The forest was alive with the sound of heavy blows, sharp cries, and the crackling of shattered branches. The Dark Mages fought with unrelenting ferocity, but the resolve of Dakota's group burned brighter with each clash.
Ava ducked beneath a wild swing from the Dark Mage, her movements sharp and calculated. She could feel Emily just behind her, the two of them moving in sync as though they had trained for this moment their entire lives.
Ava: "He's quick. Be ready for anything."
Emily didn't respond, her focus locked on the mage. As he lunged again, Emily stepped to the side, aiming a jab at his exposed ribs. The mage twisted at the last second, avoiding the blow and retaliating with a sweeping kick.
Ava leapt over the kick, landing lightly on her feet.
Emily: "He's slowing down."
The Dark Mage snarled, feinting toward Emily before turning his attention to Ava. But Ava was ready. She sidestepped his punch and slammed her elbow into his shoulder.
The mage staggered, and Emily closed in. With a swift uppercut, she drove him back into Ava's path. Ava didn't hesitate, landing a devastating kick to his stomach. The mage crumpled to his knees, struggling to rise, but Emily delivered the final blow—a powerful punch to the jaw that sent him sprawling unconscious.
Ava: "That's how it's done."
Emily: "No time to rest. Let's check on the others."
Mila moved with grace, her strikes precise and controlled. The Dark Mage she faced was relentless, his fists a blur as he attacked, but she dodged each blow with ease.
Mila: "You're all bark and no bite."
The mage growled, swinging at her again, but Mia intercepted the attack, grabbing his wrist and twisting it hard. The crack of bone echoed in the clearing, and the mage roared in pain.
Mia: "He's wide open!"
Mila didn't need to be told twice. She stepped in, landing a quick series of punches to the mage's torso. He stumbled back, but Mila didn't let up, her strikes coming faster and harder.
The mage tried to retaliate, but Mia was there to block him at every turn. Together, the duo overwhelmed him, their attacks seamless and devastating. Finally, Mila delivered a spinning kick to his head, and the mage collapsed, unconscious.
Mila: "That wasn't so bad."
Mia nodded, her breathing steady.
The Dark Mage circled Lucas and Ethan, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Dark Mage: "Two against one? I expected more from your kind."
Lucas: "You talk too much."
Lucas rushed forward, throwing a punch aimed at the mage's face. The mage ducked, countering with a strike of his own, but Ethan was already moving. His fist collided with the mage's ribs, making him grunt in pain.
Ethan: "You're not as tough as you think."
The mage retaliated, landing a glancing blow on Lucas's shoulder. Lucas gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain as he countered with a powerful kick that sent the mage stumbling.
Lucas: "Let's finish this."
Ethan nodded, grabbing a fallen branch and using it as an improvised weapon. He swung it at the mage, who barely managed to dodge the first strike, but the second hit landed squarely on his back.
The mage dropped to his knees, and Lucas stepped in, delivering a final blow to his jaw. The mage slumped to the ground, defeated.
Liam darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a powerful punch from the Dark Mage.
Liam: "He's stronger than he looks."
Alex: "Good thing we're faster."
Alex rushed forward, aiming a series of punches at the mage's torso. The mage blocked most of them, but one hit slipped through, making him grunt in pain.
Liam took advantage of the distraction, landing a kick to the mage's side. The mage spun, his elbow catching Liam in the ribs and sending him stumbling back.
Liam: "That all you got?"
The mage roared, charging at Liam, but Alex intercepted him, tackling him to the ground. The two grappled briefly before Alex managed to land a hard punch to the mage's face.
Liam joined in, pulling the mage to his feet only to deliver a devastating knee to his stomach. The mage doubled over, and Alex finished him off with a punch to the temple.
Jack stood in front, his stance steady as he faced the Dark Mage.
Dark Mage: "Three against one? How cowardly."
Jack: "You'll need the handicap."
The mage growled, lunging at Jack with surprising speed. Jack blocked the initial attack, but the mage followed up with a kick that forced him back.
Amelia and Luna moved in from the sides, their attacks coordinated. Luna's kick connected with the mage's side, while Amelia landed a punch to his shoulder.
The mage roared, lashing out wildly, but the trio dodged his strikes with ease.
Amelia: "He's losing control. Keep up the pressure."
Jack nodded, moving in with a powerful punch to the mage's stomach. The mage stumbled, and Luna followed up with a spinning kick to his head.
Amelia finished the fight with a perfectly timed strike to the jaw, and the mage collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Henry's fight was fierce, the two combatants evenly matched. The Dark Mage was skilled, his movements precise and powerful. But Henry's determination burned brighter, his strikes growing faster and harder with each passing second.
The mage landed a hit on Henry's shoulder, making him stagger, but Henry recovered quickly, countering with a powerful uppercut that snapped the mage's head back.
Dark Mage: "You're strong. But strength won't save you."
Henry: "We'll see about that."
Henry lunged forward, his fists a blur as he unleashed a flurry of punches. The mage struggled to block them all, his defenses faltering under the onslaught.
With a final, powerful strike, Henry sent the mage crashing to the ground.
The battle raged on in the forest, but victory was slowly becoming theirs. Each team had faced their challenge and emerged victorious, the Dark Mages lying defeated around them.
But there was still the dark mage leader left, the one who's facing against Dakota and Michael.