The dagger spun through the air.
Thunk!
Phoenix raised his right arm and blocked the dagger with it. Blood trickled down his arm and dripped onto the ground.
Phoenix's expression darkened.
Phoenix: "You all are really getting on my nerves."
Sieg and Aturia immediately backed away.
Baka stepped forward.
Baka: "Hey, you three have done a great job."
Phoenix glanced toward him.
Before Phoenix could even react, Baka vanished from his position.
WHAM!
In the blink of an eye, Baka appeared directly in front of Phoenix and slammed a devastating clothesline across his upper body.
The impact lifted Phoenix off his feet and sent him flying backward.
CRASH!
Phoenix slammed heavily into the ground, kicking up dust and debris.
Baka calmly lowered his arm.
Baka: "Now leave the rest to me."
Sieg "Yes, we finally freed him.
Phoenix slowly pushed himself to his feet.
He glanced at his left arm, which was still encased in ice.
CRACK!
With a burst of strength, Phoenix shattered the ice covering his arm and freed it.
He tightened his grip around his executioner blade.
Then he looked down at the dagger embedded in his right arm.
Without hesitation, Phoenix grabbed the handle and pulled it free.
SHINK!
Blood trickled down his arm.
Phoenix tossed the dagger aside and glared at the group through his nose mask.
Phoenix: "You're really starting to piss me off, Just give up already."
Aturia "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.
Phoenix: "Whatever it was just dumb luck."
Baka "You're wrong. The kids forced you to break it. Do you think they're just little brats?"
Phoenix: "Shut up as i said it was just luck.
Baka: "Well I'll tell you now the same magic technique doesn't work twice on me,so whatever you do now I'll think carefully if I were you.
Sieg: "I think this belongs to you, Captain."
Sieg picked up Baka katana from the ground and tossed it over to him.
Baka caught it smoothly pointing it forward.
Phoenix removed his mask and inhaled deeply
Phoenix "Mist Magic: Mist vortex.
Mist began swirling rapidly around Phoenix's hand, forming a dense, rotating vortex.
Phoenix thrust his hand forward. As the vortex shot through the street rapidly approaching Baka.
Baka took a deep breath and raised his katana overhead as darkness engulfed the katana blade.
Baka: "Dark Magic: Relzidon!"
A devastating vertical slash of dark magic erupted—travelling through the air.
The two magic techniques collided in a cataclysmic shockwave. Gradually the mist vortex was being absorbed by the dark magic wave although Phoenix kept pouring more magic energy into the attack.
Phoenix: "You're not overpowering me that easily."
But Baka's dark slash continued absorbing the mist vortex, its size grew larger and larger.
Phoenix desperately poured more magic energy into his technique, but it was no use.
The dark wave finally overwhelmed the vortex and broke through.
SLASH!
The converted slash tore across Phoenix's chest and sent him staggering backward.
Phoenix looked down at his chest.
There was no serious wound.
Phoenix: "What's this...? The slash hit me, but I'm not hurt..."
His expression suddenly changed.
He felt his magic energy rapidly draining away.
Phoenix: "Wait... Why have my magic energy reserves dropped so much?!"
Baka lowered his katana.
Baka: "That's what Dark Magic does. It doesn't just destroy magic techniques. It absorbs the magic energy within them."
Phoenix's eyes widened as he finally understood.
Baka: "The more energy you gave me, the more powerful my attack became."
Phoenix steadied himself, his eyes fixed on Baka.
Phoenix thought: "I don't think I can beat him in swordsmanship either. And with my magic energy nearly gone, I'm practically defenseless."
His grip tightened around his executioner blade.
Phoenix thought: "But there's one thing I've noticed..."
He watched Baka carefully.
Phoenix thought: "That Dark Magic is powerful, but it's slow."
A faint smirk appeared beneath his mask.
Phoenix thought: "If I can find an opening and dodge his attack... I might still have a chance."
Baka: "It's about time I ended this little charade. And honestly... thanks for visiting. Here's a little parting gift."
Baka tightened his grip around his katana.
His muscles tensed as he focused his strength and concentration into the blade.
Baka: "Dark Magic: Lightless Slash."
Baka swung his katana horizontally through the air.
Nothing happened.
No dark wave.
No visible magic energy.
Phoenix stared at him in confusion.
Phoenix: "What...?"
He narrowed his eyes.
Phoenix thought: "I didn't sense or see any magic energy... What did he just—"
SPLURT!
A massive cut suddenly appeared across Phoenix's chest.
Blood gushed into the air.
Phoenix's eyes widened as he staggered backward before collapsing onto his knees.
Phoenix: "What kind of technique was that...?"
He struggled to breathe.
Phoenix: "How did your blade reach me from that far away... just by slicing the air?"
Baka calmly approached him, resting his katana against his shoulder.
An intimidating presence loomed around him as a faint smirk appeared on his face.
Baka: "Lightless Slash?"
He shrugged.
Baka: "It's just an advanced sword skill. Nothing special, really."
Phoenix: "Why .. how are you so strong?"
Baka: "It's useless wasting words on a dead man but if you wanna know why I always win...
Phoenix startled trembling in fear
Baka "... It's because i don't give up.
Baka raised his katana ready to deliver the final blow until
Suddenly—a bolt of lightning shot from nowhere, electrocuting Phoenix as he collapsed to the ground seemingly lifeless.
Everyone was startled.
Baka: "Lightning Magic?"
Aturia: "Is he dead?"
A little boy stepped forward standing on a rooftop.
Az "Yes he's dead."
Baka "Who are you? Another rouge magic knight?"
Az: "My name is Az a magic knight of the lightning Kingdom and I've been waiting for the chance to kill Green Phoenix." But he was too powerful thanks to you i finally did it.
Baka thought "From the way he looks he's probably the same age as Sieg, Aturia and Miki but my instincts are telling me something about him is still off.
Quiet tension filled the air—wind blowing gently, silence heavy.
Baka: "Oh well let's just play it safe for now.
Sieg: "Phoenix was so strong... yet he was killed so easily by a kid no different from me. We barely survived against him!"
Sieg clenched his fists.
Sieg: "We're... we're pathetic. I can't accept that!"
Baka looked at him calmly.
Baka: "Well, I understand why you're upset. But this... is reality."
He glanced toward Phoenix's fallen body.
Baka: "There are kids in this world younger than you who are stronger than me."
Sieg's eyes widened.
Aturia "Things like these happen when you're a magic knight. If you're frustrated—apply it next time. Stop behaving like a loser."
Baka rested his katana against his shoulder.
Baka: "Don't let it get to you too much. Being weaker than someone else doesn't make you pathetic."
Sieg lowered his head, still frustrated.
Baka: "You're twelve. You've got plenty of time to get stronger."
Az jumped down, hoisting Phoenix's body onto his back.
Az "Your battle is over now. I must dispose of this corpse—Excuse me."
Baka looked toward Iroh.
Baka: "Well, that takes care of that. But our mission isn't over yet. We still need to make sure Iroh completes the bridge without any more trouble."
Iroh rubbed the back of his head apologetically.
Iroh: "I'm really sorry about all this, everyone. How about you all rest at my home before we head back to the bridge?"
Baka shook his head.
Baka: "We can't afford to waste any more time."
Iroh suddenly smiled.
Iroh: "Oh, but I have alcohol."
Baka immediately changed his mind.
Baka: "Okay, then. We'll make a quick stop at Iroh's home to rest before heading back to the bridge."
Sieg: "That was fast."
Aturia sighed.
Aturia: "Unbelievable."
Miki: "He really loves alcohol.