After a brief deliberation, Elder Omn approached Thorian, his face breaking into a grin. "The council has accepted your challenge. Should you triumph over all our champions, we will pledge our loyalty and serve without question. The remaining terms will remain as we previously negotiated with young Brix."
Thorian nodded appreciatively. "A wise decision." He then surveyed the surroundings. Goblins and their towering hobgoblin chiefs had already formed a large ring around them, eager witnesses to the unfolding drama. The arena had been sufficient for his duel with the spear-wielding champion, but now, facing multiple adversaries, its expanse seemed inadequate.
"Have your men back away more," Thorian instructed, gesturing to the throng of goblins that surrounded them. "I can't guarantee their safety if they stand so close."
Elder Omn's eyes followed Thorian's gesture, and he nodded in understanding. "Indeed, your spells might prove too devastating for them."
At the mention of his magical prowess, Thorian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You know about my spells?"
"You jest too much, king of the kobolds," the elder replied with a light chuckle. "There's no need to feign ignorance about my abilities."
Thorian responded with a chuckle of his own, but his eyes soon drifted toward the goblin champions. They were cracking their necks and adopting fighting stances, their bodies a coiled spring of anticipation, readying themselves for the battle to come. The air crackled with a tangible tension, as both sides prepared for a clash that promised to be both fierce and unforgettable.
Following Thorian's focused gaze, Elder Omn nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Well then, shall we commence this sacred duel?"
"I am ready at your signal," Thorian responded, his voice steady and firm.
With a decisive wave, Elder Omn commanded the goblins and the hobgoblin chiefs to retreat further, widening the makeshift arena. It was only once they had moved back, vanishing into the dense shadows of the surrounding forest, that Thorian felt satisfied with the space allotted for the duel. The tension of anticipation hung heavy in the air as final preparations were made.
Elder Omn put some distance between Thorian and the group of poised champions. Then, with a loud, resonant shout that echoed through the clearing, he signaled the start of the fight.
Boom!
The six champions, bodies enveloped in a fierce red aura, dashed toward Thorian with breathtaking speed. The very ground beneath them seemed to shudder, and their first step left small craters in their wake, evidence of their ferocious might.
Faced with the assault of the armed champions converging on him from all directions, Thorian invoked a spell he had kept hidden in his arsenal until now.
Mist Veil.
The air around Thorian instantly became hazy as a thick white fog materialized, enveloping him and obscuring the champions' vision. As they attempted to penetrate this magical barrier, their bodies suddenly decelerated, the momentum arrested by an unseen force. They began to grunt and moan as the sizzling hot air within the mist seared their skin.
Within seconds, they all retreated from the mist, expressions twisted in confusion and pain. They had lost sight of Thorian, and they realized the futility of searching for him within an area where they were vulnerable to constant damage.
As the white mist gradually dissipated, Thorian's figure began to emerge. The flame kobold seemed unscathed, his eyes alight with focus. Just as the goblin champions could make out his form, Thorian snapped his fingers.
A thundering roar resonated through the clearing, the shockwave of sound nearly deafening the goblin champions. Instinctively, they covered their ears and fell to their knees, overcome by the jarring intensity of Thorian's Thunderclap spell.
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Seizing the moment of advantage, Thorian began casting one of his more advanced spells. The winds surrounding the disoriented, green-skinned champions started to shift wildly, gaining speed with each spiraling rotation. Within moments, a full-fledged tornado had formed, its powerful currents sucking the bodies of the goblin champions into its vortex.
Thorian's eyes narrowed as his spell reached full power, preparing to launch his next assault. Just as he was about to mentally command his Fire Pillar spell, he abruptly halted mid-cast.
Damn, I almost killed my future commanders in haste, he realized, a sudden clarity washing over him.
Drawing a deep breath, regret and realization etched on his face, Thorian surveyed the tempest he had summoned. True to its rank as a first-advancement spell, the tornado ensnared all six champions, its razor-sharp gusts slicing through their flesh, causing thick purple blood to seep from numerous wounds.
Yet, from the whirlwind's chaotic core, a brilliant yellow flash burst forth. Accompanied by a deafening roar, a goblin champion emerged, his form cloaked in an electrifying aura. Propelled by a powerful kick, he broke free from the tornado's grasp, hurtling toward Thorian like a bolt of lightning. Sword drawn and gleaming menacingly, he seemed intent on liberating Thorian's head from his shoulders.
An elemental aura? Marvelous.
Thorian wanted to admire the goblin champion's electrifying display, but he knew he couldn't afford such indulgence. With practiced efficiency, he employed dual casting, summoning a protective Druid Dome around him and materializing a molten shield close to his body.
In the blink of an eye, the goblin champion thrust through the wooden dome with a lightning-infused burst. His sword collided with the molten shield, forcing Thorian back a couple of steps.
Yet, the goblin champion's assault was relentless. He lunged forward again, sword raised high, prepared to unleash a horizontal slash. Thorian, however, remained composed, his keen eyes tracking every subtle movement of his opponent. As the goblin leaped into the air, Thorian spotted a slight shift in his shoulders, a telltale lowering of his center of gravity.
It’s a feint!
Recognizing the champion's true intention, Thorian leaped into the air, deftly maneuvering his molten shield into place just in time to ward off the goblin's unexpected rising diagonal slash.
Crack!
Thorian's lava shield splintered into fragments, unable to endure two successive aura-powered strikes from the formidable goblin. The shockwave propelled Thorian backward, but he skillfully rode the momentum, putting some distance between himself and his relentless foe.
Taking a brief moment to survey the battlefield, Thorian's gaze was drawn to the area where his tornado had once raged. The spell had dissipated, freeing the five remaining champions who were now charging forward to support their comrade.
With a click of his tongue, Thorian regarded the determined goblin champion before him, a note of regret in his thoughts. I wanted to spar with you some more, but it seems I must finish our duel prematurely.
As Thorian's feet touched the ground, he tapped into a reservoir of energy he hadn't accessed in this lifetime: the core of his lower abdomen. Fiery power surged along a hidden path, enveloping his body before culminating in his palms. The flames that danced around his hands were not the usual red; they were tinged with a mysterious purple hue.
Dark Flame Palm, let's see how good you are.
Infusing mana into his right foot, Thorian charged at the lightning-imbued goblin with all the speed he could muster. The champion, momentarily taken aback by the unusual flames, recovered swiftly to block Thorian's palm strike. Yellow lightning clashed with purple flame, creating a spectacle of radiant beauty as the two energies battled for dominance.
Thorian wasted no time, unleashing a relentless flurry of attacks against his opponent. The battle's momentum shifted as the goblin champion was forced onto the defensive, parrying and dodging as best he could. He knew that a single misstep could prove disastrous against Thorian's potent strikes, but also that his fellow champions were closing in. In a matter of seconds, they would join the fray, and the advantage would swing back in his favor.
Thorian sensed this strategic calculation but remained unfazed. His heart did not waver, his mind clear and focused. His class, elemental magus, held its reputation as one of the most formidable for a reason.
Dust Devil.
The wind shifted once more at Thorian's command, sending a foreboding chill through the advancing goblin champions. Pebbles, sand, and blades of grass were swept up into a whirling vortex, forming a barrier of nature's fury. Though smaller than the tornado that had ensnared them earlier, the Dust Devil still served as a significant deterrent. The five champions halted, looking for ways to circumvent the spell and reach their embattled comrade on the other side.
With his other opponents momentarily held at bay, Thorian's focus narrowed, honing in on the lightning-clad champion. The goblin's face twisted into an ugly grimace as he looked at the Dust Devil Thorian had summoned.
You shouldn’t be so distracted.
Pausing his relentless assault, Thorian suddenly halted, standing still for a brief moment. The goblin champion was taken aback at first, confusion flickering across his face. But as his eyes locked with Thorian's, a realization clearly dawned, and his expression went ashen.
With a calm and deliberate motion, Thorian snapped his fingers.