Chapter 60: The Plan Set in Motion
The dark cavern buzzed with energy, the air thick with the hum of arcane power. The walls, jagged and gleaming with obsidian-like shards, reflected the eerie glow of the massive contraption at the centre of the room. A complex lattice of metal and crystal, the machine pulsed with a malevolent light, casting long shadows that danced across the stone.
Yrul stood before it, his cloak billowing despite the stillness of the air. His golden eyes gleamed as he surveyed the device, a fusion of magic and machinery crafted by his most dangerous ally. Straddled on his back, with her arms draped around his shoulders, was Ravenna Glaive. Her presence was as commanding as it was unsettling, her lips twisted into a confident smirk as she whispered into Yrul's ear.
"You like it, don't you?" Ravenna's voice was a purr, equal parts pride and mockery. "A masterpiece, if I do say so myself. This little beauty will amplify the beasts' mana cores, driving them into a frenzy unlike anything those pathetic knights have faced before."
Yrul tilted his head slightly, his expression one of detached approval. "It's efficient. And brutal. Just what we need."
Around them, the rest of the fugitives moved like ghosts, each absorbed in their own preparations. Gore Valran crouched by the cavern's entrance, sharpening a jagged blade of stone. Sparks flew with every strike, illuminating the scars crisscrossing his hardened face. His heavy breathing was a constant reminder of his brutish nature.
"Don't know why we need all this fancy crap," Gore grumbled, his deep voice echoing off the walls. "I could crush those knights with my bare hands."
Dimitri Veil, lounging against a stalagmite, chuckled darkly. His Phantom Magic shimmered around him, creating fleeting images of enemies and allies alike. "And end up dead in minutes, you mean? Let the machine do the heavy lifting. You'll get your bloodbath soon enough."
From the far corner of the cavern, Sibyl Noir watched them all with icy disdain. Her pale hands toyed with a dagger she had coated in frost, each movement deliberate and precise. "If you're all done boasting," she said, her tone as sharp as her blade, "perhaps we should discuss the plan. Yrul's magic isn't infinite, and neither is my patience."
Yrul's lips curled into a thin smile as he stepped forward, gently easing Ravenna off him. She slid down with a graceful, almost feline motion, her heels clicking against the stone floor. "Patience, Sibyl," Yrul said smoothly. "Everything is in place. The machine will do exactly what it's designed to do."
Ravenna crossed her arms, her smirk widening. "You're welcome, by the way."
Yrul ignored her and gestured toward the machine. "The beasts' mana will be amplified and redirected through this device," he explained. "It will create a cascading effect, drawing out more creatures from the surrounding regions. They'll swarm the designated targets, overwhelming the Magic Knights."
"And the knights themselves?" Dimitri asked, his tone casual but his eyes gleaming with interest.
Yrul's gaze darkened. "They'll fall. One by one. You each have your targets, and I trust you to deal with them. But if any slip through, the beasts will finish what we start."
As if on cue, the machine emitted a low, ominous hum. Ravenna stepped closer, running a hand over its sleek surface. Obsidian spikes jutted out from the base, pulsing faintly with stored mana. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said, almost to herself. "All that power, ready to be unleashed."
Gore snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Just tell me when I get to smash something."
Ravenna rolled her eyes, but Yrul raised a hand, silencing them all. His golden eyes flickered as he turned toward the cavern's entrance, his expression unreadable.
"Tomorrow night," he said, his voice low but commanding. "We set everything into motion. The beasts will rampage, and the knights will be forced to spread thin. That's when we strike."
"And the machine?" Sibyl asked, her voice laced with scepticism. "What if it fails?"
"It won't," Yrul said simply, his confidence unshaken. "Not with Ravenna's craftsmanship. And not with me controlling it."
Ravenna tilted her head, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Glad to know you have faith in me, boss."
Yrul didn't respond. Instead, he turned to the machine and placed a hand on its core. A surge of Celestial Beast Magic flowed from his palm, intertwining with the Obsidian Magic that powered the device. The cavern trembled, the air thickening as the machine roared to life, its energy spilling out in waves.
The fugitives fell silent, their eyes fixed on the device. For a moment, the cavern was filled only with the sound of the machine's hum, a sinister melody that promised destruction.
Yrul finally stepped back, his face alight with a cruel satisfaction. "Prepare yourselves," he said, his voice cutting through the silence. "Tomorrow, the Clover Kingdom will know true chaos. And we will be the ones to deliver it. The boy with the Celestial"
Ravenna smiled, her hands resting on her hips as she watched the machine pulse with dark energy. "Now that," she said with a chuckle, "is a plan worth sticking around for."
…
The Coral Peacocks, meanwhile, were travelling in Lilian's Prism Magic: Chromatic Movement Prism, enlarged to fit the whole squad travelling. The space inside the prism was alight with chatter yet writhe with tension, and each member of the squad had something on their mind.
"Cool katana, Sharya," Lars said, eyeing her weapon. "Where'd you get it?"
"Custom made for my sister, but I stole it from the family home," Sharya replied, as if this was something she did everyday. Sharya twirled the katana in her hand with casual ease, the blade catching the rainbow light refracting within Lilian's Chromatic Movement Prism. "I mean, it's not technically stealing if it's my sister's and I'm putting it to better use."
Lars raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Sounds like stealing to me. Though, knowing you, I bet you had a clever escape plan."
Sharya shrugged, a sly grin on her face. "I may have used a clone to throw off the family guards. They didn't even know what hit them."
"Of course you did," Lars said, chuckling. "So, what's the deal with this katana? It's not like your magic directly benefits from swords."
Sharya's playful demeanour softened for a moment. "Let's just say it reminds me of someone important. Someone who deserved better than what they got."
Before Lars could ask more, Ximena's voice cut through the air. "This is such a waste of time. Yrul's already ahead of us, and here we are, floating in a rainbow bubble like we're going to a parade."
Lars turned to her, his expression unreadable for a beat before a wicked grin spread across his face. "You're one to talk, Ximena. Should I remind everyone about that pink frilly dress you wore to the Halcourt ball?"
Ximena's tan skin turned visibly pinker as her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."
Lars leaned back with exaggerated ease. "Oh, I would. And I'd go into detail about the lace trim and how much you loved twirling in it."
Ximena scowled but said nothing further, retreating into her seat with crossed arms and an indignant huff. Sharya snickered, and Lars winked at her, clearly enjoying the small victory.
Before the conversation could continue, Lilian's sharp voice rang out from the front of the prism. "Stop the chatter. There's something below us."
The team crowded near the shimmering wall of the prism, peering through the iridescent barrier. Below, a young mage—none other than Alexis, the "runt" Lars had taken under his wing—was locked in a desperate battle with a mole-bear. The massive beast was rampaging with a ferocity that clearly wasn't natural, its eyes glowing with a sinister light. Yrul's magic.
Lars's heart dropped, and he didn't hesitate. "Hold the prism steady. I'll handle this."
"You sure?" Sharya asked, gripping her katana.
"Yeah. Just stay ready in case I need backup," Lars said, stepping through a portal in the prism's wall, courtesy of Oda's Spatial Magic.
He landed on the ground with a thud, immediately catching Alexis's attention. "Runt!" Lars called out. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Alexis barely had time to respond before the mole-bear lunged at him again, its claws slashing wildly. "I-I was training! It came out of nowhere!" Alexis shouted, panic evident in his voice.
Lars sighed and steadied his grimoire, flipping to a familiar spell. "You're lucky I'm here to bail you out."
The mole-bear roared and charged at Lars, but he was already prepared. "Mind Magic: Resonant Concussion!" he called out, and a barrier of psychic energy rippled outward, striking the beast and sending it crashing into a nearby boulder. It groaned and collapsed, unconscious but alive.
Alexis stumbled backward, panting. "T-thanks, Lars."
Lars offered a hand, pulling the younger mage to his feet. "You're reckless, you know that?"
"I was trying to get stronger," Alexis muttered, looking down at the ground.
Lars softened his tone, though his expression remained serious. "Strength doesn't mean running into danger without a plan. You can't learn anything if you're dead."
He glanced back at the prism floating above. "Look, I don't have time to take you back to safety. So, you're sticking with me for now."
Alexis's eyes widened. "Really? You're letting me come with you?"
"Don't make me regret it," Lars said, ruffling the boy's hair. "Stay close, and don't do anything stupid."
With a quick signal, Oda opened another portal, and Lars and Alexis stepped back into the prism. Sharya raised an eyebrow as she saw Alexis. "What's this? A plus-one?"
"He's tagging along," Lars replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Now let's focus. Yrul's not waiting for us."
…
"The magic knights…they've arrived," Sibyl said, looking up at the Chromatic Prism, her magic swirling around her fingertips. The other fugitives were also gathered there, their eyes ranging from cold and unfeeling to sadistic and even anticipatory.
"Then let's give them a nice welcome gift, split them up, y'know?" Yrul said, his eyes gleaming with slight madness. "Sibyl, you hold down the fort here. Everyone else, scatter!"
The fugitives nodded and ran in different directions - some going into the forest, some entering the cavern. Sibyl, meanwhile, put her palms to the ground, her grimoire - a tattered light blue book - flipping its pages until it landed on one of her favourite spells.
"Ice Magic," she whispered, her blue eyes gleaming, "Cristal d'Hiver."
A giant, shining crystal of ice appeared in the ground, hurtling towards the Chromatic Prism. Fortunately, Amaryllis was quick enough to react, and with a bit of assistance from Oda's spatial magic, she sent a Miasma Blast heading to intercept the crystal, melting it down.
Lilian dissipated the Chromatic Prism, and all the Coral Peacocks jumped down, heading in the direction their assigned fugitive had gone. Lars picked up Alexis by the scruff of the neck.
"Whatever you do," he growled, his voice deadly serious, "do not interfere. I don't want to have to bring a dead child home to his father."
Alexis gulped and nodded.
Theresa and Amaryllis, meanwhile, stayed back, facing down Sibyl. The ice mage looked incredulous as she looked at her two opponents.
"Two children? Just my luck that I get the worst matchup," the assassin sighed, creating multiple ice daggers to hover around her, and pointing them at the two.
"We're magic knights for a reason," Amaryllis replied. "It would serve you well not to underestimate us."
Theresa's hands glowed green as her grimoire floated beside her, flipping to a page etched with elegant vines. She planted her feet firmly, and with a commanding tone, she called out, "Plant Magic: Omni Vine!" Thick, glowing vines burst from the ground, rushing toward Sibyl, who rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Predictable," Sibyl said, her grimoire flipping open. "Ice Magic: Cristaux de l'Inverno." A shimmering wall of jagged ice erupted between her and the vines, stopping their advance. The barrier glittered ominously, its sharp edges reflecting the cold smirk on Sibyl's face.
Amaryllis stepped forward, her purple grimoire glowing with an eerie light. "Let's see how you like this. Poison Magic: Miasma Veil!" A cloud of toxic gas spilled forth, seeping through the cracks in the ice barrier and spreading toward Sibyl.
The assassin clicked her tongue in irritation. She raised her dagger, channeling her magic. "Ice Magic: Baiser de Givre!" A gust of freezing wind swept the miasma away, but as Sibyl focused on clearing the poison, Theresa took her chance.
"Plant Magic: Thorny Whip!" Theresa called out, and a coiled vine tipped with barbs shot toward Sibyl. The assassin barely dodged in time, the whip grazing her arm and drawing a thin line of blood.
Sibyl's cold blue eyes narrowed. "You're more competent than you look. But let's see how long that lasts." With a flick of her hand, she summoned another spell. "Ice Magic: Lame de Frimas!" A storm of razor-sharp ice shards erupted around her, hurtling toward both Theresa and Amaryllis.
"Poison Magic: Venom Bloom!" Amaryllis countered, summoning a field of poisonous flowers that absorbed and neutralized the ice shards before they could reach her and Theresa.
The two Magic Knights moved in sync, their teamwork seamless. Theresa focused on defense, using her vines to block and distract, while Amaryllis pressed the attack, her poison magic steadily wearing down Sibyl's mobility.
Sibyl's expression darkened as she realized she was being pushed into a corner. "You're starting to annoy me," she muttered. Her grimoire flipped rapidly, and the temperature in the air plummeted as she prepared a more powerful spell.
…
Oda and Sharya sprinted through the dense, darkened forest, the air around them growing colder with each step. "Why does it always feel like we're the ones chasing trouble?" Oda grumbled, his Spatial Magic already at the ready as he scanned their surroundings.
"Because we're good at it," Sharya replied, her tone light despite the tension. Her katana gleamed faintly as she held it at her side. "Besides, trouble's half the fun."
As they rounded a bend, they came face-to-face with Dimitri Veil, his Phantom Magic swirling ominously around him. The dark, shadowy figures he conjured twisted and danced like ghosts, their forms flickering between reality and illusion.
"Well, look who decided to join me," Dimitri said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Two Magic Knights? You shouldn't have."
Sharya stepped forward, spinning her katana in one hand. "Sorry to disappoint, but we're not here to play nice. You've got a date with justice."
Dimitri laughed, his Phantom Magic coalescing into a towering shadowy figure behind him. "Justice? That's rich. Let's see how you handle a bit of chaos." He snapped his fingers, and the phantom lunged toward them.
"Clone Magic: Doppelgänger Blitz!" Sharya called out, summoning three identical copies of herself. The clones darted forward, attacking the phantom from multiple angles while Sharya herself hung back, watching for an opening. This was a tactic that had been taught to her by the Hansens, and quite a useful one, too.
Oda, meanwhile, opened a small portal beside him, his grimoire glowing. "Spatial Magic: Distortion Field." The air around Dimitri shimmered as Oda warped the space around him, attempting to trap him in a disorienting loop.
Dimitri snarled, his focus shifting as he struggled against Oda's magic. "Clever," he admitted, his tone grudging. "But not clever enough." His grimoire flipped open, and with a sharp motion, he dispelled the distortion field with a pulse of Phantom Magic.
The shadowy figure surged toward Oda, who quickly dodged, opening a portal to escape its grasp. "Sharya, a little help here?" he called out.
"On it!" Sharya shouted. She leapt into action, her katana cutting through the air with precision as she struck at Dimitri directly. One of her clones appeared behind him, slashing at his back, but Dimitri dissolved into shadows, reappearing a few feet away with a smug grin.
"This is going to be fun," Dimitri said, his eyes gleaming with malice.
…
In another part of the cavern, Yul and Malachi stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes narrowing as they faced the towering figure of Gore Valran. The brute's jagged stone blade glinted in the dim light, and his scarred face twisted into a savage grin.
"Two of you?" Gore said, his deep voice rumbling like an avalanche. "Good. I like a challenge." He slammed a fist into his palm, the sound echoing ominously. "I'd like to crack your heads open, see what's inside."
Malachi took a step back, his grimoire floating beside him. Snowflakes swirled around his hands as he summoned a small blizzard. "This guy's not playing around, Yul."
"Neither are we," Yul replied, his tone steady and calm. "Steel Magic: Iron Clad!" Steel Magic shimmered around him, encasing his arms and legs in gleaming armour. His sharp eyes locked onto Gore. "I'll handle him up close. You keep him distracted from a distance."
Gore let out a guttural laugh, hefting his stone blade. "You think you can take me on? Bring it, knight!"
Yul didn't hesitate. With a burst of mana, he charged forward, his steel-coated fists colliding with Gore's blade in a deafening clash. Sparks flew as the two forces met, the sheer power of the impact shaking the ground beneath them.
Malachi raised his hands, conjuring a barrage of icy shards that rained down on Gore from above. The brute snarled as the snow and ice bit into his skin, but he didn't falter.
"Is that all you've got?" Gore roared, swinging his blade in a wide arc. Yul narrowly dodged, countering with a steel-coated punch that sent Gore staggering back a step.
"Keep him off balance!" Yul shouted, his movements precise and calculated.
Malachi nodded, his grimoire flipping to a new page. "Snow Magic: Frosted Barrage!" A flurry of snowballs, each imbued with explosive mana, shot toward Gore, detonating on impact and creating a thick cloud of frost.
Gore growled, his movements slowing slightly as the cold seeped into his muscles. "You little runt," he spat, slamming his blade into the ground and sending a shockwave of stone spikes toward Malachi.
Malachi leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. "This guy's relentless!" he called out.
"Let's finish this," Yul said, his grimoire glowing brightly. "Steel Magic: Vis Ferri!" His fists gleamed with a blinding light as he delivered a series of devastating blows to Gore's chest, sending the brute crashing into the cavern wall.
Gore coughed, struggling to his feet. He wiped blood from his mouth and laughed. "Not bad, knights. But I'm not done yet."
Malachi stepped forward, his snow swirling more fiercely around him. "Neither are we."
…
The narrow hallway of the dungeon echoed with the faint hum of Lilian's Prism Magic, her grimoire glowing softly in her hands. Beside her, Russell's fingers twitched, a faint layer of Dust Magic settling like a haze around him. The air was heavy with tension as they pressed forward, their senses sharp for any sign of an enemy.
"Keep close," Lilian muttered, her usually calm demeanor laced with unease. "Something feels... off."
Before Russell could respond, a sharp clap of heels echoed down the corridor. From the shadows emerged Ravenna Glaive, her obsidian staff balanced casually in her hand, her smirk cutting through the dim light like a blade.
"Well, well," Ravenna purred, her gaze locking onto Lilian with unnerving intensity. A prism magic mage of the coral peacocks. And who's this? The dust man? How quaint."
Russell bristled but held his tongue, his eyes narrowing. Lilian stepped forward, her golden magic shimmering protectively around her. "Stand down, Ravenna. You don't have to do this."
Ravenna laughed, a low, melodic sound. "Oh, but I do. You see, I've been watching you, Lilian. You're... fascinating."
Lilian's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"You're just like me," Ravenna said, taking a step closer, her smirk widening. "I can see it in your magic, in your eyes. There's someone else in there, isn't there? Someone waiting to take over."
Lilian's grip on her grimoire tightened, and her breathing quickened. "You don't know anything about me."
Ravenna tilted her head, her expression almost pitying. "Don't I? You think I don't know what it's like to fight for control? To hear another voice whispering in your head, clawing to get out?"
The words struck a chord deep within Lilian, and she stumbled back a step. The glow of her Prism Magic flickered, then darkened. The air grew heavy, suffused with an oppressive energy.
"No," she whispered, clutching her head. "Not now. Please-"
Before she could finish, her golden aura twisted and turned blood red. Her hair shimmered, shifting from blonde to a fiery crimson, and her eyes burned with a wild intensity.
Bellatrix was back.
Ravenna's smirk turned into a genuine smile. "There she is. I was right."
Bellatrix laughed, her voice sharper and more chaotic than Lilian's. "Oh, you're going to regret waking me up."
Russell took a cautious step back, his Dust Magic forming a shield around him. "Lilian—no, Bellatrix—focus! Don't lose yourself!"
But Bellatrix didn't respond. She lunged at Ravenna, her Prism Magic slicing through the air in jagged beams. Ravenna blocked with her Obsidian Magic, a black barrier forming in the nick of time.
"Fiery, aren't you?" Ravenna said, her tone amused as she retaliated with a dark lance of obsidian.
The two clashed, their magic lighting up the corridor in bursts of red and black. Russell gritted his teeth, unsure whether to intervene as Bellatrix unleashed a ferocious volley of spells.
…
The cavern's flickering torches barely illuminated the jagged path ahead. Elijah walked confidently at the front, his Wildfire Magic crackling at his fingertips, casting a warm glow. Beside him, Ezequiel moved with a quieter intensity, his grimoire open and Sound Magic humming faintly in the air like a rising orchestra.
"You sure about this route?" Ezequiel asked, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows.
Elijah grinned, a cocky spark in his eye. "Dangerous roads lead to the best fights, don't they?"
Ezequiel rolled his eyes but didn't argue. The two were abruptly stopped as a swirling cloud of Ash Magic surged from the darkness, encircling them like a suffocating veil. A deep, gravelly voice echoed from the gloom.
"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise? Two little knights wandering into my lair."
From the swirling ash stepped Caine Hallow, his lean figure shrouded in a sinister cloak. His dark eyes gleamed, and his grin was sharp, predatory.
"Caine Hallow," Elijah said, his grin growing wider. "Been looking for a challenge."
Caine tilted his head, studying them like a predator sizing up prey. "You'll burn nicely, Wildfire Mage. And you," he said, pointing at Ezequiel, "I'll silence those pretty little sound waves of yours."
Elijah didn't wait for more. With a roar, he launched a searing column of flame, the Wildfire Magic roaring toward Caine like an inferno. But Caine smirked, his Ash Magic absorbing the flames, reducing them to harmless embers.
"Fire feeds the ash, boy," Caine taunted, his voice echoing eerily.
Ezequiel raised his grimoire, his Sound Magic bursting forth in sharp, concussive waves that reverberated through the cavern. The vibrations tore through the ash cloud, dispersing it momentarily.
"You talk too much," Ezequiel said flatly, his magic humming with controlled precision.
Caine's grin faltered for a moment, but he retaliated quickly, his Ash Magic swirling into dense spears and launching them at the two knights. Elijah countered with a wall of fire, while Ezequiel created a sonic pulse that deflected the projectiles.
The three mages clashed in a deadly dance of fire, sound, and ash, their magic lighting up the cavern in flashes of fiery orange, vibrating silver, and smoky gray.
…
The group pressed forward through the dungeon, Lars carrying the now unconscious Alexis on his back. Beside him, Ximena's boots crunched against the stone floor, her grimoire glowing faintly with her Earth Magic. Behind them, Kirsch Vermillion strutted with his usual flamboyance, while Captain Dorothy Unsworth floated along in her dreamlike haze.
"Stay alert," Ximena said, her voice steady. "There's something unnatural here."
Lars nodded, adjusting Alexis on his back. "I can feel it too. It's like the air itself is watching us."
As if on cue, a guttural roar echoed through the chamber. From the shadows emerged Yrul, his presence overwhelming. His grin stretched wide, his golden grimoire levitating beside him.
"Welcome," Yrul said, his voice unnervingly calm. "I've been waiting for you."
Without warning, he raised his hand, his Beast Magic flaring to life. A massive chimera materialized before them—a monstrous fusion of lion, serpent, and hawk, its very existence radiating primal energy.
Dorothy's eyes sharpened as she stepped forward. "Kirsch, with me. We'll handle this beast."
Before anyone could respond, Yrul snapped his fingers. The ground beneath them rumbled, splitting the group in two. Dorothy and Kirsch were left on one side, facing the chimera, while Lars and Ximena found themselves cut off on the other.
"Your captain and her peacock will entertain my creation," Yrul said, turning to Lars and Ximena. "You two, however, are mine."
From Lars' shoulder, Alexis stirred faintly, but Yrul paid him no mind.
"Not the smartest move," Lars said, gently setting Alexis down. His grimoire floated beside him, glowing with the familiar sheen of Mind Magic. "You should've taken us all on together."
Yrul's grin widened. "Bashir tells me otherwise. He says you're worth the trouble. Let's find out if he's right."
Bashir, Yrul's Instinct Celestial, appeared briefly behind him, its form resembling a snarling wolf made of shadows. But even as it growled in warning, Yrul waved it away.
"I don't need your advice. I can handle them myself."
"Big mistake," Lars said, activating Gedankenreich. The space around him shimmered, and Yrul hesitated for a fraction of a second as the mental battlefield took shape.
Ximena wasted no time, slamming her foot into the ground. Spires of Earth Magic erupted, surging toward Yrul in an unrelenting assault.
Yrul countered, his Beast Magic conjuring a pack of shadowy wolves that tore through the earth constructs. "You'll have to do better than that."
Lars smirked, his grimoire flipping to another page. "Oh, don't worry. We're just getting started."
As Ximena reinforced the ground beneath them, creating a stable platform to fight on, Lars unleashed a barrage of mental attacks, forcing Yrul to divide his attention between reality and the illusionary world of Gedankenreich.
"Ximena, now!" Lars called.
"Earth Magic: Splintered Flintstones!" Ximena yelled primally, as she released a wave of jagged earth towards the beast mage while he was distracted by Lars's mental illusions.
"Tch…" Yrul snarled. "Beast Magic: Lupus Leg Boost!"
The beast mage coated his legs in mana that took the form of the legs of a wolf, and used an extra burst of speed to redirect himself out of the way.
Little did he know, Lars had anticipated this, and now he slammed a Resonant Concussion into Yrul with a certain vigour that Alexis was slightly awed with.
"The idea's fully formulated in my mind," Lars said. "Ximena, you always said you'd be a good leader."
He raised his hands, and suddenly the great army of mana soldiers that Lars had visualised began to appear out of the ground.
"Now lead," Lars said, hopping onto a pillar the earth mage had made for him, grabbing Alexis and placing the young mage with him..
"You know me too well," Ximena smiled arrogantly.
Yrul gritted his teeth, the effects of Lars' Resonant Concussion still ringing in his head. As he stumbled, he growled in frustration, realizing the overwhelming force forming against him. The mana soldiers, shimmering with Lars' Mind Magic, began closing in.
"You think this is enough to stop me?" Yrul spat, slamming his grimoire open. "Beast Magic: Great Beasts - Rama and Vangelis!"
The chamber shook violently as Yrul conjured two towering creatures: a hulking tiger, Rama, with glowing stripes that radiated power, and a winged serpent, Vangelis, that coiled and hissed, its scales shimmering with dark energy.
The beasts roared, splitting off to target parts of the mana army. The tiger's claws slashed through the front lines while the winged serpent unleashed a torrent of acidic breath, dissolving the magical constructs in its path.
"Ximena!" Lars called from atop the pillar. "Hold your ground! I'll handle the rest!"
Ximena smirked, her arms glowing with the power of her Earth Magic. "You worry too much, Lars!" She thrust her hands forward. "Earth Magic: Tremor Vanguard!" Spires of jagged stone erupted from the ground, blocking the dragon's breath and impeding the tiger's advance.
"Yrul's throwing everything he has at us!" Ximena yelled. "Lars, can you keep him locked down?"
"Already on it," Lars replied, sending a new wave of mental soldiers to harass Yrul directly. As Yrul turned to counter them, Lars grinned. "You're not the only one who can multitask."
A/N: This arc's series of big fights can now begin in earnest. And every Coral Peacock gets their moment!