The dagger spun through the air—Miki's brilliant strategic mind at work. She screamed mid-leap:
Miki 🗣️ "It's over!!"
Phoenix released his right hand from maintaining the Cloud Lightning Prison. The dagger grazed his lightning-scar tattoo on his face, drawing a thin line of blood. The clone dissolved instantly—mana depleted. Outraged, he redirected the ice blast still gripped in his left hand toward Miki, who hung defenseless in mid-air.
But a firm grip clamped his arm halfway. Baka Sensei stared down with menacing, furious eyes.
Baka 🗣️ "Seig, Athuria, and Miki—your strategy and teamwork were amazing. Outstanding. You've grown up, the three of you."
Miki landed safely, smiling through pain.
Miki 🗣️ "The purpose of our teamwork wasn't to take down Green Phoenix… but to hide my transformation into an ice blast. He least suspected me—focused on Seig and Athuria." (inner thought: And it was all thanks to my wonderful friends.)
Athuria (confident pride): "Of course we didn't think we could beat him. But we figured we could destroy the Cloud Lightning Prison."
Seig (grinning wide, teeth showing 😁): "And as a bonus—I distracted his cloud clone to buy them time to recharge mana. Huge success!"
Athuria (clutching her arm) "Well… it was also a fluke. Still—we performed outstandingly well in a desperate situation."
Miki "Yeah… despite our weakness we all managed to come up with a plan and work together.
Seig "Miki are you alright? (Stretches out his hand to help her up)
Miki "Yeah I'm alright (takes his hand)
Green Phoenix "Whatever,I just got distracted and released the prison."
Baka "You're wrong. The kids forced you to break it. Do you think they're just mere little brats?"
Phoenix seethed.
Baka "I'll tell you now—the same magic technique doesn't work twice on me. So… what would you do?"
Phoenix shattered the ice blast in his left hand. Baka's arm froze briefly—but he melted it away with raw mana.
They created distance—ten feet apart.
Seig "I think this belongs to you, Sensei." (throws katana)
Baka caught it smoothly.
Phoenix channeled an ancient high-level spell.
Green Phoenix "Lightning Magic: Thunder Dragon Serpent!"
A roaring lightning dragon-serpent descended from the sky, aimed at Baka.
Baka took a deep breath, raised his katana overhead—dark aura intensifying.
Baka "Dark Magic: Relzidon!"
A devastating dark slash erupted—cutting through any magic or tangible object while absorbing at the same time.
The spells collided in a cataclysmic shockwave—thunderclouds blown away, trees bending, ground cracking.
They immediately clashed blades in the aftermath.
Unseen in the background trees, another looming presence was watching them undetected.
Phoenix "What's this…? I can't move. My mana… drained? But how so quickly?!"
Baka (smirking 😏): "That Dark Magic technique Relzidon slash wasn't just to stop your Thunder Dragon Serpent (magic technique). It absorbed all your mana reserves—drained you completely temporarily Now you can't use your magic… let alone move.
Phoenix 😨 "What!!!!!!!?"
Baka "It's about time I end this little charade. And honestly… it's been an hour since I drank my booze so Thanks for visiting."
He sliced the air.
Baka "Dark Magic: Black Dragon Blizzard!"
A massive black dark-mana dragon-serpent roared forth—blasting Phoenix far away, carving a path of destruction, wind howling like a blizzard. The mysterious figure in the trees vanished.
Phoenix crashed into a distant tree—out of mana, out of breath. He looked up weakly as Baka approached, sword in one hand, cloaked in visible dark magic—intimidating presence looming with a smirk on his face.
Phoenix "Why… "
Baka "You're going to die."
Suddenly—a lightning strike came from nowhere, electrocuting Phoenix's body as he collapsed on the ground lifeless.
Everyone froze in shock: Baka, Seig, Athuria, Miki, Iroh.
A masked figure stepped forward standing on a tree branch in the background.
Az "You were right. He was going to die.
Baka checked the heartbeat.
Baka "You're right—he's dead. But who are you?"
Az (gentle brief bow): "Thank you. I've been waiting for the chance to kill Green Phoenix."
Baka "By the looks of it… you're a magic knight from a special division in the Lightning Kingdom am I right?
Az "Impressive. You're very knowledgeable. Yes—I'm a magic knight. My purpose: assassinate rogue knights in the Lightning Kingdom."
Baka (inner thought: From his height and voice… he's not all that different from Seig but gut instincts are telling me something about him is still off)
Quiet tension filled the air—wind blowing gently, silence heavy.
Baka (inner): oh well let's just play it safe for now.
Seig's anger boiled—mixed with sympathy and guilt. Even knowing Phoenix was evil… he didn't deserve to die like that. Could've been saved.
Seig (screaming): "Hey, you!!"
Baka "Calm down, Seig. He's not an enemy."
Seig "That's not what I meant! Green Phoenix was so strong… yet he was killed so easily by a humanoid kid no different from me—while we barely survived!"
Tears welled—he tried holding them back.
Seig "We're… we're pathetic. I can't accept that!"
Baka walked over—patted Seig's head gently. No knock this time.
Baka "Well… I understand your disbelief. But this…" (sighs 😮💨) "…this is reality. In this world, there are kids younger than you… stronger than me."
Az jumped down, hoisting Phoenix's body onto his back.
Az "Your battle is over now. I must dispose of this corpse—Excuse me."
Fog enveloped him and they both vanished.
Baka sighed, sheathed his sword 🗣️ Well that takes care of that
Seig punched the ground in frustration.
Seig "What the hell was all this for? What are we anyway?!"
Miki "Seig…" (heart aching to see him like this—words failing her. First time seeing his endless enthusiasm crushed )
Seig "Damn it… damn it… damn it!" (punching ground harder, tears barely held)
Athuria (holding her arm): "Things like these happen when you're a magic knight. If you're frustrated—apply it next time. Stop behaving like a childish loser."
Her harsh, cold words struck Seig's heart—but he knew it was the brutal truth of their world.
Baka "Our mission isn't over yet. We still have to take Mr. Iroh home."
Iroh (laughing to lighten the mood): "So sorry about that, everyone,You can rest when we reach my home and we're almost at the bridge.
Baka "Right Everyone we'll prepare to head over to the bridge soon while Miki heals up your injuries we still have some time before we.....
Then Suddenly—Baka collapsed to the ground, unconscious
Everyone rushed around him worried.