i reincarnated in to my Novel

The group stood at the edge of the witch's lair, the oppressive air thick with unease. The Nightshade Bloom pulsed faintly in its container, casting an eerie glow across their tense faces.

Henry: "Remind me again why we're giving this to a witch?"

Amelia: "Because we need answers, and she's the only one who has them."

Ava: "Or so she says. If this goes sideways, I'm torching her place."

Dakota didn't join the conversation. He walked ahead, his expression unreadable. His thoughts churned beneath the surface, sharp and analytical.

Dakota: (thinking) This situation feels wrong. The dark mages are making bigger moves than they should at this point. Did my arrival disrupt the flow of events? Or is something else pulling the strings?

Mia caught up to him, her steps light but deliberate.

Mia: "You're awfully quiet, even for you."

Dakota glanced at her, his voice low.

Dakota: "Just preparing for the worst."

---

The witch's lair was exactly what they'd expected—dark, cluttered, and stifling with the scent of old magic. The witch herself emerged from the shadows, her hooded form bending unnaturally as she examined them with a sly smile.

Witch: "Ah, the academy's prodigies grace my humble home. I was expecting all of you, the bloom—yes, that I was expecting."

Ava: "Cut the theatrics. We have what you want. Now tell us what's next."

The witch chuckled, her raspy voice grating.

Witch: "Straight to business, are we? Very well. Place the Nightshade Bloom in the circle, and I'll begin."

Dakota raised an eyebrow.

Dakota: "Begin what, exactly?"

The witch turned her green gaze on him, unperturbed.

Witch: "You seek answers, don't you? Let me work my magic, and they will come. But if you're too frightened…"

Her smile widened, mocking. Dakota didn't rise to the bait. He stepped forward, placed the container in the circle, and opened it. The bloom's light grew brighter, illuminating the intricate runes etched into the floor.

Dakota: "Do what you need to do. But don't think you'll walk away if you betray us."

The witch's eyes gleamed, but she said nothing. She began chanting, her hands weaving through the air as dark energy flowed into the runes. The group stayed on edge, their senses sharp.

The chanting grew louder, the magic thicker. Suddenly, the bloom vanished in a flash of light, and the runes glowed fiercely.

---

A deep rumble shook the ground, and the air turned searing hot. Flames erupted from the circle, and a massive figure stepped through the fire. The Djinn stood over seven feet tall, its bronze skin glinting in the light of its own flames. Its piercing amber eyes swept the room, and a slow, dangerous smile spread across its face.

Djinn: "The prodigies of the academy, gathered in one place. How... interesting."

Ava's flames flared instinctively.

Ava: "What is that supposed to mean?"

The Djinn laughed, a low, resonant sound.

Djinn: "Oh, I've heard of you—Ava, the Flame Master. Amelia, the Light Conjurer. Henry, the flame Blade Dancer. And Lucas the strongest ice magic prodigy in history, Impressive reputations."

It turned its gaze to Dakota, its smile fading slightly.

Djinn: "But you… you're something else entirely. Dakota, the enigma. The one who shouldn't exist."

Dakota's expression darkened.

Dakota: "You know a lot for something that just showed up."

Djinn: "I know enough. Enough to see that you've come too far too quickly. And now, you stand before me, hoping for answers. But tell me—can you survive the truth?"

Before anyone could respond, the Djinn raised its hand, and a wave of fire surged toward them.

Mia: "Scatter!"

The group split, narrowly avoiding the attack. Mia charged straight at the Djinn, her movements quick and precise. She struck with a powerful kick aimed at its side, but the Djinn caught her foot mid-air.

Djinn: "Bold. But foolish."

It flung her across the room, and she landed in a roll, immediately springing back to her feet.

Mia: "You talk too much."

Amelia raised her staff, light gathering at the tip.

Amelia: "We're not here to play games."

She released a beam of light, but the Djinn sidestepped with inhuman speed, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Djinn: "Your light magic is impressive, but predictable."

It raised its hand to strike her, but Henry intervened, his blade sparking with flames as he blocked the attack.

Henry: "Then try me."

The Djinn pushed him back effortlessly, laughing as it did.

Djinn: "This is entertaining. Show me more!"

Ava unleashed a barrage of fireballs, forcing the Djinn to dodge and block.

Ava: "Let's see how much you enjoy my flames."

The Djinn smirked, absorbing one of the fireballs into its hand and hurling it back with double the intensity. Ava barely managed to shield herself, the heat searing even through her defenses.

---

Dakota watched the chaos unfold, analyzing the Djinn's movements.

Dakota: (thinking) It's not bound by the summoning ritual. That means it's acting on its own. We're dealing with the strongest high-ranked Djinn.

He stepped forward, drawing the Djinn's attention.

Djinn: "Ah, finally. Will the leader of this little band make his move?"

Dakota's voice was cold.

Dakota: "If you wanted a fight, you could have just asked."

The Djinn grinned, but before it could reply, Dakota moved. In a flash, he was behind it, his blade slashing toward its back. The Djinn spun, catching the blade with its bare hand.

Djinn: "Faster than the others. But not fast enough."

It swung its arm, sending Dakota sliding backward. He landed smoothly, already preparing for the next attack.

Dakota: (thinking) Its reflexes are sharper than I expected. We need to wear it down.

He glanced at the others.

Dakota: "Focus on coordinated attacks. Keep it off-balance."

Amelia nodded, summoning a barrier of light to shield Ava as she launched another volley of fire. Henry darted in from the side, his blade glowing with electricity as he aimed for the Djinn's legs.

Mia moved in tandem with him, her strikes precise and unrelenting. Together, they managed to force the Djinn to retreat slightly, though it still looked far from defeated.

The Djinn's laughter echoed through the room.

Djinn: "Impressive teamwork. But how long can you keep it up?"

The battle raged on, the group refusing to relent. The Djinn, though powerful, was beginning to show signs of strain, its movements less fluid than before.

Still, the fight was far from over.