stakes - gambling with gods.

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Two weeks later:-

Island, some distance away from hideout:-

It had been two weeks since I assumed the role of leading a small group of soldiers on this mission. Our journey began with a week-long sea voyage to the nearest shore, followed by a rigorous trek to reach our current location, just a few hundred miles away from Hancock's hideout. The information gathered by our scouts indicated that there were a few gang members stationed as lookouts approximately 150 miles from our current rest area. This marked the point where our forces would split up.

The initial phase of our plan involved Roger, Kane, and Damion creating chaos near the hideout, drawing out Hancock's bodyguards. Once they were lured away from the lair, Roger would lead them to a location distant from the hideout, keeping them occupied and away from our main objective. It was going to be hard as all five of them will be equal powerful, any mistake will cost them there life.

Simultaneously, our second team would stealthily approach the hideout, carefully avoiding any detection or raising alarms. Our scouts had meticulously designed a path for them to follow, ensuring they eliminated any potential threats before they had a chance to react. To maintain the element of surprise and avoid arousing suspicion, this second team was further divided into smaller groups of ten individuals. Additionally, they were equipped with camouflage uniforms tailored for blending into the surrounding environment, allowing them to move unnoticed through the terrain. The success of this part of mission relied on precise coordination, timing, and stealth.

In the final phase of our mission, our team had the crucial task of engaging the gang's pets and tier-2 individuals located near the hideout. We estimated the presence of at least 10 tier-2 individuals, apart from the various monsters. Our objective was clear: strike them swiftly and prevent them from trapping the second team that would be infiltrating the hideout.

To accomplish this, I had at my disposal a force consisting of 50 skilled warriors, 50 mages, and 13 proficient archers. Additionally, each of the three teams had their dedicated scouts who provided crucial reconnaissance information specific to their assigned areas. To maximize our chances of success, I devised a strategy centered around the Shieldwall Enclave formation.

The Shieldwall Enclave formation entailed arranging the warriors in a solid shield wall, creating a sturdy defensive line to withstand enemy attacks. Positioned behind this protective barrier, the mages would unleash their offensive spells and projectiles, raining destruction upon our adversaries. Meanwhile, the archers would function as a nimble shadow strike unit, swiftly manoeuvring to flank and engage the monsters with precision and stealth. This coordinated approach would create chaos and disarray among the enemy ranks, allowing our team to maintain the upper hand in the battle.

Every aspect of our plan was meticulously designed to ensure our success. The warriors would hold the line, absorbing and deflecting enemy assaults, while the mages and archers struck from both front and flank.

I had already shared my views with kane and lieutenant, who both approved me for using this formation. Now only thing remaining was to wait for others to get done with their job.

As the sun reached its zenith, signalling the appointed time, Damion, who possessed expertise in space magic, began to draw a complex and intricate magic circle on the ground. The circle shimmered with a vibrant azure hue, pulsating with energy as the lines and symbols took shape. The colour resembled the mesmerizing glow of a sapphire gem, captivating all who beheld it.

Once the magic circle was complete, its radiant azure glow intensified, imbued with the essence of spatial magic. In a mesmerizing display, the circle slowly dissipated, leaving behind a faint residue of its ethereal presence.

With the fading of the magic circle, an extraordinary transformation took place. lieutenant, Kane, and Damion, their bodies surrounded by a soft azure aura, began to levitate effortlessly, defying gravity itself. Their flight was made possible by the tier-2 flight spell that Damion had cast, capable of bestowing the power of flight upon a select number of individuals.

It was a sight to behold, as the trio gracefully navigated the heavens, propelled by the magic of their flight spell. Their movements were fluid and synchronized, demonstrating their mastery over the forces of spatial magic. With each passing moment, they drew nearer to their destination, their flight spell carrying them swiftly and steadily towards their objective.

As they arrived a few miles away from the hideout, the trio came to a halt, preparing for Lieutenant's turn to unleash his formidable power. With focused intent, he began to trace intricate patterns on the air, his movements precise and deliberate. The magic circle that took shape before him radiated a profound aura, crackling with energy and ancient symbols.

Once the circle was fully formed, it stood there. Its intricate patterns glowed with a pulsating brilliance, akin to the molten embers of a roaring inferno. The circle seemed to hold an ethereal presence, its essence connecting with the very fabric of the arcane.

Suddenly, from within the magic circle, a tremendous boulder materialized, wreathed in flickering flames that danced with an intense heat. Initially, only a handful of these fiery projectiles emerged, but in a matter of seconds, their numbers multiplied exponentially. The boulders, now numbering in the dozens, continued to pour forth with relentless intensity.

This was my first encounter with the sheer might of a tier-4 spell known as Meteor. The spell's potency was awe-inspiring. Although the spell's duration was limited to a mere 20 seconds, within that brief span, it unleashed a torrential rain of meteors. Each meteor, several feet in length, hurtled through the air with unstoppable force.

The impact of these celestial projectiles was cataclysmic, wreaking havoc upon the surrounding landscape. The ground quaked as meteors crashed and exploded, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The sheer destructive power of the spell was breathtaking, rendering the environment ablaze and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Witnessing the grandeur and might of the tier-4 Meteor spell was a humbling experience. It served as a reminder of the immense power that lie within the realm of magic, capable of reshaping the very fabric of reality.

As the 20 seconds drew to a close, the last meteor crashed into the earth, leaving behind a lingering air of magnificence and destruction. The magic circle dissipated, fading away like the embers of a dying fire, and Lieutenant stood there, his face a mask of resolve and determination.

In the aftermath of the devastating meteor spell, the landscape lay in ruins, reduced to a desolate wasteland. The destructive force of the spell had obliterated everything in its path, leaving only remnants of what once stood. However, amidst the wreckage, the hideout remained standing, shielded by a protective barrier that had managed to withstand the onslaught.

The shield, though visibly weakened and marked by numerous cracks, had managed to preserve the structure from complete annihilation. Its resilience spoke of the formidable defensive enchantments placed upon it, a testament to the cunning and foresight of its creators.

As the dust settled, a figure emerged from behind the shattered shield. Cloaked in black robes and donning a mysterious mask, he exuded an air of malevolence and power. With one hand concealed behind his back and the other held forward, he emanated an aura of dark authority.

Suddenly, another mage, dressed in a similar attire, soared out from the hideout, his presence accompanied by the formation of a magic circle. As the circle materialized, it pulsated with a chilling aura, its patterns intricately woven with symbols representing the elemental power of ice.

Within moments, the second mage unleashed a spell imbued with icy fury, directed with unerring precision toward Lieutenant. The spell, born of the frozen depths of arcane mastery, surged forth, hurtling toward its target with deadly intent. It found its mark, striking Lieutenant with devastating accuracy.

The impact was immediate and chilling. Ice spread rapidly across Lieutenant's body, encasing him in a frozen prison. The spell's power rendered him immobile, his movements stilled beneath the icy grip. The scene unfolded in eerie silence as the mage with the mask and robes observed his triumph, his eyes betraying a glimmer of satisfaction.

In a startling turn of events, as the icy grip of the spell held Lieutenant captive, an unforeseen transformation took place. His body began to dissipate, dispersing into ethereal mist that swiftly dissipated into the air. It was as if his physical form had been rendered insubstantial, his essence merging with the very essence of the surrounding atmosphere.

Simultaneously, the trio comprising Roger, Kane, and Damion, who had been at a considerable distance just moments ago, appeared to have traversed a vast expanse in an instant. In a startling revelation, it became apparent that the trio, including Lieutenant, had never been as close to the hideout as they appeared. Kane had cunningly manipulated the perception of everyone present. His mastery of spells and trickery had cast an elaborate illusion, deceiving our senses and transporting us into a fabricated reality.

As the illusion dissipated, the truth was laid bare. We found them once again amidst the dense forest surrounding the hideout, just as it had been before the confrontation. The opposing mage's shield, previously damaged by the Meteor spell, stood intact, its cracks no longer present.

In a display of heightened determination, Lieutenant unleashed not one, but three powerful fire spells upon the two opposing mages. Each spell surpassed the previous in intensity and destructive force, causing the once intact shield to crack under the relentless barrage. However, the ice mage swiftly responded, conjuring an icy shield to counter the scorching flames of Lieutenant's final spell.

The collision of fire and ice resulted in a dramatic clash, engulfing the surrounding area in a dense cloud of smoke. The smoke billowed and spread, blanketing the forest around the hideout, obscuring our vision and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty.

Within this shrouded battlefield, the true extent of the encounter between the mages remained concealed from our eyes. We could only speculate on the ferocity and power unleashed in their clash, the crackling of spells and the mingling of elements resonating through the misty air.

Amidst the haze of the forest and billowing smoke, the movements of the trio and their adversaries were momentarily obscured from our view. However, as the mist began to dissipate, a sight of relief and satisfaction greeted us. Just as planned, the three figures emerged from the lingering smoke, taking flight once again, with the opposing mages tailing them, but in the opposite direction from our position.