Elements: Age of Creation

The Fog That Became an Army

Yami, Aoi, Hikari, and Mei ran through the thickening fog, struggling to find a way out of the campus grounds. But something was off.

The mist wasn't just obscuring their vision anymore–it was moving.

Aoi looked around nervously. "Does anyone else feel like this fog is… alive?"

Before anyone could answer, the mist twisted and condensed, forming humanoid figures.

Their bodies were made of dense smoke, their glowing ember-like eyes just like the real Smokewraith's. And then, in an eerie unison, they turned toward the group.

Yami's eyes narrowed. "Run."

The clones charged.

The group scattered, dodging the claw-like attacks that swiped at them. Hikari grabbed Mei's hand, leading her through the fog. "Come on, Mei–"

Then–

Hikari's foot caught on something.

She tripped.

She barely had time to push herself up before three clones loomed over her.

Her heart pounded.

No. I can't move in time!

The clones lashed out–

And then–

A flash of movement.

One of the clones was suddenly obliterated by a powerful kick to the head.

Hikari gasped, turning to see–

Teshii, standing over her, grinning.

"Man, you guys really know how to find trouble, huh?"

Teshii vs. 100 Clones

The remaining clones turned their attention to Teshii. More of them rose from the fog, muptiplying by the second.

Aoi's eyes widened. "There's… so many of them."

Even Yami, as suspicious as he was, clenched his fists. "Teshii, there's no way you can take them all alone."

Teshii cracked his knuckes. "Alone? Kid, do you not know who I am!"

The clones lunged.

Teshii moved like lightning.

His fist obliterated one clone. He grabbed another and flipped it into the air, striking it midair with a roundhouse kick before it could reform.

A group of ten charged at him all at once.

Teshii just smirked.

A single spinning back kick sent them all flying into the fog.

Hikari, Mei, and Aoi watched in absolute awe.

Hikari blinked. "Where… did Hikaru even find this guy?"

Aoi shook her head. "I have no idea."

Yami, however, remained silent. His eyes stayed locked on Teshii, but his expression wasn't awe–it was caution.

This guy isn't normal…

Within minutes, the entire army of clones was wiped out.

Teshii exhaled, shaking his hands out. "Man, that was a good warm-up."

Hikari and Mei ran up to him, relieved.

"Teshii! Thank god you're here!" Hikari said, catching her breath.

Mei nodded. "We need to find Hikaru–he's fighting that smoke guy somewhere!"

Teshii smirked. "Oh, I know where he is."

He lifted a finger and pointed toward the rooftop of one of the tallest campus buildings that was covered in fog.

They all turned–

And there, in the distance, through the fog–

Hikaru was fighting Smokewraith.

A Questionable Plan

"We need to get up there! Hikaru said, urgency in her voice.

Aoi nodded. "There has to be a way into the building."

They ran toward the entrance–only to find a barricade of professors.

One of them crossed their arms. "Campus safety protocol. No students allowed in the building until the fog in the building clears."

Yami scowled. "You've got to be kidding me."

Hikari stomped her foot. "My brother is up there!"

The professor shook his head. "Rules are rules."

Before anyone could argue–

Teshii clapped his hands together. "Alright, looks like we're doing this the fun way."

Everyone turned to see–

A massive wooden catapult sitting in the middle of the courtyard.

Silence.

Aoi blinked. "W-Where… did that come from?"

Mei shook her head. "That was not there before."

Yami rubbed his temples. "I don't even want to know."

Teshii hopped onto the catapult, grinning. "Welp, see you guys at the top."

Before anyone could protest, Hikari pulled the lever.

The catapult launched Teshii into the sky.

Teshii's Grand Entrance

Back on the rooftop, Hikaru was struggling.

Smokewraith's smoke spear hurtled toward him–

But then, out of nowhere–

A scream filled the air.

Hikaru and Smokewraith both paused–

Just in time for Teshii to come crashing down from the sky.

"WOOOOOOOOO–"

LARIAT!!

With brutal force, Teshii clotheslined Smokewraith straight into the rooftop. The fog entity collapsed under the impact.

Unfortunately–

Teshii's momentum didn't stop.

"OH, CRAP–"

He accidentally took out Hikaru too.

The two tumbled across the rooftop, rolling to a painful stop.

Hikaru groaned, face-down on the ground. "I hate you so much."

Teshii sat up, rubbing his head. "Hey, don't blame me, you were standing in the way."

Hikaru glared.

Smokewraith, recovering, slowly rose from the ground, his ember-like eyes burning with rage.

Teshii cracked his neck and grinned. "Alright, now this is gonna be fun."

He then turned, facing the audience.

"Stay tuned for the next chapter, folks!"

Hikaru stared at him, completely done. "Who are you even talking to?!"