"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Mekamaru: "You're asking about the Third World? Well… the truth is, it's a mystery even to No one knows what lies beyond, or what truly happened there. But I know one thing for certain — something is there. Something… ancient. And it's not sleeping."

Mekamaru (smiling coldly): "In the past… There was no Ryuki City. No Yuzen City. Winland was one land — united. We fought for survival, not for pride."

He stepped forward, blood still dripping from his chest.

"You Yuzen people… stop being proud of your city. You don't even know what it stands for. Your city lost its humanity long ago. You only carry one thing — that bloody, twisted mindset."

Tesmin stood silent. His hand slowly rose.

Tesmin (coldly):"…Enough. Stop talking now."

Mekamaru (with a half-smile, voice sharp): "Hey, hey… does it hurt? Don't be mad — my words are just the truth. You Yuzen need to hear this. If you somehow survive this fight…Tell Jackey from me: false pride never delivers true justice. We Ryuki… we have a system. We have a heart. We fight for justice, not ego."

A young Yuzen mage behind Tesmin spoke softly, voice filled with uncertainty: "Tesm, in sir… is he telling the truth? Whatever he's saying… it can't be real, right? Please say something…"

Tesmin's blue cloak fluttered in the rising wind. He took a long breath, eyes closing for a moment — holding back the storm inside him.

Then he spoke, firm but quiet: "Don't forget… he's our enemy."He says these things to break us. To shake our belief. He wants us to lose the pride of Yuzen."Do not be mistaken. Hold your ground."

A Yuzen mage stepped forward, raising his voice with forced conviction:"Yes! Tesmin sir is right! He's our enemy — he's just playing with words to shake us!"

Others nodded, trying to push away the creeping doubt.But inside, Tesmin's thoughts didn't match his words.

Tesmin (in his mind):"Mekamaru… he's not the type to lie. Not like this.And that giant form he's taken — it's not from any orb known in Winland.That power… It's something else. Something beyond."

*****

Mekamaru's body swayed, his giant form trembling under the weight of injuries. Cracks lined his armor, blood dripping from his jaw. He had already taken heavy damage — and yet, he stood tall, unshaken in spirit.

Tesmin stepped forward, eyes burning with frustration.

Tesmin:"Your words… they raise too many questions, Mekamaru. And I hate that."

His grip tightened.Tesmin (shouting):"You've said enough. Time to die, Meka!"

With a flash of light, Tesmin summoned his sword — glowing blue with pure magic — and charged forward.

—

Meanwhile, just beyond the shattered gates, Veon burst into the wall's interior.

Veon (urgently):"Kaen! We need to hurry — our elite is in danger. Another elite's already there!"

Kaen (nodding):"Yes, brother! Let's go!"

Both dashed into the ruined corridors, the air thick with smoke, fire, and the echo of clashing powers.

Mekamaru charged his massive right hand, energy swirling through it like a crimson storm.At the same time, Tesmin rushed forward, his sparking sword glowing with deadly magic.

And then—they clashed.BOOM!The impact lit up the air with a blinding explosion of energy.

Kaen, watching from a distance, covered his eyes in shock.Kaen:"It's too much energy…!"

Suddenly—A scream echoed through the battlefield."AHHHHHHH!"

Veon's heart dropped.Veon (shouting):"Sir Mekamaru!!"

Through the smoke, they saw it—Mekamaru's right arm had split in two, blood gushing like a red fountain.His body trembled, barely holding on.

Mekamaru (weakly):"So… this is it. I guess…"

Before anyone could react, Tesmin fired a magic missile —Suuuuuuuuuuuuu—BOOM!It struck Mekamaru in the chest, knocking him back.

He collapsed. The battlefield went silent for a moment.

With blood in his mouth and a smile on his face, Mekamaru whispered his final words:

"This journey… was amazing. I lived it… gracefully."

And with that, he passed.His eyes closed with a calm peace. A true warrior… to the very end.

Veon stood frozen, eyes locked on Mekamaru's fallen body.

Veon (shaking, whispering):"I was late… I was so late…"

His fists tightened, then slammed against his chest — once, twice, again and again.

"He died because I wasn't here… Sir Mekamaru died… because of me…"

Beside him, Kaen remained silent. He didn't try to comfort.He simply watched — watching a kind of sorrow he'd never seen before.A new kind of pain… a new kind of war.His young eyes were numb, unable to blink.

The battlefield still raged, but for that brief moment… time stood still.

Veon lowered his head. His aura, once burning with rage, now flickered with silence.

Outside the wall, the aftermath of the special magic spell had taken its toll —Yuzen had already lost many of their troops, their formations shattered by slowed reaction and confusion.

Now, slowly… the effect of the spell was fading.The battlefield was stirring again. Movements were regaining speed. Magic sparks returned to their natural flow.

Sia, watching from the left flank, clenched her jaw.She whispered to herself — her voice low and firm:

"We have to retreat… Even if we're winning this battle now, we won't last in the next."

Her eyes scanned the bloodstained field, her instincts screaming —This isn't over. Our plan will fail if we don't retreat..

Inside the wall, without a word, Veon charged.

His blood-red aura flared, white hair rising with the energy, eyes burning crimson with fury.

In a flash, he appeared in front of Tesmin and grabbed his collar.

Fewww—!!

With raw power, Veon hurled Tesmin through the broken wall, sending him crashing into the outer battlefield.

Veon (shouting):"How dare you kill Sir Mekamaru?! You'll pay for that.I don't care what happens — you will die here!"

Veon shouted without turning his head:"Kaen! Go outside the wall — take the battle there!"

Kaen nodded, saying nothing. His eyes were focused, locked in.

He dashed through the shattered opening, dodging flying arrows, cutting through obstacles in his path without hesitation.Water surged beneath his feet with every step — the battlefield ahead now his to command.