The blue mana fades. Slowly at first, then it's gone. The pressure disappears like it was never there. The air feels normal again.
The assassins stand still.
"…What was that?"one of them says.
No one answers.
The one at the front narrows his eyes. "…An illusion," he says. "It has to be."
He looks at Abel again. His fear fades a little.
"He's just trying to scare us."
No one argues, but they don't look convinced.
His hand moves into his sleeve.
A knife slides into his palm.
He watches Abel.
Then—he disappears.
No sound,no trace.
He appears behind Abel and stabs forward.
Or at least he tries to.
Crack.
The knife shatters into pieces before falling to the ground.
"…What—"
Abel turns his head slightly.
Just enough to look at him.
Cold.
"Kneel."
The word drops.
The assassin's body shakes. It feels like something is crushing him.
His legs give out.
He drops to his knees.
"…Ghh—!"
He tries to move.
He can't.
It's like his body isn't his anymore.
Abel walks behind him.
Slow. Calm.
The other assassins don't move.
They're too shocked.
Too confused.
'What is this…?' one of them thinks.
Abel stops behind the kneeling man.
He raises his hand slightly.
Then flicks his finger.
A small motion.
But—
Boom.
The assassin's head flies off.
It shoots across the cave and slams into another one.
Both bodies drop instantly.
Blood spreads across the ground.
Everything goes quiet.
The leader hands one of the assassins a container.
"…Run!" He shouts.
The remaining assassins turn and run without thinking.
No hesitation.
No pride.
Only fear.
Abel watches them for a second.
Then he smirks.
"Come out, Shiro."
A blue glow appears beside him.
At first, it's just light.
Then it starts to take shape.
A figure forms.
A young man steps out.
He has white hair and purple eyes. He also seemed to be wearing a suit.
Calm.
"I'll handle them, sir," Shiro says.
Then he disappears.
Gone just like that.
The leader stands alone now.
His breathing is uneven.
He slowly turns back to Abel.
Abel stands there with his hands in his pockets.
Like nothing happened.
Watching.
The leader's face tightens.
His calm is gone.
Only anger is left.
"That's it," he says. Heat builds around him.
Flames start to appear. Small at first. Then more.
They float around him, spinning faster and faster.
The cave lights up. The air gets hot. The flames start to come together.
They grow bigger.
Stronger.
Then they converge, taking shape. Wings spread. A huge burning bird forms. A Phoenix.
It lets out a screech.
"That's interesting," Abel says.
He takes one hand out of his pocket.
He bends down and picks up the broken blade from earlier.
Only a small piece is left.
He looks at it for a second.
Then back at the leader.
"As thanks for the amusement, I'll show you something too."
He lowers his body slightly.
"Tempest Art."
The Phoenix moves.
Fast.
It rushes toward Abel like a wave of fire.
The cave fills with light.
Heat rushes forward.
Abel moves.
He disappears in a flash of blue.
He cuts straight through the Phoenix. Not around it. Through it.
The flames don't disappear. They follow him.
They twist and move with him.
They gather around the blade in his hand.
The small piece of metal extend into a flaming shortsword.
In the next moment, he's in front of the leader.
"Cyclone Burst."
He swings.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Moving faster with each swing.
Too fast to see clearly.
The air moves with his blade.
Everything around him shifts.
The leader tries to react but he can't.
It's too late.
The slashes hit.88
Clean and quick.
The leader's body freezes for a second.
Then— it splits.
His body falls apart.
Piece by piece.
Blood spills out.
But it doesn't stay.
It burns.
The flames cover everything, flesh, bone, even the blood in the air.
Everything disappears.
Nothing is left.
No ash.
No trace.
Silence fills the cave.
Abel stands still.
The flames fade.
Everything feels calm again.
Like nothing happened.
He looks at the blade in his hand.
He drops the blade.
It hits the ground with a small sound.
The cave goes silent.
-----
The assassins run through the cave. Fast. Desperate.
"Don't stop!" one shouts. "We need to get out!"
Their footsteps echo. Breathing gets heavy.
Then—they stop.
Someone stands ahead.
White hair. Purple eyes.
Shiro.
"...Move," one says.
They raise their weapons.
Shiro looks at them calmly. "I was told to handle you."
They rush him at once.
Blades flash. One goes low. One for his neck. One from behind.
Shiro moves. A step back—the first misses. He tilts his head—the second passes. He turns—blocks the third.
Clang.
They keep going. Fast. Clean. Working together.
One feints. Another strikes.
Shiro blocks, but gets pushed back a step.
"...He's not that strong!" one says.
"Keep going!"
They press harder. Faster. More aggressive.
Shiro dodges two strikes, but one cuts his sleeve.
Cloth tears.
They notice.
"He's slipping!"
They close in.
For a moment—they have the advantage.
Shiro steps back. Watching. Calm.
'They're not bad.'
One charges. One circles. One waits.
They attack together.
Shiro parries one, kicks another back, cuts the third across the arm.
Blood spills.
But they keep moving.
They adjust. Slower now. Smarter.
They surround him.
"You're good," one says. "But you're alone."
Shiro exhales softly. "...I see."
He lowers his blade slightly.
Something feels off.
"...What is he—"
Shiro raises it again. A faint purple light forms along the edge.
Small. Quiet.
"Let's end this."
They rush him.
All three.
"Phantom Blade: Silent Phase."
He disappears.
Gone.
No sound.
"...Where is—"
A thin purple flash cuts the air.
The first assassin's head falls.
Clean.
His body drops after.
"What—?!"
Another flash.
A line cuts through the second's torso.
His body splits.
He collapses.
The last one panics. "SHOW YOURSELF!"
Silence.
Then—
a presence behind him.
He turns—
Too late.
A purple line passes through him.
Clean.
His body splits in half.
Both sides fall.
Silence.
Shiro stands a few steps away.
Like he never moved.
The purple glow fades.
"...Done."
He lowers his sword.
Phantom blade, his own sword technique. Inspired by Abels Tempest art.
"...Still not on his level," he remarks.
He turns, takes the container the leader gave them.
And makes his way back towards Abel.