Igni Lotus!
The battlefield erupted in a dazzling display as the fire-element domain spell, Igni Lotus, blossomed with magnificent intensity.
Flames surged forth, enveloping the surroundings and forming a formidable domain that ensnared both Eren and Sofiya within its fiery grasp. To any potential onlooker, the spectacle was mesmerizing—a lotus-shaped conflagration crafted from the very essence of fire mana, pulsating with dangerous energy upon its execution.
The air grew stifling, laden with scorching heat that seemed to suffocate all who dared to breathe. The flames crackled with an ominous sound, their distinct scent permeating the fiery domain, establishing an impregnable barrier that even the most skilled Awakened Rankers would find impossible to challenge.
As Sofiya found herself trapped within this kingdom of flames, she couldn't help but mutter in realization, "So, this spell... This is how he got away from prosecution years ago and swindled everyone." The blaze closed in from all sides, relentlessly eroding her mana defense layer, and threatening to plunge her into dire straits. Sofiya knew she had to act swiftly, for Eren continued to pour more mana into his domain spell, intensifying its destructive power.
"What kind of boundless mana reserves does he possess? Is there no end to his supply?" Sofiya pondered, her expression clouded with frustration as she glanced at Eren. However, she swiftly shook off her astonishment, resolving to find a way out of this perilous situation.
Drawing upon another trump card in her repertoire, Sofiya invoked the Spirit Beast Spell: Black Feathered Death Owl. A peculiar layer of mana began to coalesce upon her skin, gradually transforming into an array of ebony feathers that valiantly clashed with the relentless onslaught of Eren's fiery domain.
As the black feathers manifested, they formed a protective shield, shielding Sofiya from harm and thwarting the flames that sought to consume her. Sofiya's elemental aspect of decay resonated through the feathers, infusing them with the same properties.
Yet, there was more to this transformation. Sofiya had tapped into the abilities of her loyal Spirit Beast, the Black-Feathered Death Owl. Its ethereal essence materialized above her head, its form characterized by white eyes, a black beak, and a feathery ebony body.
With an impressive wingspan of sixteen feet, it exuded a daunting presence when observed up close. The spirit beast's appearance bore a slight emaciated quality, a reflection of its shared elemental aspect with its master—death, and decay.
With a fervent flapping of its wings, the spirit beast screeched and defied the flames, unaffected by their scorching heat, thanks to the protective prowess of its black feathers. Sofiya had indeed borrowed her feathery shield from her Spirit Beast, harnessing its power to brave the fiery depths of Igni Lotus.
In this altered state, Sofiya appeared less human and more akin to a beastkin, a fusion of human and animal traits. However, her transformation prioritized functionality over aesthetics, ensuring her survival within the blazing confines of the Igni Lotus.
"Hmm. You look weird in this form."
Eren couldn't help but comment on Sofiya's altered form, his gaze fixed upon her. Despite deploying his domain, he chose not to launch a direct attack just yet. Instead, he sought to goad Sofiya into revealing her trump cards, eager to seize the opportunity and finally defeat her without there being a shred of doubt or comeback. So that it offers him peace of mind and enables him to recruit her to his mercenary team.
Sofiya was not particularly happy with Eren commenting on her appearance at the time. She scrunched her nose and stuck her tongue out to let him know she was a bit angry at him.
Eren ignored Sofiya's little tantrums. Astonished by her mastery over yet another Spirit Beast Spell, Eren finally comprehended why she had chosen to tap into the true potential of the battle mage class through these ethereal creatures. It allowed her access to various powers that were the innate spells of her Spirit Beasts.
"Hehe. Not bad. Time to test your capabilities," Eren chuckled with a wolfish grin, finally taking action upon witnessing Sofiya's readiness to confront him. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned an Awakened-rank crossbow artifact, its formidable presence aimed squarely at Sofiya.
In an instant, the fire-element mana in the vicinity underwent a stunning transformation, reshaping itself into a volley of fiery arrows. Eren's spell, Igni Bolt Blast, materialized with resounding power, harnessing the abundance of flames to forge a deadly arsenal of explosive fire-element projectiles.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Eren opted for a direct assault, eschewing the spirit beast's mana-infused form, which possessed the ability to heal from mortal wounds as long as Sofiya channeled her mana reserves for regeneration. Instead, he targeted the primary caster herself—Sofiya.
The Spirit Beast discerned a swift onslaught of fire-element arrows hurtling towards them from multiple angles, propelled with blinding speed. They cleaved through the scorching air, piercing the sea of flames to converge upon their intended target, pulsating with explosive energy poised to unleash devastating detonations upon contact.
Surrounded by swirling black winds, Sofiya invoked a movement spell, swiftly retreating in an attempt to evade the incoming onslaught. Yet, she knew that mere retreat would not suffice against the overwhelming number of fire-element arrows homing in on her position. As she fell back, she commanded her Spirit Beast to charge forward, employing it as a protective shield to shield her escape.
The Black Feathered Death Owl emitted a piercing screech, its magnificent wings unfurling as it fearlessly advanced towards the encroaching arrows. With each beat of its wings, it released compressed waves of black-element mana, creating a tempest of condensed black winds that surged forth, colliding with the oncoming barrage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions reverberated through the air as the arrows collided with the cyclone of black winds, intensifying the flames trapped within the fire-element barrier. The fiery realm blazed even brighter, its luminosity heightened by the detonations that echoed within.
A handful of arrows managed to elude the spirit beast's defense, but they proved inadequate to harm Sofiya in her current state. Having successfully evaded Eren's assault, Sofiya immediately set her sights on launching a counterattack.
However, her elation quickly soured as she realized her grave error in assuming safety from Eren's onslaught. To her dismay, a flock of avian creatures, their mana bodies ablaze with fiery energy, materialized behind her, blocking any potential retreat.
Eren's spell, Alfem, had been cunningly cast. The arrows Sofiya had deftly avoided were nothing more than a diversion—a deceptive ploy. Within the confines of the Igni Lotus, Eren's fire-element spells proved effortless to unleash, capable of manifesting from any vantage point.
Screech. Swoosh. Boom.
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