The Battle Begins

The Regalizen selection arena unfolded before the participants, a vast illusionary domain created by Ausbay. The barren desert stretched endlessly in every direction, with scorching heat and dry winds adding to the realism of this powerful illusion. Dust swirled with each gust of wind, limiting visibility and making it difficult for the contestants to see far ahead.

Ellora, Madalyn, Gareth, Chris, Cestine, and Charlotte stood at a distance from one another, eyeing each other warily. They knew that one misstep in reading their opponents' movements could prove fatal. The tension in the air grew thicker as the seconds ticked by, with none of them making the first move.

Madalyn Naventhius, with her usual arrogance, glanced at Ellora. Beside her, Chris Ireshia summoned his protective spirit.

"Yellow Magic: Summon Wolf."

A large white wolf appeared beside Chris, standing calmly, ready to defend its master. Without exchanging many words, Madalyn and Chris shared a knowing nod. The combination of light magic and spirit summoning could be lethal, and they both knew it.

"What do you think, Chris?" Madalyn asked, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"It'll be easier if we take them down one by one," Chris replied, his voice just as icy. "Starting with the weakest one."

Their gazes turned toward Ellora, who stood alone at the edge of the arena. In the distance, Cestine Van Helden and Charlotte Vermillion Rosenfelt exchanged glances as well. They understood that this battle wasn't just about raw power but also strategy and alliances.

"We should work together, Charlotte," Cestine whispered. "If we want to survive, we need to take them down first."

Charlotte nodded in agreement, chanting a spell for her mirror magic.

"Red Magic: Reflection Mirrors."

Small mirrors began to spin around her body. "I agree. Madalyn and Chris are too dangerous if left to cooperate for too long."

Meanwhile, Gareth Rhanes, with sharp eyes that resembled those of a wild beast, observed from a distance. He remained silent, letting his instincts guide him. With the ability to shift into powerful beasts, he felt confident he could survive without aligning with anyone. However, his gaze lingered on Ellora, who seemed unaffected by the situation around her.

The battle began with Madalyn and Chris launching an attack on Ellora. Chris commanded his white wolf to strike at her, while Madalyn gathered light energy in her hands, ready to unleash a deadly strike.

"Ellora, this ends now! White Magic: Light Spear!" Madalyn shouted, hurling a blinding spear of light.

But Ellora, calm and composed, evaded the attack with agile movements. Chris's wolf snapped at the air, and Madalyn's light spear struck the sand, creating a small explosion in the desert's surface.

"Why isn't she fighting back?" Chris thought, frustrated by Ellora's calm demeanor.

On the other side of the arena, Cestine and Charlotte seized the opportunity to strike at Madalyn and Chris's team. Cestine unleashed her poisonous flowers.

"Green Magic: Poisonous Flowers!"

Purple flowers scattered through the air, releasing a paralyzing aroma. Chris quickly realized the threat and summoned another protective spirit.

"Yellow Magic: Summon Eagle!"

A giant eagle soared into the sky, generating strong winds to disperse the poison before it could reach them.

Meanwhile, Gareth charged toward Charlotte with astonishing speed.

"Blue Magic: Tiger Shifting!"

In an instant, he transformed into a massive tiger, his claws ready to tear into Charlotte. But Charlotte, protected by her mirrors, deflected the attack, creating a mirror image that deceived Gareth.

"Don't underestimate us, Gareth," Charlotte smirked as Gareth launched another assault with a deafening roar.

Ellora, on the other hand, continued to observe the battle carefully. She knew that her full power wasn't necessary just yet. She wanted to see how her opponents' tactics would unfold before revealing her own.

"Enough playing around!" Madalyn shouted, raising both hands into the air. A large ball of light formed above her, ready to be hurled at Ellora, who was dashing around using her acceleration magic.

Ellora, with almost imperceptible movements, dodged the attack, further frustrating Madalyn. Chris tried to surround Ellora with his spirits, but Ellora kept moving, as if she had anticipated every move they made.

Amidst the chaos, Cestine and Charlotte's team didn't hold back either. Cestine unleashed another wave of her poisonous flowers toward Madalyn and Chris...

Meanwhile, Charlotte used her mirrors to reflect and strenghten Cestine's poison.

Gareth, still in his tiger form, charged at Cestine, trying to destroy the poisonous flowers before they could reach their target. But Charlotte quickly turned, using one of her mirrors to create a barrier, protecting Cestine from the assault.

"Nice work, Charlotte!" Cestine shouted, feeling secure behind the mirror wall.

But Gareth wasn't about to give up. He continued his relentless attacks, using his beastly strength to try and break through their defense. At the same time, Madalyn and Chris, who had managed to neutralize Cestine's poison, teamed up again, focusing their attacks on Ellora, who still seemed to be their main target.

"I'll end this right now!" Madalyn yelled, preparing an even stronger light attack.

Ellora, who had been dodging and observing until now, realized the time had come. With a subtle hand movement, she began to manipulate basic magic by forming magic atoms around her to create an almost invisible barrier in front of her. As Madalyn's light attack approached, the barrier absorbed most of the energy, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.

"White Magic: Light Sphere!"

Chris frowned as he watched. "Is she stronger than we thought?"

Meanwhile, Gareth, still locked in fierce combat with Charlotte and Cestine, started to realize that he couldn't keep fighting alone. "This won't end if i keep this up," he thought, searching for a way to change the situation.

The battle grew even more intense as both teams began to work more tactically. Madalyn and Chris kept up the pressure on Ellora, while Cestine and Charlotte tried to take control of the fight. Gareth, feeling cornered, considered joining one of the teams, but he didn't want to show any weakness.

Although Ellora appeared calm, she knew she couldn't keep playing it safe. As the attacks from both teams closed in on her, she decided to act. Unleashing the power she had been hiding, she began to chant a spell that seemed like ordinary magic to those watching.

In reality, Ellora was manipulating space and time magic atoms to mimic basic magical atoms, making it look like a standard spell.

"Space Wall," Ellora whispered softly.

Madalyn and Chris, who thought they were about to capture Ellora, were suddenly stopped by an invisible wall that appeared out of nowhere. The wall blocked all their attacks, leaving them stunned.

"What is this?" Chris shouted, staring at the invisible wall that his attacks couldn't penetrate.

Meanwhile, Gareth, still struggling against Cestine and Charlotte, began to lose patience. With a loud roar, he leapt high, attempting to strike from above. But before he could reach his target, Charlotte's mirror reflected his attack, sending him back to where he started.

Ellora, now feeling the time was right, began to reveal a little bit of her true power.

"Wind Blast."

In an instant, she manipulated the magic atoms around her feet to stir up the sand beneath her, creating a small sandstorm that swirled around her, making her almost invisible.

Madalyn, Chris, Cestine, and Charlotte now faced a new threat. They could no longer focus on just one target. The sandstorm began to obscure their vision, making it difficult to pinpoint Ellora's exact location.

But Madalyn refused to give up. She concentrated all her energy to create an even larger light, determined to pierce through the sandstorm.

"Magic like this... I'll erase it right now!" Madalyn thought, preparing her final attack.

Gareth, fed up with the alliances forming around the arena, decided to unleash his full strength.

"Blue Magic: Extended Shifting!"

Gareth's eyes glowed a menacing red as his already massive tiger form began to expand even further. Muscles bulged, and his skin hardened into scales, reminiscent of an ancient creature that doesn't exist in real world. In this form, Gareth was no longer just a tiger; he was an unstoppable force of nature.

His focus was solely on Charlotte, who had been skillfully deflecting his attacks with her mirrors. With a thunderous roar, Gareth leapt high into the air, slashing his massive, muscular claws at Charlotte's mirrors. The mirrors shattered into countless fragments, sending magical atoms scattering in every direction. Charlotte flinched, momentarily stunned by Gareth's raw physical power.

"Finally!" Gareth bellowed, his voice deep and resonant. "Those mirrors can't withstand my strength!"

Charlotte, though shaken, remained composed. She stepped back, her eyes sharp and calculating. She knew that despite the shattered mirrors, others were still in play, hidden behind the fragments. The energy Gareth had unleashed was absorbed by these concealed mirrors, only to be reflected back at him with even greater force.

"Did you really think I'd let you break my defenses so easily, Gareth?" Charlotte's voice was calm but laced with menace.

As Gareth prepared to strike again, he suddenly felt an immense force reflected back at him from Charlotte's hidden mirrors. He barely had time to raise an arm in defense before the energy struck, the impact shattering the natural shield of his scaled skin.

A roar of pain escaped Gareth as his arm was severed by the reflected energy. Blood gushed from the stump, yet Gareth showed no signs of surrender. With a wild and desperate fury, he lunged at Charlotte with his massive body, undeterred by the loss of his limb.

"I don't need both hands to crush you!" Gareth snarled, his voice reverberating across the arena.

Charlotte was caught off guard and too slow to react. Gareth's enormous body slammed into her, sending her crashing to the ground. She tried to shield herself with her remaining mirrors, but Gareth's sheer physical power was too overwhelming. The sound of shattering glass echoed as Charlotte was pinned under Gareth's relentless assault.

"AAAAAACCCCKKKK!"

Before Gareth could deliver the final blow, Cestine, who had been watching the battle closely, seized the moment to protect her friend.

"Green Magic: Arcadian Tree!"

With incredible speed, Cestine cast her plant magic. From the barren, dry ground, a giant poisonous tree sprang forth, its thick, toxic roots coiling around Gareth's massive form, lifting him into the air and holding him in place.

"I won't let you hurt Charlotte any further!" Cestine shouted, her eyes filled with determination.

The roots tightened their grip on Gareth, and the poison they exuded began to seep into his body. Gareth struggled, using every ounce of his strength to break free, but the poison spread too quickly, paralyzing his powerful muscles. Slowly but surely, Gareth's immense form began to weaken, and he could no longer maintain his beastly transformation.

With one final, fading roar, Gareth reverted to his human form. He collapsed helplessly to the ground, his once formidable body now drained of strength, his breath ragged and shallow. Cestine's poison had done its job.

Cestine approached Gareth's prone form, with Charlotte, now back on her feet, standing beside her.

"You can't rely solely on brute strength, Gareth," Cestine remarked, her tone tinged with regret. "Sometimes, strategy and teamwork matter more."

Charlotte, still reeling from Gareth's attack, looked at him with a mix of emotions. "You're strong, Gareth, but you're too stubborn."

Gareth could only grunt, unable to muster a response. Despite his defeat, the fire in his eyes remained undimmed, though his body could no longer continue the fight.

On the other side of the arena, Madalyn and Chris exchanged glances as they watched the fierce battle unfold. They knew they needed to act quickly to seize the opportunity. However, Ellora, who had been quietly observing from within her sandstorm, remained vigilant. She understood the fight was far from over and knew she needed to make her move soon.

With her usual calm demeanor, Ellora began to chant a new spell, preparing to face the next threat as the sandstorm she had conjured started to dissipate. The arena had transformed into a battlefield charged with residual magical energy.

Madalyn, who had always seen herself as a natural leader, decided to take the initiative. With a determined look, she turned to Chris, who stood by her side.

"We can't let her stand any longer," Madalyn said coldly, her eyes fixed on Ellora. "Are you ready, Chris?"

Chris nodded, his expression serious. "I'll back you up with everything I've got."

Madalyn moved swiftly, her body beginning to emit a blinding light.

"I never thought I'd have to use this spell against a country girl. White Magic: Shining Empress!"

In an instant, Madalyn activated her light-shifting magic. Her form vanished briefly in a flash of light before reappearing on the other side of the arena, rapidly closing in on Ellora with incredible speed.

"Ellora! You can't dodge this!" Madalyn shouted as she unleashed a barrage of light attacks, each one striking with relentless precision.

The beams of light shot toward Ellora from every angle, their speed and sharpness leaving little room for defense. But despite the overwhelming assault, Ellora remained composed. Her eyes, calm and vigilant, tracked Madalyn's every move as she gracefully evaded the attacks, her movements almost like a dance.

Meanwhile, Chris wasn't idle. He began to cast a summoning spell, his hands moving with unnerving speed and precision.

"Yellow Magic: Horde Summoning!" Chris's voice echoed throughout the arena.

From the barren ground, a thin mist began to rise, quickly spreading. Within the mist, shadowy figures began to form—spirits summoned by Chris. Hundreds of them gathered, surrounding Ellora with blank expressions. With a single command from Chris, the spirits lunged at Ellora from all directions, ready to strike.

Ellora now found herself in a precarious situation. Madalyn's light attacks came at her with blinding speed, while the spirits summoned by Chris closed in from every side. Yet, she remained calm. There was no sign of panic on her face—only deep focus, like the surface of a tranquil lake.

Ellora deftly avoided Madalyn's light attacks, moving in perfect sync with their arrival using basic movement spells. Even in this tight spot, she managed to read the direction of each strike with precision, weaving through the spirits attempting to encircle her.

"You're quick, Ellora," Madalyn sneered, though she was secretly impressed by her opponent's agility. "But how long can you keep this up?"

Ellora didn't respond, her concentration unwavering. Each time a spirit got too close, she destroyed it with pinpoint accuracy using basic spells. Every movement seemed deliberate, almost as if she knew what was coming.

Chris frowned, feeling the strength of his spirits waning as Ellora systematically dismantled them. "Madalyn, we need to press her harder!" he shouted, summoning more spirits in an attempt to overwhelm Ellora.

"Of course I know it!" Madalyn snapped, unleashing an even stronger barrage of light, each beam brighter and more intense than before, all zeroing in on Ellora with relentless precision. 

Yet, Ellora remained composed, dodging with light but purposeful steps. She skillfully navigated the barren terrain, using every feature of the arena to diminish the force of Madalyn's attacks. She leapt over sand dunes, rolled behind mounds, and even used shards of debris to deflect the incoming light beams.

Frustrated by her repeated failures, Madalyn's patience began to wear thin. "Why don't you just give up, Ellora?!" she shouted angrily, launching another massive attack, this time with even more power.

"White Magic: Light Sphere!"

The light gathered into a massive beam, aimed directly at Ellora.

But Ellora, in her usual calm manner, simply stared down the incoming attack with sharp eyes. In a swift motion, she sidestepped, then immediately countered, destroying several of Chris's spirits that were closing in from behind.

Chris, who was already drained from summoning so many spirits, looked increasingly tense.

"This can't be happening...," he muttered, watching as Ellora skillfully managed the onslaught from both sides.

"We need to sync up better," Madalyn said, her tone now dead serious. "Attack her together, Chris!"

"Gather all your power! Destroy her!" Chris nodded, directing all his remaining spirits toward Ellora. 

The spirits fused into a massive force, creating a powerful energy wave that rushed towards Ellora. At the same time, Madalyn summoned every ounce of her strength, sending forth the brightest beam she could muster, merging it with the spirits' energy. The combined attack was colossal, capable of obliterating anything in its path.

"White Magic: Light Spear!"

"Yellow Magic: Merge!"

Ellora felt the immense pressure from the combined assault. She knew this wasn't something she could easily dodge. But she also knew she couldn't reveal her space-time magic just yet, as it would give away too much. She had to withstand the attack with the magic she had at her disposal.

"So Is this all you've got, huh? Space Wall..." Ellora whispered calmly.

With incredible speed, Ellora formed a powerful magical barrier, concentrating all the surrounding magical atoms into it. Madalyn and Chris's combined attack slammed into the shield with full force, triggering a massive explosion that shook the entire arena. Dust and sand billowed up, obscuring everyone's view for a moment.

As the dust began to settle, Ellora stood in the same spot, completely unharmed. The attack had failed to breach her defense.

Madalyn and Chris were stunned, unable to believe that Ellora had survived such a devastating strike. "That... can't be..." Madalyn muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.

Ellora, letting out a slow breath, dispelled her barrier and gazed at them with the same serene expression. She didn't need to say anything; her calm gaze said it all, that was not enough.

Chris, visibly exhausted, took a step back, but Madalyn was still unwilling to concede. "This isn't over, Ellora," she declared with unwavering determination.

Yet deep down, Madalyn knew this fight was far from over. Ellora had proven herself to be incredibly resilient and smart, and though they had managed to pressure her, they hadn't defeated her. This battle was far from finished.

***