Para Vines

Donfin looked at the time and couldn't help but exclaim. "Six hours! It has been only six hours since the start of the exam!"

Everyone checked the time as well. "Are we going to break the record by four hours?!"

"Seems like it," Miranda spoke, equally happy.

Without thinking twice, their whole group charged to the Flag in the distance. However, they weren't idiots. They let Linfel go ahead since he could feel Magic Beasts to a certain distance. Especially Donfin and Miranda, who were taken by surprise by the Rock Breakers earlier this day.

Linfel didn't mind since he already intended to do it anyway. As they approached, their speed slowed down, waiting for Linfel's warning.

*Crack!*

Yet, this time, Linfel couldn't do anything about it. That's because his perception range is only around ten meters. At the moment, he was walking that same distance ahead, so he didn't notice. No one did. Out of nowhere, several dark vines came out of the ground, trying to bind their group.

Alvin was taken aback as he was the first one to see a dark vine sprouting from the ground, attacking Milia on the back. Without thinking, he immediately circulated his magic Energy and kicked her, sending her flying out of the way.

Many more of those vines came out, capturing Connor, Miranda, and Donfin. Alvin was just lucky. He simply wasn't the first target by mere chance. However, after kicking Milia, the vine that was supposed to take her took him instead.

Of course, their group wouldn't just look as the vines took them. They all circulated their magic energy and attacked the vines. Yet, at the same time they attacked, they felt their bodies go numb.

"Shit! They are covered in poison!" Donfin exclaimed.

*Swish, swish, swish...*

Suddenly, several slashes came in succession, cutting the vines and freeing the group. It was Milia and Nori who were now connected. Surprisingly, Nori's form was that of a sword. Milia circulated her Magic Energy, creating a flaming sword that kept attack the vines as they came out of the ground.

*vuuuuuu...*

Following that, a current of wind reached everyone's bodies, pulling them away from the vines. This time, it was Linfel who acted. He was the only Familiar not connected to a master, so he was free. 

"This guy is hidden deep underground. I can't feel his Magic Energy." Linfel could feel Magic Energy up to ten meters, but that's only if there were no barriers on the way. Feeling Magic Energy underground was much harder, so his perception didn't go more than three meters down.

*Crack, crack, crack, crack...*

The ground then began to crack open as a mass of Dark Vines came out. It wasn't only one, but ten of them at once. 

Milia recognized them straight away. "They are Para Vine Beasts. You can find them in quite a few different places in our country. They usually hide underground and use the vibrations on the surface to detect their prey. Obviously," Milia then slashed a few more times and continued, "they paralyze their target and use the vines themselves to absorb their nutrients."

Linfel looked at Alvin. "Can you move?"

Alvin slowly got up as his legs trembled. "More or less. This poison sure works..."

Donfin, Miranda, and Connor followed suit. Donfin and Miranda, as Level Two Maguses, seemed to be better off. Their higher Magic Energy helped them block the poison better than Alvin and Connor. "These fuckers! Let's finish them off!"

Donfin quickly shot forward. He could tell that although annoying, those Para Vines were still only Level One Magic Beasts... or Plants, for the matter. Having been caught by them was quite disgraceful in his eyes.

Alvin and Felia quickly worked together. His magic Energy created several spikes out from the earth and tried to pierce the Para Vine Cores.

Connor followed suit with his wind attacks, which were especially good since he could create wind blades. 

Alvin and Connor took one Para Vine each, while Connor, Miranda, and Donfin took three at the same time. That left two Para Vines for Linfel deal with.

The fight continued as the Para Vines tried to keep their distance while using their poisonous vines to attack Alvin's group. Linfel acted as a kind of support character. He easily held down his two Para Vines and acted every time he saw someone was going to be caught by those vines.

Usually, Donfin and Miranda wouldn't need much help since they are Level Two Maguses. However, the poison was still in their bodies, so their movements were quite slow. Alvin and Connor were even worse.

Fortunately, Milia also made up for it with her own effort. She used several Fire Attacks, mainly focused on Nori's Blade. The fire seemed to be especially effective against those Para Vines.

*Boom!*

A Fire Spear suddenly hit one of the Para Vines, piercing through its core and burning the rest of its body. The first Para Vine came down, reducing the pressure on the group. "Finally, an opening," said Linfel. 

That single death changed the battle almost instantly. Linfel now only had one para Vine to deal with. His barrage of attacks, all made of fire and wind elements, completely overwhelmed that Para Vine. It soon died as well.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

Milia wasn't any slower. Even though she fought three of those, she still held the advantage. Finally, she took one down. However, instead of charging at the other two, her Sword, which was Nori transformed, turned to the side and sent a Fire Slash attack. Tens of Dark Vines were instantly cut down, causing the Para Vine owner to scream in pain.

Alvin sighed in relief. His Earth Element was truly not very good against this beast. He was doing his best just to hold down, especially with his numb body. "Thank you."

Milia quickly turned back to her targets. "Now we are even." She obviously didn't forget that it was Alvin who prevented her from being touched by the vines earlier.

One Para Vine after another fell, and their group found it easier and easier to work together. After a few minutes, the last Para Vine was cut down, bringing an end to the battle.