Mark after being cheered up by Levi began to gain his confidence and then he conjured his spell.
Mark took a deep breath, trying to push aside his doubts and fears. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, drawing upon the power of the water and earth elements that he had been born with.
He could feel the magic flowing through him, surging like a river, and he knew that he could use it to create the spell that Levi had suggested.
With a shout, Mark released the spell, his voice ringing out like a battle cry. "By the power of water and earth, let this ground become a mud trap. Let my foes be ensnared and unable to escape," he incanted, his words echoing across the battlefield.
As he spoke, Mark's hands began to glow with a bright blue-green light. He could feel the mana surging through his fingertips, coalescing into a mass of swirling energy that he directed toward the ground.
The earth beneath the lion's paws began to shake and tremble, and then suddenly, it gave way, transforming into thick, sticky mud.
The lion roared in fury as it struggled to free itself from the muck, its massive paws sinking deeper into the mud with each passing moment. Levi grinned in triumph, watching as the lion slowed down, hampered by the thick, clinging mud.
"Nice one, Mark," he said, giving his friend a thumbs-up. "You really nailed it with that one."
Mark smiled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over him. For a moment, he forgot all of his doubts and fears, caught up in the rush of magic and the thrill of battle.
He knew that they still had a long way to go if they wanted to defeat the lion, but he was ready for whatever came next.
Levi watched as the lion struggled to free itself from the mud trap, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before the beast broke free.
"We need to finish this quickly," Levi said, his voice filled with urgency. "I'm going to use Torrential Blast. It's my strongest spell, but it will also drain me of most of my mana. I need you to be ready to step in if things go wrong."
Mark nodded, his expression serious. He knew that Levi's spell would be risky, but he also knew that they had no other choice if they wanted to defeat the lion and save the flower.
Levi closed his eyes, drawing upon his mana reserves with a deep breath. He could feel the power flowing through him, pulsing like a second heartbeat.
Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he unleashed the spell, shouting, "Torrential Blast!"
A torrent of water surged forth from his outstretched hand, crashing into the lion with the force of a tidal wave. The beast roared in pain and fury, its massive body being pushed back by the relentless assault of water.
But even as the lion struggled to maintain its footing, Levi's own energy was draining away. His body trembled with the effort of maintaining the spell, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Mark watched with growing concern, knowing that his friend was pushing himself to his limit. He took a step forward, ready to intervene if necessary.
But then, with a final burst of energy, Levi unleashed one last blast of water. The lion let out a deafening roar and collapsed to the ground, defeated.
Levi stumbled forward, his legs trembling with exhaustion. Mark rushed forward to catch him, helping him to steady himself.
"You did it," Mark said, his voice filled with relief and admiration.
Levi nodded, his breathing still ragged. "We did it," he said, a small smile on his face. "And we did it together."
Mark grinned, feeling a sense of camaraderie and pride that he had never experienced before. He knew that he and Levi had faced great danger and emerged victorious, stronger, and more confident than ever before.
With the lion defeated, Mark turned his attention to the Aqua Starflower. It was glowing in the sunlight, its blue petals shimmering with a magical energy that was almost palpable.
Mark approached the flower cautiously, aware that it was still guarded by the lion's fierce aura. But as he drew closer, he could feel the lion's energy dissipating, fading away like a morning mist.
Mark reached out a trembling hand and plucked the flower from the ground, cradling it gently in his palm. He felt a surge of joy and wonder as he gazed at the Aqua Starflower, marveling at its beauty and power.
As he turned to show it to Levi, he noticed that his friend was still struggling to catch his breath. Levi had used a significant amount of his mana to cast the spell that had defeated the lion, and now he was paying the price.
"Levi, are you okay?" Mark asked, his concern evident in his voice.
Levi nodded weakly, but Mark could see the exhaustion etched on his friend's face. "I'll be fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just need to rest for a little while."
Mark knew that they needed to get Levi some rest, but there was still one more thing that needed to be done. He held out the Aqua Starflower to Levi and said, "Eat this flower. You have drained a lot of your mana to defeat that lion."
Levi looked at the flower in Mark's hand and hesitated. He knew that the Aqua Starflower was a powerful source of mana, but he also knew that consuming it could have unpredictable effects.
"Are you sure?" Levi asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Mark nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. It's the only way to replenish your mana quickly. We don't know what other dangers we might face, and we need you at full strength."
Levi took the flower from Mark's hand and examined it carefully. He could feel the energy emanating from it, pulsing like a heartbeat.
He knew that consuming the flower would be a risk, but he also knew that Mark was right. They needed him to be at full strength if they were going to survive in this dangerous forest.