Ascension Of The Failed Mage

"Are you Ciara? The one I've been hearing so much about?"

"And if I am?" Ciara responded defiantly, stopping dead on her tracks, and then turning around to face her stalkers.

She saw five of them in total. Four boys, and a girl.

'Not good...' Her thoughts trailed.

"Heard you took down that she-devil Mia, and what's more... You're a Tier 3? What a load of bull." The strongest-looking guy out of the bunch retorted.

"What do you want?" She snapped.

"Hey, see that's no way to talk to your seniors, princess." Another guy answered, obviously the stronger guy's lackey.

"If you have nothing else to say, I advise you to leave me alone... now!"

Ciara had been in a foul mood all day—no, for the past few days. She didn't need these people to tick her off even more.

"See, I'm not a big fan of rumors... But when I hear one, I like to confirm whether it's true. Now I was going to ask you nicely, but since you're being rude about it... then..." The strongest-looking guy said in an intimidating tone.

"Are you threatening to assault a fellow student? Your junior for that matter?" Ciara asked, returning his brazenness with a glare.

"Oh? so now you know who the junior is. Besides, by the time I'm done with you, you won't be in a shape for reporting me to any authority. Even if you did... It's our word against yours." The senior stepped forward, away from the main group.

He clenched his fists and smiling menacingly, clearly not intent on backing down.

"Tch..." Ciara didn't like this at all.

Thanks to the rumors, many students, both seniors, and juniors would take an interest in her, observing her, and—in the worst case such as this one—attack her.

Ciara had considered the possibility of it happening, but since nothing had occured for the past few days, she thought she was in the clear. She thought wrong

"Now, let's get this party started!" The senior said, still smiling confidently.

"[Fiery Skin]. [Fortitude]. [Potential Increase]."

Suddenly, his skin glowed yellow, and flames appeared on his skin.

Ciara was surprised at the sight.

"Heh, surprised little girl? Is this your first time seeing an elemental enhancement?" The guy said cockily.

Ciara kept quiet.

"How do you like my Tier 2 enhancements? Not only one, but three Tier 2 enhancements, and I'm just warming up!" He sneered.

Ciara kept quiet still.

"Well, then... don't think being quiet now is going to save you. Prepare for a whole world of hurt!" He yelled as he dashed toward her, leaving a trail of fire and smoke down his path.

Ciara knew what she was in for. Here was a seasoned Tier 2 senior, approaching her with three Tier 2 enhancements.

Not only that, but she could only fight back with Tier 2 or less Magic. If she used any Tier 3 Magic, it would confirm the rumors, and whoever spread it would have won.

Ciara knew what she had to do. She had to win, right there, without going all out.

"This will be a little difficult..."

As he drew closer to her, Ciara inhaled and chanted.

"[Sylph's Whisper]"

Immediately, a whirlwind surrounded her, protecting her from her assaulter's fiery body. As the guy tried punching her, the wind pushed him away, and the pressure was beginning to damage him.

He took a few steps back to avoid any further damage.

The whirlwind raged on, and Ciara wouldn't let it subside anytime soon. If she maintained the spell, it would continue taking her mana.

However, since she had a mana pool of over 20,000, she could maintain the spell for quite a while.

"Nice one kid, you're pretty handy with that Tier 2 spell. But this much is within my expectations. Why don't we get a little bit more serious." The opponent remarked.

"[Maximum Potential]"

Suddenly, the flames on his body increased more than twofold. His body also seemed to grow larger, and his muscles bulged. The heat the flame generated was reaching Ciara from her distance.

"You know... fire and wind aren't a good combination for you. Sure, If it's a little fire, the wind can put it out. But, with this much, you'll burn within that whirlwind of yours." He grinned wildly, and then approaching her once more.

Ciara knew he was right. The whirlwind would only serve to magnify the flames more, and yet she was within it.

Before she could get out, she would need to deactivate the spell, but he was already closing in on her. Even if she managed to deactivate the spell on time, she wouldn't be able to evade his attack.

In essence, she was trapped... And that was his intention all along.

"Hehehehehe" The senior laughed at Ciara's predicament.

"Didn't see this coming, did you?"

Ciara's glare gave all the response he needed to see.

"Now... burn!"

He raised his fist as he approached her. His fist blazed with even more intense flames than the rest of his body.

As he got closer, Ciara could feel the unbearable heat reach her. She was sweating profusely, and the wind around her circulated the pressure, causing her to feel nauseated.

Any moment from now, he was going to use her own spell against her. She couldn't have that, but if she let her whirlwind down, she would suffer damage from his blow.

'Talk of being caught between a rock and a hard place.' Ciara smiled.

She wasn't going to lose because of this though.

Her Spell was still maintained, she didn't deactivate it. The senior was surprised at this, but still pressed forward.

"It's your funeral kid!" He said as he used his fiery blow to hit the wall of wind surrounding her.

The pressure it generated caused steam to envelop the area, though it wasn't too thick. Heat circulated and filled the entire atmosphere. This had no effect on the senior though, since he was coated with flames.

His companions, however, felt the brunt of the powerful burst of heat.