The anticipation built as Galen focused intently, channeling his energy for a full minute before finally releasing his cataclysmic spell. "Supernova Eradicator," he declared. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and waves of dust and debris filled the air as a swirling vortex of radiant energy erupted from his hands. The spell expanded at an astonishing speed, threatening to reduce the entire fortress to rubble. The ancient castle walls quivered, groaning under the force of the blast.

Just in the nick of time, Varence conjured an imposing glacial barrier, enveloping them in a protective cocoon of ice and shielding them from the torrent of debris hurled their way. The shockwave reverberated in their ears, a deafening reminder of the power they had just unleashed.

As the dust settled, Varence turned to Galen. His eyes widened with disbelief as he spoke. "What in the name of the demigods was that? And why would you cast such a spell from inside the castle?"

Galen flashed a smug grin, exuding an air of nonchalant confidence, "Oh, my simple friend, you underestimate the art of deception. If I'd begun casting from outside, they'd have had me in their sights before I could even finish. By initiating the spell from within the castle walls, I took them by surprise. They never expected us to risk so much collateral damage to ourselves."

Horror crept into Varence's mind as he surveyed the devastation around them. The sheer scale of the destruction and the loss of life that the illusion spell had caused earlier on the soldiers still weighed heavily upon him. Turning to Galen with a trembling voice amidst the chaos, he sought answers "I'm at a loss. How did you weave such a complex illusion earlier? I was under the impression that your expertise was limited to arcane and enchanting magic. What other capabilities do you possess?"

Before Galen could provide any insights, a group of mages emerged from the rubble. Their obsidian-black robes with gold linings indicated their high standing. One robe, in particular, pulsed with a potent enchantment, signaling the mage's formidable power.

One of the mages stepped forward, his expression a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "Your destructive display was undoubtedly impressive. But did you truly believe it would be enough to bring this kingdom to its knees?" he questioned, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"I can't wait to finish off your friend right before your eyes, and then force you to help us construct a new crystal. Do you have any idea how costly that crystal was?" the mage seethed.

Varence, however, didn't falter as he once might have. With lightning-fast reflexes, he conjured massive pillars of ice that shot toward the enemy like deadly spears. "Glacier Spire! I've endured far too much today to be intimidated by the likes of you," Varence declared, his newfound confidence directed more toward himself than his foe. Unbeknownst to Galen and Thorne, Varence had briefly touched the crystal, which provided him with extra mana to wield.

"Is that really the extent of your abilities? How disappointing," the mage taunted, his words laced with contempt as he effortlessly dismantled the ice pillar with a wave of his hand. "I had hoped for better from a student of the College, Varence." The other mages kept a close eye on Galen as he clenched his jaw in irritation.

Galen's lips curved into a sly grin, admiring the resilience Varence had developed in such a short time. "How did you come across these inept mages who couldn't even manage to protect such a valuable crystal?" Galen queried before launching a dense orb of mana at one of the mages. The same mage who had countered Varence's ice pillar tried to nonchalantly deflect the incoming assault. Yet, the hand he extended was obliterated, vanishing into thin air.

The mage cried out in torment as he stared in disbelief at the void where his hand had been, blood gushing from the open wound. The mage had severely misjudged Galen's aptitude; he had never encountered someone who could manipulate mana with such remarkable accuracy and potency. Galen's fingers flickered with lightning speed, summoning a dense orb of mana that obliterated the mage's outstretched hand with ease. Desperate to stem the bleeding, he hastily employed his enchanting magic to regenerate new skin over the empty space where his hand used to be.

Meanwhile, another mage concentrated intently on a spell, gathering mana that coalesced at a single point. It appeared to be some sort of summoning incantation. "Earthshaper's Golem of Elemental Might," the mage recited calmly, as a golem formed from the surrounding debris. Covered in rocky armor, its fists were comprised of reinforced boulders that augmented its strength. Intricate engravings adorned its body, and a small opening in its center revealed a luminescent pearl-like object. Another mage proceeded to cast another spell on the golem, "Primordial Fusion of Elemental Ascendance," and the golem became encased in a barrier of elements, akin to an otherworldly suit of armor.

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Shortly after, the third mage who had lost his hand completed his own spell. "Infernal Blessing!" he shouted, imbuing the golem with a cloak of flames. Galen couldn't help but scoff. "Look at these novices. They've applied a buff that prevents me from physically attacking the golem as if I'm not a mage. The other enhancements, though, are a more sensible choice. I must admit, it's somewhat impressive that they've mastered magic beyond their innate abilities, especially for a small kingdom like this one."

Varence stared at the golem, his eyes wide with apprehension. This formidable adversary would be the most challenging opponent he had faced thus far, aside from Galen or Thorne. Galen assessed the situation and rapidly devised a plan of action. Despite the numerous foes, Galen reminded himself that strength was more important than numbers. "Simple. I just need to be stronger than they are," he reasoned.

"Varence! You take on that golem while I handle these mages. Oh, and if you think about running, remember what could happen to that quaint village we came from, alright?" Galen taunted, encouraging Varence with his own twisted sense of motivation. In truth, Galen was well aware that Varence stood little chance against the golem and could have easily defeated all the opponents himself, including the golem, based on his observations of the mages' conduct. However, he was intrigued to witness how Varence would tackle the challenge before him, even if it meant risking his life.

With deft movements, the mages wove intricate incantations as Galen charged toward them, his relentless determination evident. As he raced forward, Galen simultaneously channeled the formidable power of an area-of-effect spell and a high-cost, devastating spell, one in each hand. Despite the complexity of the spells, Galen's unwavering focus and resolve allowed him to close the distance, leaving the mages scrambling to complete their own spells before he reached them.

Galen unleashed a torrent of arcane energy, manifesting as a hailstorm, upon the mages with the intent to hinder their spellcasting and impede their movements. Although one mage fell victim to Galen's barrage of mana, the other two deftly evaded the onslaught, rolling out of harm's way to complete their spells. Despite the hailstorm's lack of direct damage, it significantly prolonged the casting time for those caught in its disruptive grasp.

Amplifying the intensity of the battle, a mage let out a roar and conjured a swirling tornado from their hands. It rapidly gained momentum and bore down on Galen. In response, another mage raised their hand and conjured an orb of crackling lightning. With a flick of their wrist, they sent the lightning hurtling toward the whirling vortex. The lightning struck the tornado with a resounding boom, sending debris flying in all directions and clearing the battlefield.

Undeterred, Galen stood his ground with unwavering resolve. His fierce determination propelled him forward, plunging headfirst into the tempest's heart. "A cunning incantation, exploiting its own vulnerability through its moniker. I must commend you for that," one of the mages observed, a sly grin playing across his lips as he revealed that he was far from being outwitted by Galen's maneuvers.

Galen's calculations were off, as arcs of lightning suddenly shot toward him. He had to act quickly, leaping backward to avoid the bolts that scorched the earth where he had been standing just moments before.

To escape the perilous vortex, Galen relied on enchanting his body. He focused his mana and channeled it into his muscles, enhancing his strength and agility. With a mighty leap, he smashed into the ground and dug his way through the earth, burrowing towards safety.

Anticipating Galen's reappearance, the mages stood at the ready, bracing themselves for his expected use of teleportation magic. However, to their surprise, Galen remained concealed in the hole he had created, pouring all of his focus into the primary spell he was casting: "Cataclysmic Aura!" With an intense cast, the spell unleashed a devastating onslaught of debuffs upon each of the mages, quickly enveloping the entire area in its energy field.

As the mages gasped for air, the burden of using magic taking a deeper toll on their mana than anticipated, their spells consumed far more energy than they had expected, leaving them drained and vulnerable.

The bold move paid off since had the mages managed to dodge the spell, Galen would have squandered a significant portion of his precious mana without achieving any results. Galen understood that only the most seasoned and battle-tested mages could have sidestepped such an intricate spell. Evaluating the circumstances, he deduced that, although these mages boasted an extensive repertoire of abilities, their limited practical experience in combat rendered them susceptible. Through his own trials, Galen had long ago discovered that sheer power was not the sole determinant of victory; rather, it was the astute deployment of that power that truly held sway over the outcome.

"Excellent, now I can eliminate them as easily as swatting flies. A few more spells to cast and their deaths will be sealed," Galen mused, his eyes gleaming with a calculating intensity.

"I can't sustain the tornado for much longer! My mana flow is faltering! We mustn't keep underestimating this mage Varence brought into our midst, or we'll surely meet our end!" One of the mages called out to his allies, desperation evident in his voice.

"Incredible! He lured us into taking the offensive after his hailstorm seemed to fail. Truly, he ranks among the most exceptional mages I have ever encountered. His talent might even rival that of a demigod," another mage marveled, awe-struck by Galen's cunning strategy.

"Look! There's a crevice in the ground," cried the mage with a missing hand, gesturing with his stump and drawing his comrades' attention to the unexpected development.