The Norwegian Auror sighed as he checked the Manticore one last time, having finally knocked it out after dropping the 15th stone ball on it's head. This manticore was unusually headstrong.
Neither he nor the Finnish Auror was especially hurt or tired; it had just taken an annoyingly long time to deal with him. But now it had been done, and they could now rejoin the fight as they were supposed to.
They had lost 12 guards in the fight, and alongside the remaining 12, they turned around and rushed towards the main prison cells- hoping they were not too late. But suddenly, the 6 guards in the front were caught in a massive ice formation that rushed out of the ground, piercing them all multiple times.
They died instantly, but their bodies slowly visibly froze to ice statues, and that's how they knew they would never save those guards.
Suddenly though, the formation blew apart and the corpses smashed into bits. Separating the bodies into thousands of small shards, and from the ice-cold dust a man walked out. One that all of them recognized.
Torstein Galte.
"I suppose you will be the first targets of my revenge," Torstein spoke as he spun his wand above his head before forming a half-circle movement with his right hand, stopping right beside his stomach.
And then, ice all around them burst out. Spikes flew out from the sides of the walls, each guard being faced with multiple spikes. The Aurors and three of the guards had developed a magical sense that let them block and counter the spikes, but the remaining guards did not and were all pierced and turned into ice statues.
"Ooh, I thought all you lower guards were the same. But I suppose it makes sense that there is some skill difference between you." He spoke, but was suddenly forced on the defensive as fire, lightning, explosive and basic spells was thrown at him from all sides, but with a simple flick of his wand a thick ice-block fell down from the roof, blocking all the spells.
But that was not the end of it, as it suddenly broke apart. Forming thousands of small ice-needles that accelerated forth directly towards the 5 hostiles.
The Finnish Auror reacted quickly, forming a massive fire shield that melted the ice-needles instantly. But suddenly the auror heard three soft thuds from behind him, and turning around he saw the three remaining guards with massive ice-spikes sticking out of their heads.
They had developed a magical sense, but it was not strong enough to accurate determine size and therefore they assumed the fire shield had been enough, a mistake that had ended them.
The Norwegian Auror had taken down three spikes himself through earth manipulation, while the ones aimed at the Finnish had melted due to him being the centre of the shield.
The shield fell, and it left Torstein alone with the two Aurors.
"This is going to be interesting." Torstein spoke, while the Aurors made eye contact before teaming up in a continuous combo.
For minutes Torstein and the Aurors were struggling against each other, the Aurors sending a mix of exploding spells, chain spells and elemental spells while Torstein defended mostly with an advanced application of Ice Magic and sometimes other spells.
Although most elite wizards focused on one area that would help them combat very strong wizards, very few actually stopped training their other areas. Wizarding combat was very unpredictable and could often be ended with some luck or strategy.
A single opportunity could end or turn the battle around, and Torstein would never underestimate them, even as he was completely overwhelming them with his mastery over ice magic and vast reserves.
Torstein did not always harden his magic into ice, and often snow or just broken up ice played a key role in his fighting style. And it was a pretty solid advantage for him to be in the middle of a very, very cold island.
However suddenly, both Aurors raised their wand into the sky at the same time in a united chant, as they spoke the words "Fiendfyre"
And from their wands rose a massive dragon, twice the size of a usual Fiendfyre as it melted all the ice in it's near capacity instantly, rushing towards Torstein who stood there calmly.
"There we go, oh I have missed this." He spoke calmly as he raised his own wand, speaking the words to focus as much energy as possible. "Leviathanus Glacialis," and a massive ice-serpent rose from the ground.
It met the Fiendfyre in the middle as the pair began fighting, magic meeting magic as it exploded into white smoke- the result of such heat meeting ice-cold temperatures.
But then the ice-serpent suddenly rushed out of the white smoke, directly towards the pair of Aurors. They did not have the time for a counter-spell and were therefore forced to apparate out of the prison and to the surface.
Where Torstein too appeared. Raising his wand once more, and ice spikes rushed out of the ground all around them. As the pair then began a deadly dance- attempting to survive the continous onslaught, switching between dodging and blocking.
The Finnish Auror however was suddenly caught in a well-designed trap, lured into a spot where Torstein could send spikes at every escape route, forcing him to block. And Torstein knew he could do little except block it, so he added in a little trick.
The Auror demolished the spike with a well-placed Maxima Protego, but was caught unaware as a second, and then a third spike formed out of the broken ice. Forming continuous spells out of magic already cancelled by a defensive spell was intensely difficult and extremely taxing, so few wizards ever dared.
But Torstein still managed this, and the Auror was caught off-guard. The first spike pierced the left side of his stomach, the result of a last-second shift to avoid serious damage. But the Auror soon discovered that the second spike was super-charged with magical energy, that blew off like radiation upon impact.
Throwing his magical concentration off, and preventing a block as the third spike pierced straight through his neck. He was unable to dodge due to the spike that had pierced his lower stomach.
Torstein's eyes then turned towards the Norwegian Fourth Auror, who was sweating bricks. The man knew very well that there was little escape from this- but contrary to Torstein's predictions. The Auror simply sighed, before a determined expression appeared.
"You have betrayed your country once more, and it shall be your last." He spoke as he suddenly rushed forth, gripping his wand in a reverse grip as he began throwing all forms of spells at Torstein, who narrowed his eyes. Caution spread through his body as he apparated away rather than facing the onslaught.
"Coward." The Auror said as he appeared in Torstein's old spot. Before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a mushroom. "Do you recognise this shroom?" He asked, and Torstein involuntarily began smiling.
"How could I not, and I must thank you. You've finally made this interesting." Torstein spoke with excitement as the Auror chuckled before throwing the entire mushroom into his mouth and chewing it.
Less than a second later magical power burst out of him like a never-ending wave. Reaching and surpassing Torstein's own magical reserves. This was a special mix of fleinsopp, one that Viking Berserkers once often used, but this one was for wizards. Killing them, but temporarily granting them immense power.
The Auror slowly rose his wand, as massive flame constructs began forming around him. Three massive dragons, as they rose into the skies. Looking down on Torstein like gods looking at their subjects, and the magical energy radiating off them blew Torsteins hair back.
But there was not even a single flicker of fear on Torsteins face. As he too raised his wand, and ice began gathering in equally large constructs. "Come on then! Show me how weak the Norwegian Auror Office has become!" Torstein roared as the massive constructs clashed with each other, three different points of contact all the while both the Auror and Torstein continued to channel magical energy.
...
Draco's hair stood up as he sensed the massive magical outburst, turning his head towards where he knew Torstein and the Auror were battling. And a second later, Harald appeared beside him.
"I remember this feeling..... it happened once when one of the 'spies' the Norwegian government was caught in an unescapable situation. We believe the shroom was intended as a last resort for the agent to kill us, but instead used it on the Bosnian Dark Wizards." Harald said, as Herman then appeared.
"Over the course of five minutes, he slaughtered nearly two hundred wizards. The shrooms are rare, with an annual output of only one shroom. There is only one place that creates them, and the royal family controls it." Herman continued as Draco's eyes widened.
"You mean to tell me, this is a form of magical object?" He asked, and they nodded. "It is the crown's last resort; it is why they have always remained at the top. Even with weak members. Nobody truly knows the extent of their reserves, but it is at the very least in the dozens." Harald responded and Draco sighed.
"Fuck, that makes everything so much more difficult. So they can essentially have at least 24 Torstein level combatants for five minutes. Or 6 for twenty minutes. Fuck." Draco spoke and Harald laughed. "The Magical Society wasn't built to be fair, mate. Wasn't built to be fair."
Draco then turned his attention back towards the loading of prisoners. He had gotten 16 carriages that had been extended, each carrying some 50 prisoners and 8-10 Inquisitors or Berserkers. The prisoners had not received wands so it would be well within an Inquisitor's power to handle a lot of them if they tried something.
"Is everything else completed?" Draco asked Kristoffer, who had been overseeing it for a while now. "Yes, M'lord. All corpses have been accounted for and stored; we've retrieved all wands and property of the prisoners. Alongside the icebears."
"Perfect, let's wait for Torstein before setting off." Draco spoke, as he looked at the clock. Four and 1/2 minutes had passed since the burst of magic initially appeared.
....
Torstein panted slightly as he stood opposite to the Auror. Torstein was bleeding from his mouth, with a blackened eye. The result of the Auror somehow getting past his defenses and simply punching the shit out of Torstein, though the punch had resulted in a spike through the left leg, putting it out of play.
Opposite of Torstein stood the Auror, who was panting heavily. But still a determined expression on his face.
Suddenly, Torstein broke the silence. "You have earned my respect, young man. What is your name?" He asked, as the Auror smiled slightly. "Arian. Arian Fokk"
"Well, Arian Fokk. Let's make this a battle of the century." Torstein spoke with a smile on his face, he had long since spotted one of the Inquisitor a few hundred metres away- aiming his wand at them. Or capturing what was called a "Moving Picture".
Aka, essentially a film of the battle.
Arian did not respond, but simply raised his wand as water and lightning began gathering in a massive sphere of water, with lightning clearly flashing through it. Torstein knew the lightning severely improved the offensive power of the water, and thereby felt his eyes narrow.
He continued to gather power for a few seconds, before it exploded out in a massive narrow stream of water made up of immense pressure as Torstein raised his wand in a simple Protego Maxima, he knew the spell truly posed a threat if he met it with his own spell and failed.
So he did it much simpler, as he continued to pour magic into his protego. The water exploded all around him, but its magical properties disappeared, including the magic, as it could not sustain its form without magic.
"RAAAAAH" Torstein heard as he was suddenly forced back one step, grabbing his wand with both hands as the stream suddenly doubled in power. And Torstein felt his grip weaken. Sweat poured down his face as he fought against the power.
However, refusing to be put in a dangerous position. Torstein placed his left hand off his wand, and opened his palm. Before suddenly raising it quickly, as a spike rose up from beside the Auror. And Arian, knowing his death was imminent. Did not bother to block, but the interruption allowed Torstein to suddenly shift onto the offensive.
As ice magic travelled down the stream, freezing it gradually more and more. Struggling more than it should due to the lightning. But it gave Torstein the brief second to suddenly disappear.
He appeared on an ice hill two hundred metres away, watching as Arian fell down on both knees. His head turned to Torstein briefly, before his face also slammed down into the ground. And the next second, Torstein's previous position exploded in a fiery flame that matched the one in Longyear City.
Torstein had long since noticed the delayed superpowered confingro that Arian was trying to transport through the ground and under him, attempting to hide it with the already extremely dangerous stream of water and lightning.
"It was a good battle, Arian Fokk. I will remember you, and so will history." Torstein spoke as he disappeared, though not before an Inquisitor appeared and burned Arian's body and grabbed his wand.
----
påetron: Pondsfyre
+6 chapters
6 additional books.
Star Wars: An Imperial Officer: +20 chapters (60 total)