A man could be seen residing in a small hut of wood, stationed at a desk with copious amounts of paper spread across its surface. The man himself was no ordinary man. He was clad in a black long-sleeved top that draped over his entire upper body and a menacing mask that resembled a fox. On the kitsune mask, as it's referred to, were the colors of every aura, with the addition of a strange green streak lining the nose of the mask.
He was also known as Lord Phoenix, the leader of Shinkaku.
Suddenly, the door to the small wooden hut that Lord Phoenix resided in opened, revealing another figure wearing a kitsune mask. Around their waist was a line of pouches, each storing lethal weapons.
"Lord Phoenix." The concealed figure greeted while kneeling on the ground, a feminine voice escaping from inside the mask.
Lord Phoenix's eyes gleamed through the eyes of the kitsune mask, staring at the kneeling figure before him. Specific individuals amongst Shinkaku, specifically ones who receive orders directly from Lord Phoenix, wore these outfits—kitsune masks, black long-sleeved tops, and black hakama pants; equipped with various weapons around their sashes.
"What is it?" Lord Phoenix's deep voice pierced through the feminine figure's ears like sharp blades.
The feminine figure clenched her hand, holding it up to her chest as she forced an explanation. "We have a group of warriors barricading our base. We are currently waiting for your orders, Lord Phoenix."
A curious hum emitted from within Lord Phoenix's mask, prompting him to push a pile of papers aside. "Have they stated any demands?"
"They claim that our base is intruding on their village territory, Lord Phoenix! We have checked for miles and have not found any villages within three-hundred kilometers of us!" The feminine figure declared loudly, hearing as Lord Phoenix's chair skidded across the ground.
Lord Phoenix was now standing, and he walked around his desk, stopping just inches from the female figure. The kneeling woman trembled as his gaze penetrated through his mask. Simply being in the presence of Lord Phoenix was enough to overwhelm the mightiest of warriors.
"How pathetic," Lord Phoenix spat indignantly, folding his arms behind his back. "They view us as a newly founded group, hence the lack of visible prosperity and protection that Shinkaku has. So they plan to take advantage of us. I assume that they plan to ravage our base if their directives are not met."
The kneeling figure could only listen to Lord Phoenix's patronizing tone, shivering after every word.
"Please stand, Katsuko." Lord Phoenix ordered, watching as the feminine figure named Katsuko pushed herself off of the ground, standing tall.
"Now… Show me where these fine warriors are."
XXX
"We won't say it again, you homogeneous freaks—you're on our land; stand down!"
Just outside the several wooden huts that Shinkaku was made of, including the main stone building at the pinnacle of the base, a band of men and woman garbed in leather clothing, string tying each article of their clothing together, stood in protest.
Standing meters away from them was a horizontal wall of Shinkaku members. All of them wore kitsune masks with dark clothing, similar to Lord Phoenix, with the exception of obtaining weapons for their bodies.
One of the leather-wearing men gripped the hilt of a weapon, brandishing a sword from his sheath on his waist. He then pointed the tip of the blade at the wall of Shinkaku members.
"We will use force if need be!" The man then yelled, a vein that looked ready to burst appeared at the front of his head.
The man, however, received no response from the line of kitsune-clad individuals. Each Shinkaku member was deafeningly quiet and still, preventing any of the newcomers in leather from entering the Shinkaku base.
A woman amongst the group of invaders walked forward, placing her hand on the shouting man's shoulder. "Bunji, they aren't moving."
The man, Bunji, growled venomously as he said, "I can see that, Aya!" Bunji then took a step forward, his sword still aimed at the line of Shinkaku members. "If you won't move, then we'll just have to slice through you!"
Bunji, raising his sword high, dashed forward, keeping his eyes trained on the motionless kitsune-clad people. Before Bunji could get near the line of people, his entire body suddenly locked.
"What the hell!?"
The man couldn't move a single part of his body, remaining frozen in the same position perpetually. Every time he pushed forward, it felt like a rope had wrapped around his body, restraining him.
"What is going on here?" A voice abruptly boomed, catching everyone's attention immediately.
Walking from the Shinkaku base, Lord Phoenix made his way over to the protesting, leather-wearing strangers, eyeing the situation. More specifically, Bunji.
"I'm fuckin' stuck, that's what's happening!" Bunji hollered, still stuck in the same spot.
Lord Phoenix didn't take a liking to Bunji's aggressive tone. "I watched as you attempted to assault my comrades. I had no choice but to stop you."
Bunji's eyes widened, unable to turn his head and look at Lord Phoenix. "You mean to tell me that you did this!?"
Unexpectedly, Bunji's body fell flat onto the ground, setting him free from the invisible hold. The man jolted from the ground, glaring in the direction of Lord Phoenix.
"What did you do!?" Bunji demanded, flashing his sword once more.
Lord Phoenix did not falter at the swing of Bunji's sword. The man was almost intolerable—ignorant, loud, and overall repulsive. "Leave now. We have done nothing to warrant such behavior."
"You're on our territory, dimwit! Stand down and let us take what is rightfully ours, back!" Bunji proclaimed, taking a step toward Lord Phoenix. Just by gazing at the kitsune-clad man, Bunji felt threatened.
Lord Phoenix nearly scoffed. "Is that so? What village do you serve, maybe we can settle this dispute more peacefully."
"I don't have to tell you anything! Just let us through!" Bunji pressured, feeling as sweat emerged from his skin.
"I apologize," Lord Phoenix claimed in a monotonous voice, looking toward Bunji's band of accompanying invaders. "But we cannot allow such a thing to happen."
Bunji twirled his sword, bending his knees. "Then die!"
Fueled by anger, Bunji launched himself from the ground and toward Lord Phoenix. His sword became encompassed by a yellow glow, corresponding to his hidden Aura Sense.
"Disgraceful peasant." Lord Phoenix insulted, raising a single arm. "You are the reason that this nation can't grow."
Without warning, several lights formed in the air, all surging toward Bunji and impaling him violently, leaving multiple holes in his body. Bunji's body fell to the ground once more, but lifeless this time.
"W-what happened!?" The female amongst the leather-clad invaders from earlier, Aya, shrieked.
Every invader brought out their swords, assuming combat stances. Lord Phoenix despised the people of this nation, especially fools like these people.
Lord Phoenix turned his body to face the rest of the people, glaring them down. "I offered an alternative, but you refused to back down. Fighting me would be pointless, as I am as untouchable as the great gods once were! I obtain the eminent ability to manipulate aura in the unseeable air, rendering you all helpless and stranded in my presence!"
To every invader's surprise, they were suddenly overwhelmed with a plethora of shining lights, prompting them to block out their surroundings with their arms, waiting for the light to dim.
"You are the people who brought this realm to ruin," Lord Phoenix accused, making the invaders drop their arms to look at their surroundings. "You are the ones who sully the reputation of the gods and goddesses that flourished here!"
Surround the invaders were thin lines of light, floating above the ground. Lord Phoenix's hand remained still, giving himself the chance to say one more thing.
"I, Lord Phoenix, will be reborn as a new god! Returning ultimate benevolence to all of the lands and becoming the moral compass for future generations!"
*SHING!*
*SHING!*
*SHING!*
With the clench of his hand, every thin light that hovered in the air flew at the invaders at remarkable speed, slicing through every single person that made contact with the blazing lights. Several limbs and body parts splattered across the green grass, leaving nothing but a pool of crimson blood and tiny fragments of human flesh and bone on the ground.
Lord Phoenix turned around swiftly, returning to the Shinkaku base. Every kitsune-clad Shinkaku member proceeded to turn back as well, leaving the remains of the invaders to Mother Nature.
Thoughts still dwelled in the mind of Lord Phoenix, leaving him slightly irritated.
"I will not rest until the three nations are under my control. I won't let anyone stop us—not even an old friend."
XXX
Yeesh. Lord Phoenix has certainly shown some scary power! Locking people in place and bringing piercing lights out formed out of Aura Senses in the air. What will happen next? Stay tuned for more!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_