The air in the secluded grove thrummed with arcane energy, the faint glow of sigils pulsing beneath Romina's feet.

Shennong stood at the edge of the clearing, his sharp eyes locked on the ritual unfolding below the arena of the mages. A translucent barrier shimmered around him and Mandira, its surface rippling like liquid glass, shielding them from the chaotic forces below. Mandira's hands glowed faintly as she maintained the barrier, her expression calm but focused.

Shennong's brow furrowed, his voice low and urgent. "Mandira, what's going on down there? This… this doesn't feel right. Are they going to harm her?"

Mandira's gaze flickered to the scene below before settling on Shennong. "Elder Sister Manola has already begun the work. As expected, she's one of the most knowledgeable about spirits. This ritual is meant to draw out whatever's inside Romina. I can promise they won't do any harm to Romina on purpose."

Shennong's eyes narrowed. "Spirits? You mean like the ones you use in your magic?"

Mandira shook her head, her violet hair catching the moonlight. "Not quite. My spirit magic involves calling on spirits who are willing to lend their power. They're allies, partners, besides I am a mage that use mana, not spirits. But Romina…" She hesitated, her voice dropping. "She has a spirit inside her. It's not the same. It's like she's a vessel for something far more powerful."

Shennong's jaw tightened. "And that's why she doesn't look like herself?"

Mandira nodded, her eyes flicking back to the ritual. "Watch. You'll see."

Below, the clearing was alive with energy. Elder Sister Manola stood at the center of the circle, her staff raised, its tip glowing with a soft, silvery light. Her robes shimmered with arcane runes, and her presence radiated authority. Around her, six mages stood in a perfect hexagon, their hands raised as they chanted in unison, their voices weaving a complex melody that seemed to pull at the fabric of reality. The sigils on the ground pulsed brighter, their light casting eerie shadows across Romina's face.

Romina stood motionless, her eyes closed, her body enveloped in a faint, otherworldly glow. Her short, white hair floated slightly, as if caught in an invisible current. She didn't look like the timid girl Shennong knew. There was something alien about her, something that made his skin prickle with unease. The air around her crackled, and the temperature in the grove began to rise.

Suddenly, Romina's body erupted in flames. The fire roared upward, a blazing inferno that consumed her form, yet left her untouched. The mages flinched but held their ground, their chants growing louder. Manola's eyes narrowed, her staff glowing brighter as she channeled more power into the ritual.

The flames coalesced, and Romina's appearance transformed. Her white hair turned a blazing crimson, her skin shimmered like molten gold, and her eyes snapped open, revealing pupils that burned like twin suns.

It wasn't just her face, instead her height and body proportions, all looked rather different. She had rather huge chest when she was in this form, which made others wonder if this is Romina in fire spirit form or was it just Agni.

This was no longer Romina. This was Agni, the fire spirit, bold and arrogant, her presence filling the grove with an oppressive heat.

Agni tilted her head, her lips curling into a predatory grin as she locked eyes with Manola. "Well, well, what human dare to summon me this time?" she purred, her voice like crackling embers. "I feel her influence in you." She licked her lips, her gaze gleaming with challenge. "Let's see if you're worth my time, unlike this weakling."

Without warning, Agni thrust her hand forward, and a torrent of fire surged toward Manola. The flames roared like a living beast, scorching the ground as they raced across the clearing. The mages gasped, their chants faltering, but Manola stood her ground. With a flick of her staff, she summoned a shimmering barrier of blue light, deflecting the flames into the air, where they dissipated in a shower of sparks.

"Bold," Manola said, her voice steady but laced with steel. "But reckless. Just like she explained."

Agni laughed, a wild, unrestrained sound. "Reckless? I am fire, woman. I burn what I please." She lunged forward, her body trailing flames like a comet. Her hands ignited, and she hurled a barrage of fireballs at Manola, each one exploding with deafening force.

Manola moved with grace, her staff tracing intricate patterns in the air. Arcane runes flared to life, forming a lattice of light that absorbed the fireballs. She countered with a burst of spirit magic, summoning ethereal wisps that swirled around Agni, their ghostly forms darting in and out of the flames. The wisps lashed out, their touch draining the heat from Agni's fire, forcing her to stagger back.

"You think your little ghosts can stop me?" Agni snarled, her body flaring brighter. She clapped her hands, and a shockwave of fire erupted, forcing the mages to shield their faces. The wisps dissolved, but Manola was already moving, her staff spinning as she unleashed a torrent of icy blue energy. The beam struck Agni, encasing her in a lattice of frost.

Agni roared, shattering the ice with a burst of flame. "You're good," she admitted, her grin widening. "But I'm better." She raised her arms, and the ground beneath Manola erupted in a pillar of fire. Manola leaped aside, her robes singed, and countered with a wave of spirit energy that materialized as a massive, translucent wolf. The spirit beast lunged at Agni, its jaws snapping.

Agni dodged, her movements fluid and precise. "A pet? Cute for a human." She snapped her fingers, and a whip of fire lashed out, wrapping around the wolf's neck. The spirit howled as it dissolved, but Manola was already chanting, her voice rising above the chaos. A new spirit materialized—a towering figure wreathed in mist, its eyes glowing with an ancient, quiet power.

The battle raged on, a clash of fire and magic. Agni's flames scorched the earth, while Manola's spirits countered with precision and grace. The mages struggled to maintain their circle, their faces slick with sweat as they poured their energy into the ritual. The air crackled with power, the grove trembling under the weight of the conflict.

Shennong watched, his heart pounding. "This isn't going to end anytime soon, is it?" he muttered.

Mandira's expression was grim. "Not unless Manola can subdue her. Agni's too strong, too wild."

Shennong glanced at her. "Are spirits like Agni the same as otherworldly demons? Like Yenissa or Ka'ra?"

Mandira's eyes darkened, and she looked away. "Not quite. Spirits exist in their own plane, a world humans can't see unless they're exceptionally gifted, like Manola or me. Demons like Yenissa… they're from the Otherworld, a place of chaos and power. Spirits are different. They're elemental, primal. But Agni…" She trailed off, her voice barely a whisper. "She's something else entirely. She is a spirit, but she is not a calm spirit. Fire spirits are said to be destructive."

Below, the battle reached a fever pitch. Agni's flames roared higher, her laughter wild and unhinged. "Come on, human woman! Show me what you've got!" she taunted, hurling a massive fireball that lit up the grove like a second sun.

Manola's face was calm, but her eyes burned with determination. She closed them, and a hush fell over the clearing. Her pupils rolled back, and the left side of her face transformed. Her features softened, her skin glowing with an ethereal beauty. A faint, otherworldly aura enveloped her, and the air grew heavy with a presence that made even Agni pause.

Agni tilted her head, her fiery eyes narrowing. "What… what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice cracking with uncertainty. She lowered her hands, the flames around her dimming slightly.

Manola opened her eyes, and her voice carried a dual tone, as if two beings spoke at once. "Agni, fire of the primal plane, you will not claim this vessel. Return to your slumber. This is the order of Spirit Queen."

Agni's arrogance faltered, replaced by a flicker of fear. "You… you're not just a mage." She took a step back, her flames flickering. "Who are you?"

Manola didn't answer. Instead, she raised her staff, and a wave of spirit energy surged forward, enveloping Agni. The fire spirit screamed, her body convulsing as the energy forced her back into Romina's form. The flames died out, and Romina collapsed to the ground, her body trembling but human once more.

The mages sagged with relief, their chants fading. Manola lowered her staff, her face returning to normal, though her eyes still held a faint, otherworldly glow. She turned to the mages. "Strengthen the seals. She's contained, but not for long."

Shennong exhaled, his hands unclenching. "That was… intense."

Mandira let the barrier fall, her shoulders slumping. "Manola's power is unmatched, but even she can't fully control and subdue Agni. We need to find a way to stabilize Romina before the spirit breaks free again. Only she can do that."

Shennong's gaze lingered on Romina, who lay motionless on the ground. "And the succubi? The Tear to the Otherworld? Our main problem, genie?"

Mandira's expression darkened. "That's another problem entirely. You should return to dungeon and find out more about this succubi. I will stay here and support Romina. Don't worry, I will join you as soo as I can.."

Shennong nodded, his resolve hardening."Yes, Yenissa should come back soon. I can't let her rot in bed like this."

Upon hearing Yenissa, Mandira somewhat looked displeased, but she knew it was a problem for another time. First, she had to get rid of bigger problems.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.