Amaranth, Amarath Kingdom; Loh Quarter (Hira 8th day of Jade 603R.T)

“Let’s play.” A sly smile appeared from the kid as he effortless flings the heavy chain directly to the group of students and high magus. The chain as if has a life of its own coil and trying to find its victim.

“Move, O holy heaven in the sky, reject and repel. Barrier!!!” Prince Faris commanded his fellow classmates to clear from the impact and erected a barrier in front of him. The chain landed heavily on the barrier almost causing the barrier to crack. An eerie cackle come across the room from the monster. The students already dispersed from the impact area and the high magus currently formulating on how to defeat the monsters while chanting an offensive spell himself.

“Aqua Spear.” A water spear formed and lunging towards the child however intercepted by the burning hound. The spell dissipates into steam as it landed on the body of the hound and the started to gurgle a large fire towards the group. The intensity of the flame was larger than what had been expected by the high magus. The heat from the flame had melted all the candles on the nearby wall and causes cracks on the dozens of windows beside the room.

“Flame wheel!”

“Earth spike!”

“Lightning strike!”

Numerous offensive spell was cast by the students charging at the flame however due to the intensity of the flame each of the spell was engulfed by the fire causing the fire to increase larger. The students shocked with the outcome started to panic as the flame started to approach much closer towards them.

“Don’t waste mana. We need to regroup and think of what we should do!! Oberon, can you create a wall of defense to ward off the flame?” The high magus instructed all 5 of his students to regroup while he was eyeing on his last student; Faris that was struggling handling the attack from the monster kid named Fryl. Damn. He knows that his students has practically zero real battle experience however advance their spell work are.

“Yes. O Earth that filled with bounty, erect and Protect. Earth defense!” Oberon built a large mud wall in front of them to deter the flame from reaching them. Faris still trying to deflect the attacks from the child with his heavy chain alone while the other was barricading themselves behind the mud wall that erected by Oberon.

“Okay. We need to separate the two monsters. So, we will divide into two groups. Guso, Myra and Gideon. You guys will go and help Faris in defeating the child. Meanwhile, Oberon, Keera and Ramsay will accompany me to subdue the hound. We’ll execute the split after the flame is out and I’ll cast a smokescreen and according to the group assigned you guys will help to subdue the monster. And NO FIRE SPELL on the hound. It seems that the hound can amplify its flame using any fire spell directed towards him. Understand?” All of the students nodded in agreement even though the fear from earlier situation still gripping hard in their heart. Trying to regain their calmness and courage in mere seconds, they executed the plan.

“Heartless eyes that couldn’t see, flee and forget. Smoke!!” A smoke appeared after the fire dissipated in front of the wall. The group divided into two and quickly move to each end of the room.

“Aqua spear.” A spear coming from the right trying to hit the flame hound to lure it away from its partner. It was a success. The hound let out a roar and started to follow the 4 silhouettes that moving to the far right end of the room. Its paws leave out a burning footprints as it gallop across the room effortless.

“Come here you dirty mutt!!!” The high magus taunted the hound before he and his students stopped and surrounded the hound. Surrounded by the mages, the hound started to howl and the flame from his body started to melt leaving a scarred black body. The fire that melted on the floor started to move about and forming small fire beast numbering 10 small monsters that encircling the hound making a defence line from it and the mages.

“Shit!!” Ramsay cursed as he saw the fire animated.

“Don’t lose hope. We’ll defeat this bastard!” The high magus reassuring his students with high spirits even though he wasn’t fully sure that they could subdue the monster. Gathering his mana, he strengthen his resolve to face the deadly monsters growling fiercely towards them.

“Faris, we’ve come to help!” Myra said as they arrive behind Faris as he deflect another attack from the kid that shatters his barrier. He had cast several barrier to hold down the attack however each of them was break after a few lashes from the monster. A brief smile come across his exhausted face.

“Thanks guys. So far he’s been using the chain as his attacks. I think he’s hiding more than the chain.” Faris delivered his analysis on the monster to his classmates. Gideon reaching something from his bag and handing it to Faris. It was a small vial of green liquid that started to shimmer as light started to reach the liquid.

“Drink this. Don’t worry, I’m an appraiser-would-be. It’s a drop of rejuvenation fluid. A drop of it can heal a lot of wounds as well as removing fatigue from the body. I’ve appraised his chain just now and I found that the chain is heavily imbued with ice element. Be careful not to touch it, it causes frostbite and shatters you hand in an instant. All of you take this. ” He handed a pill to each of them and after taking the pill, they feel a surge of mana wrapping their body also an increase in their perception of the surrounding. The pill was an enhancer that widely used by warriors and mages alike to boost their body strength and durability as well as an additional bonus of mana absorption for mages. Faris exhausted face now was gone and he is ready to face the monster for a second round.

“Wow, you sure have good drugs in that bag. Can Fryl have some?” The kid taunted the group with his chain only to be deflected by Faris shield. Again he lashes his chain towards the group. The chain rushed splitting the air around it and changing its direction mid swing. The chain move towards Myra who he considered the weakest in the group. Guso with his quick reflex grabbed Myra to dodge the heavy swing. The chain landed on the floor leaving a clear mark on it. Frustated by his missed attack, his face contorted as he dropped the chain to the ground and started to leap towards the group of mages. The mages already expecting the short distance attack prepared themselves and swerved in all direction as the first impact hit on the floor causing a shockwave throughout the room. Upon inspection, the impact have left a small crater on the floor as cracks emerge from it. Consequently, a roar was heard from the far end of the large room however the scattered mage can’t afford to be distracted as their enemy started to launch another attack.

“Lightning bind X2!!!!” A chain of lightning started to clutch the young kid.

“Earth totem! Water Slice!” Guso launched 2 spells with different affinities while his two classmates restraint the monster from moving. An explosion happen as the two spells collide on the restrained monster causing a wave of dust covering the impact point.

“Careful!! He’s still there!! Stormbomb!!” Faris released 2 small black balls from his palm towards an emerging silhouette behind the clouding dust. The ball burst with the sound of a roaring thunder as two destructive storms emerge from the small balls. Thunder was zapping everywhere inside the room followed by a gust with heavy razor sharp wind that slicing the wide area around the monster. The windows in the room smashed by the uncontrolled lightning causing debris of broken glasses to scattered on the ground.

“Hehe….this is fun. You mages manage to inflict Fryl’s body with this much damage with just small spell. Hahahhaha….this is FUN!!!!!” Fryl emerge from the devastating attacks with bloodied body and several broke glass pieces lodge on his charred left hand. His cloth stain with his blood as he leap again to attack the mages. Faris fully prepared to take on the attack as he had regained his confidence due to the visible effect of his essence spell on the monster body. He casted another binding spell to catch the monster mid-air. His classmates had already been preparing high tier spells straight after his bombs detonated to ambush the monster again in hoping to stop the monster with it.

“Lightning bind, double restraint!!”

Two lightning flash towards the leaping monster and restraining it mid-leap causing the monster to lose his balance and dropping it on the scattered glass on the floor.

“Arrrghhhh!!!” The monster squealed as more glasses piercing his bare skin.

“Tempest!!!!”

“Inferno!!!!”

“Avalanche!!!”

Three high tier spells was casted by Gideon, Myra and Guso. Beads of sweat clearly shown on their forehead indicating the difficulties in casting the spells. The y perfectly combo the spell to enhance the spell next to each other. The first spell, Tempest inflicts damage also enhances the next fire spell, Inferno and lastly the earth element spell, Avalanche crushed the monster with unrefined earth also paralysing it with the poison mixed in the earth.

“ha….ha…..ha…” The students were out of breath after the multiple high tier spell casting to take down the monster.

“Is it down?” Faris asked the three after walking towards the three. Dust are still wafting around the area clouding any positive affirmation of the monster’s condition. Seconds after that a loud roar shock the 4 students followed by a loud thump on the ground from ythe far end of the room. The dust has cleared and lying naked in the middle of the heavily destroyed spot was Fryl, heavily wounded and oozing blood from all over his body. His body was completely charred and cuts were found everywhere on his body.

“You guys sure are strong.” Fryl stated as the kid fainted.

“What a tough bastard.” Guso proclaimed as he further observed the monster from short distance. Myra completely silent in disbelief as her summon familiar was lying naked on the ground. Is this mine? She asked herself. Faris and Gideon slumped to the ground exhausted by the battle with the monster.

“Looks like they manage to subdue the flaming hound as well.” Gideon pointed happily towards the other group walking limply towards them. A smile drawn across their faces as they meet with their classmates and instructor.

“You guys don’t look worse for wear. What happen?” High Magus Fredrick who was limping supported by Ramsay asked them with disbelief at their lack of physical damage. His right leg clearly bloodied and charred. Keera and Myra hugging each other in relief at seeing each other presence. Oberon quickly dropped himself next to Faris showing his cut ear and bruised knuckles.

“That monster was sooooo tough. But I manage to defeat it.” The chubby teenager started to brag his victory to the group. His bragging resembling a child brought laughter to the worn-out group.

“Looks like we don’t need the headmaster after all.” The high magus calimed to the group with a smile on his face.

“You guys are so noisy. I just want to sleep here. Gideon complaining while lying on the ground.

“I wonder if the next familiar summoned is gonna be this strong as well.” Princess Keera question froze the whole group. They begin to remember back all the difficulties that they had experienced in subduing Myra’s summon familiar. The prospect of summoning more monsters like these two quickly damping the mood of the entire group.

“I highly doubt that. The familiar summoned correspond with the purity of the mana you produced for the summoning. So far, only Myra can gather the highest purity of mana for a spell casting. I doubt that everyone will face a strong familiar after this. Just for precaution I will ask the headmaster to supervise the next session of summoning.” High Magus Fredrick explained as he rubbing his charred leg wondering if the leg can be heal to its former state. A wave of relief swept across the students after the statement by their instructor. However, Faris driven by a high competitive spirit hiding a deep disappointment for his lacking in abilities to refine the mana that he absorbed.

“HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!! So Gyl is down too!!!! Wonderful!! Now we can play!!!!” The kid voice shocked the entire group. Fryl started to bloat with a devious smirk ran across his face.

“Take cover!!!!” Faris said as a blinding light covering the whole room.