It was a group of three mages by the little stream of water.
Tiagon looked to the side and picked up the Mana signature of the last member.
"There's a mage hidden in the trees, be cautious. Let's turn back." Tiagon whispered.
He turned to where they had come from and the others followed suit when one of the mages spoke.
"Leaving so soon. Why don't you play with us?"
Tiagon had predicted such response. Just like how he was two months ago, some mages joined to fight people around their caliber of strength, here they could go wild without facing any repercussions.
He smirked, the hunger for battle rose but then he saw his mates by his side, they had entered to earn the first-class title and it wouldn't be fair if he compromised their chance.
He ignored the taunt and continued walking when sounds of blades cutting through the air sounded, they were like cold hisses longing for death.
A punch on the ground by Tiagon created a wall of earth that covered the team from the attack. The mage that was in hiding had sent forth multiple blades, they were asking for it.
Protrusions snaked beneath the soil and massive vines burst out onto the faces of the three, two scrambled to the sides while the one who jested conjured up a Mana shield that took the brunt of the blow–not without him flying off and falling into the stream.
The mage hiding jumped off his hiding spot, he sent a large vertical tornado of fire at the group.
'That's overkill.'
Tiagon responded shooting out a wind tornado himself that collided with the swirling blast of flame. The attacks cancelled each other out creating pressure that blew the two mages back.
Tiagon landed on his feet and the other mage hovered just before the stream. His partner levitated, his clothes now muddied.
Tiagon's teammates were busy fighting two of the mages of the group while he was made to face two himself.
Falling back was out of the table, they had decided to hunt them ever since they spotted them, and they were certainly not going to leave them especially not after the embarrassment they had just faced.
The muddied mage thrust forward his staff, the other thrust his two hands.
"Combo magic: Giant Burning Spiral."
A massive spiralling blast of hot flames seared violently through the air at Tiagon.
The little greens around got caught up in flames just by being in close proximity.
Tiagon thrust his hands and conjured the biggest Mana shield he had ever done since learning the spell.
His feet dug into the soil as the powerful spell attempted to overpower him but he was unmoving.
'Such a spell, they are stronger than the mages I faced at that fort.'
He thought as he withstood the blow.
The blast continued for seconds that felt like an eternity till the mages chose to stop their blast in hopes that Tiagon had burnt to nothing or rather ashes.
"Huh?!" They sounded in unison surprised that Tiagon was unaffected.
"That was a powerful spell, I fear that even my capable teammates would have died to that blow, but unfortunately, you've been paired with me and it will be your undoing."
"What's he yammering about?"
"You were lucky pretty boy, we won't pull our punches this time."
"Oh, you can't afford that." Tiagon said and slightly bent his back with his hands shot forward.
"Fire magic : Giant Burning Spiral!"
A replica of their spell shot of Tiagon's arm at high speed, it was way too fast for them to pull away, they could only do one thing.
Their hands thrust forward and a Mana shield supported by them both came up protecting them from the firepower.
Veins bulged on their faces, their muscles tensed and ached as they struggled strongly to abate the blow.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Tiagon increased the intensity of the blast by flooding into it more of his magical power.
"How can one person activate such a spell!" The mage cried before he was swallowed by the flames.
Their shield didn't hold against the blow and they burnt to nothing immediately.
Tiagon's teammates on the other hand struggled against their opponent.
Aarin sent a stream of water which was vapourized by a blast from one of the opposing mages.
The dwarven demon worked with her vines beating them about trying to turn the flame mages into much.
The salamander-like demon however had little problem with the flames, she took most of their blows head-on seemingly empowering herself.
Her body flared up in flames with every blow and she did well to reciprocate their blows.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for their opponents.
They jumped from tree to tree like skillful monkeys and shot out powerful flame magic at every chance.
"Ahh!" Aarin cried as a flame attack scalded her arm after intercepting it with a stream of water.
Erin the dwarven green demon had her vines getting burnt by the relentless blows of their assailers.
"Such powerful magic, we would have been coal now if not for Turan." She commented under a breath.
A spiral blast shot at her and she ducked avoiding the blow that went overhead her however she received some burns and her hair went up in flames.
She struck one of her hands on the soil causing vines that whip out onto the mage and undid the flame that grew on her head by repeatedly beating it.
Aarin was injured, a nasty burn stained her hand and Turan had to defend her.
Turan sent blades upon blades of flames, and the trees and bushes around them went up in flames turning the landscape into a smoky wasteland.
A bright glow shone on Aarin's other hand, she was healing the burn sprawled in the middle of battle.
"This is too much for me. I need your help guys!" Erin cried in desperation, her vines were getting burnt up and she was suffering from multiple burns while her opponent had received no harm.
"Did someone ask for help!" A voice came from outside the battle.