"He's coming! Everyone, stay sharp!"
The command from Red Flame, the de facto leader of the group, echoed through the ashen ruins of the village. His sharp gaze locked onto Uta, who stood amidst the flames like a specter reborn.
"Don't be fooled by his demeanor," Red Flame warned his subordinates, Green Flame and White Flame. "This boy is dangerous. Do not let your guard down!"
Red Flame's confidence stemmed from his unparalleled power as a wielder of destructive fire. Yet, despite the devastating flames that should have reduced Uta to ash, the boy stood there, untouched and unfazed.
"We are the chosen of Flare, imbued with divine strength," Red Flame declared with conviction. "This heretic, no matter how strong, will fall. He is mortal, and mortals have limits. All we need to do is wear him down until he crumbles!"
"Understood!" Green Flame shouted, his green-hued fire flaring as he scanned the battlefield.
But Uta had other plans.
With a casual shrug, Uta disappeared.
"There!" Green Flame shouted, pointing to a spot where Uta reappeared a moment later. Red Flame's flames roared toward the target, but Uta vanished again.
"Over there!"
Another wave of fire lashed out, only for Uta to blink away once more.
"He's over here—no, there! No, that way! Damn it!" Green Flame yelled, spinning in place as Uta teleported repeatedly, zipping across the battlefield like a mischievous specter.
"How many times can he teleport?!" Green Flame's frustration boiled over as his predictions failed to keep pace with Uta's relentless movements.
"This is impossible," Green Flame hissed through gritted teeth. His knowledge of space magic was unmatched, yet Uta's mastery made his own abilities look like child's play. "How is this brat outclassing me in my own domain?! It's absurd!"
Red Flame's patience wore thin as Uta's speed and unpredictability turned the battle into a chaotic game of cat and mouse. "Enough!"
But before Red Flame could launch another attack, Uta appeared behind Green Flame, gripping his neck with an iron grip.
"Gotcha," Uta said with a smirk.
Green Flame froze, his mind racing as he realized what would come next. Uta's touch meant certain death, a fate he had seen too many others succumb to.
"No! I—"
Before Green Flame could finish, a brilliant white flame erupted, enveloping the battlefield.
The flame emanated from White Flame, who had stood silent until now. She stepped forward, holding a short staff aloft as the pristine fire expanded in a perfect circle.
"My flames purify all," she intoned, her voice a high, melodic cadence. "No magic can withstand the cleansing purity of the Innocent Fire. All corruption shall be purged."
Her flames surged outward, bathing both Uta and Green Flame in their cleansing light.
Yet, to everyone's shock, Green Flame disintegrated in Uta's grasp, reduced to dust despite standing within the protective circle.
"What…?" White Flame stammered, her composure cracking.
"What's happening?!"
Red Flame snarled, his rage barely contained. "White Flame, explain yourself!"
"I—I don't know!" she cried, her voice trembling. "My Innocent Fire should nullify all magic, even yours! This is impossible!"
"Impossible?" Uta said, tilting his head in mock curiosity. He gestured at the empty space where Green Flame had stood moments ago. "Looks like it's very possible."
White Flame took a shaky step back, her confidence shattered.
Red Flame cursed under his breath. With Green Flame dead and White Flame seemingly powerless, the situation had turned dire. Without their planned countermeasures, they had no effective way to stop Uta's relentless assault.
"Hold him off!" Red Flame barked, his tone laced with desperation. "Stall for time, no matter the cost!"
"What?!" White Flame gasped, spinning to face him.
But Red Flame didn't wait for an answer. He turned and fled, his robes whipping behind him as he bolted into the forest.
"Traitor!" White Flame shouted, her voice cracking with disbelief.
Uta tilted his head, watching Red Flame disappear into the trees. "Huh. That's not very leaderly of him, is it?"
His attention turned back to White Flame, who stood frozen in place.
"Now, what should I do with you?" Uta mused, his tone light but undercut with menace.
"I—I…" White Flame stammered, gripping her staff tightly as if it could offer protection.
Uta stepped closer, his smile widening. "You know, I wasn't going to bother with you. But you ruined dinner. And that… well, that's just unforgivable."
"Stay back!" White Flame shrieked, summoning another wave of pure white flames to surround herself. The fire roared, forming an impenetrable barrier.
But Uta walked through it effortlessly, his body unscathed.
"No… This can't be…" White Flame whispered, her knees buckling as Uta reached out a hand.
"Goodnight," he said, tapping her forehead.
And just like that, White Flame disintegrated into dust, her pristine flames snuffed out in an instant.
Uta sighed, brushing ash from his hands. "Well, that's two down. Now, where did the big guy run off to?"
With a flicker, he teleported into the forest, vanishing into the night in pursuit of his final target.