The morning sun filtered weakly through the inn's glass windows, struggling to pierce the thick, perpetual layer of clouds that governed the Lightning Kingdom.
Outside, the air was crisp and damp. Miki sat cross-legged on the dewy grass facing the ancient, fifty-foot bell tower. Seig sat directly in front of her, watching her intently.
"Okay… remember what I told you," Miki said, her voice soft but steady as she tried to project confidence. "Mana utilizes a flawless synchronization of both physical and spiritual energy. You can't just force it. Don't strain so hard—relax your mind so you can concentrate a fixed, balanced amount at the very center of your core. Feel it flow evenly through your veins, exactly like breathing. If you tense up your muscles, the mana scatters wildly, and the technique becomes completely ineffective."
Seig nodded seriously. For once in his life, his hyperactive eyes were locked onto hers, actually absorbing every word of her lecture. "Relax… even flow… got it," he muttered, closing his eyes to visualize the rhythm.
A short distance away, Aturia sat beneath the shade of a wooden fence, her arms tightly crossed over her chest. She pretended to be entirely absorbed in her own internal mana circulation, but her eyes kept darting sideways to watch them. She let out a quiet, irritated huff. Her fierce noble pride wouldn't dare let her ask them for help, even though she was desperately struggling to grasp the spatial mechanics of the spell.
After a few more minutes of quiet meditation, Seig suddenly snapped his eyes open and leapt to his feet, a wide, infectious grin spreading across his face.
"Thanks, Miki! That actually makes perfect sense now. I think I finally get the trick!" Without waiting for a response, he bolted toward the base of the tower like a rocket.
Miki watched his retreating back, her heart melting into a warm, gentle flutter. Her voice dropped to a tender whisper that was swallowed by the morning breeze. "No problem, Seig… I'm here for you anytime."
Behind them, Captain Baka stirred from a short nap under a nearby tree. He cracked one eye open, the other still heavily asleep, and stretched his stiff limbs. "By the way… where did the old man go?"
Miki turned, dusting a few blades of grass off her skirt. "I saw Mr. Iroh not too long ago. He said he was heading down to the bridge construction site to assist the workers with the heavy lifting."
Baka's lazy demeanor shifted slightly. "Well, why don't you head down there and keep a close eye on him? Make sure he's doing alright. It's entirely too dangerous to leave a civilian alone right now. You never know what to expect when you're operating in foreign territory."
"Understood, Captain. I'll make sure he stays safe and check on the progress of the construction," Miki replied, adjusting the medical satchel at her hip.
"One more thing," Baka called out, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "If you and the old man run into any serious trouble, or if you encounter another rogue magic knight… retreat immediately. Do not engage the enemy alone. We still don't know the full extent of their numbers or how strong they might be."
"Right!" Miki nodded firmly, turning on her heel and running along the dirt path toward the riverbank.
A few hours later, the scenery shifted to the massive bridge construction site.
The structure was only halfway built, stretching out like a jagged stone pier over the rushing, turbulent river below. Massive iron cranes groaned under the weight of stone blocks, weary workers hammered steel rivets, and heavy mana-driven machines rumbled against the cobblestones.
Miki sat alone on a low stone wall overlooking the churning water, letting out a heavy, exhausted yawn. Her shoulders felt immensely heavy; her healing magic always drained her personal mana reservoirs rapidly, and she was still recovering from the grueling hours she had spent stabilizing Baka's nervous system the night before.
Mr. Iroh walked over, wiping sweat from his brow with an old rag. "Looks like you've got some time to kill all by yourself out here. What happened to that impatient, loud-mouthed brat and the ice girl with the terrible attitude?"
Miki smiled faintly, swinging her legs over the wall. "They're still stuck in the middle of their grueling Substitution Magic training."
"And you're not joining them?" Iroh asked, leaning against the stonework.
"Well… I already mastered that specific technique back at the academy," Miki explained modesty. "Besides, Baka Sensei explicitly instructed me to guard you… and maybe offer a helping hand if the workers need it."
Before Iroh could reply, one of the construction workers approached them. The man looked hesitant, nervously wringing his calloused hands together, his eyes downcast. "Mr. Iroh… I, uh… I've been giving this a lot of thought. Regarding the completion of this bridge… will you let me quit the crew?"
Iroh froze, his eyes widening in profound shock. "Why on earth would you want to quit now? We're so close!"
"We've been friends for a very long time, Iroh," the worker said, his voice trembling with a mixture of guilt and fear. "I want to help you see this through, I really do. But if we push this construction any further… Mr. Moss Head will undoubtedly set his sights on us. He'll target our homes, our livelihoods, and our families. It's just not worth it. Let's just stop while we're ahead."
"Not a chance," Iroh declared defiantly, his voice ringing with absolute conviction. "This is *our* bridge. Every single honest citizen and poor laborer in this kingdom put their blood, sweat, and tears into building it. We did it because we believed it would finally bring proper transportation, trade, and resources to our impoverished country. We cannot let a corrupt tyrant dictate our future."
"But if it costs us our very lives, what's the point?!" the worker pleaded.
Iroh let out a long, defeated sigh, looking at the sheer terror etched into his old friend's face. He knew he couldn't force them to be brave. "Alright… let's just take a temporary break and call it a day for now."
Back at the training grounds, the sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in deep hues of purple and orange.
Aturia and Seig still stood rigidly in front of the fifty-foot bell tower. Both were sweating profusely, their minds entirely hyper-focused on trying to swap coordinates with the fragile glass cups resting on the high ledge.
Aturia's innate mana control was undeniably superior, but she was fundamentally failing to grasp the spatial calculation required for the instantaneous swap. Meanwhile, Seig's control was finally becoming decent; at the very least, he wasn't randomly setting the nearby trees on fire anymore. However, both rookies still had a spectacularly long way to go.
Leaning heavily against a wooden post, Captain Baka watched their steady, agonizing progress, his physical strength almost fully restored thanks to Miki's diligent treatment.
By the time evening arrived, the cobblestone streets of the market district dimmed into twilight. Miki and Mr. Iroh walked side-by-side through the quiet stalls, attempting to gather ingredients for dinner.
"There's hardly any fresh food left on the shelves…" Miki noted, frowning at the barren wooden crates.
"Well, due to our unique geographical climate, the sky is shrouded in heavy clouds almost every single day," Iroh explained grimly. "Our crops rarely get enough direct sunlight to thrive, so we civilians simply have to make do with what little we have. This is precisely why completing that bridge is a matter of life and death for our people. It connects us to fertile trade routes."
Suddenly, a shadow lunged out from a dark alleyway. A desperate petty thief snapped his hand out, grabbing the strap of Miki's mini purse.
Before the thief could even register what happened, Miki's reflexes took over. She pivoted sharply, caught his outstretched wrist, and used his own forward momentum to execute a flawless, sweeping takedown. The thief hit the cobblestones with a resounding crack, completely knocked off his feet.
Miki glared down at him, her voice firm. "Didn't anyone ever teach you that stealing is completely wrong?"
The thief scrambled backward in terror and fled into the darkness. Iroh stared at the young girl, swallowing hard as he mumbled in a slightly terrified tone, "Note to self… remind me to never, ever get on your bad side."
Suddenly, another light tug pulled at the back of Miki's satchel.
"Hey—stop it!" Miki whirled around, her hand raised to strike, but she instantly froze.
Standing behind her was not a violent thug, but a tiny, malnourished little boy. His hand was outstretched, begging silently with a timid, heartbreakingly sweet smile.
Miki's compassionate heart took over instantly, her fierce posture softening into pure empathy. "Oh… I'm so sorry for shouting at you," she whispered gently, kneeling down to his eye level. "I thought you were someone else. You must be incredibly hungry, aren't you?"
Without a second thought, she unbuckled her satchel, reached inside, and pulled out her own wrapped rice ball—the dinner she had set aside for herself. She pressed it gently into the boy's tiny hands. The child's face lit up with absolute joy, a cute smile breaking across his dirty face as he let out a tiny, squeaky "Thank you!" before scampering happily down the street.
As night crept completely over the estate, the darkness did nothing to cool the fiery rivalry in the courtyard.
*Damn it…* Seig thought, his teeth gritted as sweat dripped from his chin. *Are you seriously telling me Aturia is still standing out here? She really doesn't know how to give up, does she?!*
A few feet away, Aturia's mind was racing with identical fervor. *I refuse to be outdone by a loud-mouthed loser like Seig. I will master this spell before him if it's the last thing I do.*
Seig shook his head violently, trying to clear his thoughts. *No, focus! If I let myself get distracted by Aturia, my inner concentration will be completely shattered.*
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to recall Miki's gentle advice from earlier that morning: *Relax… even flow… don't strain.*
*Okay… let's try this one more time.* Seig took a deep, stabilizing breath, feeling the magical energy slowly circulating from the absolute center of his body. The frequency was perfect. The spatial coordinates of the glass cup were locking into his mind. He was right on the absolute verge of executing the spell—
"Hey, loser." Aturia's sharp voice suddenly pierced the silence.
Seig's concentration snapped instantly, his eyes flying open as he glared at her in pure annoyance. "Hey! What is your absolute problem?! Don't distract me when I'm right in the zone!"
Aturia stood rigid, her face flushing a deep crimson as she struggled to find the words. Her gaze drifted to the grass, her fingers twitching nervously. She despised admitting she needed help, let alone from him. "Well… you asked Miki for specific pointers earlier. What exactly did she tell you?" The words barely managed to squeeze out of her throat.
Seig froze, completely shocked speechless. This was officially the first time since the formation of Team E that the proud, aristocratic Aturia had ever requested assistance from him.
A wild, devilish smirk slowly spread across Seig's face. He crossed his arms, leaning back as he jeered mockingly, "Oh, ho? I'm not telling you a single thing! You're a little Miss Know-It-All Princess, aren't you? Figure it out on your own!"
Aturia's veins practically popped with pure irritation. "Fine! I get your point! Would you please stop making fun of me, you insufferable idiot?!"
Before their bickering could escalate into a physical brawl, Baka stepped between them, yawning loudly. "Alright, rookies, it's getting entirely too dark out here. Let's head back inside the inn for dinner. We will continue your grueling training first thing tomorrow morning."
By nightfall, the entire group was gathered around the massive, round dining table inside Mr. Iroh's cozy inn, enjoying a simple meal of freshly prepared rice balls.
Captain Baka, scanning the table, noticed that Miki's plate was completely empty. "What's the matter, Miki? Did you forget to buy a rice ball for yourself at the market?"
"Well… I did buy one," Miki admitted, her cheeks flushing with mild embarrassment as a loud, deep rumble echoed directly from her empty stomach. "But I might have accidentally given it away to a hungry street kid on the way back."
Baka chuckled softly, sliding his own untouched plate across the wooden table toward her. "Well, in that case, you can have mine."
Miki's eyes instantly lit up with overwhelming gratitude. "Really, Captain?!"
Baka offered her a warm, genuine grin. "Think of it as a small token of my appreciation for using your healing magic to fix my broken body all this time. Eat up."
While Miki happily thanked her captain, Seig and Aturia were busy aggressively wolfing down their food at terrifying speeds. Whether driven by the sheer exhaustion of their training or an unspoken, childish eating contest, both rookies suddenly locked eyes, gasped, and began choking violently on their rice.
Baka slammed his fist onto the table, his face twisting into a massive headache. "Stop shoving food down your throats if you're just going to choke on it! You three are seriously going to give me a stroke!"
The following morning, the scent of breakfast filled the kitchen as Miki stood by the sink, diligently washing the dishes. "Hey, has anyone seen Seig since sunrise?"
Mr. Iroh walked in, carrying a basket of firewood. "Oh, the young lad went out incredibly early this morning to continue his bell tower training. I've never seen a boy so genuinely excited to work himself to the bone."
Aturia scoffed loudly from the table, taking a slow sip of her tea. "He probably overused his volatile mana and collapsed dead on the grass somewhere."
"Oh, come now, Aturia. I'm completely certain he's just trying his absolute best to get stronger," Miki chided gently.
Baka, who was already casually drinking a bottle of early morning booze, waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, there's absolutely no need to worry about that knucklehead. He's probably completely worn himself out by now."
Aturia stood up, dusting off her uniform with a nonchalant expression. "I'm going out for a brief walk to clear my head." With that, she slipped out the back door.
Meanwhile, under the vast shadow of the bell tower, Seig lay sprawled out on the grass, fast asleep and covered in fresh bruises from his solo practice.
The soft sound of footsteps approaching caused him to stir. He cracked his eyes open to see a young boy walking toward him, carrying a woven wooden basket. The boy wasn't wearing an assassin's porcelain mask, so Seig had absolutely no way of knowing this was the deadly S.W.A.T. operative from the battlefield.
Seig sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Uh… what are you doing out here?"
Az stopped, offering a calm, friendly smile. "I'm just gathering rare medical herbs to heal injuries and common sicknesses. It's a bit of a personal hobby of mine."
Seig's eyes brightened. "Whoa, that sounds pretty fun! Mind if I lend you a hand?"
"Sure, go ahead," Az replied smoothly, kneeling down in the grass.
For the next twenty minutes, the two boys picked herbs side-by-side in peaceful silence.
"So," Az began casually, breaking the quiet. "What exactly have you been doing out in a place like this so early in the morning?"
Seig beamed proudly, pointing a thumb at the tower. "Training!"
Az's gaze drifted downward, his sharp eyes catching the distinct glint of a metallic badge securely strapped to Seig's leather belt. *That emblem...* "That badge… could it be that you're a certified magic knight?"
"You bet I am!" Seig boasted, puffing out his chest. "I'm a magic knight representing the grand kingdom of Camelot. The absolute best there is, believe it!"
"No kidding… you must be pretty incredible then," Az said, his voice smooth and calculating. "Sorry if this sounds a bit strange, but… why exactly do you train so hard?"
"I want to get stronger—to become the ultimate Magic Knight Leader in Camelot," Seig declared, his eyes burning with unyielding determination. "I'm going to make sure every single person in the world finally acknowledges my strength."
Az paused, looking at the raw sincerity in the boy's face. "Is that so? Do you have someone… someone precious to you?"
Seig blinked, taking a moment to genuinely ponder the question. "Precious… well, yeah. I have my older sister, Lily. She's the only one who ever truly looked out for me, believed in my crazy dreams, and kept me safe when I was a nobody. I promised her I was going to make her incredibly proud and claim the crown of the King of Knights. And then, of course, I have my teammates and my captain. They're all incredibly precious to me… well, except for one specific girl who I absolutely cannot stand. What about you?"
Az's smile softened, a wave of profound nostalgia washing over his mind. He remembered his childhood—a starving, smelly, beaten street rat left to die in a dark alleyway until a powerful rogue knight named Green Phoenix had extended a hand, taken him in, fed him, and taught him how to survive.
"Well, to me…" Az whispered, looking up at the sky. "When a person has something truly precious they are willing to protect… that is the exact moment they can become genuinely strong."
Az stood up, lifting his basket of herbs. "Anyway… I need to head out now. But I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again very soon." He offered Seig a strange, uneasy grin before turning and vanishing into the tree line.
Before Seig could process the odd departure, a sharp, resounding *THWACK* echoed through the clearing as a fist slammed directly into the top of his skull.
"Ouch! What the hell was that for?!" Seig screamed, clutching his head as he rolled around on the grass in sheer agony.
Aturia stood over him, her hands on her hips as she glared down at him. "I can't believe you completely forgot about breakfast, you absolute idiot."
"Is that seriously the only reason you knocked me on the head so brutally?!" Seig whined.
Aturia scoffed, turning her face away proudly. "You entirely deserved it. Besides… I think I've finally gotten the perfect hang of the Substitution Magic technique."
Seig scrambled to his feet, a competitive fire igniting in his chest. "Oh yeah?! Me too! Let's test it out right now!"
Later that afternoon, the sun hit its peak as Miki and Captain Baka walked down the dirt path toward the bell tower. Thanks to Miki's continuous medical care, Baka's severe body strain had completely vanished, his posture upright and healthy.
"I really hope those two haven't torn each other to shreds out here," Baka muttered, resting his palm on the wrapped hilt of his sheathed katana.
Suddenly, a sharp glint of metal flashed through the air. A silver dagger flew down from above, embedding itself perfectly into the dirt right in front of Baka's boots.
High up on the fifty-foot ledge of the tower, Seig stood triumphantly on the narrow wooden railing, a massive, roaring smile on his face as he reached out and violently pulled the rope of the bronze bell.
RING! RING! RING!
Baka's jaw dropped in genuine disbelief. "No way… the kid actually pulled it off."
Miki's heart swelled with overwhelming joy, a beautiful smile breaking across her face. I knew he could do it!
"Hahaha! I told you I could do it!" Seig cheered from the top, dancing around arrogantly. "This Substitution Magic technique is a total piece of cake—"
Suddenly, his boot slicked on a patch of wet moss at the edge of the railing. His balance completely vanished, and he tripped dramatically over his own feet.
"Ahhh!" Miki and Baka gasped in sheer terror, thinking he was about to plummet fifty feet to the hard ground below.
But Seig instantly caught himself on a rafter, dangling safely while grinning down at them. "Gotcha! Total prank! You should see the looks on your faces!"
Baka rolled his eyes, letting out a sharp sigh. "The idiot actually managed to grow a bit…"
But the universe handles arrogance swiftly. This time, the old wooden rafter snapped cleanly under Seig's weight. His balance completely disintegrated for real, and he plunged backward into the empty air, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Wait, wait! No! This time it's real! Help meeee!"
In a fraction of a second, Aturia reacted. Channeling her mana with flawless precision, she triggered the spell. With a sharp pop of displaced air, her body vanished from the ground, instantaneously switching places with a fragile glass cup on the tower's top ledge.
As Seig tumbled past the platform, Aturia reached out, her fingers catching the waistband of his boxers with an iron grip, halting his fatal descent completely while she casually rang the bronze bell with her free hand.
She sneered down at him, her eyes dripping with absolute smugness. "You really are such a pathetic loser, Seig."
Dangling helplessly in mid-air by his underwear, Seig's face turned a violent shade of crimson from pure embarrassment and rage. "Aturia, you total show-off! Let me go right now!"
Aturia smirked. "Are you entirely certain about that? Okay then, if you say so." She casually opened her hand.
"Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that—!" Seig shrieked as he plummeted the remaining fifteen feet, hitting the soft grass below with a massive, resounding THUD.
Aturia materialized back on the ground via a second substitution, looking down at his crumpled form with peak sarcasm. "Oh dear, are you alright, Seig?"
Seig stood up, frantically dusting the dirt off his clothes as he stuck his tongue out at her. "Yeah, whatever! I'm completely fine!"
Miki couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggles, clapping her hands. "Nice one, Aturia! That was absolutely awesome!"
Later that evening, back inside the safety of the inn, Seig sat covered in fresh bandages while Miki used her healing magic to heal his bruised arms. Aturia sat across from him, looking thoroughly pleased with herself, suppressing a smug laugh at his miserable predicament.
Mr. Iroh walked into the dining room, setting down a heavy platter. "What on earth happened to you out there, kid?"
"We successfully climbed the tower and rang that bell, believe it!" Seig cheered, wincing slightly as Miki pressed a bandage down.
"Well, regardless, you must be ravenous," Iroh said.
"FOOD!!!" Seig roared, his eyes turning into dinner plates.
Iroh smiled warmly, looking toward the captain. "Thanks to you kids and your incredible captain… the bridge is on track to be completed in absolutely no time. But I have to ask… why are you still staying here to protect us? I openly admitted I lied about the mission parameters. This isn't a simple C-rank request."
Baka took a slow, deliberate sip of his beer, his eyes turning distant and profound. "To see what is right and to not do it… simply speaks to an absolute absence of courage. It's a core philosophy my own captain taught me many years ago… right before he laid down his life in battle."
Sitting at the edge of the table, little Inari looked up at Seig. Watching the older boy's unyielding enthusiasm, raw determination, and burning hope… it completely mirrored the exact traits his late mother possessed before Mr. Moss Head's regime took her life. An overwhelming wave of grief hit the little boy, and tears began to stream rapidly down his face.
"Why… why do you work so hard until you're completely broken like that?!" Inari suddenly screamed, his voice cracking with intense emotion. "There is absolutely no way you can match Mr. Moss Head, Green Phoenix, or his entire mafia gang! No matter how many cool things you say or how much effort you make… the weak will always lose against the strong! It's pointless!"
Seig stopped chewing, his expression turning firm as he looked the little boy dead in the eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you?! It doesn't matter who I'm up against! Even if the enemy is a million times stronger than me, I am never going to give up! I will push through no matter what!"
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Inari wept, slamming his tiny fists onto the table. "Looking at you makes me physically sick! You're just sticking your nose into a kingdom you know absolutely nothing about! I'm not like you… you don't even know what real pain feels like!"
Seig's temper flared, his voice rising. "So what, you're just going to sit there and cry all day long?! If you seriously think I don't understand pain or profound sadness… then an idiot like you can go ahead and cry for the rest of your life!"
"I hate you!" Inari yelled, turning on his heel and sprinting out of the front door in tears, collapsing onto the porch outside.
Baka let out a slow, heavy sigh, setting his beer can down. "I'll go handle the kid."
Outside the inn, darkness had completely swallowed the landscape. Inari sat on the wooden steps, hugging his knees tightly as he wept quietly into his arms.
The soft creak of floorboards signaled Baka's arrival. The captain walked over, a fresh can of beer in his hand, and calmly sat down right next to the little boy. "Hey… got a minute?"
Inari didn't answer, burying his face deeper.
"Seig didn't mean any real harm back there," Baka began softly, his usual lazy tone replaced by a deep, grounded warmth. "The kid is just a little brash and hot-headed. Listen… your grandpa told us the story about your mother. Like you, Seig never had a mother or a father. He grew up entirely alone, with only his guardian, Lily, to look after him like a little brother. Because of the extreme danger surrounding his past, he didn't have a single friend throughout his entire childhood. But in all the time I've known him, I've never once seen him sulk, cry, or stay timid. Even when he gets knocked down, he always gets right back onto his feet and pushes forward. He is always eager… always wanting to be acknowledged by someone. And for that dream, he willingly risks his life every single day. So trust me when I say this… Seig knows the exact meaning of being 'strong,' just like your mother did. Out of everyone here, I believe Seig understands your internal pain the most."
Inari sniffled softly, wiping his red eyes with his sleeve as he looked up at the vast, cloudy sky. "I'm sorry… I just got suddenly emotional."
The following morning, a dense atmosphere hung over the inn. Mr. Iroh, Captain Baka, Aturia, and Miki geared up, preparing to head out.
"Hey, Baka… are you entirely certain it's alright to leave that loud brat behind at the inn?" Iroh asked worriedly.
"Yeah," Baka replied, adjusting his katana. "Seig still hasn't fully recovered from that nasty fall he took yesterday, mostly due to his own utter carelessness and Aturia's ruthless assistance. It's best for his body if he rests up today."
"Alright then," Iroh nodded, turning toward the stairs. "Inari! The four of us are heading down to the bridge site. Take good care of the inn until we get back, okay?"
"Yes, Grandpa," Inari called back bravely from the top of the stairs.
With their objectives clear, the four of us moved out.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the district, inside the shadows of the abandoned warehouse, Green Phoenix stood tall. He rolled his shoulders, his severe burns completely wrapped in clean linens, his monstrous mana crackling back to life. "Alright… my body is fully healed. Are you ready, Az?"
Az stepped forward from the darkness, smoothly sliding his porcelain S.W.A.T. mask back over his face. His voice turned cold, devoid of the warmth he had shared with Seig. "Yeah, big brother. Let's finish this."
Back at the inn, the clock struck mid-morning. Seig snapped his eyes open, suddenly bolting out of bed. He rushed down the wooden stairs into the empty kitchen.
"Oh no—I completely overslept!" Seig panicked, looking around wildly until he spotted the little boy. "Inari! Where the hell did everyone go?!"
"Your captain explicitly wanted you to relax and rest your body today," Inari explained calmly. "So they all left for the bridge construction site without you."
Seig's face twisted in pure annoyance, his fists clenching. "I knew it! Those jerks completely left me behind!"
In a frantic blur, Seig threw off his pajamas, violently brushed his teeth, threw on his signature green jacket, and bolted straight through the front door. "I'll be back Inari! Just wait for me!"
Down at the riverbank, the air was dead silent.
When Iroh, Baka, Aturia, and Miki finally arrived at the bridge, a scene of absolute horror met their eyes. Every single construction worker lay scattered across the wooden scaffolding and stone foundations—completely unconscious, their tools dropped carelessly by their sides.
"What the hell is this?!" Iroh gasped, his face draining of all color as he rushed to check a worker's pulse. "What happened to them?!"
Suddenly, the ambient temperature plummeted. Heavy, suffocating clouds began to roll violently over the riverbank, a thick, blinding fog completely enveloping the entire bridge within seconds. Visibility dropped to less than three feet.
Baka's expression instantly hardened. He placed his right palm firmly onto the handle of his sheathed katana, his posture shifting into a lethal combat stance. "This cloud mist… just as I suspected. He's back. Aturia, Miki—get into formation and draw your weapons. They're coming."
"I knew that monster was still alive," Miki whispered, her hands shaking slightly as she recognized the magical frequency. "This is his signature technique… Cloud Mist Magic."
Out of the dense, white void, a booming, arrogant voice echoed from all directions.
"My deepest apologies for keeping you waiting, Baka," Green Phoenix mocked, his voice dripping with pure venom. "I see you've brought those pathetic little brats with you as always. Tell me, kids… are you still trembling in your boots? Poor things."
Suddenly, the mist swirled violently, and a perfect Cloud Clone of Green Phoenix materialized directly in front of them, a wicked grin on its face.
Aturia stepped forward, a dangerous, confident smirk playing on her lips as a brilliant, icy aura erupted from her boots. "Trembling? The only thing I'm trembling with is pure excitement—because we get to kick your miserable ass for the second time!"
"Do it, Aturia," Baka commanded smoothly.
In the absolute blink of an eye, Aturia triggered her new spell. With a sharp pop, her body vanished from her spot, flawlessly executing a Substitution Magic swap with a heavy iron toolbox resting right behind the clone. Appearing instantly in its blind spot, she manifested a cluster of razor-sharp ice spikes, completely shattering the cloud clone into mist.
From deeper within the fog, the real Green Phoenix stepped forward, clapping his hands mockingly alongside the masked figure of Az.
"Well, well… so within a mere couple of days, you've managed to learn some flashy new tricks," Phoenix praised, his bloodshot eyes narrowing. "You brats have grown quite a bit since our very first encounter. But someone appears to be missing… where exactly is that loud-mouthed fire kid?"
Aturia narrowed her eyes, lowering her stance. "None of your business, you monster."
"Hmph. Regardless, it doesn't matter in the slightest," Phoenix sneered, glancing toward his partner. "It appears a true rival has finally appeared for you, little brother."
Az stood silently beside him, the porcelain surface of his mask reflecting the dim light of the fog as his hand drifted toward the hilt of his twin daggers. His voice was cold, sharp, and precise.
"So it seems."