"Hmph, since you refuse a toast and insist on drinking a forfeit, don't blame us for being impolite." The leader of the black-robed figures waved his hand, and the others immediately spread out, encircling the group. A fierce battle was about to erupt.
Dean Bruce muttered to the headmaster and the young magician, "We just dealt with that black vortex and used up a lot of our magic. Better stay alert." The headmaster nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the black-robed figures around them, preparing for combat.
The black-robed figures struck first, sending beams of dark magical energy shooting toward the group.
"Everyone, stay alert! Defend!" Dean Bruce shouted.
The group hastily cast spells, erecting layers of magical shields to block the attacks.
The students huddled together, supporting one another. Though fear was evident in their eyes, none of them backed down.
"We can't just keep defending; we need to counterattack!"
Dean Bruce said, spotting an opening. He launched a powerful spell toward one of the black-robed figures. Caught off guard, the figure staggered backward a few steps after taking the hit.
"Well, well, not bad," the figure sneered, regaining balance. "But this is just the beginning." The black-robed figures intensified their assault. Their spells intertwined, forming a larger, more powerful magical array that loomed menacingly over the group.
The headmaster noticed this and quickly shouted, "Focus your attacks on the southeast corner of the array. The magical fluctuations there are weaker. We might be able to break it!" Hearing this, everyone concentrated their attacks on the southeast corner. Brilliant bursts of magical energy collided with the black-robed figures' array, creating dazzling sparks.
However, the array was overwhelmingly powerful. Despite their combined efforts, it merely wavered slightly, remaining intact.
The black-robed leader smirked. "Hahaha! With your pitiful strength, you think you can destroy our magical array? Just accept your fate and die."
As frustration mounted among the group, Dean Bruce suddenly recalled his earlier experiments with artifact runes in the library—particularly his improvisations with spatial magic. Taking a deep breath, he decided it was worth a shot. After all, they had nothing to lose at this point.
He shouted, "Listen to me! Let's cast a spatial transference spell together and move their array to the skies above the valley. Without a solid anchor, it might collapse!" The headmaster and the young magician exchanged glances. Though the idea seemed far-fetched, they had no better options. They joined Dean Bruce in chanting the spatial transference spell.
The students, regardless of whether they understood or not, followed the teacher's instructions without question, pouring their remaining magic into the spatial transference spell.
Miraculously, as their magic pooled together, an unusual spatial ripple began to form. The black-robed figures' magic array shockingly started to shift upward, slowly moving toward the skies above the valley.
The black-robed figures panicked. "This... this can't be! How could you possibly know such magic?!"
They frantically tried to stabilize their magic array, but it was too late. Once the array was fully transferred above the valley, it lost its connection to the ground's magical support. Cracks began to form, and with a thunderous BOOM, it exploded. The powerful shockwave of magic energy rippled outward, sending the black-robed figures stumbling and flailing.
Shortly afterward, the intelligence division sent word. They had discovered a mysterious faction operating frequently near the Duchy of Tanya's borders. These individuals moved stealthily, as though searching for something.
Moreover, subtle clues suggested a potential connection between this faction and the black-robed figures who had attacked the school previously.
Using this new intelligence, Dean Bruce and Tia Nars revised their plans, assembling a more formidable team of magicians for the mission.
Before departure, Dean Bruce addressed the team, his tone grave. "This mission will be fraught with danger. Stay vigilant. Our goals are twofold: to rescue Master Nozer and uncover the truth behind the upheaval in the Duchy of Tanya."
The team set out, racing toward the Duchy of Tanya. Along the way, Dean Bruce kept turning over various scenarios in his mind, contemplating possible challenges and devising strategies to handle them.
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As they approached the border of the Duchy of Tanya, they could sense a suffocating magical aura lingering in the air. The surrounding environment felt unusually sinister and oppressive.
Suddenly, a thick mist appeared ahead of them. Within the mist, faint magical fluctuations could be detected, like a massive trap waiting for them to step in.
Dean Bruce signaled for the team to halt. "Be cautious. There's something wrong with this mist. Don't rush forward." An elder stepped up. "Let me try to disperse the mist."
With that, he cast a powerful wind spell, attempting to blow the mist away.
The mist wavered slightly but did not dissipate. Instead, a chilling laugh echoed from within.
"Ha ha ha, you've finally arrived. We've been waiting for you to walk into our trap."
A sinister voice resonated through the fog. Dean Bruce frowned deeply. "It seems the enemy already knows we're here. Everyone, prepare for battle. Don't break formation."
The team members gripped their weapons tightly and cast defensive spells, their eyes fixed on the swirling mist.
Suddenly, countless black vines shot out from the fog, whipping toward them. The vines were covered in sharp thorns, emanating dark magic and exuding an aura of lethal poison. "Use fire magic to attack the vines!" Dean Bruce shouted.
The team immediately launched a barrage of fire spells. Flames collided with the vines, producing a sizzling sound as dark smoke billowed into the air.
As the group battled fiercely against the vines, shadowy figures emerged from the mist—it was the black-robed figures. They wielded wands, muttering incantations under their breath, and unleashed spells toward Dean Bruce and his team.
While fending off the attacks, Dean Bruce carefully observed the black-robed figures. This time, their attacks were far more coordinated, displaying a level of organization and strategy that hadn't been present in their previous encounters.