The System's notification appeared, signaling the necessary decision to defeat the Arcanist Elf!
My focus sharpened as I heard the quick steps approaching from the east and west.
It was the Fire Soldiers, their presence announced by the archer's drawn bow and the swordsman's fiery sword!
My summoning spell, Zephyr, was quickly cast as three warriors of wind materialized to combat the incoming barrage of fire arrows and sword strikes.
With swift slashes of their wind swords, they managed to counter the rapid attacks of the Fire Soldiers.
I could see that the enemy consisted of five fire soldiers - three swordsmen and two archers.
The only ones left from Erlan's group were Avyanna, Laura, and Erlan himself.
Though outnumbered, my Zephyr warriors were able to hold their own against the Fire Soldiers, protecting me from their aimed arrows and swords.
But the situation was becoming more complicated as the poisonous air gradually affected me, despite the protection of the Eye of Dullahan ring.
Time was running out!
It was time to double spell casting!
>Sorcerer's Blindfold attuned!
>You can do Double Casting spell!
Amidst the relentless assault of the fire soldiers, I swiftly retrieved the Dragon Scepter from my inventory system and attuned myself to its power.
>Dragon Scepter equipped!
> Mana Power increased 100%!
> Mana Damage increased 100%!
> Magic Barrier defense increased 100%!
With unwavering focus, I readied my second spell: the formidable Divine Thunder.
As the spell preparation progressed smoothly, the fire soldiers intensified their attacks, realizing the danger of my spell that could vanquish the elves and shatter the purple crystal in a single strike.
"How dare a mere human wield a summoning spell and attack spell at the same time?!" boomed the Arcanist Elf, finally breaking his silence.
Though he spoke in the elven language, I understood his words.
"You dare to unleash the destructive force of Divine Thunder in this confined cave?" Arden seethed with anger. "Do you seek to destroy the Diamonds?"
"I care not for the Diamonds! My only goal is to defeat you!" I retorted with a fierce shout, bracing myself for the inevitable battle.
The eight magical lightning circle had been meticulously arranged around my body, ready to summon the powerful thunder from the heavens and unleash it upon Arden.
In a swift command, Arden called upon Aizel, the fire spirit, to annihilate the mad Sorcerer and his five fire soldiers, who were now targeting me with their scorching heat.
"I, Aldwin, the most skilled Arcanist among the elven race, would not allow myself to be bested by a mere human who had only just begun to grasp the intricacies of Arcanist magic," declared the elf with a mix of determination, conceit, and unease, bracing himself for the ultimate confrontation.
Thanks to my accelerator ring, I was able to cast my Divine Thunder spell at an astonishing speed.
As I aimed my Dragon Scepter at the Arcanist elf, the Divine Thunder emerged from the sky, obliterating the entire cave, the floating crystal that emitted poisonous air, and the pile of Monster Diamonds where Arden was standing.
Amidst the rubble and smoke, the fire soldiers who had been chasing me were nowhere to be seen.
They had been completely destroyed by the force of my divine power.
>Sorcerer's Blindfold removed!
>You no longer can use Double Casting Spelling!
I removed the Sorcerer's Blindfold and my eyes landed on the Arcanist Elf, struggling amidst the debris of Monster Diamond's fragment.
His body trembled violently, scarred by the powerful lightning that had just struck him.
Despite his labored and heavy breathing, he refused to give up.
My gaze swept over the area, searching for Aziel, the fire spirit under the elf's control.
But he was nowhere to be seen. Turning my attention to the rest of our team, I saw Erlan, Avyanna, and Laura taking a brief moment to catch their breath after the intense attack from the fire soldiers.
The swordsmen and archers, who were previously possessed by Aziel, now bore the scars of their battle.
They were alive, but barely.
The situation had turned into a critical emergency as Laura, our healer, lay with severe injuries that drained her mana energy.
In a desperate attempt to help, Avyanna used her healing spell on Laura, hoping to revive her and allow her to heal the rest of us.
But it was in vain. Laura remained unconscious, her body limp.
The scene was chaotic, with the smell of burnt flesh and the sound of heavy breathing filling the air.
The setting was a wasteland of destruction, a testament to the fierce battle that had taken place.
Suddenly, Avyanna approached me with a sense of urgency.
"Many of our members are in dire condition," she exclaimed.
"They need immediate first aid, but my recovery spell alone is not enough!" Her anxiety was palpable as I walked closer to her.
"Erlan!" Avyanna suddenly erupted in anger.
"What the hell are you doing just standing there frozen like a doll? Get yourself together and help your team, damnit!" She had noticed Erlan staring at Alstair without saying a word.
"A-ah, yes! I-I'm sorry!" Erlan quickly apologized, snapping out of his daze.
"I was just in awe of Alstair's power. He single-handedly destroyed the nasty elf with one powerful magic spell. He truly is the best sorcerer, no doubt about it!"
With that, he joined Avyanna in aiding Laura's recovery.
Like Avyanna, Erlan possessed a healing spell that was only known to the Tanker Knights.
Together, their spells slowly brought Laura back to consciousness. However, it was not enough for her to use her own healing spell.
Her injuries were too severe, requiring special treatment that rendered her unable to unleash her specialized healing abilities as a healer.
Time is fleeting!
There's no time to waste on sending them back home for special treatment!
Quickly, I retrieved five vials of potion from my inventory system and distributed them to each of the wounded knights.
Thankfully, the potion worked like a charm.
The knights' severe injuries halted and they gradually regained consciousness.
Avayanna and Erlan stared at me in wonder as the potion worked its magic.
"What kind of potion is this? I've never seen anything that can heal knights so swiftly!" exclaimed Erlan, unable to contain his awe.
It appeared that the potion generated by the System was more advanced than those produced by the Knight Association.
After drinking the potion, Laura's condition improved significantly.
She rose to her feet and assisted in casting additional healing spells for the remaining injured knights.
"The old elf has been defeated! We have completed our mission!" cheered Avyanna, ecstatic for her viewers.
"Not yet," I interjected, still holding onto the Dragon Scepter with caution.
The System had not yet notified me of the mission's completion, indicating that the damn elf was still alive after being struck by the Divine Thunder.
As I turned my attention to Arden, I noticed that his body was being consumed by the fire spirit under his control.
Aizel, the fire spirit in the form of a woman, had taken over Arden's body and engulfed him completely in flames!
The damn elf had become the host of his own fire spirit!
Not only that, he had also manifested a floating purple crystal emitting a more potent and poisonous aura than before!
Insane!
>The Eyes of Dullahan ring activated!
>The poison effect reduced significantly!
The Eyes of Dullahan ring rang out once more, signaling that the toxic air had intensified.
The cursed elf continued to use his superior magical vision to cast spells without his sight becoming blurred.
From my observation, the Arcanist Elf gradually emerged, engulfed in flames that consumed his entire body.
It was impossible not to notice the fat on his body melting away and his skin blistering under the scorching flames of Aizel.
It appeared that Arden had made the decision to either die alone or together with his opponents.
The air grew thin and suffocating, accompanied by a searing heat that was agonizing, even from a distance.
"The cursed elf has risen again?! What in the world?!" Erlan trembled in fear, coughing from the poisonous air.
Even Laura, the swordsman, and the archers, who had just recovered, were forced to kneel once more due to the deadly combination of heat and toxicity.
"What are we going to do?! Alstair!" Avyanna raised her shield in preparation, but she too felt the same fear and suffocation as Erlan.
"I am Arden, the renowned Arcanist Elf. I refuse to be defeated by a lowly human sorcerer like you. Face me, mortal!" Arden's voice boomed with rage, tinged with frustration.
He was like a self-destructive force, consumed by the desire to burn everything in his path, even if it meant destroying himself.
I wasted no time and summoned ten Ice Javelins with a swift incantation, hurling them towards the madman in an attempt to end his destructive rampage.
But to my dismay, the intense heat emanating from the fire spirit within Arden caused the Ice Javelins to melt into nothingness.
I had to change my strategy quickly, switching to alternative spell - Lightning Bolt - and casting it repeatedly in a continuous stream towards the crazed elf.
Yet, he remained unfazed and continued on his destructive path, seemingly immune to my lightning attacks.
This only fueled my determination; I could not give up now!
I had to come up with another plan to stop this madman before it was too late!