Yuso lost count as to how many times new organizations and villages have come out of the woodworks.
Standing before the man who claims to be named 'Lord Phoenix', Yuso fueled himself with his Aura Sense, his Shirugeto eyes whirling rampantly in a clockwise motion. The pentagrams embedded into both of his palms illuminated menacingly, clearly visible to the masked man standing before Yuso.
Yuso's expression, however, remained bleak. "Submit. I have business with the people here after I deal with you, so I wish to make this quick."
Lord Phoenix was apparently amused by the redhead's words, chuckling ominously. The air around this masked figure struck Yuso weirdly. It felt oddly compressing, and overwhelming. Though, Yuso merely shrugged it off.
"You're unique." Lord Phoenix declared. "Though I can't sense your past, I can certainly sense your power. Restrained, but loosening ever so slightly." The man's deep voice contributed to the tense atmosphere, making Yuso instinctually ground himself, sliding his feet on the ground.
Yuso grew annoyed. "Cease your dialogue, rat. Either submit now or fall by the loss of limbs."
The demon-eyed Yuso dreaded every second of speaking to this concealed figure. The redhead hated the feeling of uncertainty and apprehension. But, whoever this 'Lord Phoenix' is, imbues such things into Yuso.
"Sorry," Lord Phoenix drolled. "But, I, myself, have important business with the people of this wasteland. I can't have anyone getting in my way—including you."
Lord Phoenix then extended his right arm outward, stationing his fingers into a locked flicking position, his middle finger stuck to his thumb.
"Despite your ever-growing power, you don't possess a mere shred of mine." Lord Phoenix claimed in an absolute tone.
Suddenly, Lord Phoenix's finger slipped from his thumb, releasing a flick.
Yuso's senses overwhelmed him within the few moments he had to react. Not knowing what to expect, the redhead formed a wall of circular, crimson pentagrams before him to halt any incoming attack. However…
…Yuso wasn't able to thwart the entire power of the flick.
*PWOOSH!*
The sheer power of Lord Phoenix's flick shattered every pentagram Yuso conjured, sending the redhead flying. The ground split from the force, a giant crack forming in the gravel ground and traversing throughout the entire run-down village of Furusato. Old structures crumbled from the excess force.
Yuso, on the other hand, landed outside the village he was previously standing in. Stepping out from a cater that formed from the impact of his fall, Yuso looked toward the direction he was projected from. His Shirugeto eyes widened.
Everything was destroyed, blown away by a single flick of a man's hand.
Without warning, Yuso's arms were restrained as he felt a hand yank his head back. Glaring through the corner of his eyes, Yuso could see Lord Phoenix permeating through a tree, his lower body ostensibly hiding within the wood.
However, one thing confused Yuso the most.
'Why can't I feel my Aura Sense any longer?'
"Surely you're smarter than you look. As of right now, you're completely paralyzed. I could kill you with the faintest movement, and you wouldn't be able to refute any of what would be your fate." Lord Phoenix spoke eerily, his muffled voice could be heard centimeters behind Yuso's ears.
Yuso couldn't even grunt in response; his entire body was locked in place. His mind was barely registering the current set of events. His Shirugeto no longer whirled, and his palms stopped radiating power. Yuso was nothing short of numb.
Lord Phoenix shifted and relieved Yuso of his grip, but the redhead was still immobile. "Be thankful, as killing you wouldn't grace my conscience as a god. Scram—return to your hideout, wherever it may be, and let me accomplish my mission."
Lord Phoenix's hands forcefully gripped the back of Yuso's head, making the redhead's Shirugeto spin rapidly, creating a human-sized pentagram. Yuso's mind spun at the nonconsensual use of his power; this 'Lord Phoenix' was somehow able to manipulate his own ability as if it was his own.
"Oh, a side note before I free you: I recommend that you get a hold on that power of yours. If you don't, it'll fester inside of you until you eventually consume everything. I'd hate to see these graceful lands of mine be encompassed by a lonesome boy's… resentment."
With those words, Lord Phoenix shoved Yuso through his own pentagram. Shortly after, the red, circular pentagram disappeared, vanishing in the air. The masked lord stood still for a few moments, then strode back toward Furusato.
"Now," Lord Phoenix started. "To finish what should've ended years ago."
XXX
"Regashi, I don't understand why you won't allow Shoto and me to assist the others. This will all be over with much sooner if we do so."
Imawashiki could be seen inside one of the Furusato castle's rooms. Next to him, the amethyst-haired Heiki Shototsu was present.
Standing before the two, Regashi was placed on his throne. He looked down at the two below him, one of his legs resting atop the other horizontally, his head resting against his left hand, his fingers sprawled across his forehead, slightly obscured by a few strands of brown hair. Regashi's black cloak hung off the throne loosely by his feet.
Regashi grinned at Imawashiki. "Shiki, you must put faith into your comrades. I can already tell you that more than half of the Shinkaku minions have been subdued."
"But that doesn't answer why you requested Shoto and me to stay hidden." Imawashiki continued.
The grin on the brown-haired king's face never left. "I've told you before, Shiki, that this particular individual is quite formidable—even for someone like you. It wouldn't be appropriate for someone like you or Shoto to be potentially impuissant against his power."
Shototsu frowned. "How could someone be able to—!"
"Regashi, someone's entering the castle." Imawashiki interrupted Shototsu, his senses, along with the amethyst-haired male beside him, becoming alert.
At the entrance of the giant room that the three resided in, the double door was blown open, falling off its hinges immediately. Then, a shadowed figure crept closer into the room, the silhouette of the person getting bigger with every step.
Imawashiki and Shototsu were surprised by how long it took to sense someone in such close proximity, watching on as the invader made their way further into the room.
Soon, the person walked out from the smoke created by the explosion at the entrance.
"Shiki, Shoto, please vacate the area," Regashi ordered, warranting confused glances in return.
Imawashiki spoke first. "Why must we leave?"
"Because," Regashi started to answer:
"I want to fight him alone."
Just as Shototsu was about to talk, Imawashiki placed a hand on his shoulder. The fiery abomination looked toward Regashi for a final time—*fwoosh!*—then allowed flames to surround him and Shototsu, ultimately transporting the two somewhere distant.
As the two departed, Regashi returned his gaze to the intruder, retaining his relaxed position on his throne.
Standing at the opposite end of the room, Lord Phoenix stood tall, glaring at Regashi. In return, the brown-haired king's grin deepened.
"Now, Lord Phoenix—shall we begin?"
XXX
Whoo! Another chapter is done—only a few more before Volume Four! How will Yuso recover from his beat down from Lord Phoenix? What will happen between Regashi and Lord Phoenix? Stay tuned for more!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_