John stood across the boys, frozen. He looked at his trembling hands, unable to look the boys in the eyes. He turned his back to the group and left for his office. He slammed the door open, ripped off his button up shirt, revealing a massive burn scar spanning across from his belly button up to the entire left side of his ribcage in a rough cone shape.
He folded over his desk and gripped the center of the scar, covering it in ice in the span of a second. The ice clung into his flesh and despite the pain being fake, John's action alleviated it.
John felt scared, weak, pathetic. The day where he suffered his biggest loss yet gained his biggest joy was overwhelming him. The man who created his scar, staring at him with intent to kill. It had been ten years yet he still remembered it vividly like it was that very day.
-
John was brandishing the name of Rakshasa with pride, he had just beaten one of the few that had reached the peak of the magical world. It was a tough fight but he reigned supreme. And he was ready to go take on another one. But that one was much more threatening than his last opponent. Thankfully he was joined by his two colleagues and closest friends. Daedalus and Adam.
Daedalus was tall and lean with a head of long black hair and blue eyes while Adam was of average height yet had a powerful build. He had brown eyes and blonde hair.
All three of them were mages that had reached the 8th circle. They had nothing to fear, or so they thought. They had prepared themselves to kill the man that had named himself Yggdrasil, for he believed himself to be unbeatable.
The three had made their way to the man's hideout, an abandoned shack in the middle of the woods. He had laid dormant for a while. He had not made any moves yet no moves were made on him. Such lack of action would be misunderstood for weakness by the rookies of the world, and so it did that time as well.
The man was large, approaching 2 meters tall. He had a powerful build similar to that of a bear, he had overgrown plain brown hair and honey coloured eyes with a big bushy beard that covered half his face. He sighed deeply at the sight of the men, he wasn't much older than them yet he seemed much wiser.
"We are here to rip your title away, Yggdrasil." John said smugly, he had a rebellious and much more sinister look on his face than he had currently.
"We are the same age yet you act like a child. What a shame for such a man to be called Rakshasa. Isn't that right, Justin?" The man asked.
"How do you know that name? It doesn't matter anyways, it's three on one and I've killed one of you already," John replied.
"I know much more than I let on, Justin. You two as well. Gregory, Jake. You both have children don't you? Would you truly let them grow up alone because of your selfishness? You've lived too comfortably. Go back to your children if you don't want to let them be orphaned. You are all they have. Isn't it a shame for them to lose that too?" The man continued
John, Daedalus and Adam froze for a moment. The man's words had weight on them yet the hot blooded youngsters wouldn't give up that easily.
"I've already killed Anubis on my own. What makes you think you'll be any different? We three are as strong as each other. Could you beat three of Anubis at the same time? I doubt it." John said confidently.
"Anubis was weak. He was one of us in name only. He was as strong as an average ninth circle mage. Yet his knack for spell making was what brought him the title. You have one last chance, leave, spend time with your kids and if you so choose, train to match me and come back. If you attack right now your kids will be left orphaned. CHOOSE." The man said yet again. He didn't seem to want aggression, he was calm and patient with his challengers yet was also ready for combat at any point.
The three men fell silent. They were communicating among themselves using the telepathy spell. And at one moment, all three attacked. Daedalus used a powerful ice spell, creating a miniature blizzard in his palm and aiming straight at the man's right arm. Adam had covered his fist in molten rock as he too, charged at the man yet he aimed at his left arm. John, the remaining one of the three, exhausted all of his strength to cast the stronger spell he knew. Nova, a small orb that had the essence of a supernova.
The three knew that they had to take out their opponent in one shot. A battle of attrition against such a person would be fruitless. John learned well from his last fight with one of them. The man had to be overwhelmed by such an attack. He'd have to choose between his arms or his life. He'd either lose both or would be in a situation to lose both. The Rakshasa doesn't play a losing game. At least if he knows it is one.
The man had his hands in front of his chest, creating a circular shame reminiscent of the symbol of yin and yang. The man closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"Miniature World" he said.
In-between his hands a small marble was formed and from the marble a large jungle appeared. The jungle covered the man, absorbing the impact of the blows as a sea of sharp branches made its way towards the attackers, piercing them all. The eyes of Daedalus and Adam both went blank, they had lost their lives immediately. Yet John was still alive.
John tried to scream but the branches had pierced through his lungs. He was hopeless and tears were running down his face. He just lost his friends which he considered family over his own greed. The branches slowly slid out of his body, causing him to fall. He quickly healed himself but the spell left him spent. He didn't have the strength to move or speak. He could only breathe.
"I let you be as a pardon for the kids. And as punishment. It's your fault. Everything. It's all your fault. I know you brought them here. You were high off your win against Anubis and persuaded them to come with you. And just now. You told them that plan didn't you? You are pathetic. Take care of their kids and grow up. Rakshasa died today. Be yourself Justin. Or, try to be someone else. May this be your forever reminder." The man said. He moved and leaned over John's body, placed his hand on John's side and created a flash of fire that charred John's flesh.