n

n

n

"Sphaera Glacies

"

nIce rose from the ground around them at a speed superior to the attacks which were directed at us.

nBefore the ice could close off and finish the form of the sphere, it was hit by the attacks.

n

"Intermediate fire magic: telum ignis.

" Translation: Fire Bolt.

n

"Intermediate earth magic: terra contritione pervalida.

" Translation: Earth shard.

n

"Advanced Water Magic: Flagellum aqua.

" Translation: Water whip.

n

"Intermediate Wind Magic: Ventus sagittam.

" Translation: Wind Arrow.

nThe ice sphere was hit by these attacks before it could be fully formed.

n*Boom* *crack*

n

"This isn't good...

" John muttered.

nHe had been pouring magic into it to make it denser and harder, yet it wasn't going to last much longer.

n

"How long can you last?

" She asked.

n

"About one more attack.

" John replied.

n

"Any ideas?

" She asked.

n'What? Even still…' John thought, feeling stunned.

nThey had 2 more others outside who hadn't fired a spell yet. If they had fired all 6 at once, John would have been able to get them before they finished their chants, but they were already chanting for the next spell.

nEven John couldn't survive getting hit head on by magic spells, Ice shield wasn't good at defending attacks, only freezing things.

n'Wait... Ah!' John realized.

n

"Yeah, I have one...

"

n***

n

"Now!

" He shouted.

n

"Advanced fire magic: sphaera ignis.

" Translation: Fire Sphere.

n

"Advanced Wind Magic: Ventus secans sphaeram.

" Translation: Cutting wind sphere.

nThe attacks were propelled at the Ice Sphere.

n

"We got them!

" He shouted as he watched the fire sphere melt the ice sphere.

nWith the ice sphere melted, the cutting wind sphere entered the ice sphere and cut everything inside.

n

"It's over.

" He muttered as he walked up to it.

nHe ignored the large puddles of water formed from the melted ice and looked inside.

nThe others did the same and approached the melted sphere and also took a look.

nInside were both John and the brown-haired girl laid down on the ground next to each other.

n

"They're unconscious.

"

n

"Of course they are, no one can survive-

"

nTheir leader interrupted them by saying

"Be quiet

".

nThey did as he asked.

n

"Something's wrong, they should have been hit, by our wind attack, and yet their clothes haven't been torned and there aren't any cuts on them...

" He said.

n

"Now that you mention it...

"

nThe leader took a closer look at John, and noticed.

n

"He's chanting something! Fall back! It's a trap!

" as he tried to jump leap back only to be stuck.

n

"It's too late, glacio

" John muttered as we got up.

n

"What?!

" He shouted in a confused manner when he noticed that his shoes were frozen on to the ground.

nHe looked around and noticed that his team's legs were also stuck to the ground. Another thing that he noticed was that the ice was slowly spreading throughout their bodies.

n

"What is this!?

"

n

"When did he?

"

n

"Don't lose formation! Fire magicians melt the ice around your legs!

" He shouted.

nWithout him having to tell them, the fire magicians were already chanting.

nEven while being put under pressure, he was still sticking to his responsibility.

n

"Sorry...

" John muttered as he took a full power leap towards the closest mage that started chanting.

nJohn boosted himself a little with wind and tried to make it so that no one would notice.

nHe was only around 5 meters away from John, so he reached him in an instant, and in that moment, John grabbed on to his face, cast 'glacio' and froze his mouth.

n

"Mmph-

"

nJohn unfroze his legs and with the momentum from the leap, he slammed his head on to the ground.

n*crack*

n'… What was that sound?' John wondered.

nNot even a second later, light particles filled his body, and he was transported out.

n

"Uh... He'll be fine, right?

" John asked as he looked at the others.

nThey all looked at John with an expression of shock and fear on their faces, and so did his brown-haired truce partner.

nHowever, the fire mages didn't stop chanting.

n'They have healers on stand-by, so I don't have to hold back, I've always wanted to go use my full strength.' John concluded.

nJohn had been supplying around 3 x more magic to reinforce his body than normal. It felt weird, but for some reason, he was not running out of magic.

nOnce John said that, the brown-haired girl looked at him as if she was trying to say 'that's not the plan'.

n

"Or so I'd like to say, but that won't be it.

" John said as he walked away from the ice sphere.

nHis temporary teammate, did the same and followed behind him.

n

"What? You're sparing us? We don't need your pity!

" Said their leader.

n

"I'm sorry, good luck next year.

" John said once he was around 20 meters away from them.

n

"Huh? What does he mean by that? Wasn't he going to spare us?

"

n

"I've finished the chant! Advanced Fire Magic: HeatWave!

" Said one of the fire magicians.

nA strong wave of heat was radiating from where they were, and it was melting all the ice around the area.

n

"You made a mistake giving us time! Everyone! Retr-

"

n

"Advanced Fire magic: resurgens flammae

" Translation: Rising flames.

n*Boom*

nFire rose from the ground underneath them and engulfed all of them. In that instant, light particles appeared and teleported them away.

nThe number of badges under hers changed from 1 to 6, and the number of badges under Johns now displayed 12.

n

"Looks like setting up that spell worked.

" John said as he watched the flames disperse.

n

"I never expected such a simple plan to work...

" She muttered.

nThe plan was simple; John would lure them in and restrict their movement; she sets up a trap and activates it after. The reason she didn't need to chant was because she had already done it.

n

"Mhm, well good luck!

" John said as he began heading towards his group.

nJohn hadn't checked on them since the beginning of the 2nd stage and he was getting a bad feeling.

n

"Wait!

" said the brown-haired girl as she grabbed on to his arm.

n

"What?

" John asked.

n

"Tell me your name.

" She said.

n

"John

" John replied.

n

"John... I'm Elora, thank you for the help.

" She said.

n

"It was mutual help, no need to thank me, and nice to meet you, Elora.

" John replied.

n

"Nice to meet you too.

" She replied happily.

n'I guess the saying enemies today and friends tomorrow is rather accurate…' John thought.

n

"Huh? What's that?

" Asked Elora as she pointed towards the direction John was headed towards.

n

"What?

" John asked as he looked over.

nA black cube could be seen in between the fights.

n'What is that?' John wondered.

n'Deprehendre' He muttered.

nJohn used deprehendre and found the magic traces of his party inside.

n'Oi... Are you serious?! They're inside of that thing?!' John thought with shock.

n

"This is an announcement, 30 players remain, we are now moving on to the 3rd and final stage, I repeat, we are now moving onto the 3rd and final stage.

"

n

"Wait! I have to help them!

"

nLight particles covered their bodies, and they were teleported.

n------------------------------------------------------

n

"Damn it... this is one sided...

" muttered Serena as she started to pant.

n

"We haven't been able to get a single hit in...

" Muttered Ariel who also seemed to be getting tired.

nThey simultaneously jumped sideways barely avoiding the shadow spikes which rose up from the ground beneath them.

nEleanor watched as they both circled him while keeping a distance.

n'One moment... If I can just buy them a single moment…' She thought as she watched.

nAs if she had thought of an idea, Eleanor began chanting.

n

"Ariel!

" Said Serena.

n

"Right!

" Ariel replied.

nThe two girls started to fake chant.

n'Do I use that...? But if he enters his shadow... I'll have to hit him with something which he won't see coming…' Thought Ariel as she continued to fake chant.

nSuddenly, Ariel stopped circling him and ran straight at him.

nSeeing this, he started to chant. He was a fast chanter, and could chant silently too, although they could outspeed him.

n

"Ventus!

" Muttered Ariel once she was around 15 feet away from him.

n'From this range he won't be able to-' she thought.

n

"Advanced Dark magic: Tenebris Clypeus

" Translation: Dark Shield.

n

"?!

"

nA Small dark sphere surrounded his whole body, it took the attack from ventus and not even a scratch was formed on it.

nHowever, Ariel didn't stop, she kept running with a plan in mind, all she needed to do was get close enough.

n10 feet wasn't enough, she needed to be a single step away from him.

nBut getting closer was a mistake. She was now 7 feet away from him, when all of the sudden, long pointy spikes extended from the shield.

nWith the adrenaline and heightened senses, it was as if she was watching it in slow motion, but it was faster than her.

nHer heart beat got faster and faster as the spikes got closer. Even knowing that there were healers on standby, she felt danger and fear..

nInstinctively, she as much power as she could on to her legs and leapt back, however the spikes continued to extend and didn't show any signs of slowing down.

nAt the same time, Eleanor who watched had finished chanting her spell.

n'Please make it in time…'

n

"Advanced light magic: Sancti lumine.

" Translation: Holy light.

nA ray of light was formed in front of Eleanor's hands and, at the speed of light, reached the small gap in between Ariel and the Shadow spike.

nIn that instant, the shadow spike crumbled, and Ariel safely backed away.

n

"Thank you, Eleanor

" Said Ariel as she took deep breaths once she far from his range.

nEleanor couldn't hear what Ariel said as she didn't say it loud enough and she was far, but understood the meaning.

n

"No worries

" Said Eleanor as she showed Ariel a thumbs up.

n'I knew it... Shadow magic is weak against light if I create an opening we'll be able to win' Thought Eleanor as she started chanting.

n

"But...

" Eleanor muttered.

nAt that moment, the two girls had the same thought in mind.

n'Where's Serena?'

n

"I never expected you three to last this long... I was told to hold back, but I guess I have no choice... but it's over.

" said the guy as he started to chant something from inside of his dark Sphere defence

n

"Think again.

" Said Serena as she pointed up.

nThe voice came from above. They all looked up and couldn't believe what they were seeing.

nAround 50 fire arrows was formed in the air above her.

nShe landed on her feet and felt goosebumps travel through her whole body.

n'The landing was too rough…' Thought Serena.

n

"Eleanor!

"

n

"Right!

"

nEleanor had already started chanting from the moment she saw Serena in the air.

n

"Advanced light magic: Holy light!

"

nIn an instant, a ray of light was sent straight at the Dark sphere shield.

nIt made a small opening on the top, which was big enough for them.

n

"Go!

" Shouted Serena as she swung her hand down.

nAll the 50 arrows were propelled straight at him from above.

n'Even if his shield is strong, there's no way it can handle all of these arrows and with Eleanor's spell it's been weakened, it's our win!' Serena thought.

n

"Saint Class Dark Magic: Magnify Cube tenebris.

" Translation: Dark Cube.

n

"Eh?

" unintentionally let out Serena with a confused expression.

n*Boom*

n