We hurriedly made our way down the third hill.
As expected, more enemies were hiding throughout the forest to assault us.
[Goblins Lv.3 x86] [Goblin Archers Lv.3 x75] [Direwolves Lv.4 x44] [Harpies Lv.4 x28]
I noticed the harpies had joined the list of our hostiles.
There was still quite a distance for us to cover before we reached the shining object and plenty more enemies to face.
Unfortunately, Jonah and Shanny had not fully recovered their energy yet from running and battling for so long.
I had no choice but to mitigate the situation.
With swift movement, I produced threads of mana on my tips of fingers and formed three magic symbols, each glowing with different color.
Our bodies were soon emanating with colorful light.
['Serafina (★★★★)' is casting temporary enchantment.]
[Enchantment casted!]
[Party 1's agility, strength, and stamina has increased by 15% for the next 30 minutes.]
Jonah and Shanny immediately noticed the change on themselves.
"What's this power?"
"I don't feel so tired all of a sudden."
"I just casted more enchantments. They won't hold for long. So let's try to get to the next hill before they wore off."
I told my party.
Just as we resumed moving, my hands suddenly twitched. A slight numbing pain shot through my arms.
Jonah and Shanny stopped when they noticed me aching.
"What's the matter?"
"Are you okay?"
I quickly nodded my head to ease their concerns.
"Don't worry. Just keep going."
The two were not convinced by my words, but they understood we could not stay idle while the ogres were chasing us.
The twitching and pain just now was a symptom of mana overflow.
It was a sign that I was casting too many spells already.
Ordinarily, body enhancements spells were casted through mana stones in order to preserve a mage's mana, since mana stones already had their spells contained within them and did not require much mana from the mage to simply activate the spells.
Applying multiple enhancements at once like just now certainly took a toll on my depleting supply and overworked vessel.
If only I had mana potion with me, I could reduce the stress applied on my vessel by providing supplementary mana.
Our magic hall had the facility to create them, as well as other kinds of useful potions, but we did not have the ingredients yet.
The first to the fourth floor never rewarded us with potion ingredients. Only golds, planks, irons, and leather.
As such, I had to deal with the grueling pain caused by the mana overflow symptom.
But I had to bear it. Or else we would die.
I raised my hands forward and began casting my fire spell.
[Maha Jwala]
Twitch!
The numbing pain immediately intensified as I was casting.
However, I could not stop. I needed to finish this spell.
[Ignite]
The huge blaze shot out from my palms opened up another fiery trail for us.
Jonah and Shanny quickly rushed ahead to clear the path.
[Goblins Lv.3 x51] [Goblin Archers Lv.3 x47] [Direwolves Lv.4 x30] [Harpies Lv.4 x18]
Just as the monsters clustered in front of us, Jonah quickly pulled his throwing spear and forcefully launched it at the enemies.
Boom!
The enemy blockade was torn apart in an instant by the blast.
A couple of wolves that survived the explosion swiftly regained their feet and charged at us.
Responding the threat, Shanny ran forward and rammed the wolves with her shield like a charging bull, knocking the canines to their backs.
Without leaving them a chance to get up, Jonah swiftly stepped in and pierced two of them to death. While Shanny struck the finishing blow to the third.
We continued on and this time ten harpies and a dozen goblins blocked our path.
Jonah immediately reached another throwing spear and threw it right at the harpies, creating a massive crimson blast right in the air, wiping the harpies away.
Kekeke!
Three goblins leaped up and tried to ambush Jonah.
Like a dash of lightning, Shanny emerged from Jonah's back and repelled the charge with her shield.
With one swift motion, Shanny twisted her body around and slashed through the goblins, decapitating them on the spot.
['Shanny (★)'s Basic Sword-Shield Technique has levelled up to level 5!]
Ping! Ping!
A couple of goblins shot their crossbows at Shanny but Jonah jumped in front of her and intercepted the arrows skillfully with his spear.
['Jonah (★)'s Basic Spearmanship has levelled up to level 5!]
['Jonah (★)' has obtained the skill, 'Projectile Defense'!]
They pressed on and obliterated the rest of the monsters blocking us.
The two of them worked together so well in fending off the enemies that we soon reached the end of the fire trail.
[Goblins Lv.3 x95] [Goblin Archers Lv.3 x86] [Direwolves Lv.4 x58] [Harpies Lv.4 x32]
Another wave of enemies was awaiting us in the latter part of the forest.
I quickly began chanting my spell.
[Maha Jwala]
Thump!
A huge pain suddenly shot out throughout my body.
It was so painful that I immediately fell to my knees.
My mana overflow symptom was worsening rapidly.
"Serafina!"
"Hey, what's wrong?!"
My two comrades quickly crowded to my side, backs turned on me, weapons facing the enemies, forming a tight protective formation.
To not worry them even further, I hurriedly rose to my feet again.
"Sorry, everyone. I'll need more time to cast my spell. And I don't think my fire will reach the fourth hill this time."
"It's okay! You don't have to force yourself!"
Jonah said.
"Yeah! Just count on us!"
Shanny added reassuringly.
Their confident voices relieved me and made me forgot about my pain for a moment.
"I'll need fifteen seconds to cast my next fire spell. Please hold on till then."
"Anything you need."
"We'll do as you say."
With their confirmation, I resumed casting my spell.
[Maha Jwala]
This time I slowed the flow of mana gathering to my palms. As a result, the pain became milder and more bearable.
While I was casting, the monsters were charging at us from all side.
Jonah and Shanny spread out to cover me from all corners, engaging all the enemies at once.
Pierce!
Slash!
Despite being outnumbered, the two were able to fight off the monsters.
But that did not mean they were able to overwhelm them.
['Shanny (★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. Her stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
['Jonah (★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. His stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
A wolf and a harpy managed to inflict a small wound on Jonah and Shanny while they were battling the horde of monsters.
Thankfully the enemies did not cause fatal injuries.
But it would soon not be out of the realm of possibilities if we left things as they were.
[Ignite]
My fire blasted through the enemy ranks in front of us and carved up another fire trail. This time there was quite a distance left to the fourth hill uncovered by the firewalls.
Seeing the path opened up, Jonah and Shanny marched forward, while ensuring I was right on their tail.
More enemies were coming to impede our advance. All three of us maintained our spirit to fend them off.
[Davah Shashanam]
I enchanted the muddy grounds around the forest and caused them to form a small flood and swipe off the monsters chasing us behind.
The ogres were also a few distance to the back, charging our way.
I turned my gaze to the front and saw Jonah and Shanny battling more monsters at the end of the fire trail.
Kekeke!
Howl!
[Goblins Lv.3 x37] [Goblin Archers Lv.3 x33] [Direwolves Lv.4 x23] [Harpies Lv.4 x20]
Right beyond the trail, even more monsters were awaiting us.
I quickly joined up with my comrades and began casting my spell to clear our path to the hill.
"Stop!"
Jonah shouted immediately upon seeing me preparing a spell.
"I need to create a path for us."
"Save your strength. If it's only this much enemies, you can just let us handle them."
Jonah said while reaching his last throwing spear.
"Shanny, you're ready?"
He called out.
"I'm here!"
She replied while pulling out her sword from a harpy's gut.
They both stood side by side and readied their bloodied weapons.
Heavy rain was pouring down hard on their bodies, wiping off the dark monster blood staining their armors and weapons.
But their intense gazes penetrated through the storm and pierced right to their enemies waiting beyond the fire trail.
No fear could be sensed within them. Only the burning determination to survive.
Boom!
Jonah threw his throwing spear and scattered the enemy formation.
The two then raised their weapons and charged forward, inviting the monsters to respond in kind.