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Ari and Tracey vs. the Vice General.
The CA members are handling the royal army, and Ari and Tracey are engaged in a tense duel with the Vice General.
The Vice General doesn't seem serious at all — he's just blocking Ari and Ashenfang's attacks, relying purely on defense.
Ari and Tracey are growing increasingly frustrated. They've been trying for so long, yet they still can't break through the Vice General's guard. Ari can no longer use her Magic Drive. She has used it three times already. Normally, it's incredibly difficult for anyone to use it even twice in a short period, but thanks to her Tier 1 Magic, she can tolerate more than others. Even so, if she used it a fourth time and something went wrong, she wouldn't be able to heal anyone anymore — and with their goal so close, she knows that healing others must be the priority.
Ari uses Ashenfang as a shield, defending herself, and then attacks from behind him. The Vice General uses his Grass Magic to create massive roots that rise from the ground, twisting wildly in the air. Ashenfang charges forward, and Ari slices the roots with precision. But the problem is that the roots multiply and shift constantly, making it seem like a puzzle that neither Ari nor Ashenfang can solve. They can't find an opening to reach the Vice General.
Ari takes a few steps back and says something to Tracey. Tracey nods and commands Ashenfang to charge again. This time, Ashenfang moves slower, allowing him to better observe the roots as they spring forth. Left, then right, then another right, then left — Ashenfang weaves between the growing roots, taking in every shift and twist.
Then Tracey commands Ashenfang, "Use 'Inferno Breath' — aim it beneath you, towards the ground!" Ashenfang obeys, releasing a massive burst of flame that blasts downwards, sending him several meters into the air. The Vice General looks up, momentarily distracted, trying to understand the tactic. Suddenly, a slashing arc of Pure Light Magic appears from the distance, cutting through the roots. The Vice General doesn't react — he's too focused on Ashenfang's movement.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Ari appears right in front of the Vice General and attacks directly. It was a planned teamwork maneuver. Ashenfang acted as a distraction, forcing the Vice General to focus on him long enough for Ari to get her opening.
Ari attacks, and the Vice General quickly blocks with sharp leaf-like blades in both hands. Cling! Cling! The sound of their weapons colliding rings out. Meanwhile, Ashenfang, now wreathed in flame, charges toward the Vice General. But suddenly, the Vice General wraps Ashenfang's legs with roots, halting his movement. Tracey commands Ashenfang to launch "Spiral Flame" from that position. Tracey knows that even if the Vice General is strong, his grass-based abilities have a critical disadvantage against fire.
Then the Vice General raises a hand, commanding thick branches to rise from the earth and wrap around Ari. Her swords fall from her hands as the branches constrict her. Meanwhile, Ashenfang's fiery attack is about to hit her.
"No!" Tracey shouts.
Then suddenly a voice rings out: "Crystal Shatter Shield!" A crystal wall appears in front of Ari, blocking the attack. Another voice cries, "Wind Magic: Wind Disks!" Four disks of sharp wind magic cut through the branches binding Ari. It's Silver and Vince.
Silver says, "Let us handle this for now. The guy you're fighting is the second strongest Vice General out of the eight. And I know you've already fought two Vice Generals. Even if they were the lowest ranked, they were still Vice Generals. You two focus on the Captains and the Vice Captain. Let us handle him."
Ari and Tracey nod in agreement and move to engage the other enemies.
The Vice General uses the same technique, growing more roots to block the newcomers. But this time, Vince slices through the roots with Wind Magic: eight sharp disks cutting and carving until an opening appears.
Silver, ready for the chance, slams a hand down. "Crystal Magic: Crystal Platform!" The ground where they're fighting becomes covered with a thick layer of crystal, blocking the Vice General from creating more roots from the earth.
Silver says, "I know these roots will come out eventually, but it'll take time for them to break through this crystal. We have to finish him before that."
Vince uses Wind Magic: Compress, creating a strong downward pressure that slams into the Vice General from above. Silver creates Crystal Magic: Dual Blade, charging forward and slashing once, twice, and then aims for a third swing — only for the Vice General to shield himself in a thick branch of wood.
Without hesitation, Vince casts Wind Magic: Spire Edge, releasing a twisting column of wind from the ground that slices apart the branch. As soon as it's cut, the Vice General grins and uses Root Emit again. The roots explode from the ground, cracking the crystal surface. Vince and Silver glance down, alarmed — a hole has appeared where the roots have broken through, caused by the force of the wind attack. From that hole, countless roots rise forth, destroying the crystal surface completely.
The Vice General sneers. "I guess playtime is over now." Suddenly, a green circle appears, covering Vince and Silver.
"Grass Zone," the Vice General intones.
Then, "Grass Magic: Razor Leaf Hurricane!" So many leaves spin wildly, creating countless hurricanes.
Vince, relying on Wind Magic, tries to stop the barrage, but it's too strong. Silver summons Crystal Walls, yet those walls are quickly chipped away. The Magic Zone increases the Vice General's strength and decreases theirs within its range.
Vince grits his teeth. "I guess we also have to go all out."
Silver replies, "I guess you're right."
"Wind Zone!" Vince shouts.
"Crystal Drive!" Silver roars.
The overlapping zones collide. Vince's Wind Zone clashes with the Vice General's Grass Zone, neutralizing their effects for Vince, though Silver still feels the disadvantage. Yet in his Crystal Drive, Silver can maintain focus and mitigate some of the pressure. Now Silver is clad in heavy Crystal Armor.
Silver cries out, "Crystal Magic: Blade of Destruction!"
Vince shouts, "Wind Magic: Destructive Winds!"
A heavy flow of wind bursts forth, and Silver, protected by his armor, stays rooted in place despite the gale. The Vice General, however, struggles to move within the storm.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Gray and Dawn clash with another Vice General.
Gray invokes, "Mirror Magic: Total Reflection!" A thick beam of lightning is launched towards him, but as it connects with his blade, it reflects straight back toward the Vice General.
Dawn retaliates with, "Water Magic: Aqua Waves!" A flood of water captures the Vice General within its current. As the enemy struggles inside, Gray charges forth. Thanks to his Mirror Magic: Reflecting Armor, the water doesn't touch him. In one swift swing of his blade, he attacks the Vice General, and at the very last moment, the Vice General blocks the strike with his bare hand.
Sense back to Vince and silver's fight.
The Vice General clenched a hand into a gnarled fist, and the ground shook violently. Thick roots surged forth like a writhing wave of serpents, tearing apart the surface and rising to swallow Vince and Silver whole.
"Grass Zone: Verdant Maelstrom!!" he bellowed, and suddenly the very air was choked with countless twisting branches and leaves as sharp as steel. The world became a churning sphere of emerald doom.
Vince cursed under his breath. He tightened the flow of wind around him, creating a turbulent barrier. The gust surged wildly as the leaves and roots crashed down upon it like a forest storm.
"We can't stay on the defensive forever!" Vince yelled, gritting his teeth.