"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Kaen ran outside the wall, dodging debris and spells. Behind him, Veon cleared the path, removing obstacles with explosive strikes, charging out like a beast.

Behind Kaen, a wave of Ryuki troops followed — but they were being chased by Yuzen soldiers at full speed.

Outside the wall...

Tesmin stood tall, brushing off the dust. With a single glare, he raised his sword and started slicing through Ryuki mages, one by one.

Sia (eyes wide): "This is bad… Tesmin's already outside!"

She threw her Bubu, crackling with electric lightning —Sia: "Thunderline Spark!"

But Tesmin deflected the lightning effortlessly with his sword. The sparks danced off his blade like it was nothing.

Sia charged straight at him, her eyes glowing. The battlefield lit up once again — the effect of the slowing spell had worn off.

Sia: "We have to retreat! If we don't, the whole plan will collapse!"

Tesmin and Sia clashed — her electric Bubu against his shining sword.

Tesmin leapt into the air and shouted:Tesmin: "MAGNUS MISSILE!"

From the clouds above, a swarm of magic missiles whistled down —Phiuuu—Phiuuu—Phiuuu!

Sia didn't flinch. She spun Bubu faster, her voice sharp:Sia: "Thunderbolt Strike!"

She hurled her Bubu at full speed.

BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

The thunderbolt and the missiles collided mid-air —The sky exploded into a flash of white and blue, lightning and smoke everywhere.

***

A massive bloodshed was underway.

Towers had already been crushed. Mekamaru had fallen. Yuzen's elite, Sumasu, had also been defeated.

The loss of an elite on each side had shaken both armies. —The ground was stained red.

Outside the wall, the battle raged on.

New waves of Yuzen troops poured out of the fortress like a flood — fresh reinforcements joining the chaos. Cannons fired. Arrows rained. Explosions echoed.

Veon and Kaen finally broke through the wall, charging straight into the frontline. They entered the storm — where fire met steel, shields shattered, and screams filled the night.

Some fighters summoned, some cast magical abilities of fire, ice, or wind — the battlefield was a storm of clashing styles and powers.

It was a blood night — no rules, no mercy, only survival.

In the heart of the chaos—

Veon suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed. His breath slowed.

Veon (voice sharp): "Another elite… is coming. I can feel it."

His body tensed as if the very ground had whispered it to him. Something powerful — darker, colder, more deadly — was approaching.

Kaen was separated from Veon in the battle. He fought alone, slicing down enemies with powerful water strikes.

Veon shouted over the chaos: "Sia! Play the Wishtell!"

Sia didn't hesitate. She pulled out a glowing, flute-like device —And blew into it.

A sharp, mystical sound echoed across the battlefield. All Ryuki mages heard the signal. One by one, they raised the white flag of retreat.

But then —A heavy sensation filled the air. It was like the atmosphere itself froze.

THUDD!

The wall behind them exploded —A giant energy ball, swirling with white and red, came crashing through with devastating force. Its intensity could be felt in the bones.

Ryuki mages screamed —"RUN!"RETREAT TO THE FOREST!"BACK TO RYUKI — MOVE!!"

Panic took over. Even Sia, stunned, waved a larger white flag — signaling a full retreat.

But the attack was coming.

Veon stood firm. His eyes narrowed."What is this power...? Did a Yuzen elite do this?"

He clenched his fists.

"I won't let my people die… Not again."

Veon: "Zephyros — HYBRID FORM!"

In a flash, his body began to transform. His head shifted into a fierce eagle form. Wings burst from his back, stretching wide, glowing faint red.

Nearby mages gasped.

"Is that… Sir Veon!?"What happened to him?!"

Veon flew into the sky at full speed. His wings shimmered red, glowing like fire. From his chest, a red flower-shaped mark began spreading.

Veon (flying, roaring): "I haven't mastered this form yet… But I have no choice!"

He screamed into the sky:

"I WON'T LET ANOTHER MAGE DIE!"

BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

Veon collided with the giant energy ball —His wings and hands were clashing against it. The impact shook the entire battlefield.

The air turned colorful, shimmering with power —On one side, Veon's red energy flared with rage and loyalty. On the other side, the swirling white-red force of that mysterious attack.

It was a war of wills — and Veon was at the heart of it.

As the Ryuki mages retreated, carrying Veon away…

Tesmin raised his hand."You're not escaping that easily!"

He unleashed a volley of magic missiles, each glowing with piercing white light.

Fwhiiiiiip! Fwhiiiiiip!

Sia, still running, spun around and hurled her Bubu.BOOM! CRACK! Lightning burst through the air — she struck down the missiles one by one, defending the retreating troops.

Tesmin (furious, shouting):

"This is what you deserve, Ryuki! You will never defeat us. That's the truth you should never forget!"

The battlefield burned behind them, smoke rising, the taste of retreat bitter in every Ryuki mage's mouth.

***********

[Flashback Begins]

His father, Ryden, sat on a stone chair inside the dojo, calm but stern. The room was silent — only his voice carried weight.

Ryden:

"Kaen... what makes a mage a true warrior?"

Kaen (younger, unsure):

"I don't know, Father."

Ryden leaned forward, eyes sharp:

"A true warrior is one who never shows his back in battle — even if it costs him his life."

"Everyone dies someday, Kaen. But how you die — that's up to you."

"Where you fall... will be your choice."

"Remember this: a true warrior never fears death. We are Ryuki — the Guardians."

"We may lose physically, but never mentally. Our pride cannot be broken."

[Flashback Ends]

Back in the present, Kaen stood tall in the middle of chaos.

His fists clenched. His breath was steady.

Kaen (to himself, eyes burning):

"I am Ryuki...I don't fear death."

"I will decide where I fall."

Veon lay slumped on the back of the summoned bull, moving with the flow of retreating Ryuki mages toward the city walls.His body was weak. His breathing is shallow.

His eyes slowly opened — just for a second.

Through the blur of blood and exhaustion… he saw someone.

A figure standing still in the middle of the battlefield.A grey cloak fluttering in the wind.

"…Kaen?"

Veon's lips moved, but no sound came out.

His eyes closed again — but the pain in his chest kept them from staying shut.

He opened them once more. Tears now streamed down the sides of his face.

"Kaen… come back…"

He tried to say it louder — his voice cracked.

"Kaen… come back… little brother… this… this isn't over…"

But the words never reached Kaen. The battle noise drowned his voice. Only the wind listened.

Veon's tears fell harder now. His face twisted in pain — not from his wounds, but from helplessness.

"Kaen… KAEN…"

He screamed with all the strength he had left — but it was just a whisper in the storm.

And Kaen… was still standing there.