The young man's aura grew hotter and more intense, causing the surrounding temperature to spike.
!!!
Oasis responded by unleashing his own energy, his cyan blue aura becoming visible as it clashed with the young man's intense orange flames.
The two auras collided with a powerful force, the cyan blue blending with the orange, creating an intense heat wave that distorted the air around them.
The young man was slightly surprised as Oasis's energy surged.
"You were the one who approached me, so I would like to know who you are first," Oasis replied.
"Not bad, kid," the young man said, flicking his finger towards Oasis.
A surge of energy, powerful and hot, was unleashed from the young man's flick.
The force sent Oasis flying backward into his barrier.
The impact caused energy ripples to appear on the barrier, but it held firm.
Oasis, his top slightly burned by the force, thought, "This guy is bad news."
"Dancing Phoenix," Oasis whispered, launching himself towards the young man with the footwork technique.
!!!
"Dancing Phoenix!!!" the young man thought, surprised.
"Who is this kid?"
From the young man's knowledge, the Dancing Phoenix footwork technique was a secret technique of the Volacris bloodline martial artist.
Seeing Oasis use it suggested a connection to the Volacris family.
Oasis closed in on the young man, whispering,
"Blazing Dragon Fist, Fifth Form: Firestorm Fist," and unleashed immense energy towards his right hand, aiming for the young man.
!!!
"What is this technique? It has a lot of flaws, but the blue flames are strong," the young man thought as Oasis launched the attack.
Boom!!!
Just before Oasis could strike, the young man displaced himself, leaving a mirage behind.
Oasis's attack hit the ground, creating a large pit.
!!!
The young man appeared behind Oasis and flicked his finger again, sending Oasis flying towards a nearby small mountain.
"Damn, he's toying with me," Oasis thought, spinning mid-air to regain his balance.
As his feet hit the ground, Oasis drew his sword, channeling more mana into it, causing the heat around him to intensify and turn his sword red.
"This guy might be Aya's uncle. I don't know if he's an enemy or not. I must give it my all," Oasis thought.
"Wind Magic: Kagutsuchi's Wrath," Oasis unleashed his wind magic through his sword, creating a massive vortex of energy hurling towards the young man.
"What pure magic," the young man thought.
"This attack is strong. So this kid is also wind-affiliated, a Martialmage!"
Just after a few breaths, Oasis whispered, "Fire Magic: Phoenix Blaze," adding his phoenix blaze to Kagutsuchi's Wrath.
The two spells mixed, creating a cyclone of fire and wind, burning and melting the ground as it advanced.
!!!
"I'm impressed," the young man thought.
"He can also use Phoenix Blaze, and his Phoenix Blaze is stronger than most from Phoenix's Peak."
Oasis's spell became a massive cyclone, scorching everything in its path.
"Whoa, this is huge," Oasis thought, surprised by his own power.
"Yo, Aya's uncle, move away!" he shouted, fearing the spell's destructive power.
The young man thought, "So he is not an enemy, huh? He never had killing intent despite my provocations."
"Kid, let this uncle teach you a lesson. Look closely," the young man called out.
"Heavenly Phoenix Fist, Second Form: Phoenix's Cry," he raised his voice as he moved towards Oasis's attack, flames radiating around him and growing larger.
!!!
"What is he doing? Does he seek death?" Oasis thought.
As the young man neared Oasis's spell, he waved his hand in a cutting motion.
Boom!!!
The young man unleashed massive flames that roared and neutralized Oasis's spell, leaving nothing but ripples of heat.
!!!
"Whoa, so this is what Aya meant by the Phoenix's Peak being strong," Oasis thought, amazed at how easily his spell was neutralized.
"So, you called me Aya's uncle, meaning you know me," the young man spoke.
"I've never seen you at the Phoenix's Peak or the Volacris Mountain Peak.
Who are you, and how can you use my Volacris techniques?" the young man demanded.
"What if I tell him and he kills me? What do I do?" Oasis thought.
!!!
As Oasis was contemplating, the man reappeared in front of him instantly.
"Is this really the Dancing Phoenix technique?" Oasis thought, "This guy can kill me anytime."
The young man tore off Oasis's sleeve on his right hand and flicked his forehead.
"Damn, what did he do to me? I can't move," Oasis thought.
The young man pressed his thumb on the right side of Oasis's chest, injecting some mana.
A phoenix-shaped tattoo on Oasis's right hand became visible.
!!!
The young man was taken aback as he saw the tattoo.
"This tattoo, this kid is my brother. How is it possible?" he thought.
"This is the same tattoo my father had, and only my brother and I have it. Among my grandfather's children, only my father's phoenix tattoo was similar to grandfather's."
"What is going on here?" he thought, sweating as he looked at Oasis trying to regain his movements.
"Father died ten years ago, and so did my second mom," he thought.
"But this brat looks like he is twelve years old. What is going on here?"
"Kid, how old are you?" he asked.
"Who are you, kid?" he spoke, his voice rising with emotion.
"Oasis Volacris from Verdantia," Oasis replied.
!!!
"Father died in Verdantia, and so did the second mom," the young man thought, surprised.
"How old are you, kid?" he asked, trying to stay calm.
"I'm supposed to be ten, but I'm twelve," Oasis replied.
"Kid, do you think we're joking here? What's that supposed to mean?" the young man demanded, raising his voice slightly.
"When I entered this place, I was 9 about to turn 10, but I got into a place where time moved differently," Oasis explained.
"If he is ten, he is mostly my brother, considering his tattoo," the young man thought.
"But who taught him the techniques in Verdantia?"
!!!
"Perhaps father might still be alive," he thought.
"But no, father's body and second mom's were quickly retrieved as soon as father's soul lamp broke."