Chapter 209: Pierre lands the last blow
Seizing the opportunity, Pierre, who had been holding the fort against the flames, unleashed a counterattack. With a resolute incantation, he summoned pillars of stone from the arena floor, each surging towards Denica, Vukan, and Belos with unyielding force. The earth constructs moved in a synchronized dance, overwhelming the Douxmarth trio.
The audience, caught in a wave of suspense, watched as the pillars collided with their targets. Dust and magical residue filled the air as the impact reverberated through the arena. When the dust settled, it revealed that the Cledwarys trio stood firm, and their opponents were covered in a barrier protecting them.
Then Jaegar, having swiftly passed Pierre and exchanged a few words inaudibly, continued forward with purpose. However, just a few steps beyond Pierre, he abruptly halted, as if a sudden wave of exhaustion had overcome him. He doubled over slightly, panting heavily as if struggling to catch his breath.
His posture, once strong and determined, now conveyed a feigned weariness. The audience caught up in the intensity of the magical duel, turned their attention to Jaegar's unexpected display of fatigue.
He had appeared himself, as though it were taking a toll on him as he still controlled the crimson chains. Maintaining those chains was draining him completely.
Whispers spread through the crowd as they speculated about the toll the magical exertion might have taken on the renowned prince.
Pierre, standing a short distance away, shot a concerned glance at Jaegar. Ewen, too, furrowed his brow, momentarily distracted from the aftermath of the duel. The Douxmarth students, though battered by Pierre's formidable spell, glanced around the opponent trio.
As Jaegar breathed heavily, he subtly gestured towards Pierre, redirecting his attention towards his comrade. It was a strategic move, a deliberate act to shift the spotlight away from himself and onto Pierre. The unspoken message passed between them. Jaegar was waiting for Pierre as he kept his gaze on the opponents.
The act of feigned exhaustion was a calculated choice. Jaegar, despite being at the centre of attention, sought to manipulate the perception of the spectators. By momentarily casting himself as fatigued, he paved the way for Pierre to emerge as the perceived saviour of the moment.
Whatever strategic insight Jaegar shared with Pierre sparked a renewed determination in the latter's eyes. Pierre, fueled by the exchange, raised his wand once again, ready to unleash another wave of magic. He recited a chant very quickly, which made Yralissa snap and stare at him in disbelief.
The chant he just incanted was an ancient spell not known to the common wizarding community. It was a powerful incantation that could do devastating damage to the one's receiving the other end of the spell.
Elves were gifted with a great knowledge of magic, better than humans, they were said to be the children of arcane magic. As one of them, and as the dean of a magical institution, as a grand witch herself, she possessed a vast amount of knowledge.
The moment Pierre uttered those words from his lips, she knew. Even though Pierre didn't say it out, she could tell it. She couldn't believe how such a child could know the spell from ancient times. Unless he knew the language of magic, there was no other way for him to have known that incantation, that's what she thought.
As she continued to watch, Pierre's spell was taking shape.
With a resonant incantation and a fluid wave of his hand, Pierre channelled his magical energy into the earth beneath the Douxmarth students. The ground responded to his command, shaking for several seconds before erupting upwards. In the blink of an eye, pillars of earth materialized, soaring into the air and coalescing into formidable hammer-like shapes.
Jaegar then turned his attention to Pierre and, with a subtle nod to Pierre, subtly manipulated the ethereal chains to disperse, their purpose fulfilled.
Jaegar had held them in place with his chains along with the barrier around them. And before they could do anything about Pierre and his magic, his onslaught began.
The makeshift hammers, suspended in mid-air, hung ominously over the Douxmarth students and the transformed wyrm. The audience, gripped by anticipation, watched as Pierre's spell reached its crescendo. The Hollowdome was bathed in an ethereal glow as the magical constructs prepared to unleash their devastating force.
Then, with a swift and controlled descent, the earth hammers slammed down upon their targets. The impact resonated through the arena, creating shockwaves that rippled through the very fabric of the magical barrier surrounding the battleground.
The Douxmarth students, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, grappled with the force of the assault. Denica, Vukan, and Belos found themselves in the midst of a magical tempest, struggling to evade the relentless assault.
The barrier protecting them was now broken under the heavy assault.
The wyrm, no longer in control of its colossal form, thrashed as the hammers struck with unrelenting force. He returned back to his human form. The ground quaked beneath the impact, adding to the spectacle of the magical clash.
As the dust settled, revealing the aftermath of Pierre's powerful spell, it became evident that the Douxmarth trio and their transformed ally were momentarily incapacitated.
The cheers from the audience swelled, acknowledging the strategic brilliance and magical prowess displayed by Cledwarys.
Ashfield and others clapped, praising the astonishing display of power and skill. Cledwarys had proven themselves to be formidable opponents, leaving everyone in awe of their abilities.
Morana turned stoic as she watched her students, but she still clapped her hands, seeing that they had pulled it off.
Jennifer was jumping in the stands, watching how Pierre had landed the last blow. She couldn't contain her excitement, cheering loudly for Pierre's victory.
Jaegar, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but appreciate Pierre's perception and skill. The unspoken coordination between the Cledwarys trio had proved instrumental in securing their victory in the first phase of the Inter-Academic Summit.
Ewen, hiding his contempt, smiled at the two. He couldn't understand how Pierre's spell had become more powerful than his previous spells. The last one was far more destructive than he could imagine.
With a satisfied nod, Jaegar joined the applause, acknowledging not only Pierre's success but also the resilience and adaptability displayed by their opponents from Douxmarth. The Colosseum buzzed with excitement, setting the stage for the subsequent phases of the tournament.
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In that moment, Jaegar, with a smirk, allowed the spotlight to shine on Pierre. The strategy to downplay his own abilities had paid off. The attention that had surrounded Jaegar was now redirected towards the seemingly victorious Pierre.
As the crowd erupted in cheers, Pierre, though momentarily surprised, stepped forward, basking in the adulation. Jaegar and Pierre exchanged knowing glances, their unity evident in the unspoken bond forged during the intense duel.
Pierre was standing next to Jaegar, leaned towards him, and said, "What the hell was that? How do you know such a spell?"
When Jaegar passed by him, Jaegar had said the spell to Pierre, who was already casting the earth magic. Jaegar had told him to chant the spell using his magic wand, and the result was, as you can see, Jaegar had learned it from the tome, and he thought of it when he saw Pierre using earth magic.
He quickly told him to use the spell, and he was also surprised to see Pierre learning the spell quickly and using it as his own.
Pierre watched his friend just smile at him, not giving him an answer. He understood why he did that, to some extent. He knew the moment he uttered the spell that it was different from what he had been using. The spell had drained most of his energy, leaving him barely holding his ground.
The first group duel had concluded, leaving the audience in awe of the magical prowess displayed by both academies. The Inter-Academic Summit had only just begun, promising more trials, challenges, and revelations in the days to come.
In the final moments, Jaegar, Ewen, and Pierre stood resolute, their teamwork and individual prowess overcoming the challenges posed by Denica, Vukan, and Belos.
The magical resonance slowly subsided, leaving the participants and spectators alike in awe of the spectacle they had just witnessed.
The group duel had concluded, setting the tone for the trials that awaited the academies at the Inter-Academic Summit.
Denica, Vukan, and Belos were still on the ground, the healers had come quickly and were now attending to them. Belos had taken much of the damage in his transformative form.
It was unlike anything they had encountered before. Nevertheless, they weren't disappointed, they were watching the Cledawarys students with a fierce gaze, like they were ready for another battle.
The intensity in their eyes reflected their determination to prove themselves in the upcoming trials. Despite the injuries they had sustained, Denica, Vukan, and Belos were fueled by a newfound resilience, eager to showcase their strength and resilience against any challenges that lay ahead.
The attention of the audience shifted towards Pierre, who stood amidst the remnants of the magical clash. The cheers and applause from the spectators echoed through the Colosseum, the Hollowdome.