward, her long, flowing hair swaying gently as she did.
As Roselle moved closer to Sylra, Risebelle continued to maintain a defensive posture, ready to act at a moment's notice. In that brief exchange, Risebelle had silently conveyed their plan to Roselle.
Roselle took a deep breath before stepping forward,"I'm Roselle," she declared, her tone unwavering. "And I don't regret what I did to Thalindra. The Magical Academy's actions in the forest have to be stopped."
Sylra's face contorted with anger and malice as she spoke of Thalindra.
"You have no idea what you've done," Sylra hissed. "Thalindra was not just a guardian of this forest; she was one of us, a Special Elite Mage of the Magical Academy. Her magic was intertwined with the very life of the mystical forest. She sacrificed her own power to nurture this place so that we can survive on this island!"
Her eyes bore into Roselle with unbridled hatred. "But her power dropped as she poured her energy into the forest, and that's when you, Roselle, came along and killed her. You destroyed a piece of our own, my sister, who dedicated her life to our survival!"
Roselle listened to Sylra's words with sorrow. She hadn't known the true identity of Thalindra, and the revelation was a heavy one.
"I... I didn't know," Roselle admitted with regret.
"Roselle," Risebelle said in a calm but firm tone, " Thalindra attacked you first Roselle. You had no choice but to defend yourself. It's a tragedy that we didn't know her true identity, but we can't change the past."
Sylra, however, didn't seem interested in excuses. She began to gather magical energy, her intent clear—to eliminate Roselle for her crimes.
Just as Sylra was about to release her magical attack, Arlysa interrupted her.
"Wait, Sylra," Arlysa commanded, her presence imposing. "It's only proper to introduce ourselves first."
Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle turned their attention to Arlysa, who seemed to hold a position of authority.
Arlysa continued,"I am Arlysa, the Elite Mage of the Magical Academy, with an affinity for darkness. Sylra here is my apprentice, and she wields the power of Earth."
Sylra, reluctantly but obediently, lowered her magical energy and nodded to Arlysa.
"Now," Arlysa said, turning her gaze back to Roselle and her sisters, "Sylra, you may continue."
Sylra, having introduced herself, resumed her hostile stance, ready to unleash her Earth magic upon Roselle and her sisters. She channeled her power, causing the ground beneath them to tremble violently. The earth shook, creating localized earthquakes that made it difficult for the sisters to maintain their balance.
Risebelle, Roselle, and Runebelle struggled to stay on their feet as the ground quaked beneath them.
But Sylra wasn't done yet. Next she summoned a gauntlet made of solid stone around her hand. This stone gauntlet enhanced her physical strength, and she moved forward with it, ready to deliver devastating melee strikes.
Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle braced themselves for the impending attack, knowing that they needed to defend against Sylra's powerful abilities.
The mages unleashed a barrage of magical blasts, each of the sisters swiftly dodged and weaved through the onslaught of elements. Their agility and coordination allowed them to evade the attacks with remarkable precision.
Risebelle shouted to her sisters,
"Stick to the plan! We can't lose focus now!"
Sylra, driven by her rage locked onto Roselle as her primary target. She aimed to make her pay for Thalindra's demise, channeling her Earth magic for a powerful assault.
Roselle knew that facing Sylra in a physical combat meant getting up close and personal. She dropped her massive cannon to the sandy ground, the metallic thud echoing in the chaos around them. With d fire in her eyes, she advanced towards Sylra who wore a confident smirk on her face.
Sylra, her Earth magic enhancing her strength, lunged at Roselle with a powerful punch. Roselle swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. She countered with a quick jab of her own, aiming for Sylra's midsection. However, Sylra's agility surprised her, and she managed to evade the attack.
The two engaged in a flurry of punches and kicks, their movements lightning-fast as they exchanged blows. Sylra's Stone Gauntlet allowed her to deliver powerful strikes, while Roselle's body gave her impressive speed and agility.
Roselle knew she couldn't let this fight drag on. She gathered her strength and unleashed a devastating uppercut, her fist colliding with Sylra's side.
Sylra absorbed the impact of Roselle's uppercut with a defiant grin. She taunted, "Is that all you've got, little girl? Your strength is nothing compared to mine."
Before Roselle could react, Sylra unleashed her Earth magic punch. The force behind it was overwhelming, and it struck Roselle directly, sending her flying through the air. Roselle crashed into the sandy beach several meters away, leaving a trail of disturbed sand in her wake.
The impact had taken a toll on Roselle, but she refused to stay down. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up from the ground and glared at Sylra.
Risebelle moved with precision and grace as she fended off the mages who were trying to close in on her sisters. Her cannon, now in its rapid-fire mode, spat out blasts of energy that intercepted the magical attacks of the mages.
She spun and dodged, her movements like an acrobat as she avoided the incoming spells. Her focus was unwavering as she ensured that none of the mages could get close to Runebelle or Roselle.
Meanwhile, Runebelle held onto her sadness and moved with silent grace through the chaos of the battle. As Runebelle approached the mana extractor, her senses on high alert, she suddenly found herself face to face with Arlysa.
Arlysa regarded Runebelle with a darkly amused smile. "Well, now, what do we have here? A little intruder trying to disrupt the Mana Extractor?"
"I won't let you stop me," Runebelle said softly and with a frown. "I have a job to do, you know?"
Arlysa chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Runebelle's spine. "You have spirit, I'll give you that. But spirit alone won't save you from the darkness."
With a swift motion, Arlysa raised her dark staff, and shadows began to swirl around her. Runebelle prepared herself for a showdown within the darkness.