"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Sia entered Veon's house quietly. The lights were dim. The air felt heavy — still, like the calm of clouds.

Veon looked up from the table where he was checking his gear. His hands paused, but he didn't speak.

Sia stepped forward, holding two spells — one white, one glowing green.

Sia – "Veon, listen... this white spell is for avoiding seers. It'll hide our presence during the march."

Veon nodded slowly, calm but focused.

Sia – "And this green one…It'ss special. Bachan said to shoot it deep into enemy territory. When it breaks, it activates. One kilometer radius."

Veon looked at the glowing spell, curious. Veon – "What exactly does it do?"

Sia – "Not sure. Sakura said it's a mystery. Bachan didn't explain much — just that it's meant for the battlefield."

Veon stared at the scroll, the soft green light reflected in his eyes. Then he stood up.

Veon – "Alright. We'll see what it does in the battle."

The words dropped like a weight on stone. Not loud. But solid. Tonight, the first strike would begin.

************

Night was about to fall. The city dimmed… shadows grew longer… and the wind turned still. All mage troops were set.

In silence, they moved.

Veon led his unit from the west streets — steady, eyes sharp. Sia came from the northern lane, her unit walking with quiet precision. Mekamaru, bold as ever, brought his squad straight through the center route.

All three units gathered at Ryuki's eastern wall gate, one spoke — but the air carried tension. The kind of war can only hold.

Meanwhile, in Ryden's home…

Lisa ran through the hallway, panicked, her breath short. Lisa – "Ryden! Ryden!"She stormed into the main room, searching. "Where is Kaen?! I can't find him! He's not in his room!"

Ryden stood up fast, eyes narrowing. Ryden – "What are you saying...? That can't be true."Lisa – "What if he went to the battlefield?!"

Ryden clenched his fists, his jaw locked. A long silence. His eyes didn't blink.

Lisa – "Do something!"

He finally spoke — voice cold, but honest. Ryden – "Let him go now. That's what he chose. Just… Hope he comes back safe."

On the cliff...

Auren, Sunny, and Rose sat quietly, watching the glowing skyline. The horizon looked tense. Auren looked toward the far edge of the city, a strange heaviness in his chest.

Auren – "Tonight they're going to attack Yuzen... maybe that's why I'm feeling like this. I just hope my brothers will be safe."

Sunny – "They'll be alright. Believe that."

A few miles away… in the marching crowd...Kaen walked in silence. His face was hidden behind a gray cloak. Oversized boots masked his height. His hands tightened inside his sleeves.

Kaen – "Just this once… please don't notice me, big brother."

He blended into the line of troops — following behind quietly.

At the gate…Veon stood forward. He looked at the hundreds gathered before him — every mage armed, focused.

Veon (firm voice) – "Listen, mages of Ryuki City! This battle is for the pride of our city. We strike not for war — but to damage them... to their very soul."

A thunderous roar erupted. Mages howled and cheered. The sound shook the trees near the eastern wall.

War had begun.

Back in the city streets, Ryuki's police-mages patrolled every corner — making sure no civilians stepped outside. Doors were shut. Windows locked. Tonight… only warriors moved in the dark.

Sia stood in front of the troops, her arms crossed, the wind brushing her coat lightly.

Sia – "Listen, mages. You all know what to do. In just a few hours, this gate will open… and we'll move according to plan."

Her voice was calm, but firm. All mages nodded in silence — their faces steady, eyes forward.

Kaen stood silently at the edge of the crowd, hiding under his gray cloak. His heart was beating hard, but his eyes held no fear. Kaen – (in his mind) "That's my chance…"

Sia pulled out the white spell scroll — a faint aura of smoke circling it. She raised it high for the unit to see.

Sia – "When I break this spell… the gate will open. We charge — silently, but fast. No mistakes."

Tension rose. Boots shifted. Fingers gripped weapons.

Veon took one step forward. His eyes closed slowly as he lifted his hand. A soft blue orb — the Perspective Sphere — began to rotate around him, spinning slowly, humming low.

Veon – "No elite detected nearby…"He opened his eyes. A sharp look in them now.Veon – "Maybe they're guarding near the wall. I'll go ahead and check the path."

The sphere pulsed once, then faded back.

The wind blew through the open trees. The Ryuki mages didn't flinch. They were ready.

A few hours passed…

The mages stood still, eyes sharp, breaths steady. The wind had dropped. The air turned heavy.

Sia stepped forward, holding the white scroll in her hand.

Sia – "Be ready… this is the time."

She let go of the spell.

It floated down… slowly… and touched the ground.

CRACK—!A glowing ripple burst outward — followed by a thick cloud of smoke rising around them like a veil.

Sia – "Now… the seers can't locate you."

Mekamaru – "OPEN THE GATE!!"

GGRRRRHHH—The massive iron gate groaned and opened wide.

The three units moved like waves—

Mekamaru led the right wing, his broad steps thundering forward.

Sia took the left, her formation disciplined and silent.

Veon led the central unit, his Perspective Sphere rotating quietly around him as he ran.

Veon – "ARCHERS! Through the trees — enemy on the branches! Shoot them!!"

Arrows flew with precision.

Meanwhile, in Yuzen...

A seer leaned back lazily on his branch, speaking into a comm-orb.

Yuzen Seer – "It's still clear today. No one is coming…"

FSSSHH—!!

An arrow struck him dead — headshot.He dropped from the tree without a word.

Other Yuzen scouts looked around, alarmed. One mage's eyes widened.

Yuzen Mage – "What—!? Ryuki's troops… inside the forest!? HOW!?"

He turned to run, but—

THWACK—!

Another arrow.

Silence returned.

The Ryuki units marched ahead — careful, silent.Each step is calculated.The seers in Veon's unit gave precise directions, whispering enemy hideouts in their comms.

From within the shadows…

Kaen spotted movement.

His eyes lit up.

Kaen – "It's my chance!"

He raised his hands, focused.

Water Burst—!!

A sharp torrent of high-pressure water shot from his palms, slashing forward—

SPLASH—!!

The enemy in front was sliced cleanly in two.

Veon, watching from a distance, narrowed his eyes with a small smirk.

Veon – "That newbie… is a good mage."

Under the hood, Kaen smiled.

But he said nothing.

He just moved with the wind.