Hunting humans

"Sounds okay so far. And we do not even have to do everything.", Sebastian said after reading out the tasks.

"Yes, I think we should just do them one after another starting from the easiest. Like that, we can do more tasks than if we try the hardest and fail.", Alexander proposed.

"Sure, fine by me. So, we start looking for the hunters?", Nadine added.

"Yes, but first, we should have a good look at the map and try to gauge their rough location.", Sebastian answered, and motioned to close the holes. The did not seem to be any danger so far.

Alexander took the map, and after taking another look at the surroundings from the clearing, he had figured out their exact position, with some help of a few minor spells. A small, red 'X' marked as 'Hunters, last know location' in the map legend, guided them in a general direction. They had already taken a good look at the inventory of their backpacks, and they had everything they needed to stay healthy, at least in terms of food, water, and overnight accommodation in the form of a small tent, which they would need to share.

They moved carefully, using a few spells to blend their smell and noises with the surroundings, though they had to settle on the same muggle-concealment charm.

-HP-

A few hours later

*PEEW*

The three stood up in haste and grabbed their wand or staff. They were just about to eat dinner, hidden between some trees and bushes, coupled with a few minor charms, when the heard the shot.

"That was a rifle!", Sebastian said, "The hunters must be nearby! Alexander, clean our stuff and put everything inside of the bags. Nadine, look for any sign of movement."

They nodded and got to work while trying to be as quiet but fast as possible. When Alexander had put everything inside of their backpacks, they assumed a standard formation, Nadine at the front, Sebastian slightly behind her and to her right, while Alexander was behind them. Like this, Nadine could protect against any incoming spells or projectiles, while Sebastian was still free to attack anyone with the staff in his right arm, and Alexander could potentially help them in case of injury or help in general. He would also be a line of defence against any hidden attackers coming from behind.

"Roughly seventy meters up front. As of now, I was able to see three of them, but there surely are more, I don't see them carry any large equipment or bags.", Nadine said, "They seem to be looking for something."

The others just nodded, and they continued walking forwards.

"H 1", Nadine said, and Sebastian transfigured the ground in front of them to look like a large boulder, while Alexander cast any spells created for hiding while being still, he knew. They were now roughly sixteen meters away from the hunters and had spotted two more. Nadine took out a staff connected to a mirror, with was enchanted not to reflect bright light, as not to alert anyone. But it was still enough to see properly.

"I see another two, seven in total. They seem to have stopped.", Nadine informed them. After three minutes, the hunters still did not move on and seemed to rest.

"I propose we attack now. I am going to stun those with weapons in the open, while hiding the spell light so they wouldn't know our location. After that, Alexander starts attacking too, while you stay on the defensive, okay?", Sebastian asked while looking at Nadine, who nodded.

"Good, cover me."

Sebastian slowly dropped to the ground and began to awkwardly crawl towards the hunters, who started a fire. One of them also began to take out some fresh meat he had in a bag. None of them realized Sebastian coming closer.

Still on the ground, Sebastian hid behind a wide tree and began aiming at one of the hunters, holding a rifle. A second later, the man dropped to the ground, unconscious. A second later, another hunter followed. By now, the other men started to panic and shout, but they did not know why two of them suddenly dropped unconscious. Two seconds later, the last man holding a gun fell, and Alexander and Nadine came out behind the rock, while Alexander began casting spells.

"Stupefy.", a red flash hit one of the hunters.

"Stupefy."

The man threw himself to the side, away from the spell, but he was hit by Sebastian not even a second later.

The last man jumped towards a gun, but Nadine reacted a shot a silent stunner towards them man, knocking him out cold.

Sebastian stood up and walked towards the others.

"Well, that was ea-"

"GRRRRR"

??, Sebastian was confused. What?

"GRRRRR" "GRRRRR" "GRRRRR"

"Watch out!", Nadine shouted and threw a blasting curse behind Sebastian, who turned and instinctually transfigured a small wall in front of himself, blocking any possible attacks.

"Wolves. One of them looks hurt! The hunters must have been after it.", Alexander informed Sebastian.

"There are around twelve. I killed one.", Nadine added.

"Defend, I will attack.", Sebastian ordered and concentrated on his surroundings.

Not long after, four wolves came running towards them.

"Ignis Projectilis.", Sebastian created three flaming spears in front of him and shot them towards three of the wolves.

"Confrigo!", he 4th wolf exploded while the others were hit by the arrows and went up in flames.

"Two behind us!", Nadine shouted and threw two small stone spikes towards the wolves by accelerating them with magic.

"Four!", Alexander shouted from Sebastian's left and transfigured a large wall in front of him, setting it on fire afterwards.

Sebastian looked around and saw five more running towards him.

"Five!", he shouted, and cast a silent large scale cutting charm, which was only effective because the wolves were close together. Nadine also transfigured the earth in front of Sebastian into defensive spikes when her attention was attracted by a howl.

A beast, larger than any wolf they had seen, ran towards Nadine.

"MB! (Magical Beast!)", she shouted an threw two blasting curses towards the wolf, but it was too fast.

"Three more over here!", Alexander added.

Sebastian wanted to help both, but he could not split himself.

'Concentrate! You can do it!', Sebastian thought to himself and began casting and swirling his staff above his head.

"Come close!", he said, before chanting:

"Infernum Frenzy"

Red flames rose around them and began spiraling faster and faster.

'It needs to be bigger!', Sebastian knew, and focused on the fire, while adding a lot of magic.

The fire became bigger, and the diameter widened to two and a half meters. The fire created a dome around them, further expanding, and it drained Sebastian. What he was doing was essentially replicating the spell 'Flamma Tempestas', which was way stronger than his current spell and included more different elements and knowledge, he did not have.

A few wolves jumped into the fire and were burned mercilessly, but when the magical wolf jumped into the flames, he was able to penetrate a bit and bit towards the three.

"Incarcerous voltum!", Sebastian shouted, after which, the wolf began was hit by a white spell and visible tendrils of lightning began crawling around the wolf's legs. The wolf began twitching and convulsed in the fire, not being able to move forwards for a moment, after which the wolf overcame the spell, but it was too late. A large part of the wolf's belly and shoulders had been burned away, and he dropped to the ground, twitching but not being able to move. After two seconds, when Sebastian had stopped using the fire spell, the wolf was dead.

"Huff, huff.", Sebastian sat down and heaved heavily. The spells really had taken a toll on him, but he could not rest for long, before he heard four typical cracks, accompanying an apparition.

Three men and one woman, wearing official looking robes and a ministry sigil appeared in front of them.

"Shit, they burned one of the hunters!", the woman exclaimed, and a man grunted.

"Nice. More work for us."

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Do not freak out, because he is weak.

Younger wizards are weaker against group attacks because most AOE spells are very difficulty and magically expensive.

Being that strong after half a year is already very good, and he is stronger against single targets, as you will see later.

Please comment of errors or loopholes.

Remember, it is my first ff, so dont expect too much.