The others followed closely behind as we sprinted towards the source of the noise. We pushed ourselves to move faster, driven by the urgency of the situation. The wind whipped through our hair and stung our faces, but we pressed on.

As we reached the edge of a cliff, we saw the sight that confirmed our suspicions. Another team had indeed found the Drowl and engaged in a fierce battle with the creature. Spells and weapons clashed, filling the air with energy and chaos. The Drowl's icy breath and swift movements posed a formidable challenge to the opposing team.

“This is our chance,” Lily said as she began to take steps forward toward the battle.

I halted her, saying, "Wait."

I didn’t stop her because I disagreed with her statement. This was our chance to dive in and slay the beast easily. It was plain to see that our skills, compared to the team down there fighting the Drowl, could not be compared. We would no doubt be able to do it.

But the reason I stopped her was that I felt a familiar mana presence making his way toward the fight himself.

****

Hanz Stellar's P.O.V

I found myself locked in a fierce battle against a rival team. My heart pounded in my chest as I unleashed a barrage of rapid-fire fireballs and crackling arcs of lightning. The raw power surged through my veins, fueling my determination to emerge victorious.

They seemed to have attacked us without any sort of strategy or team coordination whatsoever. But what confused me the most was why they were attacking.

They had no reason to. I tried to talk it out, but none of them said a word and just continued firing off spells.

In the midst of the magical onslaught, I seamlessly transitioned into close-quarters combat, throwing swift kicks and punches to catch my adversaries off guard. Every movement was calculated and precise, designed to maximize the impact and keep them on their toes.

Beside me, Tasha displayed her mastery of wind magic. She gracefully manipulated the air around her, sending forth slashes of wind that sliced through the opposition with deadly precision. The gusts howled, and the air crackled with her raw energy.

Kayla, our dedicated water mage, stood her ground with unwavering focus. She cast intricate water spells, forming protective barriers and unleashing powerful waves to keep the enemy's casting mage at bay. Her control over the element was astonishing, as if the very essence of water obeyed her every command.

She’s just my type. I should ask her to hang out after this field trip.

Just as that thought arrived in my brain, a solid stone projectile planted itself right on my face, and I recoiled from the blow.

My opponent landed a hit directly on my face.

It didn't hurt as bad as it should have because of the level of my mana enhancement, but still, I have to stop getting distracted.

I looked at Tasha and Kayla, giving them both the signal.

They both gave quick nods and got into position.

We fought as a well-coordinated unit, each of us playing our part to perfection. Tasha, Kayla, and I synchronized our attacks and defenses, relying on our unique abilities to complement one another. The battlefield became a symphony of elemental forces, our skills intertwining in a dazzling display of power and strategy.

The tension in the air was palpable as we exerted ourselves to the limit, pushing beyond our boundaries. Sweat streamed down my forehead, mixing with the dirt and grime accumulated during the intense skirmish. The adrenaline surged through my body, heightening my senses and sharpening my focus.

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Soon, our level of power easily overpowered them, and they began to falter.

“Guys, retreat!” the caster of their team yelled out. He seemed to be the team lead. “We’ve wasted enough time here. We need to hurry up and find the other team before they have a chance to get the shard."

They all followed his command and began to disappear into the snowy forest.

Not long after, a strong gust of wind surged through the battlefield.

“What the hell was that?” Tasha asked, whipping her head around and looking up towards the top of the mountain.

Kayla bent down and dug her fingers into the snow. "[Water pulse]."

She stood back up, looking me in the eyes. “It seems a team has found the Drowl. We must act quickly.”

Nodding my head, I dashed forward, both of my teammates following suit.

It didn't take long for us to arrive at the battle, and we could see a team having it out with the fearsome Drowl.

As we approached the battlefield, the intensity of the clash was apparent. The Drowl, a creature of legendary power, thrashed and roared, unleashing waves of destruction upon its assailants. The team engaged in a desperate struggle, their spells and weapons clashing against the formidable foe.

Without hesitation, we joined the fray. I conjured pillars of fire, sending them soaring towards the Drowl to distract and weaken it. Tasha utilized her wind magic to create whirlwinds, disrupting the creature's movements and providing openings for our attacks. Kayla, with her water manipulation, summoned massive waves that crashed upon the Drowl, further destabilizing its footing.

The battle raged on, each of us using our unique abilities to the fullest. We communicated through swift glances and subtle gestures, orchestrating our maneuvers with precision and unity. Our synergy was undeniable as we exploited the creature's weaknesses, striking with calculated precision and employing evasive maneuvers.

However, the Drowl was no ordinary opponent. It possessed immense strength and resilience, shrugging off our assaults and retaliating with devastating blows. Its monstrous claws and fangs tore through the air, threatening to overpower us.

We had to adapt our strategy. Kayla used her water magic to create a protective shield, guarding us against the Drowl's relentless attacks. Tasha and I circled around the creature, launching coordinated strikes from different angles to confuse and disorient it.

As the battle wore on, fatigue began to set in. The strain of maintaining our spells and the physical exertion took its toll. But we refused to yield. Determination burned in our eyes as we fought with everything we had, refusing to let the Drowl claim victory.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we found an opening. Tasha unleashed a powerful gust of wind, momentarily staggering the Drowl. Seizing the opportunity, I channeled the last reserves of my energy into a final, cataclysmic fireball.

The blast collided with the Drowl, engulfing it in a blaze of searing heat and explosive force. The creature let out a deafening roar, its form disintegrating in the inferno. When the flames subsided, all that remained was a smoldering heap of ash.

We stood there, panting heavily, surrounded by the aftermath of the battle. The air crackled with residual energy, the scent of burnt earth mingling with the icy breeze. It was a hard-fought victory, one that would be etched into our memories for a while.

As we caught our breath, Kayla approached the remnants of the Drowl. She held up a shard, looking at Tasha and me with a smile.

But as she stepped forward to bring us our victory token, a blaze of ice froze her, encasing her torso.

I stood up quickly, ready to defend against our next attacker. Even though my mana was depleted, I still had a trump card and I wasn't worried.

Tasha stood up behind me, just as ready as I was.

The figure walking out of the shadows, the bearer of the ice magic, was none other than Renz. He quickly plucked the shard from Kayla's frozen fingers.

“Impressive set of attacks, I must say, Hanz. You really shocked me," he laughed as he walked back to his teammates, boasting as if he were untouchable. “I dare say you and I are around the same in strength."

“So why come here and challenge us? You know I'm not just going to let you walk away with that," I said.

"Because from the moment you decided to fight that beast, we had you beat. You may not be tired out, but your teammates are. Look around you."

Taking a quick glance, it was easy to see he was right. And I wasn't confident I could take on Renz's team alone.

"I'll even make your teammate able again if you're so set on fighting me," he continued.

Out of nowhere, sand sprouted from the icy ground and slithered its way to Kayla's frozen form. The sand encased her, and the ice began to crack and melt. It seemed to be sucking the moisture away.

I looked over at Renz's teammate, Leiah. This was her magic.

Kayla fell to the ground, panting heavily. "My mana core is at its limits, Hanz. We can't win," she said. I turned to Tasha, and upon looking closely, I could tell she was also at her limits and panting.

I looked up at Renz. "We will let you have it for now. But I wouldn't get too comfortable. There is still one more team you need to worry about."

His cocky grin turned straight as he walked away.

The cabin was still a day's journey from where we were now. My team still had time.