Practice Match (Part 2)

The intensity in the training room surged as everyone's attention zeroed in on Ellora, standing calmly at the center. Around her, magical forces from each participant began interacting, creating a highly complex web of spells.

"Charlotte, Chris, Cestine—let's do the combination spell!" Madalyn commanded, her eyes focused on the assault on Ellora.

"Got it, let's go," Cestine responded.

Chris, preparing his summoning magic, grinned with excitement. "This is about to get interesting! I've been dying to test my new spell."

"Don't let her escape!" Charlotte added, her voice tense with determination.

Charlotte, her expression sharp with concentration, raised her hands. In an instant, four colossal mirrors, each towering at 30 meters, materialized around Ellora, trapping her within. The mirrors reflected both light and magical energy, seeming to amplify any attack directed toward them. The bright light bouncing off the mirrors lit up the training room, but there was an undeniable tension in the air.

Meanwhile, Chris had summoned his elemental spirit—this time, a wind spirit. A massive vortex formed around Ellora, pulling in every bit of energy surrounding her. The wind howled violently, creating a storm that raged around the calm figure in the center. Despite the chaos, Ellora remained still, her eyes scanning her opponents without a hint of panic.

As the vortex swirled, Cestine stepped forward, her movements graceful. With a flick of her hand, she sent a cloud of explosive toxins into the windstorm. The once-clear air grew dark as the poison mixed with Chris's wind, transforming the vortex into a menacing black storm. The toxins swirled dangerously within, adding an extra layer of threat to the already volatile situation.

Madalyn watched the storm with a confident smile. Without hesitation, she raised her hand, sending her light magic into the heart of the swirling wind and poison. The bright energy collided with the dark vortex, igniting an explosion within. The result was a giant firestorm, twisting and raging in the heart of the wind. The flames slammed against Charlotte's mirrors, but instead of dying down, they reflected back, growing stronger with each pass.

"How's that, Ellora? This is a spell combination we designed just for you!" Chris shouted through the chaos, his excitement clear.

Charlotte's mirrors didn't just reflect the magic; they amplified it. With each reflection, the firestorm grew fiercer, turning into an uncontrollable inferno that engulfed the entire space inside the mirror barrier. The flames, now a roaring storm of fire, seemed unstoppable.

Still, Madalyn wasn't satisfied. "Don't get comfortable, we're moving to the next phase!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the roar of flames.

The onlookers were in awe of the spectacle. The sheer force of the combined magic left everyone speechless. Even Professor Fei Zhang, the headmaster, and Frey Ireshia couldn't hide their astonishment.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's still unbelievable!" Gareth shouted from the sidelines, his expression one of pure amazement.

"How can Ellora survive this? Did we finally succeed?" Charlotte wondered silently, though a part of her was convinced that their combined spell would be impossible to counter.

Yet, even with the overwhelming magic swirling around her, Ellora remained calm. Her eyes glimmered with focus as she carefully analyzed every element of the attack—the way Charlotte's mirrors operated, how Cestine's poison fused with Chris's wind, and how Madalyn's light magic supercharged everything. In her mind, she was already planning her next move.

"But Ellora still hasn't moved from where she's standing," Akira whispered, his tone filled with disbelief.

All eyes were on Ellora, standing at the eye of the storm, seemingly untouched. Despite the immense power closing in on her from all sides, she showed no fear, no sign of defeat. In the distance, Akira and Nadeshiko stood quietly, watching with serious expressions as the storm raged on.

"This isn't over," Akira muttered, gripping his sword tighter.

Nadeshiko remained silent, her cold eyes scanning every detail. They both knew Ellora wasn't someone who could be easily defeated, and they waited, curious to see what her next move would be.

To most, the combination spell cast by Madalyn, Chris, Cestine, and Charlotte seemed unstoppable. But to Ellora, it was just another puzzle to solve. Standing in the heart of the firestorm, she channeled her magic into the dimensional barrier surrounding her. But this time, she wasn't merely defending—she was preparing to strike back.

The air in the training room grew thick with tension. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Ellora's next move. Though the flames raged violently around her, a faint smile crossed her lips—she had found the weak point in their intricate spell.

Realizing their magic wasn't enough to bring Ellora down, Madalyn quickly took charge. Her eyes gleamed with confidence as she glanced at her team—Chris, Charlotte, Cestine, and Gareth—who were ready for the next phase of their attack.

"NOT YET! Gareth, transform!" Madalyn commanded, her voice firm but calm.

Without hesitation, Gareth responded. His body began to tremble, and in an instant, he started to transform. His muscles swelled, his skin darkened, and thick fur sprouted all over his body. He now towered over the others, his human form completely replaced by the massive figure of a giant bear, claws sharp and teeth gleaming. Every step he took sent tremors through the ground.

Madalyn wasn't finished. Her light magic flared, making her glow like a star in the night. The light didn't just surround her—it formed into a weapon in her hand, a spear of light that shimmered with magical energy. Though made of pure light, the spear emanated a palpable sense of raw power.

"Chris! We need more strength!" Madalyn called out, her gaze sharp as it landed on him.

Chris didn't need any further instruction. Without delay, he dispelled his elemental wind spirit. Instead, he began casting a more complex spell, summoning a stronger entity—the blacksmith spirit.

Invisible to the naked eye, the spirit merged with Gareth's newly transformed bear form. Within moments, Gareth's enormous body was encased in a layer of spiritual armor, translucent yet solid. The armor not only protected him but also enhanced his strength, giving him the ability to withstand both magical and physical attacks with increased resilience.

"Nice work, Chris!" Madalyn shouted with satisfaction as she watched the spiritual armor slowly envelop Gareth's body.

But she didn't stop there. Floating closer to the massive bear, she placed one hand on his broad shoulder. The light radiating from her body began to seep into the spiritual armor Chris had summoned. What was once a translucent armor now glowed brightly, infused with Madalyn's magical atoms. Within seconds, the armor transformed into a gleaming, ancient golden armor, making Gareth appear even more fearsome. He no longer looked like a mere beast—he was a warrior straight out of legend, his golden armor shining like the sun.

"Incredible…" Charlotte whispered in awe, her eyes wide as she watched Gareth's transformation.

But Madalyn wasn't done yet. She signaled to Cestine, who had been quietly preparing her own spell.

"Cestine, protect us!" Madalyn ordered.

Without missing a beat, Cestine nodded and began casting a protective spell. With a graceful wave of her hand, she conjured a barrier that wrapped around Gareth and Madalyn, shielding them from any poisons or harmful substances. The barrier glowed softly, a defensive layer that would repel any toxins that came their way. Now Gareth and Madalyn, armored in ancient gold and protected by an anti-poison barrier, was ready to be an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

"Impressive combination," Chris remarked, clearly proud of their teamwork.

Madalyn nodded in approval, her eyes locking onto Ellora, who remained calm and composed in the midst of the chaos swirling around her.

Meanwhile, Akira and Nadeshiko watched intently from the sidelines. They hadn't moved, but the tension in the air around them suggested they were analyzing every move of their opponents.

"This might be the best they've got," Akira muttered under his breath, more to himself than to anyone else.

Nadeshiko, standing beside him, gave a silent nod. Her expression showed she was ready to step in at any moment, but for now, she was content to observe.

At the back of the room, Professor Fei Zhang and the academy's headmaster watched from a distance. They appeared serious, but also intrigued by what was unfolding before them. Fei Zhang, in particular, couldn't hide his curiosity about how Ellora would handle the situation.

"No wonder she wanted to test their strength," Fei Zhang muttered to himself.

The headmaster, standing next to him, nodded in agreement. "This training is more dangerous than I anticipated, but I want to see how they handle it," he replied quietly, his eyes never leaving the intense battle unfolding before them.

Back on the battlefield, Gareth—now a towering bear, clad in golden ancient armor and shielded by a poison-proof barrier—stomped the ground with his massive claws, preparing to strike. Madalyn stood firmly at his side, gripping her glowing spear of light. Behind them, Chris, Charlotte, and Cestine held their positions, ready to lend their magical support.

Ellora, still standing calmly in the center of the arena, showed no sign of fear. Her gaze was steady, a quiet confidence radiating from her as she sized up the formidable alliance surrounding her. She knew the attack was well-coordinated and lethal, but in her mind, she was already piecing together her next move, analyzing every tiny detail of the battle.

What kept her so composed was the understanding that no attack, no matter how well-executed, was without weakness. Her opponents had combined their powers impressively, but Ellora knew one thing: no strategy was flawless.

The battle was far from over. Despite the overwhelming display of strength from her enemies, Ellora still held her trump card. Amidst the noise and tension, she was patiently waiting for the right moment to unleash her counterattack.

Madalyn's sharp eyes gleamed as she watched Ellora, sensing that the time was near. A new tactic flashed in her mind. She turned to Charlotte with a look of determination. Having fought alongside her many times, Madalyn knew Charlotte's incredible skill in manipulating mirror magic.

"Charlotte. We need more mirrors around Ellora. Full control over this space," Madalyn commanded confidently, twirling her spear of light.

Charlotte nodded without hesitation. With a swift, precise movement, she manipulated the giant mirrors already surrounding Ellora, splitting them into dozens of smaller, floating mirrors. These tiny mirrors now orbited Ellora from all angles, each reflecting light and magic from the rest of the team. The air filled with the confusing glow of bouncing reflections, creating a chaotic, dazzling field of magical illusions around Ellora. The mirrors floated in unpredictable patterns, moving at varying speeds, enclosing Ellora in a maze of light and trickery.

"These mirrors will reflect every one of your attacks. You won't be able to escape, Ellora," Charlotte declared with confidence, though deep down, she remained cautious of Ellora's unpredictable abilities.

Madalyn, still in command, shifted her focus to Nadeshiko, who had been silent but ever ready to make a critical contribution. 

"Nadeshiko, ice mountains—now!" Madalyn ordered.

Nadeshiko, known throughout the academy for her mastery of ice magic, glanced briefly at her brother, Akira, seeking his silent approval. This was a pivotal moment, and she trusted Akira's wisdom in making decisions. Akira, without a word, gave a subtle nod, signaling his agreement.

Taking a deep breath, Nadeshiko began chanting her ice spell. The air around the battlefield rapidly cooled, and misty frost formed in the air. With her magic, she summoned towering ice formations that erupted from the ground around Ellora, growing swiftly to enclose her further.

These icy structures weren't just barriers; they were traps. Each mountain of ice was linked to Charlotte's mirrors, creating a deceptive environment that distorted perception. The combination of ice and mirrors created a bewildering landscape, impossible for anyone—even a wizard of Ellora's caliber—to fully comprehend.

"You're as reliable as always, Nadeshiko," Madalyn said with satisfaction, watching the maze of ice and mirrors take shape.

"This will be the perfect barrier," Nadeshiko added calmly, her eyes focused on the battlefield now shrouded in towering ice. "I'll maintain it. Don't let her escape."

Charlotte chimed in, "With the mirrors reflecting everything, we can strike her from any angle. She won't know where the next attack will come from."

Despite the seemingly dire situation, Ellora stood unmoved in the shrinking space. Her sharp eyes took in every detail, scanning the rising ice and the rapidly swirling mirrors. Her mind raced, calculating each move, searching for the weakness in their strategy.

"They're working together flawlessly... no, they've reached perfection," Ellora thought to herself. Yet, even in the midst of this challenge, she knew—there was always an opportunity hidden within the chaos.

Akira, who had been calm from the start, finally spoke to Nadeshiko. 

"Do you really think Ellora will be trapped by this magic?" he asked, his inner eyes scanning the battlefield shaped by Nadeshiko and Charlotte's spells. 

Without taking her focus off her ice magic, Nadeshiko replied briefly, "I never underestimate Ellora, but this combination should be effective. We need to be ready for an unexpected counterattack." 

Chris, standing a bit farther away, looked on in admiration at the tactical formation Madalyn had orchestrated. He was prepared to strike further if the need arose. 

"This is perfect teamwork. We're all playing to our strengths," Chris muttered to himself, clearly pleased with how they were collaborating. 

Gareth, still in his massive bear form adorned with glowing ancient armor, let out a satisfied grunt. He was eager to launch a direct assault. With a powerful stomp of his large claws, the ground shook slightly beneath him. 

"What are we waiting for? Let's attack!" he roared, his voice heavy with excitement and impatience. 

But Madalyn, leading the strategy, raised her hand, signaling the team to hold back. 

"Wait. We need to see how Ellora reacts to this setup before going all in," she said, her voice calm yet calculated. She knew Ellora wasn't a foe to be underestimated, no matter how cornered she might appear. 

In the middle of the battlefield, Ellora was clearly preparing for something, though her expression gave nothing away. Her analytical mind was working at lightning speed, calculating the positions of her opponents, the mirror reflections, and the ever-growing ice walls. 

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over Madalyn. Ellora, who should have appeared trapped and pressured, instead exuded an unshakable confidence. 

"We need to be careful," Madalyn thought, sensing the rising tension in the cold air thickened by Nadeshiko's ice magic. 

Meanwhile, Akira and Nadeshiko observed quietly, their eyes sharp and focused. They both knew something big was about to unfold. 

"Whatever happens next, don't drop your guard," Akira whispered to Nadeshiko, who gave a small nod in agreement. 

The air on the battlefield grew heavier with suspense, and everyone braced for the next move. Though Madalyn and her team believed they held the upper hand, the fight was far from over.

***