Inside the energy-dense dome, Haruto was pushed to his limits. Motar, relentless and seemingly inexhaustible, continued his barrage of attacks. As they briefly paused, Sylvie and Haruto huddled together for a desperate strategizing.
"Kage, we can't keep dodging forever. He's toying with us. Look at him—no damage at all, and his attacks are becoming erratic. He's not even trying to hit us directly anymore!" Sylvie observed, her voice tinged with both frustration and fatigue.
Haruto had noticed too. They needed a new approach, and they needed it fast. Sylvie seemed deep in thought, then her eyes lit up with a spark of an idea. "If you have an idea, I'm all ears," Haruto urged, watching Motar lift his hammer again, the threat imminent.
"You have elemental magic, right?" Sylvie asked quickly, to which Haruto gave a cautious nod. "Okay, here's the plan, but this is my last resort."
Motar grinned, sensing their urgency and preparation. "C'mon, brats, I'm waiting!" His booming voice echoed, causing them both to flinch.
"Kage, concentrate as much of your magic into the air as possible. I'll handle the rest. Let's hope this works!" Sylvie instructed.
"Got it!" Haruto replied, gathering his resolve. He closed his eyes, channeling every ounce of his energy, focusing it into his palms. The air within the dome began to swirl chaotically, embers and static mingling to create a turbulent storm of potential energy.
Sylvie watched in awe, realizing the depth of Haruto's power. "He's still holding back this much?" She couldn't afford to hold back either. Floating up, her eyes glowing with a fierce purple light, she chanted an incantation, repeating it forwards and then backwards. "Hex Magic: Grand Scale Enigma!"
Above and below the concentrated energy Haruto had created, two massive purple rings appeared, runes glowing ominously on their surfaces. They began to compress the energy between them, transforming the turbulent wind into a massive orb of bright orange, blazing energy.
Motar's expression turned serious, his amusement shifting to a genuine respect for their efforts. "So, the younger sister attempts such formidable magic. Not as stable as her sister's, but impressive nonetheless! I have underestimated you both. It's time I showed you the respect you deserve." His voice boomed as he prepared his counterattack.
"Gaia Force! Slumber release!" he declared, slamming his hammer into the ground. The force of the impact was so intense that it seemed to suck the sound out of the air. A magical tsunami formed, rising high against the dome, straining against the magical barrier.
Haruto, nearly spent, dropped to one knee. "Sylvie, hurry!" he gasped.
Sylvie, struggling to maintain control over the complex spell, screamed, "BREAK!" The energy disc surged forward, colliding with the tsunami wave. The collision was monumental, the resulting shockwave pressing against the confines of the dome.
As the magical forces clashed, a mysterious figure strolled calmly past Haruto and Sylvie. Just as the energies met in a cataclysmic explosion, their combined magic tore through the tsunami, slamming directly into Motar. The dome trembled violently, the reverberations felt by the spectators outside, who watched in awe and horror.
Dust and debris filled the dome, obscuring the view. As the air slowly cleared, the crowd leaned in, holding their breath for the outcome. Who had prevailed? Was Motar finally bested by these daring young challengers, or had their best efforts still fallen short against the seasoned Warlord? The tension was palpable as everyone awaited the reveal of the duel's victor.