Chapter 23: A Failed Retrieval

Hecate is at the fort of the elite high elves, attempting to break through their tough defenses.

I don't believe that their defenses can't be penetrated.

She thought to herself.

She knew that the rune magic of the high elves can be tricky to deal with.

"Give it up, you fucking sly bitch. The fort is protected by layer after layer of high-tier rune magic. You can try to barge your way in, and retrieve the old weaving loom you used along with your book of spells."

Ashera Valhorn, a female high elf, taunted Hecate, and made fun of Hecate's futile efforts to break the multi-rune shield barrier.

"What will you do now, you witch? The barrier is further coated with celestial holy magic. You use magic imbued with the dark demonic arts, which is the natural nemesis."

Ashera said in a mocking tone to Hecate.

"You think I didn't come here prepared, huh, you high elf? The best way to counter holy rune magic is the magic of the dark demonic arts. I bet you didn't know that, smart bitch."

Hecate replied back at Ashera, with a smirk formed upon her lips, and giving Ashera a middle finger right in full view of the high elven soldiers posted in the walls of the fort.

"Asmodeus, the grand magician of hell, I invoke your demonic magical arts to break these rune barriers."

After Hecate finished chanting, a black pentagram appeared in the sky.

Black flaming arrows enhanced with the dark demonic arts came out of the pentagram and pelted the multi-rune shield barrier.

Hecate stood back and observed the elven archers at the walls of the fort nock their bows and preparing to defend their fort.

She could see the elven soldiers outside the fort gate, their weapons at the ready.

Hecate knew that it won't be long before the shield barrier breaks.

Before the shield barrier completely broke down, Hecate started another chant.

"Arise, oh demon soldiers, from the depths of hell. Lend me your power. Show these high elves the true meaning of fear."

After Hecate finished chanting, another pentagram that glowed blood red appeared upon the bright afternoon sky.

The skies started to darken.

An unearthly sound that sent chills down the spine could be heard, while a rift through space and time appeared, with demons climbing their way out of the rift to the grassy valley beneath the fort of the high elves.

"Demons. Attack!"

After the barrier broke down, the demons charged at the elven soldiers amidst the rain of celestial arrows coming from the elven soldiers positioned in the fort walls.

Ashera went down from the fort to face Hecate in a duel.

"I admire your guts to face me in a duel. If you returned my loom and spell book to me this wouldn't have happened. Show me what you got, high elf."

"You want your stuff back, you witch? Keep dreaming. You talk too much, you stupid shit."

Ashera retorted back at Hecate.

"Celestial Shield"

Ashera chanted, and a shield barrier appeared right in front of her just in time as Hecate started pelting her with demonic fireballs.

Not good. I can't stay on defensive for long. I need to find an opening.

Ashera thought to herself as her mind raced.

She needed to find a suitable spell counter.

She remembered the spells in Hecate's spell book.

She struggled to maintain a straight face as she got an idea.

How about using Hecate's own spells against her? That would be a funny and ironic thing to witness.

"Celestial Mirror Move: Demonic Flame Phoenix"

A dark red phoenix with black hellfire appeared out of a portal, and swiftly avoided a spell hurtling towards its direction.

The Phoenix immediately countered by flapping its wings, which sent wave after wave of hellfire at Circe, who got forced to go on the defensive by setting up a water barrier that completely surrounded her.

"To think that you'd use my own spells against me, high elf. How brilliant, yet despicable. In the end, we are birds cut out of the same feather. You lot who preach morals are no different from me!"

"You talk too much for someone about to lose. You're basically a sitting duck in there. That water barrier won't last for long. Before you forget, the flames of hellfire are just as hot as celestial fire and dragon fire."

True enough, the hot waves of hellfire eventually broke down Circe's water barrier defense.

Circe tensed and prepared a new spell, expecting another direct hit from the Phoenix.

To her surprise, Ashera took out a spell book and a weaving loom from the high elf's system inventory, handing both items to the Phoenix which transformed into a handsome young man.

The Phoenix started burning both items when Circe screamed "No, please don't.", and attempted to take away the smoldering items, but the high heat of hellfire repelled her and nullified her magic before she could even grab hold of both the spell book and the weaving loom, which now burned to ashes right in front of her.

"You! Why did you burn the spell book and the weaving loom! You're playing dirty!"

"Says the witch who helped cause the downfall of the Gamer Guild. You're right, we're cut out from the same feather. But, I don't do this to destroy guilds wantonly. I do this to preserve vital friendships and alliances. And that heirloom and the spellbook was a fake. The real one? We don't have it anymore. You can try and use your witchy powers to retrieve it, if you can. I won't give you leads on who has it. It's my own little way of getting back at you for destroying the Gamer Guild. "

In a fit of anger, Circe conjured up dark shadows and sent them hurtling towards

Ashera, but the Phoenix countered with a wall of hellfire that deflected Circe's attack.

Ashera sped towards Circe's direction with two daggers in hand, and in the next moment, she already had a dagger right at Circe's throat, with another dagger ready to be stabbed into Circe's stomach.

"Give up this battle, Circe. I outsmarted you. You lost."

Circe hesitated for a few seconds before the reality of her situation dawned upon her, then, she recalled the demons, and retreated back to her place to reconsider her next options.

Ashera immediately set to work rebuilding the fort after they rested and feasted.

"To think a rich witch could be this materialistic. It's not like she'll drasticaly lose her strength if she let go of a few items, and she can easily have them replaced with her vast wealth. How funny, yet ironic to know her weak spot."

Ashera joked at the feast table, and the other high elves laughed along with her.