I quickly analyzed the situation unfolding before us, formulating a battle plan in mere moments. Every detail fell into place in my mind, and without hesitation, I decided to act.
"Mirelle, deal with the Orc Leader while I handle the Orc Mage," I instructed firmly, pointing to the towering, muscular Orc wielding a massive sword.
"Yes, Lady Witch!" Mirelle responded with unwavering determination. Her voice carried the serious tone of someone who trusted my judgment completely. Without delay, she lunged toward the Orc Leader, drawing her longer katana in one fluid motion. The blade gleamed with deadly intent as she ignored the Orc Soldiers entangled with the other group; her focus fixed solely on her assigned target.
As Mirelle moved with the precision of a predator, I planted my feet firmly, gripping my staff. Closing my eyes, I summoned mana from deep within myself, channeling it into the staff as I envisioned my magic. I felt the stillness of the air against my skin, like the calm before a storm, as I concentrated on forming a weapon of wind in my mind—a flat, circular saw, sharp and unrelenting.
The image grew sharper in my thoughts, and as it did, the air around me began to stir once more. The faint breeze shifted, drawn to the point in front of me where my magic would manifest. Opening my eyes, I saw the wind coalescing, slowly taking the shape, I had imagined.
A faint whirring sound emerged as the circular saw materialized, its edges spinning faster and faster. I refined the image further, pouring more mana into the spell and my staff until the noise ceased, replaced by the sight of a brilliant, white, spinning blade of wind hovering before me—a weapon born of magic, deadly and precise.
My gaze shifted to the Orc Mage, who had noticed the growing magical energy radiating from me. Its grotesque face twisted into a mocking smirk as if it found my efforts amusing. The disdain in its expression ignited a flicker of irritation within me.
Narrowing my eyes, I steadied my staff, aiming it directly at the Orc Mage. "You'll regret underestimating me," I muttered under my breath. My voice carried both determination and a tinge of frustration.
"<<
At the same moment, the Orc Mage finished casting its own spell, releasing a massive [Fireball] in my direction.
"Hey, kid! Dodge that fireball!" shouted the girl in the white robe, her voice laced with panic.
But I didn't respond. I wasn't a reckless child; I knew exactly what I was doing. My magic raced through the air, its speed unmatched, and as the [Fireball] closed in, [Fēng Lún] met it head-on.
A sharp crack of energy echoed through the battlefield as the spinning wind blade collided with the fiery spell. For a brief moment, the two clashed in a dazzling display of magic. Then, with a sound like paper being shredded, my [Fēng Lún] sliced cleanly through the [Fireball], leaving only faint embers in its wake.
The Orc Mage's smirk vanished, replaced by wide-eyed panic. It hadn't expected my magic to overpower its spell so decisively. Scrambling to recover, the creature began chanting again, its voice frantic and uneven.
But it was too late. [Fēng Lún] continued its relentless path, whirring through the air with deadly precision. The Orc Mage's words faltered as it realized the inevitable. The spinning blade reached its target, and in an instant, the creature's head was severed cleanly from its body.
The lifeless body crumpled to the ground, and I could hear the gasp of shock from the girl in the white robe as my magic cut through the Orc Mage's spell and then through the Orc Mage itself. Her expression mirrored the disbelief etched on her companions' faces.
Turning my attention toward Mirelle, I prepared to offer support if needed. I observed her relentless assault on the Orc Leader, her blade dancing with precision and speed. Despite its bulky frame and immense strength, the Orc Leader was steadily losing ground, its once-imposing body now riddled with wounds of varying severity. Mirelle leaped back toward me, her katana raised and her golden-earth hair catching the light as she fixed her keen gaze on the Orc Leader's movements.
"Mirelle, I will hinder its movements. Take the chance to finish it off," I instructed, my voice calm but firm. My staff remained poised, its head faintly glowing as I gathered mana. The Orc Leader, still catching its breath, began to regain its composure, but the atmosphere around it shifted. The air grew heavy with malice—it had gone berserk.
"Yes, I can, Lady Witch!" Mirelle replied resolutely, determination shining in her eyes.
One of the boys from the group shouted a warning, his voice tinged with panic. "Be careful! That Orc has gone berserk!"
His words confirmed my suspicions. The Orc Leader's berserk state heightened its power but robbed it of reasoning. I channeled my mana into my staff again, picturing the weeds and vines on the forest floor growing wild and unyielding, filled with new life and purpose.
In response, vines burst forth from the earth and trees, twisting and coiling with relentless vigor. They snaked toward the Orc Leader, wrapping tightly around its legs and creeping toward its arms and weapon. The beast swung its massive sword, slicing through the vines, but they regrew almost instantly, doubling their efforts to restrain it.
"Mirelle, now!" I commanded, my voice steady and confident as the vines anchored the Orc Leader in place, its legs straining against the constricting tendrils.
"Yes, Lady Witch!" Mirelle answered, her tone brimming with focus and determination. She lowered her body, her katana sliding back into its sheath with a quiet, purposeful sound. Her posture resembled that of a predator poised to strike, a perfect balance of grace and power.
With blinding speed, Mirelle lunged at the Orc Leader. The sheer force of her strike clashed against its sword, sparks flying as their blades met. Though the Orc Leader managed to parry, the strength behind Mirelle's attack sent it stumbling backward, its footing lost.
Mirelle didn't waste a second. Her movements were precise, calculated. As the Orc Leader struggled to regain its balance, she took her stance again. Kneeling low, one hand braced against the ground and the other gripping her katana's hilt, she exuded an almost tangible aura of deadly intent.
The vines tightened further, frustrating the already berserk Orc Leader. Its fury peaked, its strength surging even higher, but its rage left it blind to the impending danger. Breaking free of the vines with sheer brute force, the Orc Leader turned to face Mirelle. But as it did, it faltered—its instincts belatedly recognizing the overwhelming pressure emanating from her.
In the blink of an eye, Mirelle sprang forward, her speed surpassing that of her previous strike. This time, there was no parry, no defense. The sound of her blade cutting through flesh echoed briefly as she landed gracefully behind the Orc Leader, sliding her katana back into its sheath with practiced ease.
The Orc Leader remained motionless; its massive body frozen in place. The Orc Soldiers around it stared in confusion at their leader's sudden stillness. Then, slowly, the Orc Leader's knees buckled, and it collapsed to the ground. Its head separated cleanly from its body as it fell, rolling to a stop before the stunned Orc Soldiers.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent, the remaining Orcs paralyzed with shock. Mirelle and I didn't hesitate. Using the brief window of opportunity, we launched a swift, coordinated assault. With the Orc Leader and Orc Mage gone, the remaining Orc Soldiers were easily overwhelmed, and the battle came to a swift and decisive end.
Mirelle and I gathered the bodys in one corner, as we walked towards the other group earlier who was now resting from the fight. "Thank you for helping us." said one of tng from the fight. "Thank you for helping us." said the girl with the robe, as the girl with the bow added, "You two are pretty strong.".
"No worries, we did it because we would also be in danger, if we just let it be." I said to the girl with white robe, and as I look around them, I asked them directly. "What happened, how did you get so battered up?". Noticing they didn't have any baggage on them, they must have dropped it somewhere to move faster. I thought to myself, as I put my hand into the dimensional pouch, pulling out various food supplies, water and an extra tent I had made for Mirelle, but she turned down as she wanted to sleep with me.
"Here, you can have this." I said, as I handed them food and water, and placing a small tent for two people besides the group. "Thank you, but will you be alright?" asked the girl in white robe concern about our rations and equipment I had given them. "It's okay, Mirelle usually hunts for our dinner, so we usually don't touch these rations. If you want to eat something hotter, we still have something left." I replied as I pointed towards our camp's stone table.
"no no no, this much is fine." The girl with the white robe said quickly as she raised her hand waving them around. "Yeah, this is enough. You don't know what might happen in a forest, it's better to have a stock of food in case you're not able to precure food around you." The girl with the bow added. "Okay, I will keep that in mind" I replied.
Going back to our camp, I stared back towards the other group, and looking back at the group, I can't help but worry about the injuries they had, especially one of the boys in the group was unconscious when they first arrived here, and the other boy was busy protecting the other unconscious boy.