254 Defeating Sofiya
Alfem!
Eren’s all-rounder spell unleashed its power within the fiery domain of Igni Lotus.
A multitude of fire-element birds swarmed Sofiya and her spirit beast, launching relentless attacks that left no room for recovery or reinforcements. Explosions of dazzling light erupted as the avian creatures relentlessly targeted their adversaries.
Pain and agony wracked Sofiya’s body as she confronted the onslaught of fire-element birds head-on. Utilizing her movement spell, she managed to create some distance from the encroaching flock. Yet, the relentless creation of fiery birds seemed ceaseless, appearing out of thin air no matter where she turned. There was only so far she could run. She cursed herself for letting Eren use his domain spell on her.
The Black-feathered Death Owl fared no better.
It valiantly fought against the fiery birds, employing various spells and aggressive physical attacks. However, the fire-born birds, empowered by Eren’s Spell Integration, retaliated with their own fire breath and destructive spells. This additional power not only heightened their damage output but also granted them versatility in their assaults.
With unwavering resolve, Sofiya clenched her fists as she found herself surrounded once again, this time by a flock of menacing flame spawn birds. Their screeches filled the air, their aggressive wing flapping a clear message: surrender or face dire consequences. What made matters worse was that some of these birds were capable of casting fire-element spells of their own through Spell Integration.
Sofiya struggled to believe that a mere Awakened Ranker, who had recently achieved his promotion in Rank-2, could wield such complex spells with exceptional proficiency. She marveled at Eren’s ability to infuse immense mana into his spells without burning out in the process.
“I… I’m not giving up,” Sofiya gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on Eren’s blurred figure amidst a sea of his own fiery creation. With a wave of her hand, she dispelled her owl-type spirit beast, only to summon another from her repertoire.
As the feathery layer on Sofiya’s skin vanished, a brilliant formation of black fur emerged, reflecting the surrounding light. The fur, resembling that of a fox, exuded a sturdy and resilient quality against various forms of attack—physical and elemental alike. Unlike the sporadic patches of feathers, this fur enveloped her entire body, providing comprehensive protection.
Sofiya’s third and final spirit beast materialized beside her, taking her into its embrace. This was Mistytail, the fox-like spirit beast in her arsenal. Adorned with black and copper fur, it stood as tall as Sofiya herself—agile, lethal, and radiating menace with its red eyes fixed upon Eren. Equipped with sharp claws, a puffy tail, and long ears sensitive to opponents’ slightest movements, it growled, poised to strike at a moment’s notice.
While her first spirit beast, the Black Wind Cobra, aided Sofiya in close-quarters combat, she had learned her lesson well. Approaching Eren within striking range while inside the fiery domain would only lead to her defeat. Similarly, her owl-type spirit beast, designed for long-range assaults, proved ineffective against Eren as well.
Mistytail, however, offered Sofiya a new approach—a mid-range battle style. The only drawback was its high mana consumption, which made her hesitant to summon it until now.
Aware that prolonged engagement with Eren while using Mistytail would drain her mana quickly, Sofiya glanced at the incoming birds with determination. Charging towards Eren using her movement spell, her spirit beast redirected its attention to the flock that ensnared it and its summoner.
With a menacing howl, Mistytail unleashed a storm of black shards, needle-like projectiles composed of its regenerative fur. The sharp shards filled the air, darting toward the firebirds in a relentless assault.
Within moments, Sofiya decided to maximize her attack potential at the cost of increased mana consumption. The fire-element birds found themselves bombarded by an onslaught of needle-like projectiles, unable to dodge or mount a swift defense. With the appearance of Mistytail, it became clear that the firebirds alone were insufficient to defeat Sofiya.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Sofiya summoned four more manifestations of Mistytail, surrounding herself with their presence as she closed in on Eren using her movement spell.
Sofiya pressed forward with her four Mistytail foxes by her side, their needle-like fur strands whirling through the air. Each fox summoned a condensed black wind ball from its mouth, unleashing a volley of attacks toward Eren’s blurred figure hidden amidst the sea of flames. Simultaneously, Sofiya began casting her own version of spells, replicating the innate powers of her spirit beast.
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Eren decided to strike Sofiya when she was at her most powerful. With lightning-fast precision, he launched a storm of Igni Shards, deflecting the projectiles aimed at him. The Igni Shards, micro-sized fire-element projectiles, detonated upon contact with any object, colliding with the needle-like fur projectiles from the spirit beasts. The resulting explosions erupted in a dazzling display of light, engulfing Sofiya and Eren in a chaotic symphony of detonations.
Undeterred, Eren brandished his dual-wielded axes, facing Sofiya, who drew her sword in response. With a swift motion, Eren unleashed a series of Igni Wave attacks from the blades of his axes. The fiery waves sliced through the air, relentlessly targeting the four fox-type spirit beasts that accompanied Sofiya. A fierce battle ensued, each clash of weapons accompanied by sparks and metallic noises.
Sofiya fought valiantly, but Eren’s mastery of the terrain became increasingly evident as the battle raged on. With relative ease, he dismantled each of the fox beasts one by one, their once formidable presence diminished. Sofiya found herself sustaining injuries with each passing moment, the tide of the battle turning against her.
Despite her determination, Sofiya’s mana reserves were steadily depleted. The strain of the intense battle, coupled with the continuous casting of spells, took its toll. Finally, her storage of mana ran dry, and she was left with no choice but to dispel all her spells. Fatigue overwhelmed her, causing her to crash onto the ground, consciousness slipping away.
Eren stood victorious amidst the aftermath, his axes gleaming in the dim light. Sofiya’s defeat was undeniable, her body sprawled on the battlefield, unconscious and defenseless. The battle had come to an end, but the price paid by Sofiya was evident—her spirit beast retreated, her mana expended, and her defeated at the hands of a formidable opponent.