A dark mass of mist spilled past the portal, tendrils of dark energy snatching the essence of all life. The Dark Emperor was soon to arrive on Iro and fulfill his ultimatum of destroying all Mages. I exhaled as I pulled all the Mana in the air toward my body, capturing the power and making sure to store it deep inside my soul.

I was standing in a courtyard of the Azure Kingdom's castle, vineyards and flowerbeds shedding any semblance of life as the immense sense of vulgar reached them. It was going to be one hell of a battle. The strongest Mage was going up against a literal legend. What lay inside the mystic spiraling circle made chills skate down my back.

There was only one way to defeat the Dark Emperor, that was to use the Ace I had up my sleeve. The one thing that could level entire mountains and even and empire if I so choose.

I put my hands on my hips and began to stretch, "Looks like my life led all to this moment eh?"

of course I was talking to no one, my comrades hiding in wait. If I was unable to kill the Emperor in one hit, then they would do everything in their power to stop him.

My neck cracked as I moved it swiftly to the left. If my ace did not work, then nothing else would anyways. Meaning that the weight of humanity rested on my shoulders.

Rough.

I finished by cracking my knuckles, the cue of a ping making me ready myself. I placed both of my arms up in the air, my palms wide open. I let my Mana flow, gathering a sphere of air in each of my hands. I thought of dipping my hand into a cold bucket, the sensation trickling into the spheres.

Temperature Regulation Magic, SUB ZERO.

In an instant the air turned blizzard cold, my breath already visible. It was time.

A smell of death and rot flowed from the portal, my nose resisting as it grew to the point my eyes began to water. Jeez this man knows how to make an entrance.

"Ahhh, Iro seems to be just as smug as it did before." a voice riddled with hatred and snake venom spoke as a skeleton leg came through the purple goop of the portal.

"I assume they sent a Mage to stop me, per usuaaaallll." The voice snaked out, the Emperor drawing out the last word like a lizard.

I focused and waited, there was no second chance with the lord of the Dark World.

The ground cracked under the sheer pressure of his entrance, a hooded figure the size of a barn appearing. A necklace that was rusty and covered in moss began to glow around the hooded skeleton's neck.

So this is the feared Emperor.

"I assume you are a Creation Mage, the strongest Affinity would only dare to challenge meeeeee." Bone like hands opened as dark circles that blended reality started to form.

"Sadly no, I happen to be a Temperature Regulation Mage." I boasted as my spheres reached below zero.

The Dark Emporer started to chuckle aloud, "It seems they sent a humorous Mage this time around. What is your name young one?"

I finally finished gathering my Mana, "Name is Warren Row, remeber it good as I will be the one who will defeat you."

The sinister laughter continued as his dark circles began to emit more energy, "They sent me an arrogant one, I like your resolve. Sadly though Warren Row, your fate was sealed the second you decided to face me."

I readied myself, "Before you die great Lord, may I ask you a favor?"

The skeleton cocked its head, "I guess you can amuse me a little longer." He let his hands fall to his side, the dark orbs still floating beside him, "What is this favor you ask?"

A smirk grew on my face, "Take a look at my Affinity real quick."

the Dark Emperor seem to be confused, "I know you are a creation Mage, they are the strongest to walk Iro, why would they send something else?"

I stayed quiet.

"Fine."

He hissed and stretched an arm out, after a few moments a stream of his nasty Mana touched my skin. The Dark Emperor began to shake as he realized my Affinity.

"Bahahaha, this is quite a surprise. I expected at least some one worthy would try their hand at me." He shook his head, "Well this was futile, see you in hell Warren Row."

An explosion of black erupted from each of the orbs, the beam coming straight for me. Only if he knew. Only if he knew that I was the strongest Mage in existence. Only if he knew that my Magic could freeze other Magic.

I held one of my hands out, the cannon ball size frozen sphere levitating slowly toward the darkness.

"Ha!it is impossible to stop my Magic!"

The dark beam instantly froze on touch, the thing resembling a black popsicle. all of the energy gone from the blast.

The Emperor stopped in his tracks, unsure of what unfolded before his eyes, "How in the-"

I threw the Frozen sphere I had in my other hand. In the same moment that the sphere left my body, I conjured another sphere, this time one of immeasurable heat.

Only if he knew....

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My arms went limp and my body slugged against a concrete slab, the impact from my body alone making the matter crumble. My breath ran thin and my vision blurred.

This was the end. The end of my journey. From being told I was the weakest Mage to destroying an entire realm with pure force. It was an end fit for a hero.

I chuckled aloud and sat myself up. A chain reaction of pain shot through my body. Damn, for a forty year old, my body was quite fragile, well destroying a literal world had it's repercussions.

I guess this aging man forgot to mind his own health. Yeah, maybe if I had a chance I would of left saving the world to some one else.

A long exhale let an inch of the pain I felt trickle away.

"Master Row!!!!!"

I winced as I heard a familiar squeaky voice call out to me. It was my best friend, Pike.

The man leaped over a pile of rumble and landed gracefully in front of me.

Pike had a sharp black bull cut and the greenest eyes one could have. His body was slim and nimble, making him look like a farmer's boy but in reality, He was the second strongest Mage in the world, right after me of course. I held my hand up,

"Yo."

Pike immediately started to cry, "Masterrrrrrr. You did it, you saved everyone. You showed that your weakness was actually your strength."

Pike bowed his head and wept, "You kept your promise Master."

I let my gaze look around, the entire city of Azure completely obliterated from the previous fight. Well the fight consisted of only two attacks. The Dark Emperor using his and me using the ace up my sleeve.

In the end, I won, blasting the demonic bastard back to were he came, Hell.

Pike wiped a few tears away, only for more to take their place, "What now Master, I will follow you no matter what?"

I looked up at the sun high in the air. Honestly, after the Drago Curse killed so many Mages, my workload increased ten fold. I never once had a chance to rest, training day in and day out hoping I would become strong enough to save my friends.

I only half way succeeded.

The only friend I had left was Pike, the other two dying during an earlier fight.

Aria And Iris, I bid you a farewell, I kept my promise.

"Row?"

Pike was stunned as he looked down at me.

I cocked my head, "Yes Pike?"

Pike sighed and smiled, "I have to tell you something, something I kept a secret from you all along."

I swallowed hard, was this time to admit he might be homosexual. If so I would have to decline, I already decided a long time ago to love no one.

"I'm a girl."

I sat up so quick I swore my spine snapped in two, "What?!"

This was more of a shock than anything in my life. I was completely baffled, my comrade that has been beside me for twenty plus years was a female, when I whole heartedly believed him to be a guy.

Well her...

I smirked, "Well at least that was the last big surprise, I'm glad you told me though."

I patted Pike on the head, "Who knew there was a girl as flat as you are!"

Pike punched me in the gut, the blow sending me back against the concrete wall. Funny enough it cracked from the impact.

I kept my smile, "I joke, I joke."

Pike blushed and crossed her arms, "Once an asshole always an asshole."

Ah, I loved that wording!

Pike looked back at me, "Also my real name is Pam, so from now on call me that."

I cocked my head from the statement. Truthfully that would almost be impossible. So many years of shouting a name as battles raged on. A name I couldn't just throw away.

"I'll consider it."

Pam grinned, "Great, so what now?"

My hands found a familiar place behind my head, using them as pillows as I gawked upwards.

"Rest, my journey is finally done, I just want to relax and enjoy the years I have left."

Pam rolled her eyes, "You realize most people go senile at two hundred years old, in some circumstances you are still very young."

Well, I wish that was still true. The Curse killed anyone who ascended above Jade Rank, which meant I had to suppress my body for almost twenty years. Doing so surely has shortened my life span.

A harsh cough came from my throat.

Pam quickly rid herself of her ego and came to my side, "Warren are y-"

I held my hand up, "I guess you were wrong, I can no longer suppress this body, I will soon have to ascended or I will die."

Pam shook her head violently, " Are you stupid, if you ascend beyond Jade rank, you will die."

I countered her, "And if I don't," Pam looked way, "You die."

The truth hurt eh? I finally was at death's door, something I evaded for so long was coming back to bite me on the ass. If only I was able to stop that forsaken Curse.

Maybe things would have been different.

Maybe...

"So that's it, the single Man who literally killed every single Magic Monster in Iro and single handily fought the Dark Emperor and won with one move, is gonna die?"

I nodded, "Pretty Lame eh?"

Pam sighed, "Yeah, really lame."

She grabbed my hand and our fingers clasped together, "Well it was fun Master, I learned so much about what life should be."

I gripped her hand harder, "So just like that you are gonna let go?"

She winced, "Hey!"

I laughed and let go of my grip, folding my arms and closing my eyes as I finally accepted defeat.

"Oh well, you can take the glory for it, I'm sure no one will question your strength."

Pam nodded and in the instant I opened my eyes, a beam of light struck me from the heavens. My body ripped apart and was forcefully put together with shear Mana energy.

Pam quickly moved away as the beam turned Blue, the godly light smashing against the floor and creating a clearing.

I ascended to the Ocean Rank, then a quick flutter of light shimmered in the sky, the beam that encased my body shifting into purple.

The Mystic Rank, the fifth ascension out of the nine one could muster. Not bad at all, I mean being the strongest had to be at least that Rank.

Then something felt off.

The beam began to shift to orange, the Topaz Rank. What?

That made no sense, yeah i was wicked powerful but did I train that much????

The orange slowly dissipated and red light began to pour from the sky.

No way, I was strong enough to reach Fire Rank. That alone took fifty plus years to achieve, let alone sustain. The red Mana stayed plastered to my skin, the power I felt immeasurable.

I sighed, well at least I had the honor of being a Fire rank. I then realized I was no longer basked in Red light, but instead gold.

Pam stared at me in awe, both of us wearing the same face. No way, If I ascended one more time I would reach a rank that only ten Mages have ever reached in hundreds of years,

The light finally turned to the last Rank, Golden God. A rank only the best could even dare try to ascend too, and I did it so easily. I glanced at Pam, she wore the biggest grin.

I already knew what that grin meant. Once a Mage reached the ninth rank, Golden God, they were given a single wish that will be fulfilled by the Gods themselves. Pam and I knew I would wish for the curse to be gone.

Or she thought, hell, I even had the thought in my mind.

Just....

I had unfinished business. This was a once in a lifetime offer that I could not blindly shy away from.

"Oh great God, allow me a lowly Mage, to fix my regrets."

Pam's eyes widened as I spoke.

"Warren!?"

I closed my eyes as she ran toward me.

"Sorry Pam..."

I was thrown twenty five years into the past, my mind losing maturity and my body shrinking. Hormones I lost a long time ago making me feel giddy. Though through the weird light and feeling I realized one thing, I had a mission.

I guess.

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Even The Strongest Mage Still Has Regrets.