The Hidden Mages

"Humans! Those disgusting creatures!"

"My, my. Look at what we have here," he said with a chuckle. He was wearing a dark red robe over a black shirt paired with black jeans and a pair of dirty black boots. His black hair was comb neatly and his beard looked neat, almost too neat. He had weird looking tattoos on his arm or at least I think they're tattoos. Overall, he looked like every villain you have seen in fantasy movies, especially with those blood red eyes.

"First of all, I would just like to welcome the new generation of the Hidden Mages. It's so good to finally meet you 9," he said with a sly smile with made me cringe internally.

"Thanks for the very warm welcome. I can't wait to punch you in the face!" Nico said out loud which made the other mages step closer to us, angry at how Nico had disrespected their master. Eldor just laughed before taking at least 5 steps forward.

"Oh, you guys are just adorable!" he spoke again, clasping his hands together.

"Oh yeah? Well, why don't you come closer and I'll show you just how adorable we can be," stated Leona who took a few steps forward but was stopped by Daphne.

"Oh no no. I have no intentions of fighting you. Besides, it wouldn't be fair right. 1 vs 9," he said, acting as if he felt hurt. Like? Who the hell does he think he's fooling??

"Are you blind or have you forgotten all your buddies standing behind us?" Angelo asked pointing towards the mages behind us who look like they're gonna attack any moment now.

"Like I said. I do not have any intentions of fighting you,"

"All I want is Dylan. Well, Dylan's magic to be precise," he continued, making Angelo's hands ball into fists.

"If you want Dylan, you're gonna go through me!" Angelo yelled out loud which made everyone turn towards him. And when I say everyone, I mean, everyone! Black mists began forming around him and it took me a second to realize that it was shadows instead. A few mages backed away after sensing Angelo's magic which, in my opinion, was a very good idea.

Even Eldor looked amused but he didn't look too afraid.

"Ahh, Angelo Naida Blackjack. The eldest," he stated as if he only now realized that Angelo was there.

"Oh, I would really love to throw you kids around like rag dolls but I don't really wanna get my hands dirty," he continued.

'Throw us around like rag dolls? This guy seriously has a death wish,' I thought to myself.

"So, I'm gonna leave the dirty work to my favorites," he said, smiling with his arms wide open.

'Favorites?'

Then, from behind him, a few silhouettes could be seen walking out of a portal and I immediately knew who those silhouettes belonged to. The Tribe of Terror.

"Oh my god. It's those assholes," Xavier blurted out. If we weren't in a serious situation I would've laughed but right now I was thinking the same thing.

"Finish them off," Eldor told the five wizards before disappearing into thin air.

"Yes, master," they replied in synchronization before running towards the "battlefield".

"Split up!"

.

.

It was clear from the start that I was gonna fight against Evanora. I guess you could say I had some business with that witch. I was afraid that Opal would get in the way, so I asked her to take care of the other mages instead. She was hesitant at first but eventually she obeyed. Dylan decided to go against the bow and arrow guy. Not sure why but it looked like Dylan had a score to settle too. Daphne and Lucas came face to face with two mages who looked very much a like. Twins. One of them had lightning magic and the other had thunder magic. The last wizard was a lady wearing a kimono outfit and she carried a fan in each hand. Angelo was gonna deal with her. Xavier, Nico, Leona and Vincent, on the other hand, will be preventing the other mages from interfering.

"Oh, how I've been waiting for this moment," said Evanora, walking slowly towards me.

"So have I," I replied.

"I'm gonna put you in the dirt where you belong," she said before laughing maniacally which made me shudder a little.

"Try me!" I blurted out which made her glare at me.

She raised her hand, green smoke surrounding her. I was contemplating whether to run towards her and attack or to wait and see what happens. Thank god I went with the second choice because just then, thick vines started growing around her and with a motion for her hands, the vines shot towards me at full speed. Using my sword I managed to cut down a few of those vines but there were to many and eventually I got hit by a few which was very very painful, not gonna lie. Out of nowhere, she started laughing again, as if ,the sight of me getting hurt just made her day.

I knew that my Lupus form is not the right transformation to use, so I transformed into Leo's form. Since I was able to get a few hits using Leo's power the last time we fought, I thought it was a good idea to use it again.

"Ah, the lion," she stated, remembering our last battle. "I don't think the lion can help you today, Adonia. I've grown much stronger than before," she bragged with a smirk on her face.

"Good for you," I said, not wanting to drag this conversation any longer. I immediately launched myself towards her which was a terrible mistake. Why, you ask? Because right when I did, a thick vine yanked my ankle and sent me flying. That's why. I ended up hitting the ground and rolling a few meters away from Evanora.

"Ow. I can't believe I'm getting thrown around by plants," I said to myself while struggling to get back up. I was already on my knees and was about to get back on my feet when I felt something crawling on my thigh. I looked down and saw vines creeping up from the ground to my legs.

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed, trying to cut the vines but the more vines I cut, the more grew back.

'What the hell is this?!' I thought in my head, panic rising, making my heart beat faster.

The number of vines multiplied by the second and even though they were thinner than the vines I got hit by, they were still very strong. It only took a minute for the entire lower part of my body to be completely covered by green vines. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't cut it down. That would just make more grow.

"Oh, don't worry child. You just have another minute or two before your entire body is covered," said Evanora who was now only a meter away from me. I was too busy panicking and struggling that I didn't even notice her standing in front of me.

"Nature," she said with a sigh. "One of the best gifts given by God until humans decided to destroy it," she continued, anger flaring in her eyes.

"Is that why you're doing this? Because no one appreciates nature?" I asked, looking at the witch in front of me dead in the eye.

"Not no one. Humans! Those disgusting creatures!" she exclaimed. "They cut down trees, as if trees don't have a life of their own! They burn down forests, showing how heartless they can be! They don't deserve to live! None of them do!" she yelled and even though I was supposed to hate her, you know, since she has vines holding me down, I couldn't help but feel sorry. I looked into her eyes and saw not only anger but also pain.

"And here you are defending them," she said while glaring at me.

"Look, I admit. Humans are not the brightest creatures in this world. They're pretty messed up. But forcing them to bow down to us is not right either!" I told her, trying not to think of the vines that were now up to my neck.

"And that's where you're wrong! They should bow down to us! After everything they've done to our kind, they don't deserve any mercy!" she yelled.

"And anyone who thinks differently will end up suffering, as you are right now," she said before laughing maniacally like before.

'I can't convince her. Her mind's already set on killing me and her hate for humans is too deep,' I thought to myself.

'I guess I just have to defeat her. But how? Come on, Zoe! THINK! THINK!'

The vines were coming up to my mouth and that's when I got the greatest idea of all time. I didn't know why I didn't think of this before. Maybe it was because I didn't wanna be too harsh but I don't really have a choice anymore, do I?

"Any last words, Adonia?" she asked before laughing again.

"Yeah, but just one,".

"Phoenix,".