19 First Battle

The tranquil serenity of the German forest shattered in an instant as the RPG streaked through the air, a deadly missile hurtling towards the sleek black Mercedes with terrifying precision. The projectile slammed into the vehicle's side, the impact a deafening roar that echoed through the trees like a clap of thunder, the force of the explosion sending the car careening off the narrow road and into the dense underbrush.

Metal screamed and glass shattered as the Mercedes flipped and rolled, the once-pristine bodywork crumpling like paper under the relentless onslaught of the forest floor. Flames erupted from the engine, hungry tongues of fire that licked at the twisted wreckage, the heat searing the air and filling the nostrils with the acrid stench of burning rubber and gasoline. Smoke billowed from the ruined vehicle, thick plumes of black that curled towards the canopy above, a stark contrast to the clear blue sky that peeked through the leaves.

Inside the car, chaos reigned supreme, the world reduced to a dizzying blur of shattered glass and twisted metal as the vehicle tumbled end over end, the laws of physics abandoned in the face of such wanton destruction. The air was filled with the screams of the dying, the agonized wails of those trapped within the mangled wreckage, their bodies broken and bleeding, their lives hanging by the thinnest of threads.

Amidst the chaos, Lucas emerged from the ruined vehicle, his movements precise and calculated, his face an inscrutable mask of composure. His emerald eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the scene with a clinical detachment, his mind already whirring with calculations and probabilities. The protective spells that had shielded him from the worst of the blast danced around him, a veil of energy that cast an ethereal shimmer on his pale skin, like a ghostly aura that clung to his form.

Behind him, the sound of car doors slamming and hurried footsteps crunching on gravel heralded the arrival of his remaining bodyguards. Their voices, sharp and urgent, cut through the eerie stillness of the forest, a jarring contrast to the tranquil birdsong that had filled the air just moments before. The metallic scent of blood mingled with the acrid stench of the wreckage, a nauseating cocktail that threatened to overwhelm the senses.

"Mr. Potter, are you alright?" one of them called out, his tone laced with concern and a hint of fear, the words hanging in the air like a desperate plea.

But before Lucas could reply, the sharp crack of a sniper rifle echoed through the trees, and the bodyguard crumpled to the ground, a neat hole in his forehead, his eyes wide and staring in death, a grotesque puppet whose strings had been suddenly cut. More shots followed in quick succession, each one finding its mark with terrifying precision, and within seconds, the remaining bodyguards lay motionless on the blood-soaked earth, their lifeless forms a stark display of violence and destruction.

Lucas's pulse quickened, a staccato rhythm in his chest, as he realized the true extent of the danger he faced. The world seemed to slow down around him, each second stretching into an eternity as he watched a bullet streak towards him, its path a deadly arc of inevitability. The necklace at his throat, pulsing with the power of his spell-infused blood, flared brightly, a desperate attempt to deflect the incoming projectile. But even as the bullet's momentum was slowed, the necklace's glow faded, its energy exhausted, and Lucas knew he had only seconds to act, his mind racing to find a solution to the impending doom that hurtled towards him.

With a surge of willpower, he honed his focus, his vast sea visualization aligning seamlessly, his intellect functioning with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. The air around him shimmered and rippled, his magical shield springing to life just as the bullet reached him. The projectile hung suspended in midair for a fraction of a second, its surface reflecting the dappled sunlight that filtered through the leaves, a mocking reminder of the beauty that persisted even in the face of death, before it dropped harmlessly to the ground, its deadly intent thwarted by the sheer force of Lucas's will.

Lucas's breath came in short, sharp gasps as he surveyed the carnage around him, his mind racing with the implications of the attack. Someone had gone to great lengths to eliminate him, to snuff out his brilliance like a candle in the wind, a thought that sent a chill down his spine, a cold, creeping sensation that settled in the pit of his stomach like a lead weight. His eyes narrowed, the emerald depths hardening like chips of ice, as he contemplated the audacity of his attackers, the sheer arrogance of their actions igniting a cold fury that burned in his veins like liquid nitrogen.

But even as the gravity of his situation sank in, Lucas's mind was already shifting gears, his thoughts turning to the task of survival, the gears of his intellect turning with ruthless efficiency. He knew he couldn't stay out in the open, exposed and vulnerable to further attacks, the dense underbrush and towering trees of the forest his only allies in the face of this unseen enemy. His jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck taut with tension, as he fought to maintain his composure, his mind racing to formulate a plan of action.

With a sharp intake of breath, Lucas snapped out of his momentary daze, his eyes narrowing as he chastised himself for his lapse in focus. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not even for a second, the price of failure too high to contemplate. With a thought, he vanished from sight, his form blending seamlessly into the surrounding foliage as he darted towards a nearby tree, his footsteps silent and swift, the only sound the pounding of his heart in his ears.

But just as he reached the shelter of the ancient oak, another sniper bullet slammed into his magical shield, the impact sending a shockwave through his body, his teeth rattling in his skull from the force of the blow. Surprised, but still focused, Lucas diverted more and more of his will towards the shield, pouring every ounce of his concentration into maintaining the protective barrier, the strain of the effort etched into the lines of his face. The shield held, but he knew that if he faced too many of such direct attacks, his will would be exhausted sooner or later, his defenses crumbling like a house of cards in the face of a hurricane.

How could they know where I was when I was invisible and my footsteps silenced by magic? The thought raced through his mind, a puzzle that demanded solving, his brow furrowed in concentration as he searched for the answer. Then, it hit him, the realization as sudden and jarring as a bolt of lightning splitting the sky. Night-vision goggles, specifically ones that worked by using thermal imaging, could detect his heat signature, tracking him no matter whether he was invisible or not, a chilling reminder of the lengths his enemies were willing to go to see him dead.

During this contemplation, another sniper bullet tore through the tree he was hiding behind, the high-caliber round easily penetrating the thick bark and slamming into his magical shield at his back, the impact sending him stumbling forward, his heart pounding in his chest. Shocked, Lucas dropped to the ground, his mind racing as he tried to think of a solution to this urgent issue, his fingers digging into the damp earth beneath him as he fought to maintain his focus.

Heat, heat, heat, he repeated to himself, his thoughts turning to his mastery of fire and frost magic, his thoughts arranging with practical efficiency. His fire magic was weaker than his frost magic, but in the heat of the moment, his only idea was to blanket the surrounding area in heat, enough to make sure that the thermal goggles couldn't pinpoint his exact position, a desperate gamble that could mean the difference between life and death.

Another sniper shot hit the magical shield around his leg, and Lucas quickly utilized his Vast Sea Visualization technique, meditating in the middle of the fatal dangers surrounding him, a feat only possible through literal years of practice, his mind as still and calm as the surface of a frozen lake. He quickly warmed up the entire sea of his mind, the water growing warmer and warmer, even as the vast force sphere in the sky representing his magical shield flickered and dimmed with each successive sniper shot, a visual representation of his dwindling reserves of power.

With a surge of focus and will, the entire sea reached a sufficient temperature, and Lucas opened his eyes, returning to the real world, his senses on high alert for any sign of further danger. The air around him was warm, almost unbearably so, and he could feel beads of sweat forming on his brow from the intense heat his magic had generated, the moisture trickling down his face and stinging his eyes. Yet, as the seconds ticked by, there were no more sniper shots, the forest falling silent once more, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant chirping of birds.

Lucas rose to his feet, his movements cautious and measured, his senses on high alert for any sign of further danger, his eyes scanning the surrounding foliage for any hint of movement. The heat radiating from his body distorted the air around him, creating a shimmering mirage that obscured his form, a ghostly aura that clung to his skin like a second layer of protection.

With a quiet breath that barely stirred the air, Lucas shifted his weight forward, the decision firm in his heart. The forest floor barely whispered under his feet as he began to move, initially slow but quickly gaining speed. His form, barely visible and silent, seemed to merge with the heat haze that cloaked him, making him part of the forest's own mystique.

As Lucas raced through the dense underbrush, his mind focused on a single, chilling thought: he had to eliminate the hunters before they could strike again. The audacity of their attack, the sheer arrogance of firing an RPG at his car, ignited a cold fury within him, a ruthless determination that propelled him forward with unwavering purpose. Invisible and silent, the air around him shimmering with heat, Lucas reached into his jacket and retrieved the notebook containing the Elemental Sphere. 

With a flick of his will, the notebook opened, and the sphere floated into his waiting hand, its surface cool and smooth against his skin, a stark contrast to the searing heat that radiated from his body. The sphere pulsed with power, its grooves glowing faintly in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the forest canopy. Lucas could feel the artifact's energy thrumming through his veins, amplifying his already formidable magical abilities to new heights.

As he pressed deeper into the forest, Lucas's keen senses picked up on the presence of his assailants, their hushed voices and the metallic clinking of their weapons betraying their position. He crept closer, his footsteps muffled by the soft earth, until he could make out their forms through the dense foliage. The assassins stood in a loose formation, their camo clothing blending seamlessly with the dappled shadows of the forest. They spoke in low, urgent tones into their walkie-talkies, their brows furrowed in confusion and growing unease.

Lucas listened intently, his lips curling into a cold smile as he heard their bewildered reports. "Everyone's down, but the target... he's gone invisible," one of them muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Thermals are useless. The whole area's heating up."

As if on cue, the assassins began to shift uncomfortably, their eyes widening as they felt the temperature around them rising rapidly. Beads of sweat formed on their brows, and they exchanged nervous glances, their fingers tightening on the grips of their weapons. The air shimmered with heat, distorting their vision and making it difficult to breathe.

Lucas seized the moment, his eyes narrowing as he focused his will into the Elemental Sphere. Within the depths of his Vast Sea Visualization, he condensed frost magic into a concentrated beam, channeling it through the sphere. The artifact amplified the spell's power, causing the grooves etched into its surface to blaze with an icy blue light. 

The Frostbeam surged forth, a blinding streak of pure, frigid energy that streaked towards the unsuspecting assassins. The beam struck one of the men square in the chest, punching a frozen hole through his torso. Organs and tissue crystallized instantly, the assassin's body convulsing as the icy cold consumed him from within. Frost spread across his skin, turning it a deathly blue as his blood froze in his veins. The man's final breath escaped his lips in a plume of icy mist, his eyes wide with shock and horror as he crumpled to the ground, his body shattering into a thousand frozen shards.

The remaining assassins scattered, their faces contorted in a mix of fear and rage. They opened fire, their automatic weapons spitting lead in a desperate attempt to hit their invisible assailant. Bullets whizzed past Lucas, ricocheting off tree trunks and tearing through the underbrush, but his invisible form remained untouched by the hail of gunfire.

With a thought, Lucas summoned a spike of earth from the ground, impaling another fleeing assassin. The man's scream cut through the air, a gurgling, agonized sound that was abruptly silenced as the earthen spear tore through his body. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the earth a deep crimson as the assassin's lifeless body dangled from the spike, his limbs twitching in a macabre dance of death.

Simultaneously, Lucas cast a Sticky spell, adhering the boots of the remaining assassins to the ground, rendering them immobile. The men struggled against the invisible force, their muscles straining as they tried to break free, but the spell held fast, leaving them helpless and vulnerable.

Branches snapped from nearby trees, their jagged ends glinting in the dappled sunlight as they hurtled towards the trapped men. The assassins' eyes widened in terror as the improvised spears found their marks, piercing flesh and bone with sickening thuds. Blood pooled on the forest floor, a grim scene of violence and death. The men's screams echoed through the forest, a symphony of agony that was abruptly silenced by the soothing caress of Lucas's Calming Spell.

One assassin remained, his hands shaking as he raised his automatic weapon and fired blindly into the surrounding foliage. Lucas watched impassively as the bullets whizzed past him, his invisible form untouched by the hail of lead. With a casual flick of his wrist, he wrenched the gun from the man's grasp, turning it back on its owner. The weapon hung suspended in midair, its muzzle pointing directly at the assassin's legs and arms.

A staccato burst of gunfire erupted, the bullets tearing through the man's limbs, shredding muscle and shattering bone. The assassin's screams echoed through the forest, a symphony of agony that was abruptly silenced by the soothing caress of Lucas's Calming Spell. As the man lay on the ground, his eyes glazed and unfocused, Lucas approached, his hand outstretched.

He delved into the assassin's mind, his Legilimency probing for information, for the location of the remaining assailants. Images and thoughts flashed through Lucas's mind, a chaotic jumble of memories and emotions that he sifted through with cold, clinical precision. When he had what he needed, Lucas withdrew from the man's mind, his lips twisting into a cruel smile.

He raised his hand, and a torrent of flames erupted from his palm, engulfing the prone assassin in a searing inferno. The Elemental Sphere pulsed with power, amplifying the fire magic to a terrifying intensity. The flames roared with a life of their own, consuming everything in their path. The man's body convulsed, his skin blackening and peeling as the fire consumed him, the acrid stench of burning flesh filling the air.

Lucas watched the flames dance, the flickering light casting eerie shadows across his face. His emerald eyes glinted with a cold, ruthless determination, a chilling reminder of the darkness that lurked within his soul. He had eliminated the immediate threat, but he knew that this was only the beginning.