The atmosphere crackled with energy as the announcer called out the first matchup in the Mage's Arena. Valicar's heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nerves as they prepared to face their first opponent. Standing before them was a formidable mage named Ciri, renowned for her unique ability to harness short-range teleportation by leaving marks on stones. This extraordinary skill allowed her to move swiftly around the battlefield with unparalleled agility.
As the duel commenced, Ciri wasted no time in demonstrating her teleportation prowess. With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a flurry of daggers embedded with magical crystals in different directions. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from one location and reappeared in another.
Mike, clutching his ice sword firmly, skillfully parried Ciri's relentless blows. However, her teleportation made it challenging to keep up with her elusive attacks. As he focused on blocking a low strike aimed at his legs, Ciri swiftly teleported to a stone above him, delivering a powerful blow to the back of Valicar's head. Their head spun, dazed and disoriented. Sensing imminent danger, Sophia reacted swiftly, her magical instincts kicking in.
"Moriv!" Sophia chanted, conjuring a powerful magical push that emanated in all directions. The force sent Ciri and the stones she had used for teleportation flying through the air, buying Valicar a precious moment of respite. Sophia had acted on instinct, her mana reserves near depleted from the intense exertion.
"That was way too close," Mike commented, shaking his head in an attempt to regain his senses.
Sophia chuckled, memories of a certain yellow-haired ninja with a similar overpowered ability flooding her mind. "Hahaha, no, she isn't anywhere as fast as him," Sophia thought, a hint of confidence lacing her words.
"Soph, we need a plan. This chick is dangerous," Mike said, his gaze fixed on Ciri as she prepared more stones to throw their way.
"Don't worry, I have an idea. Just keep her occupied," Sophia reassured him, her mind quickly formulating a strategy.
Mike and Sophia conferred silently, They knew they had to devise a plan to counter Ciri's teleportation skills. Mike continued to engage Ciri in combat, deflecting her attacks while keeping her busy, buying Sophia the time she needed.
With focused determination, Sophia readied her spells, channeling her magical energies. As Ciri continued her intricate dance, teleporting from stone to stone, Mike observed her movements, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
"Vermora!" Sophia shouted, commanding the stones in the arena to fly toward the center. Sophia channeled her telekinetic powers to their limits, forcefully gathering the stones within a ten-foot circle. With a swift swing of his ice sword, the blade shattered, transforming into sharp icy projectiles that shot towards the chaotic mess of stones.
"Accerio!" Sophia's voice resonated with power as she enhanced Mike's projectiles, infusing them with increased speed and precision. The icy shards hurtled through the air just as Ciri materialized mid-teleportation. Some of the projectiles found their mark, catching her off guard as they dug into her flesh causing her to stagger.
As Ciri attempted to teleport away, a surge of magical interference disrupted her spell due to the stones' close proximity to each other. The disturbance caused a ripple in the fabric of space, creating a violent backlash. Recognizing the imminent danger, the judges swiftly intervened, teleporting Ciri to safety. However, the disruption resulted in the unfortunate backlash as the teleport spell was overlapped leading to only half of her being sent to the medical tent.
"Holy fuck!" Mike exclaimed, his eyes widening as Ciri's legs hit the floor. The unexpected turn of events left them momentarily stunned, their breaths catching in their throats. Sophia, her mind already racing to analyze the situation, spoke up with a mixture of curiosity and disgust.
"Yeah, the books were very clear that short-range teleportation could be... unpredictable," Sophia remarked, a tinge of unease creeping into her voice.
As they observed Ciri's severed limbs lying on the ground, a mix of shock and realization washed over them. Sophia couldn't help but recall her own experiences with spatial magic and the valuable lessons she had learned before even setting foot in the magical school. The consequences of wielding such powerful and volatile magic without the necessary precision and control were now evident before their eyes. Without the runes of the Red Wolf Inn, she surely would have ended up in a similar state as the poor woman before them.
"Let's not fuck around with teleporting until you're good at it, Soph"
"You do remember I teleported us a few thousand miles right." Sophia retorted.
"Yeah, with whatever Shit James left behind," Mike added.
"Fair enough." Sophia conceded.
The victory was bittersweet, serving as a stark reminder of the dangerous repercussions that magic could bring when wielded carelessly. The Mage's Arena was not only a proving ground for their abilities but also a crucible that tested their understanding and control over the forces they commanded.
The magical horn blew, signaling the end of the match, and the announcer's voice resonated throughout the arena. "While we strive to prevent such incidents, it is an unfortunate risk that all competitors understand when entering the Mage's Arena. Remember, competitors have the option to withdraw or call for a draw at any point." His words rang with a sense of routine, suggesting he had uttered them countless times before. "Now, let's take a short break before we move on to the next match. If the intensity of the previous fight is any indication, we're in for an incredible spectacle!" The crowd erupted into applause as Valicar made their way out of the ring, offered water to replenish their energy and mana, they found a seat to watch the upcoming bouts.
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As the arena personnel hastily removed Ciri's severed legs, the next pair of contenders were announced. One was an enigmatic elf cloaked in a trench coat, exuding an aura of mystique. His opponent, a Dwarf with illusionary abilities, created such realistic illusions that even the audience found themselves momentarily lost. However, something seemed amiss about the elf, casting magic at an exceptional pace, albeit with a lack of efficiency.
With a series of relentless attacks, the elf overwhelmed the Dwarf, bombarding him with a combination of ice, stone, and fire. The elf's seemingly inexhaustible mana reserves left the crowd in awe. But amidst the chaos, the Dwarf cunningly devised a diversion, allowing him to stealthily approach the elf from behind.
In a sudden twist, the Dwarf yanked off the elf's trench coat, revealing not one but three nomes standing on each other's shoulders. The crowd gasped in surprise as the judges swiftly disqualified the trio. The Mage's Arena was strictly one-on-one, and their attempt to deceive the organizers by pretending to be a single competitor was swiftly foiled.
"Wow, wasn't expecting that," Mike commented, a hint of amusement in his voice as the nomes were unceremoniously escorted out of the ring by the vigilant security team. "I bet the plan was to only pay tuition for one student." Mike chuckled.
Sophia smirked, impressed by the audacity of the nomes' scheme. "It seems like it would be one of your plans." She joked.
"Well you know we aren't so different from them, everyone we have ever fought has been a one vs two."
"Damn, oh well some times you just have to jump people when they are stronger."
The next pair of contenders was announced, and all eyes turned to an enigmatic beast kin cloaked in exotic fur, exuding an aura of mystique. His opponent, an orc with a razor-sharp weapon he could summon at will, possessed a ferocious and beastly demeanor. The audience sensed an impending clash of contrasting styles.
The fight commenced, and the beast kin swiftly moved with grace and agility, conjuring magical blades with his cat-like claws. Each strike was precise and deadly, almost cutting through the orc's defenses. However, the orc was no ordinary opponent. He grew a spiked club from his body, covered in poison, and launched a counterattack. The powerful swings of his spiked club proved to be devastating, and the beast kin struggled to evade the orc's onslaught.
Despite the cat kin's skill and finesse, the orc's relentless assault. The poison on his spiked club threatened to weaken and incapacitate the catkin. It seemed as though victory was slipping away from the cat's grasp, but he refused to give in. Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, the catkin launched a final flurry of magical blades, aiming for the orc's vital spots. In a desperate bid for victory, the blades found their mark, striking true. However, in a final act of defiance, the orc swung his spiked club with all his might, crashing into the catkin's body, and releasing a cloud of poisonous fumes.
Both combatants collapsed to the ground, their bodies ravaged by their opponent's attacks. The victory belonged to the beast kin, but the poison coursing through his veins rendered it a hollow triumph. As the medics rushed to attend to the fallen fighters, they were teleported to the medical tent.
After a brief intermission, the arena was once again charged with excitement as the next match was about to commence. This time, it featured a skilled magic bow user specializing in elemental arrows, facing off against an artificer armed with a plethora of magical gadgets.
The fight began with the bow user gracefully stringing his bow, conjuring arrows imbued with the power of ice and lightning. With each shot, the arrows whistled through the air, their icy tips leaving trails of frost. The artificer, undeterred by the incoming barrage, swiftly produced a range of gadgets from her arsenal. Flashbangs blinded the archer momentarily, portable shields deflected his arrows, and firebombs unleashed a torrent of flames.
The battle intensified as the bow user unleashed a powerful lightning arrow, aiming to neutralize the artificer's defenses. However, the artificer countered with a well-timed blast of ice, causing the two elements to clash violently, creating a massive steam cloud that engulfed the arena.
Amid the steam, the fighters danced with uncertainty, relying on their instincts and honed skills. The artificer continued to employ her gadgets, adapting to the changing environment, while the bow user relied on his mobility and accurate shots.
With the steam cloud dissipating, the audience witnessed a spectacle of skill and innovation. The bow user, despite his impressive accuracy and versatility, found himself outmatched by the artificer's arsenal of gadgets. In a final act of desperation, the bow user launched a flurry of lightning arrows, hoping to land a decisive blow. However, the artificer had one last trick up her sleeve. With a well-timed deployment of a copper-infused rod, she deflected the arrows, leaving the bow user vulnerable.
Recognizing the impending defeat and running out of arrows, the bow user conceded, signaling his withdrawal from the match. The crowd erupted into applause, acknowledging the artificer's resourcefulness in the battle. After several more matches, the announcer finally called, it was Valicar's turn again.
Valicar stood ready to face their next opponent, the weakened and ravaged beast kin. However, as they observed the condition of their adversary, a sense of empathy washed over her. Sophia couldn't bear to see the beast kin endure further damage from the poison coursing through their veins.
"Listen, you've fought incredibly well earlier, and you've already secured a place in the top ten," Sophia spoke with a compassionate tone, stepping closer to the struggling beast kin. "It's not worth risking permanent damage to your body. Lay down and let the medics take care of you."
The beast kin, their exhaustion evident, hesitated for a moment, contemplating the words of Sophia. With a resigned but appreciative smile, the beast kin conceded, retreating from the arena and making their way back to the medical tent.
"Well look at you with the silver tonged." Mike admired his sister's growing social prowess. " That was gonna be a pathetic fight anyway." He added harshly.
"He fought well, you don't have to point out we were gonna win anyway when he was half dead already," Sophia said defensively.
Valicar prepared for their next battle against the dwarf of illusion. They had observed the dwarf's clever tricks and illusions in their previous fights, giving them a clear advantage. They engaged the dwarf in combat, dodging his illusory attacks and seeing through his deceptions. In a swift and decisive move, Mike landed a magically infused punch to the dwarf's face, knocking him out with a few fewer teeth and securing their victory.
The next opponent, the artificer, stood before Valicar, but they could see that her arsenal was depleted. The exhaustion from her previous battles was evident in her stance. With a limited supply of gadgets, she was at a significant disadvantage. The artificer, lacking the necessary defenses, struggled to counter Valicar's attacks effectively. However, as the battle progressed, Valicar noticed that the artificer had run out of shields to protect herself and was resulting in dodging.
Recognizing this opening, Valicar conjured a powerful fireball. "Drawgon" With precise aim, they released the fireball toward the defenseless artificer. Unable to defend herself, the artificer succumbed to the incoming flames, and the battle came to an end as she was sent to the medical tent.
The crowd erupted into cheers, celebrating Valicar's victory. They had shown mercy to the weakened beast kin, outsmarted the dwarf's illusions, and capitalized on the artificer's depleted resources. They were well on the way to first place only one person now standing in their way. The announcer said the name of their final challenge, Altheack.