Rank: 3rd
The devil channeled Barlowe’s branch, drawing the molecules of water and the refraction of light in the air to twist them into a unique type of ice under Barlowe’s control. The arcane magic was a mix of primal, cosmic, and rejuvenation.
Before he could impale Milo with a dozen icy blades, Milo waved a hand to destroy the attack.
“Impossible,” Barlowe’s devil said.
“Perfected telekinesis can do wonders.” Milo grinned, leaping forward to strike Barlowe with banishment.
“Not happening.” A glittery flicker of light appeared beside Barlowe, and another devil snatched him up and teleported out of Milo’s reach.
Name: Miguel Lopez
Branch: Cosmic (Shimmer)
Rank: 5th
Enchanter Lopez had a deep amber complexion and a similar build to Milo’s. Even their jaws held the same clenched tension.
“Perfected roots or not, you can’t maintain them for very long,” said the devil possessing Enchanter Stone. “Wear the witch down, then feast upon him.”
Name: Conrad Stone
Branch: Primal (Floral Divinity)
Rank: 2nd
The second-oldest member of the Global Guild and currently ranked second, while in his early fifties. Enchanter Stone, most commonly known as Nature’s Champion, despite notoriously selling out to corporations and acting as their spokesperson. I shook away my personal disdain for the witch and focused on the devil using his body to hurl hundreds of thorned vines at Milo.
They burst before reaching Milo. Every vine, pedal, and leaf exploded into puffs of green mist before blowing away in the wind.
Holy hell. I just realized what Milo was doing with his perfected telekinesis. He was literally ripping apart their attacks cell by cell. He controlled every single one of them on a molecular level, dividing and destroying. If he did that to the devils themselves, he’d easily win this battle. He could shatter their host bodies, then banish them as they struggled to regain their senses without possession.
I tsked.
But Milo would never do something so callous. He tried to save everyone, which meant he’d drag this battle out, ensuring none of the top ten perished.
“Perfected or not, he can’t cast if bound,” the devil possessing Stone shouted, before conjuring a floral shield of thorny plants. “Rebecca, lock him down.”
I scanned the field, finding Enchanter Robbins summoning golden chains from the earth below her.
Name: Rebecca Robbins
Branch: Ward (Benevolent Chains)
Rank: 7th
The perversion of not only stealing these witches’ bodies but also referring to each other by the enchanter’s names. It reminded me how demons and devils preferred to keep their true names secretive.
The stern, hateful expression on her face was so opposite from everything they showed on television. The glow of her chains glimmered against her rainbow-dyed pixie cut. She was an enchanter of positivity and progress, pushing for acceptance—at least that was what all my students would say anyway.
Robbins hurled golden chains at Milo, forcing him to retreat. Since they were made of warding magic, Milo couldn’t counter them with telekinesis. Those chains sapped magic away, and if they shackled Milo, this battle would end.
The teleporting devil lunged for Milo, bouncing circles around him. It allowed the devil to strike Milo with several surprise attacks while also obscuring his vision. The bright shimmer of light was like an explosion of high beams again and again. Even I struggled from a safe distance.
“You know, I trained a teleporter,” Milo said, snatching Miguel by the throat. “It’s not easy predicting your movements, but even without realizing, you follow a pattern.”
His time with Hayden had given him an edge with other teleporting witches. Milo tossed the devil into the path of the encroaching golden chains.
