Jace and the others were watching as carefully as they could. Since this was the first of the new round types, they didn't want to miss a single detail.
He had to admit though, Orion and Elias were doing quite well so far.
The most impressive thing had been Elias's slowing field. It would take a monumental collapse to miss one of the slowed targets.
Not that he wanted to discredit Orion, he was quick on his feet and reacted to the shifting conditions without hesitation.
Hopefully, they could keep it up.
Back inside the arena, Orion and Elias readied themselves for the next wave.
This time, the arena itself became part of the challenge. The entire platform beneath their feet began to rise slightly, spinning around the central tower to reposition on the opposite side.
Their orientation on the field shifted completely, and the slowing field became much less effective as a result.
There were six targets in this wave. Three of them spun in a wide horizontal arc along metal rails. Two blinked in and out of visibility, hidden intermittently by walls and blockers that made it hard to maintain line of sight.
The last target drifted lazily among the gusting winds above, moving with no discernible pattern.
As the arena twisted beneath them, Elias wasted no time. He adjusted the slowing field, fine tuning its radius just enough to catch the three rail bound targets while keeping the central tower within range.
The spinning targets hit the slowing field and dragged as if being pulled through molasses.
Orion moved fast. Each of the rail targets shattered in quick succession under his clean, efficient spells. But the blinking targets were trickier.
He paused. Calculated.
Rather than waste mana chasing shadows, he planted two delayed energy spells in their predicted paths, like setting magical tripwires.
The moment the targets phased back into reality, they slammed into the waiting spells, bursting in synchronized flashes of light.
The final target hovered high above, dancing erratically on the wind above the tower.
Elias raised his hand, his gaze sharp as he tracked the erratic gusts.
After a few seconds of study, he launched an acid ball into the air. The spell hissed as it sliced upward, splashing directly into the target and melting it cleanly.
The third wave was complete.
Without warning, the entire arena darkened.
The fourth wave had begun.
It was as if a storm had rolled in. Wind howled. Distant thunder cracked.
Massive chunks of stone surged up from below the arena, spinning around the platform in an erratic orbit. Some spun fast, others lagged like drifting asteroids, partially obscuring the field.
And then came the rain.
A conjured downpour began to fall, slicking the platform and reducing visibility. Every drop distorted their sight and threw off aim, making it clear, this round wasn't just about accuracy anymore.
It was about endurance.
As for the targets, there were six
Two of them blinked in and out of view behind the swirling chunks of flying stone.
One was a water target, only visible when the falling rain briefly parted around it.
Two Earth targets sat locked inside translucent protective shells, shells that would need to be destroyed before the actual targets could be hit.
And the final target, much like the one from the last round, was a Wind target. It moved like a leaf in a storm, constantly shifting direction as the wind tossed it about.
But worst of all, for the first time, a timer appeared in the corner of the arena, counting down from sixty seconds. Not allowing them to make it the endurance challenge they wanted.
There was no time to think. Only to act.
Having spotted the water target, Orion knew Elias wouldn't be able to make it appear more often. Its visibility was entirely dependent on the arena's environment. So he focused on that one first.
He cast two spells, one to summon a small stone disc that revealed the target, and another, timed perfectly, to fire a water bolt the moment it became visible.
The shot hit dead on, destroying the target.
Meanwhile, Elias moved fast.
He decided his acid would be the most efficient way to handle the Earth targets. Coating the protective casings with corrosive energy, he watched as the acid ate through the outer shells and dripped down onto the cores.
Both shattered under the magical burn.
Half the targets gone.
Half the time remaining.
The storm still raged around them, and the final three targets were all in motion, all trouble.
Elias turned his attention to the blinking ones. He shifted the slowing field slightly, adjusting its edge until both targets fell into its influence just as they reappeared.
Orion didn't miss a beat.
Using wind magic, his fastest element, he fired bolts that struck both targets before they could blink out again.
One target left.
The hardest one.
Its speed and erratic movement made it almost impossible to pin down.
Elias tried, watching and calculating, but the chaotic winds made it unreadable.
That's when Orion felt it.
A strange sense, instinct more than anything, like he knew where the target was going.
He didn't question it.
Ignoring the ticking timer, the wind, the chaos, he held a spell charge steady in his hand.
Then, without warning, he opened his eyes and fired in a single motion.
The spell flew clean, slicing through the storm and striking the Wind target just as it dipped into a brief stall.
The target shattered.
The fourth wave was complete, with only three seconds remaining on the clock.