Flames roared to life around the leader, coiling along his arms and wrapping tightly around the blade in his hand. The air warped under the heat, bending light into a trembling haze as his eyes burned with fury.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he surged ahead, fire trailing behind him like a blazing comet. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, raising his sword high before bringing it down in a violent arc.
"Die!"
A streak of fire tore through the air with overwhelming force—
—and struck nothing.
The man had already moved.
It wasn't a dramatic dodge, nor a desperate escape. Just a simple shift to the side, as if avoiding something trivial. The flaming slash continued forward, crashing into the forest behind him.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then the world behind him split apart.
Trees were not merely cut—they were erased. Flames devoured them instantly, reducing thick trunks and branches to ash in the blink of an eye. Fire spread outward, consuming everything in its path, leaving behind nothing but scorched earth and drifting embers.
The man glanced over his shoulder, mildly impressed.
"That actually looks dangerous."
The leader turned toward him, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Now you understand?" he said, his voice laced with confidence. "Good. Because today… you die."
The flames around him surged even higher as he shifted his stance, gathering power into his blade. Heat pressed down from all directions, and the ground beneath his feet began to fracture under the intensity.
"Flame Sword Slash!"
This time, the attack was far more devastating. The fire didn't simply follow the blade—it erupted outward, forming a massive wave of destruction that surged toward the man like a collapsing inferno.
The impact was explosive.
A deafening blast echoed through the forest as flames consumed everything in their path. The ground shattered, rocks split apart, and a thick cloud of smoke and ash rose into the air, swallowing the entire battlefield.
For several seconds, nothing could be seen.
The leader stood still, breathing heavily as the last traces of flame flickered around him. Then, slowly, a laugh escaped his lips.
"Finally…"
His grin widened as he lowered his sword, satisfaction filling his expression.
"I've killed him."
He looked around at the destruction—the scorched land, the shattered terrain—and nodded to himself.
"No one survives that."
His voice hardened as ambition crept in.
"And now… this city is mine."
The smoke began to thin.
Bit by bit, the haze drifted away, revealing the ruined battlefield beneath it. Shapes returned—burned trees, broken ground, and scattered debris.
Then—
A figure.
Still standing.
The leader's smile vanished.
"…What?"
As the last of the smoke cleared, the man came into full view.
He stood exactly where he had been before, untouched. Not a single mark stained his clothes. Not a scratch reached his skin.
He brushed a bit of dust off his shoulder and sighed.
"You idiot," he said casually. "Were you trying to ruin my uniform?"
The leader stared, unable to respond.
"Do you know how much trouble I'd be in if this got damaged?" the man continued, glancing down at his sleeve before looking back up. His expression remained calm—but his eyes had turned cold.
"I think you need a proper beating."
Before the leader could react, the man moved.
There was no warning. No visible motion.
One moment he stood still—
The next, he was already in front of him.
The leader's instincts flared as he tried to raise his guard, flames surging in response.
Too late.
A single punch drove into his abdomen with crushing force. The impact stole the air from his lungs instantly, lifting him off the ground before sending him flying backward.
He crashed into the earth with violent force, the ground cracking beneath him as dust erupted into the air.
Then everything went still.
The flames around him flickered weakly before dying out completely.
The man lowered his fist slowly, exhaling as if nothing significant had happened.
"That should be enough."
The leader lay motionless, his weapon slipping from his hand as consciousness faded.
Silence settled over the forest once more.
The heat dissipated, leaving behind only the faint sound of wind moving through burned trees.
"Well… that was quick."
The voice came from above.
The man glanced up toward the cliff where it had all begun. The second figure, who had been watching the entire time, finally began his descent, making his way down with far less urgency.
Within moments, he reached the ground.
"Honestly," he said, stretching slightly as he looked around at the fallen men, "you didn't leave much for me."
"They were weak," the man replied simply.
The newcomer let out a small laugh. "You say that every time."
His gaze shifted toward the unconscious leader, then back to his companion.
"So," he added with a smirk, "are you going to write 'minimal resistance' in your report again?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at his sleeve once more, brushing away invisible dust.
"…I'll think about it."
The second figure chuckled.
Behind them, the carriage creaked softly—a quiet reminder of why they were here.
The man's expression shifted as he turned toward it.
"Let's finish this."
Without another word, the two of them walked forward, leaving the ruined battlefield behind.
....
A/N: I hope you like this novel, Support by adding to your library and giving power stone one or two. Thankyou.