Altheack entered the arena with a natural grace, her human form on display as the announcer called her name. The air around her exuded confidence and vitality, in stark contrast to Valicar's weariness from the previous rounds. She greeted Valicar with a mischievous smile, aware of the advantage she held by avoiding earlier fights.
"Valicar, good to see you again," Altheack taunted, sauntering toward the center of the arena as she waved to the excited crowd. "But I'm afraid I cannot overlook the value of the Bag of Dalioum. It seems I'll have to kick your ass to claim it." Her playful tone hinted at the challenge she presented. Despite her disheveled appearance, Valicar remained cautious, knowing the power she possessed and the unknown creatures they might still face.
Sophia had read about druids' affinity for manipulating plants and transformation magic. She was prepared to burn away any vegetation that posed a threat, but her biggest concern lay in countering Altheack's potential poison attacks. With only one healing spell at her disposal, she knew she was vulnerable in their fight against Altheack.
Mike, somewhat irritated by Altheack's attitude, responded with playful but petty banter. "You certainly have a knack for running away with your tail between your legs, don't you? Let's see if you're ready to fight when there's no easy escape, bitch." He chuckled, reminding Altheack of their previous encounters in the city, where she had narrowly evaded capture by the guards.
The anticipation in the arena grew thick as both combatants readied themselves for the showdown. Mike tightened his grip on the ice sword, and Sophia focused her mana, preparing to unleash her magic. Neither twin truly wished to hurt the druid but they had to win the bag at all cost. The crowd eagerly awaited the clash between these skilled fighters, their excitement filling the air.
As the horn sounded, signaling the start of the match, Valicar and Altheack sprang into action without hesitation. Altheack's agility and speed came to the forefront as she swiftly transformed into an owl bear, looming over Valicar with her massive form. She launched a powerful swipe of her claws, aiming to throw Valicar out of the ring claws first. However, Mike's years of training and combat experience allowed him to react swiftly, parrying the attack with his ice sword.
Altheack's razor-sharp claws clashed with the icy blade, and a frigid chill spread through the tips of her paws. The biting cold threatened to freeze her flesh, but her fur, imbued with powerful enchantments akin to those of the Manticore they had previously fought in the forest, shielded her limb from shattering.
"Salova," she called transforming into a sleek raven, Altheack spread her wings wide, gracefully soaring through the air. The tips of her feathers glistened with a frosty sheen, leaving behind a trail of icy mist as she ascended to the heights above. Meanwhile, Sophia channeled her mana, weaving a spell of strength that surged through her veins. The air crackled with energy as she chanted the incantation, "Iginis, Silvoria,".
Responding to Sophia's magic, a second sword materialized in Mike's awaiting hand. Gripping the dual blades tightly, he braced himself for the impending clash. In perfect synchrony, "OWALOW" Altheack, transforming once more into her formidable owl bear form, initiated a swift and furious descent. Her massive figure hurtled through the air, her gaze fixed on Valicar as she bore down upon them. Mike prepared his blades only for her to change once again, this time only feet away. "Rloanu!"
"Oh, Shitttttt!" Mike, shouted as he jumped to safety.
Transforming into a massive elephant mid-descent, Altheack's massive form momentarily filled the air before gravity took hold once again. Her powerful frame crashed into the ground, shaking the arena and sending shockwaves rippling through the stone floor. The impact unleashed a cacophony of fragmented debris, propelled by the force of the collision.
Within the chaos of flying stone, jagged shards found their mark, slicing through the air toward Valicar. Reacting with supernatural speed, Mike instinctively raised his swords to block the shrapnel, their resilient armor absorbing the brunt of the projectile's impact. A large stone chunk collided with Valicar's left side, it's razor-sharp hitting just below her armor exacting a heavy toll.
As the stone struck, a resounding crack reverberated through Valicar's body, instantly followed by a surge of searing pain. Ribs splintered under the relentless force, causing Valicar to wince. Each breath became an arduous battle, the pain intensifying with every inhalation. But with sheer willpower, they pressed on.
"Fuck, why is it always the ribs," Sophia said with gritted teeth.
"It just means we are winning," Mike said with a pained smile.
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As the dust settled, Altheack swiftly shifted back into her human form. "You have the weirdest facial expressions, you know that?" Altheack, said as she extended her arms towards Valicar, before chanting, "Vonisual!" With a surge of natural energy, a multitude of vines erupted from the ground. The serpentine tendrils snaked their way toward Valicar, aiming to entangle and bind the twins, restricting their movements.
However, Sophia, always quick to adapt, called upon fire magic. "Drawgon!" With a resolute incantation, they conjured a blazing fireball that surged forth, engulfing the surrounding area. The searing flames consumed the majority of the vines, their charred remains falling to ash. Yet, in the chaos, Altheack swiftly transformed into a shadow panther, lunging forward and sinking her fangs into Valicar's leg.
The venomous bite caused Valicar's leg to go numb, and a gash on their leg began to bleed, momentarily weakening their mobility. Despite Sophia's healing abilities being within reach, the relentless pace of the battle denied them the chance to tend to the wound. Seizing the opportunity, Altheack skillfully leaped away, shifting back into her human form once more."Jarvo" With a flick of her wrist, she summoned an array of poison-laden darts, crafted from the very flowers that bloomed at her command. The darts whizzed through the air, aimed toward Valicar with deadly precision, leaving no room for respite.
"Fuck, this bitch is fast," Sophia exclaimed, their voice strained with pain from the broken ribs.
"I had no idea she could control plants, I might have guessed if she had green skin," Mike replied, his remaining sword deflecting the incoming darts with expert precision.
"Icarus Mora" Sophia chanted as she held Valicar's leg, restoring some mobility but leaving the poison behind. "It's reminiscent of the First Hokage's abilities. Even fire magic struggles against it," Sophia remarked, their eyes narrowing with realization.
"What about that knockoff Blue Dawn?" Mike suggested.
"It's not worth it. I would deplete my mana after using it once at this point. But have you noticed? She only uses her magic when in her human form," Sophia observed.
"Not really, considering I've been solely focused on keeping us alive!" Mike retorted, deftly dodging yet another swipe of Altheack's owl bear paws.
In the heat of the battle, the limitations imposed by Altheack's transformative abilities became evident. While in her animal form, she couldn't fully harness the power of nature's magic.
"Valuma!" Altheack called out, commanding several roots to erupt from the ground, wrapping around Valicar's feet. Mike, sensing the imminent danger, attempted to dodge, but at the last second, Sophia intervened, nullifying his evasion and causing their feet to become encased in the ensnaring roots. "What the fuck are you doing?!" Mike yelled, desperately hacking at the roots with his blade.
"Trust me, she's going to charge at us as a bear again," Sophia explained, channeling their dwindling mana. "Let's just hope this doesn't kill her," she added remorsefully but driven by desperation. Their anticipation proved accurate as Altheack, now in her bear form, charged toward them, her jaws ready to cleave through the twins. However, before the fatal strike could land, Sophia chanted, "Famonala!" Three towering pillars materialized, catching the massive bear mid-charge.
Altheack, quick to adapt, swiftly transformed back into her panther form, pressing forward in her relentless pursuit. Her teeth were mere inches away from reaching the twins when Sophia, with unwavering resolve, called out once more, "Norvio!" The solid rock pillars surrounding her body transformed into flowing lava, cascading down upon Altheack. She screamed in agony as her protective plants futilely tried to shield her, only to be consumed and burned away. Being in her monstrous form, she had more exposed surface area, leaving her vulnerable to the searing heat of the molten rock, scorching her flesh.
Altheack now teleported away to the medical tent, left a trail of cooling lava behind her. Sophia couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse for the fierce opponent they had just faced. "I hope she's okay," Sophia said with genuine concern.
"She was pretty tough. I'm sure she'll be alright, Soph," Mike tried to comfort his sister, a hint of concern in his voice.
As the lava dissipated and the arena floor returned to normal, the sound of a horn pierced the air, signaling the end of the magical games. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the announcer stepped forward once again. "This concludes the magical games! We have a new champion!" The excitement in his voice was palpable. "Now, to present her prize!"
In a dazzling display of magic, Valicar materialized next to the announcer. The crowd's cheers reached a crescendo. The announcer continued with enthusiasm, "I introduce you to Valicar Norail! A powerful young mage from the central continent. She has fought against the Templars, risking life and limb to be here! She arrived just hours ago from the magical wilds alone! And, like her uncle before her, she has come to the school to gain the strength to smash the empire once and for all and return magic to the land!"
The crowd erupted in an even louder cheer, fueled by the image of Valicar's battle with Bellic which was now projected as a massive magical illusion. However, Sophia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "How the hell did they know all this?" she whispered anxiously to Mike, realizing that their cover had been blown very publicly.
"Fucking Elinor... You know he wants us to gather allies for his civil war, the tricky bastard," Mike responded, his voice filled with a mix of annoyance for their elusive relative.
"Now, to present our champions with their prize," the announcer declared, holding up a pitch-black bag that seemed to absorb all light around it. The anticipation in the air was palpable as the crowd eagerly awaited the unveiling of the champions' reward.