"Whoa!" Zack exclaimed, his expression a mix of recognition and awe. "Your magic beast's a Blue Moon tiger?! Chuck, that's awesome!"
Robert's gaze shifted from the majestic beast to it's rider. "Chuck? Zack you know this guy?" He inquired, eyeing the boy with interest. Chuck appeared to be just an average young man, likely in his late teens, with a stout build, black hair and beautiful green eyes. His casual summer outfit gave off a relaxed vibe, but there was something about him that set him apart. His habitually pursed lips and the air of authority that surrounded him hinted at a more complex personality, suggesting strongly that there was a lot more to him than met the eye.
"Of course, I know him," came Zack's casual reply. "He's Chuck Hart, Suzy's brother. Their dad's a wealthy business man and owns a very large medical-potions company in Bening, the city where I live. Their company, Heatrum, is a pioneer in IMM - Integration of Magic in Medicine - and runs one of the topnotch potions and medicine research and production facilities in Comset. They've got lots of branches including in Bening and also in some districts and towns in Heiss like Horseville and Prixeo. I remember reading about their plan to establish a stronger presence in Heiss by expanding into Axille, but I say that's a bad idea. The population in this deserted place isn't very attractive. There's hardly any market competition to speak of," Zack stopped talking, noticing Robert and Oliver's impressed stares.
"How do you know all that?" Oliver really had to ask.
Zack snorted. "Newspapers, obviously. Nobody bothers reading them anymore, too busy staring at their phones. They miss out on the important stuff. And if you two didn't spend all your time in a boarding school, you'd probably be more clued in about what's going on in the world around you."
Robert smirked. Finally, here was someone who knew more than Oliver about wizarding stuff!
But just then, Chuck's gruff voice interrupted. "Cut the chit chat," he barked, riding closer on his Blue Moon tiger. "Which one of you is Robert Shade Manuel?"
Zack grinned. "That would be me."
Chuck's guffaw echoed across the street. "Oh please, everyone in school knows who you are," he said, dismounting from the beast. "You're Zack, from the tech class. The guy who skips class but aces every assignment. I'm a big fan of your smarts, Zack, but there's something you did that really got under my skin."
Oliver chimed in. "I'm guessing he laughed when your sister tried to outdo this guy in spell-casting but ended up making a fool of herself," he said nonchalantly, nodding towards Robert. Robert had already regaled Oliver with tales of his exploits at Heiss Magic School, so he was quite familiar with the fiasco story.
Chuck's glare settled on Robert, accompanied by a resentful grin. "So you're the reason Suzy got suspended from school. Well, guess what? she's been holed up in her room ever since, depressed and sober, and it's all because she lost face to someone as insignificant as you."
"Am I supposed to feel bad or something?" Robert retorted, his expression that of mock-concern. Zack burst into laughter, and Oliver released a light chuckle.
Disregarding the jibe, Chuck pressed on. "You know, it really hurts me to see my sister so down. And that rarely happens, so you must be an exceptionally unlucky brat. I had some associates track you down. It wasn't difficult, they traced you to your boarding school, in this shithole of a town. I initially planned to pay you a little visit in there, but then I learned about today - the mid-term break. What better setting to punish a punk than on the streets, right? To spare the details, here we are." Chuck's tone was malicious. He glanced at the furry creature beside him and stroked it's back affectionately. At nearly the size of a small car, the Blue Moon tiger was an imposing magic beast, especially considering it's tender age and relatively low level. It's muscular build and fluid movement hinted at a remarkable agility and strength, making it an intimidating and awe-inspiring sight.
Zack seemed to be the only one who understood Chuck's intention. "Guys, I highly suggest not engaging with him," he whispered to Oliver and Robert while slowly backing away. Chuck's aura began to soar dangerously.
Chuck was a fifth-rank Common Plant wizard, undoubtedly a revered student in Heiss Magic School's elite Plant class. Many couldn't help but wonder if magical talent ran in their genes - after all, Suzy, Chuck's sister, was already a fourth-rank Common Lightning wizard, while most of her classmates were struggling with the second rank. And Chuck was an even more powerful wizard, one of the strongest first-year students at Heiss Magic School. Some even compared him to Alexander.
"Not to worry," Chuck sneered, slowly raising his hands and gathering his magic energy. "I'm not gonna kill you three, just need to leave a mark..." Three red seeds materialized on his palms. They seemed tiny and harmless, but the other three knew better. Chuck stood thirty-five feet away, the standard magic dueling range, watching Robert, Zack and Oliver with a calculating gaze.
"Us three?!" exclaimed Zack, his eyes widening in disbelief and fright. "That's absurd! Oliver and I had nothing to do with Suzy's suspension."
Chuck's face twisted with malevolence. "But you laughed!" He snarled, flinging the seeds towards them. The seeds hit the ground and sprouted into three long, green, red-tipped tendrils which lashed towards the trio like whips. Oliver reacted immediately, shooting his hands forward, and a flurry of ice dust exploded outwards, encasing the tendrils and freezing them solid.
Chuck's eyes bulged with stunned disbelief. How the hell was that even possible?! Oliver gave off the aura of a mere second-rank Common wizard, yet he had somehow managed to neutralize Chuck's spell with an ease that defied logic. For a moment, the impossibility of the feat made Chuck's confidence in his 5th rank status to waver. One question hammered in his mind repeatedly; What the hell just happened?!
But Chuck rapidly shook off his shock. "We'll see how your puny spells hold up! Reaper, show them what you've got!" he sneered, and the Blue Moon tiger responded with a heart-wrenching roar, its claws unsheathed and it's eyes aglow. The rune on its abdomen, which resembled a crescent moon, began to pulse with energy, and the creature lunged forward with measured speed. Its formerly tender face was now contorted into a snarling, yet curiously adorable visage.
Robert and Oliver immediately snapped to alertness, while Zacks gaze was transfixed on the approaching beast, his expression one of impressed wonder. "Reaper, huh? That's a pretty cool name," he said, shaking his head in approval... as if the razor-sharp claws and snapping canines lunging at them weren't even a concern!
Robert, however, didn't miss the enthusiasm in Zack's voice, and he turned to face him. "Zack, since you're so fascinated with that beast why don't you take it on - think of it as an opportunity to test out your devices," he suggested, wearing a sly grin. "Meanwhile, Oliver and I will practice our spells on shortie over there." He shot a fierce glare at Chuck, his aura growing menacingly as lightning flashed across his skin. Oliver's lips curved into a smirk, and a ball of golden light appeared in his palm, glowing brighter by the second. His expression was chilling in its calm, dangerous intensity.
The Moon tiger was only a couple of feet away now. In unison, Robert and Oliver took off their backpacks and tossed them onto the sidewalk.
Then, with a yell of "Blinding Light!" Oliver launched the ball of light towards the Blue Moon Tiger. Just in time, Robert erected a wall of Earth to shield them from the blinding flash of light that followed. Even though the sun was high in the sky, the spell's brilliance seemed abnormally bright, overwhelming their surroundings.
The Blinding light spell detonated, and a dazzling radiance filled the street, temporarily ridding the Blue Moon tiger of it's sight. Seizing the moment, Robert and Oliver moved forward, sprinting past the dazed beast towards Chuck, who stood frozen thirty-five feet away. The Blinding light spell had the capability to temporarily blind any sighted creature, with the duration depended on the relative strengths of the caster and the victim. Although Oliver was a second-rank Common Light wizard, Xolomon's amplification made his spell as potent as a 4th rank Common wizard's, just like Robert. In contrast, the Blue Moon tiger was a level 3 beast, therefore, the spell had an effect, albeit briefly, blinding it for mere seconds. Once the beast regained its sight, two of the boys had already dashed past it, while the third was hurling a gleaming red metallic sphere-like object at it...
BOOM!!!
In a split second, the red metal ball erupted in a thunderous explosion. The blast sent the magic beast hurtling through the air, where it crashed into a wooden house with a gruesome splintering sound. The impact reverberated through the air, and Zack's laughter echoed in it's wake.
"Hahaha!" But Zack's triumphant laughter was cut short as the Blue Moon tiger burst from the wreckage of the building with a fierce roar. In a blink of an eye, it was in front of him, its silver claws slashing at his head. But before the claws could connect, the silver ring on Zack's finger glowed, and a suit of thick, ruddy brown armor materialized on his body, covering him completely. The armor's surface was rough and textured, like the hide of an animal, and it shimmered with a subtle metallic lustre.
The Moon tiger's claws made contact with Zack's armor, and Zack was violently propelled backwards. His body sailed through the air like a limp rag doll, crashing through the door of a small dilapidated building bearing the faded sign "Big Kakes". The sudden impact left Robert and Oliver, who were engaged in their own fight with Chuck, staring in stunned silence at the building Zack crashed into, their hearts clenched. Their eyes were wide with worry, wondering if Zack had survived the Moon tiger's assault. Even Chuck paused, watching with them; It'll be one hell of a disaster if his magic beast kills someone!
However, Zack's exclamation of "I'm fine!" as he stumbled out of the building dissipated their anxiety, and as if nothing had happened, they promptly resumed their battle.
Zack's struggled back onto the streets, his adorable face contorted with pain. The metallic armor on his body was already showing signs of wear. Zack's silver space ring glowed, and a new metal ball materialized in his hand, it's surface glowing a precarious blue. Then, with a menacing glint in his eye, he turned to face the beast.
"Let's dance..."
Oliver and Robert were beginning to feel the strain of their battle with Chuck. While their Ancestor souls made their spells as powerful as a fourth-rank Common wizard's, they found themselves hard-pressed to gain the upper hand against their fifth-rank opponent. Chuck's experience and skillset gave him an unmistakable edge, as his defenses and counterattacks were executed with a precision that suggested he knew their strategies inside out. Infact, it was as if they had no strategy at all!
"Your spells may be stronger than they should be, but I'm in a whole different league!" Chuck snarled, dispelling Robert's Lightning arc spell with a wall of tangled vegetations, before dodging two swift Light arrows, one managing to graze his shoulder. But Chuck barely noticed the injury, and at his command, a shower of thorns darted towards Robert and Oliver, their sharp points glinting in the sunlight. The boys braced themselves, preparing to fend off the attack.
"Your family must have wasted a fortune training a lapdog like you!" Robert jeered scornfully. He raised his hands, and a crackling wall of lightning sprung up around him and Oliver. The barrier absorbed the impact of the thorns, but not without taking some damage of its own. The boys had bloodied cuts in their faces and palms, yet their faces were set with grim determination. Chuck's face and arm also bore the same testament to their fight.
"I'll give you credit - you're not wrong. My family's got magic running through our veins. You see, even before I enrolled in Heiss Magic School, my father would bring in wizards from our own family to serve as mentors to younger wannabe wizards in the family, including me. We're talking the best of the best!" Chuck boasted. "As a result, even newly advanced sixth-rank Common wizards don't stand a chance against me. My expertise is simply too great!" He gestured with his hands, and roots shot out of the ground, forming a protective barrier around him and blocking the Lightning strikes and Light spears that his opponents sent his way.
Robert scoffed at Chuck's exposition, but his scorn began to wane as he reflected on their fight so far. Despite outnumbering Chuck two to one, he and Oliver had not even managed to gain the upper hand against Chuck, demonstrating a remarkable magical prowess that testified that Chuck was not just an arrogant, boastful shortie. Chuck's spellcasting was unmistakably refined, indicating that his father, whoever he was, had done an excellent job ensuring he was groomed, just as he had claimed. But in that instant, watching the self-assured smirk on Chuck's face as he gathered his magic energy with confidence, Robert's thoughts gave way to a memory, and an idea.
He swiftly retreated behind a nearby rusty old car, but Oliver remained steadfast, engaging Chuck in a bold stare-down, their magic energies swirling with anticipation, as if daring the other to unleash a spell.
Robert called out to Oliver telepathically, and when their eyes met, Robert said. "Why don't we show this scamp that no matter how good he thinks he is, he can't outmatch a trickster like me." He winked slyly. Oliver's face lit up with a knowing smile and he nodded in agreement; Robert's fight with Isabel and his Thunderbolt trick was no news to him!
Robert sauntered out from behind the car, his right hand aglow with purple magic energy, and stopped beside Oliver. "Do you believe we could take down your over-glorified fifth-rank butt with just one move?" He called out to Chuck.
"Ha! You're dreaming!" Chuck jeered, and a flurry of slender, razor-sharp leaves materialized around him, swirling like a swarm of angry hornets, waiting to be unleashed.
Robert flashed a grin - just the reply he'd anticipated! "Alright, check this out. Thunderbolt!" He exclaimed, pointing upward with his right hand. His magic energy shot out of his hand and converged high in the sky, right above Chuck. It transformed into a dark, foreboding cloud that rumbled and flashed with thunder and lightning.
The instant Chuck laid eyes on the cloud, his defensive instincts kicked in, prompting him to swiftly amass a massive amount of his magic energy to protect himself from the impending strike. He exclaimed a spell's name, drawing his hands away from each other in a semi-circular motion. The air around him crackled with magic energy as multiple curved wooden planks materialized, rapidly stacking around him into a sturdy, 8-foot tetrahedron.
It was common knowledge among wizards that any Lightning wizard capable of casting the 'Thunderbolt' spell had achieved the fifth-rank of the Common realm or higher. Hence, the spell was always expected to pack a serious punch. Therefore, when Chuck saw the darkening clouds above him, he immediately cast his strongest defense, just as any normal person would instinctively move out of the way of a thrown stone. The idea was to get out of the path of danger as quickly as possible, and for a Common wizard, that meant summoning their strongest barrier.
Robert's duel with Isabel had taught him just how intimidating the Thunderbolt spell could be. Ever since then, he had decided to use it to his advantage against stronger opponents. So far, or rather that one time, the trick had worked flawlessly, and it was clear that the Thunderbolt was the most fearsome spell a Common wizard could cast.
Chuck tensed, anticipating the blast of lightning that would surely shatter his defense. He had a simple plan: allow the 'Thunderbolt' to shatter his tetrahedron and then immediately counter-attack with his still to be perfected 'Splitting thorns' spell, putting Oliver and Robert on the back foot and ending the fight instantly. But all he heard was a small buzz of electricity, and then nothing... Nothing! A wave of fury washed over him as the situation dawned on him. Robert had tricked him. He had wasted a great deal of his magic energy on defending against a spell that was ridiculously weaker than he had expected. Now he could hear the sound of lightning approaching, and then...
Well, there was no then.
The street became alive with the crackle of Lightning strikes and the flash of Light arrows and spears, all raining down upon the wooden barrier. Within seconds, the layers of wood began to splinter and thin, but the barrage of spells showed no sign of letting up.
In the darkness of the tetrahedron's interior, Chuck recoiled from the impact of the relentless spells pounding heavily against the exterior. He swiftly accessed his dire situation. He shut his eyes, and a grin flickered across his lips. His magic energy was nearly depleted after the gruelling fight, and the wooden tetrahedron had nearly drained him. Regrettably, he had underestimated the strength of Robert and his friends and had not brought any magic devices or potions to aid him. The reality of his predicament sank in, and he knew that continuing the fight would only lead to his total exhaustion. He had to end this, and fast. With a surge of determination, Chuck summoned all his concentration and shouted, "You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve! Beast contract: return!"