"Did you really think I wouldn’t have expected an attack? After you’ve oh-so-methodically taken out my supply of enuim within the city?" He shook his head. "All I had to do was set up an ambush. Offer your informants real bait, and prepare for an attack. It is that simple."
I brought one hand behind my back, keeping my gaze one him. He seemed unbothered by my presence— he even recognized me from back when we met on the beach.
"I had known you were a spellcaster. A Half Goblin by herself, wandering about at night? It raised all the right flags," he said. Shaking his head, he folded his arms across his chest. "But I did not anticipate you to join a group of motley pirates to oppose me. It’s—"
I did not bother to correct him; I brought both hands out, spell circles held out on each, and aimed them at Bahr. Two Fireballs shot out. The searing, red sphere flew like a comet through the night sky—
Then foliage of all kinds sprouted out of the ground in front of him. Tall oak trees grew alongside a lush, green shrubbery to form a thick wall between us. The Fireballs exploded, quickly spreading its flames across the miniature forest, yet never reaching Bahr.
I narrowed my eyes. Wood magic? And at such an advanced level too. He had to have been fully specialized in this field of spellcasting.
"It was a good attempt, but I can sense you tugging at the mana around you. I can feel it gathering at the palm of your hands. You’re inexperienced, aren’t you? Or maybe self taught. No one has taught you how to refine your control over magic. To make your spellcasting more subtle."
The magical trees quickly withered away, and without anything to burn the flames from my Fireball snuffed out. The Half Elf simply stepped over where they once were, addressing me once again as I readied for another spell.
"Why do you insist on fighting?" he asked. "We could be allies. If you help me build up the Elise— take over the underground of all of Laxis— the Dark Crusaders will deem us too valuable to ignore. They will finally listen to me, and not just dismiss my plans. And I’m sure they can find a place for you too."
This guy talks too much! The Stone Spears finished forming, and all three launched out at him. They were fast. It was one of my fastest long ranged spells. It covered the distance between us in an instant, yet all Bahr did was put up a hand.
The wooden planks of the pier rose up into a pillar, one for each Stone Spear, intercepting the projectiles, splintering as it did. As that happened, half a dozen thin spikes made of wood formed next to him. My eyes widened at how fast he cast the spell, before he sent them sailing in my direction.
"Strong. But too basic."
I dashed away from the projectiles. Each one was about half as long as my body, but they were clearly sharp. I didn’t want to be skewered by them. It landed on the floor of the pier, puncturing a hole into it— and brambles shot out around the wooden spikes, jutting out dangerously.
"These Wooden Spikes may seem weak at first, but even this little of them are more powerful than any Fireball."
If one of those had even come close to touching my feet, I would have died! Or at least, been severely injured. But I couldn’t stop to consider what might have happened as he summoned more of those Wooden Spikes out of thin air.
I ran laterally around the man, staying a distance away from his wooden spikes before they shot out. I saw the first spike move, and I jumped. From my pier to the next. The Wooden Spikes barely missed me, sinking into the sea floor far away from me instead.
"Ah, but the control over them is even less than a Stone Spear. They are too wild. Just like nature is supposed to be."
Can you stop talking? I was already pointing one finger at Bahr when my foot touched the ground once more. I flicked my other hand, sending a Wind Blade in his direction.
He flipped out of the way of the Burst Cyclone, unaided by any spell; he sailed through the air almost majestically, landing on his own two feet lithely like a cat. He turned around, but I was running at him again. But this time, I had by my side half a dozen glowing orbs. Then a dozen.
Explosive Orbs, the most I had ever cast at once, surrounded me.
This was more powerful than even two Fireballs. This was probably equal to six of them all at once. Some of them were pre-cast, and others weren’t. I sent them flying in his direction as he dodged out of the way from the first wave.
He pointed a finger, dispelling some of the second wave, but failed to do the same for the third. Bahr once again evaded the onslaught, before leaping between the piers to avoid the rest. The last of the Explosive Orbs came at him as he stopped right in front of me. He dispelled them, as I tried to fight back but failed.
He was strong. I had known he would be strong. But dispelling my magic even when I fully concentrated? That shocked me. And worse...
The Lightbringer’s Vessel was coming! We were going to lose. Kai and Braz were busy holding off the thugs at our backs. And everyone who went with me was dead. I had to do this.
I had to beat Bahr, if not this was all for naught.
"You know," he
