The Senior Mage coldly snorted, his fiery magical aura flaring as a furious heat threatened to melt everything in his path. His magical staff thrummed with the power of flames, a faint layer of flaming aura crackling across his body as he suppressed the atmosphere.
It was a display of power meant to intimidate, to remind everyone present of the vast gulf that separated a true Spiritual Novice Mage from the rest.
"Hmph! Do you really think defeating a half-step Spiritual Novice Mage means you're invincible?" the Senior Mage's voice dripped with disdain. "There's a greater chasm between a half-step and full-fledged Spiritual Novice than you can imagine."
The crowd, emboldened by the presence of such a powerful Mage, began to laugh and cheer in joy. Their earlier fear and awe of Gladius and Arianna were momentarily forgotten in the face of what they perceived as true, unassailable strength.
"Yeah! That's right!"
