The ice in the far northern reaches of the world began to crack. It didn't surface much, it rather bathed under the thick ice, entrapped in a solid frozen prison. A scream echoed, slowly aiding the tearing of the ice. He was awakening from the ice. Ashwine was reborn.
"That stupid traitor…my flames are all white now!" Ashwine erupted, his flaming body now instead of fire, was constructed of ice-like shards that danced with his movements, mimicking that of flames.
Ashwine was once considered one of the most lethal underlords, reaching temperatures the same as the sun. His touch was immaculate, able to burn anything to a crisp. The solar energy he had was eternal, but now it was a dense ball of ice. Flaming ice, to be exact.
His flames didn't feel much different, rather it felt more mystical. It was more crisp and his powers felt stronger. He dipped his body into the waters. Instead of being put out, his icy exterior froze the sea he stood on solid, allowing him to walk on water.
Ashwine chuckled, grinning at his power. It was upgraded from a certain degree, mostly that his flames were now white. Of course, being the underlord he was, he wanted to find his friends. He felt the presence of one calling to him from the core of the Earth, so he began flying towards the voice that sought for him.
He first soared the skies and landed in the murky town of Jõhvi, Estonia. It was a small and isolated town, but Ashwine found it quite cozy. However, it wasn't welcoming when he saw a couple walking home, holding hands.
"Love…" Ashwine mumbled. "How do humans need to rely on one another so much…?"
Of course, like the barbarian he was, he ruthlessly took their lives. He couldn't bear to watch anyone be together. But where would he go? He wanted some place quiet and dark, a place where he could think and grow stronger.
Egypt? Perhaps. The Pyramids were definitely a point of interest. He assumed that in a barren wasteland of sand and gold, maybe it was the perfect place to revitalise. But as he travelled, he overheard stories of war and conflict. He was interested, so he decided to see for himself what this fighting was all about.
"Watch out!" men cried. Gunfire littered the streets of Yemen, with UAE forces hidden on the high ground.
"Pathetic humans. Perhaps a god is needed to settle this dispute…" Ashwine scoffed. He glided down with his now Golden Flames, gently landing in the midst of bullets. His flames engulfed the firestorm of ammunition, eating each pellet like peas. "Ahem,"
Ashwine swiftly murdered the mass, incinerating all bodies in the vicinity. Not even a single trace. Even the snipers in the highest grounds were killed in an instant, their bodies reduced to nothing but a clump of ash. His flames flickered now golden, for the sand imbuing into his fire.
"My child…" one whimpered, almost surviving. Ashwine heard the distant voice, quickly finishing him off without further notice.
"This is boring…Perhaps I will take a nap in Tutankhamun's coffin…" Ashwine sighed, flying to Egypt without a cause. And there he laid, asleep again for another decade after his imprisonment to grow stronger. His flames raged louder and faster the more blood he sought, claiming every soul as a source of fuel.
---
The sun hung high, casted a warm, ethereal glow onto the narrow, dust-worn streets of Arada. The air hung heavy, like a grudge on the window of Samir Najm's home. No, it wasn't guilt nor regret, but something he held dear. Everyone dismissed him for clinging to his father's death for so long. It had already been a decade.
Samir's father once was a sniper whose life was claimed by the relentless war, existing now only in faded photographs and whispered stories shared by his mother and elderly neighbours. He felt the dust ridden frames, and couldn't bear to let go of him in mind. He wanted to follow him to respect his legacy and honour.
Of course, this meant archery had become one of Samir's greatest hobbies, practising almost every day. Each time he drew his bow, the world would fall silent. His breath was measured, his aim was calculated.
When he drew his bow today, it snapped. The worn wooden frame had broken and Samir's motivations were crushed.
"Ma!" Samir exclaimed.
"Yes, Samir?" his mother replied.
"The bow…" Samit stuttered. "My bow…It broke…"
"Oh no…I'm sure you'll get over it…" his mother comforted, gently holding his hand. "My baby, I told you…Your father had risked his life for the country…I don't want my son to die the same way…"
Samir's expression widened, then sighed. "Ma, this is the closest thing I can do to feel one with papa,"
"I said you can't keep doing this…Do you really think your father would want this?" his mother snapped. Samir's fists grew with rage, but he clenched his hatred tight, dispelling it throughout his body. Of course, being the kid he was, knew nothing about wars. He didn't even know how his father had died.
As Samir trudged along the sidewalks, all he could think about was how he could fix his bow.
"Come get your readings! Come get your readings! Cheap Tarot or Zodiac readings!" a fortune teller announced. The small stall on the entrance of an alleyway stood distinguished, completely unnatural to the stark, grey buildings that sandwiched it. "Hey kid, you want a free reading?"
Samir gave the man a discerned look. He was skeptical of his legitimacy, but still sat down at the table covered in a purple cloth. In the end, it was free either way.
"I sense a great cosmic energy about you!" the teller exclaimed, waving his bejeweled hands dramatically over a deck of worn cards.
"Yeah?" Samir raised an eyebrow skeptically, crossing his arms over his chest.
"So, when's your birthday?" the teller asked, shuffling the cards with surprising dexterity.
"December 15th,"
"Time and place?"
"07:00, here,"
"Arada…Alright…That gives me a very unique insight…" the teller muttered, spreading the cards in an arc across the purple cloth.
"What is your conclusion?" Samir leaned forward, despite himself.
"Sagittarius rules your sun, moon and rising. Your heart is full of flame, rage and desire. You are destined for success…Luck is on your side…That is what I see…" the teller proclaimed with absolute certainty, tapping a finger on a card depicting a figure with a bow.
"Success? Lucky my ass! First, my bow broke this morning. What are you talking about?" Samir shouted, slamming on the table.
"Don't deny my claims. You will see. The fire will erupt from your heart and let that fire guide your way," the teller smiled mysteriously, gathering his cards with practiced calm.
Samir walked away in anger. What was that all about? That liar of a fortune teller had deceived him. Or had he? Samir wandered with his head buried in the sand, completely missing the fact that something had happened.
"You know, your father was an excellent sniper!" the teller yelled.
Samir snapped back, marching towards him. "Don't you dare mention my father!"
"I can tell you all about him…I can sense that you're curious about war…and perhaps how your father disappeared…"
Samir reluctantly sat down back on the stool, his hands still trembling with anger. He exhaled sharply, trying to compose himself.
"Your father's spirit is so strong…I can feel it now…" the teller stated, motioning with his hands. Samir's eyes narrowed. "He had an indomitable spirit, terrific precision and a perfect mind…You're not anything like your old man…but your own spirit is fiery…"
"And? How did my father die?"
"He isn't dead." the teller whispered, his eyes suddenly becoming unfocused as if seeing something beyond the cramped stall.
"What? Nonsense!" Samir scoffed, but his voice betrayed a hint of desperate hope beneath the disbelief.
"Well, he's in a hybrid state. He never fulfilled his goal, so his spirit or soul, some might say remains on Earth…He died when he was trying to assassinate someone…someone must have found his spot and brutally gutted him…" the teller began.
Samir interrupted him halfway, lunging at him with rage in his voice. He yanked him by the collar. "You don't know anything about my father! Shut up!"
The teller felt a cold and sharp object pressing against his neck from behind. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and his body shivered in terror. Samir coldly pushed the teller back, then left.
Samir walked away and didn't turn back this time. He muffled the voices and noises that came around, ignoring the presence of the golden tipped arrow following him.
---
"Dad, I'm home!" Samuel exclaimed, throwing his school bag on the ground and slumping onto a seat. His dad was still in his police uniform, and grumbled from the kitchen. He stepped out with a warm mug of coffee in his hand, still looking tired from the night before.
"Hey son," his father greeted. "How was school?"
"Great. I got an A+ on my Law test!" Samuel smiled, turning on the TV.
"Today in the world: Supernatural incidents have been happening across the globe and we've seen unusual heroes save many casualties. Rumors have that there is another supernatural threat still unattended to, but still unidentified. Any reports to the ISID would be greatly beneficial," the broadcaster announced, beside displaying a figure embodied in white flames. Though only a rough sketch, Samuel was intrigued.
When his father saw the static image, his arm froze and dropped his coffee. "Ow!"
"Dad! Are you alright?" Samuel exclaimed, immediately tending to his aid.
"Yeah I'm alright…Just that image reminds me…" his father remarked.
"Reminds you of…?" Samuel began, gathering pieces of the shattered mug.
"That night…when I told you your parents disappeared…"
"Is this about my real parents?" Samuel asked curiously.
"Yes…To be honest…I never really had the courage to tell you…I was afraid you wouldn't accept this truth…"
"What is it? Tell me, dad!" Samuel begged.
"Well, I believe that fiery figure killed your parents. Your parents never disappeared, but he incinerated them into nothing. Can you believe that? I was on patrol and saw everything unfold, but was too afraid to intervene…" his father explained.
Samuel sat motionless, the broken ceramic fragments still clutched in his hand. The sharp edges dug into his palm, but he barely noticed the pain. "You... saw it happen? All this time you knew?"
Officer Magi's weathered face creased with regret. "I couldn't explain it, Samuel. Who would believe me? A man made of fire? They would have taken you away from me, put you in the system. I couldn't let that happen. Your name isn't Samuel Magi, rather Samuel Paike. Perhaps you were too young to remember…"
"But all these years..." Samuel's voice trailed off as his eyes returned to the television screen. The image of white flames seemed to flicker despite being a still photograph. Something stirred in the depths of his memory.
His mother had always told him about the importance of having rules.
"Rules keep us safe, Samuel. Remember the rules." Those words rang in Samuel's mind. "You're a Leo, you're the Lion that leads the pack."
Of course, Samuel, like the responsible boy he was, kept quiet about this topic, knowing that his foster father was sensitive towards this information. He kept it a secret, and began researching more about this flame entity. He scoured news archives, paranormal forums, even his father's confidential police reports when he wasn't looking.
"Sam, what are you doing?" Officer Magi asked one evening, entering his bedroom. "What are you doing looking through these old files of mine?"
"I'm worried," Samuel said worriedly. The words hung in the air between them, soft but bitter.
"You don't need to worry about it, I already told you. Please, let go of this topic," he said sternly, closing Samuel's laptop.
Samuel instinctively prevented his father from closing his laptop and suddenly snapped. "No! You will tell me everything you know about that night!"
His words were delivered cold and strong, it sounded like nothing but of a strong conviction Samuel had developed over the past two days. It had completely reconstructed the atmosphere of the room, instead of the warm and cozy vibe, Officer Magi felt a mystical sense of truth and bitterness. No deception, no illusions, but only the truth.
"It was March 3rd, 2013. I was relatively close friends with your parents, since I lived next door. It was around 19:00 PM when I was leaving my home to purchase dinner…I saw a white figure approaching your parents as they walked home…When they disappeared, the white figure flew off…that's when I knew you were still alive and scared. I thought you would've been worried and scared, so I brought you to my house…"
Samuel stared at his adoptive father in horror. He wasn't scared, nor worried, rather a mix of emotions that flooded him like a tidal wave.
"I... I've been wanting to tell you for years," Officer Magi said, blinking in confusion. "I just never found the right moment. Somehow, it felt like the right time now."
Samuel's heart pounded in his ears. Had he done that? Had his words somehow compelled his father to speak? Yet his father didn't seem controlled or manipulated. He had shared the information as if it were his own choice, experiencing the aftermath as natural relief after unburdening a long-held secret.
"Dad, I..." he began, but was interrupted by the ringing of his father's work phone.
Officer Magi answered it mechanically, still looking shaken. "Yes? Yes, I understand. I'll be right there."
He hung up and turned to Samuel. "There's been an incident at the convenience store on Valga Road. The Korov boy again. I have to go."
Anton Korov was a teenager just like Sam, but he had a bad reputation for being a notorious criminal in the vicinity. At nineteen, he'd already accumulated a record of petty theft, vandalism, and intimidation. Samuel had encountered him numerous times, including a particularly unpleasant incident last month when Anton had cornered him behind the school.
Samuel's mind raced. If what had just happened was real and if his command had somehow forced his father to tell the truth, could he use it again?
"I'm coming with you," he declared.
Officer Magi was too disturbed by his own unexplainable behavior to argue. The drive to the convenience store was silent, tense. When they arrived, Anton Korov was outside, breaking into a car, ready to get away.
"Fourth time this month!" the owner yelled. "He threatens me, breaks things, steals! And nothing happens!"
Officer Magi rushed to restrain Anton, but as he approached the white Honda, Anton equipped a revolver and shot at point blank range, right into Officer Magi's brain. His body instantly fell backwards and Samuel watched in terror, his adoptive father dead right in front of him.
"Who are you, nerd? Oh! You're that Samuel kid I beat up! HA!" Anton laughed as he started the engine. Samuel was enraged, but his words were spoken with a calm and serious demeanour, filled with conviction. He took a deep breathe, then muttered out the words:
"You're fucking dead…"
As Anton drove off with a sinister laugh, his car miraculously crashed into a streetlight. A bloom of orange blossomed from the mangled engine, the air thickening with the acrid smell of gasoline. The car had exploded and all Samuel saw was a disfigured Anton, gasping for his breath.
Debris rained down shortly after consisting of shards of metal, melted plastic and fragments of glass. It was a complete mess, perhaps a call of calamity. The streetlight, now severed at its base, laid like a fallen giant. The tragedy hung heavy in the air, a suffocating blanket of smoke and the unspoken understanding that a life had been extinguished in a flash of light and a roar of destruction.
"Do you have anything to say, idiot?" Samuel yelled as he leant down to confront Anton. "Speak, you shitheaded fucker!"
"I…I…how did this happen?" Anton whimpered, his voice frailing. His body limped and his movements grew weak. "This…shouldn't be…it can't…be my fate."
"Nothing is supposed to happen here…This is my town…Jõhvi, not yours," Samuel scoffed, looming over Anton. Samuel walked off as if he had nothing to do with the incident, with his mind clear. It was certain he wasn't a normal boy. He had a hidden power that could alter nature, in his mind, he believed that he could create calamity.
---
The streets screeched in a wailing siren paralleled with a light that beamed neon red and blue. There had been an accident. At the nearby soccer field, a fatal tragedy occured in the last few minutes of play time, when the opponent kicked the ball into Cindi O'Luron's face, knocking her out. She was immediately diagnosed with a high fever when she didn't get up for a solid minute, leading to paramedics rushing to the scene.
Cindi was still asleep, with her fever only rapidly growing.
"What do we do? The medication isn't working and the fact her fever is rising even when she's asleep is terrible!" a paramedic asked.
"Her temperature is still spiking! We're losing her!" another yelled over the din of the siren.
Cindi's world had dissolved into a chaotic swirl of heat and pain. Her body felt like it was being consumed from the inside out, every nerve ending screaming in protest. She vaguely registered the frantic voices around her, the jarring movements of the vehicle, but it was all distant, muffled, as if she were trapped beneath layers of thick, burning wool.
As she was rolled into the clinical hospital, nurses rushed to her side, giving her water. Instead of drinking it, the water began evaporating upon nearing her body, shocking the nurses. Her temperature was high, but no one would have guessed it to be this high, yet enough to evaporate that of even water.
"What do we do?" a nurse shrieked.
"She's reached 100 degrees celsius internal temperature! What is going on?!" another nurse yelled frantically. But Cindi's heartbeat didn't slow down. It only grew fast. Back on the ambulance it was a mere 60, but now it had risen to 210, mirroring that of her internal temperature.
Her parents rushed into the room, but they were unable to get close to their daughter due to the sweltering heat she produced. They were scared for their daughter, her two brothers were shocked. They couldn't believe their eyes either. What in the world possessed their little sister?
"Is she going to be alright?" her father asked.
"What do you think? We don't even know what's going on. Nobody in the world has ever experienced anything like this!" the doctor yelled, throwing his clipboard up into the air signalling he had given up. Just as the clipboard hit the ground, a detonation sound clicked in the background. Everyone gazed at each other, not knowing where the sound came from. They were all confused as there was no bomb, or was there?
Then in a blinding light, a humongous explosion engulfed the hospital wiping everything and everyone out of sight. The aftermath consisted of flames and a lone silhouette appeared from the building. Cindi survived the incident unscathed, walking out as if she was confused about what had happened. Authorities and Police had surrounded the scene, preventing anyone from coming close.
"What the heck? How did you survive, little girl? How are you unharmed?" an Officer asked.
"Me? I don't know…After I got hit by a soccer ball, I can't recall anything…" Cindi stated honestly.
Suddenly, Cindi saw familiar faces, those of her soccer friends.
"Mia! Rio!" Cindi called out. Mia and Rio rushed over to Cindi's side, panicked and worried.
"Cindi! What happened?" Mia asked, her voice trembling.
"Where are your parents?" Rio exclaimed, worried filling her voice. Cindi looked behind her at the ashes of the hospital.
"Parents? What do you mean? I thought they were still watching the game?" Cindi asked.
"No stupid! They went after you! They went into the hospital just a few minutes ago!" Rio shouted. Cindi's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. Did she just kill her parents, or was that explosion just something else?
"You're a monster!" a voice shouted.
"You caused the explosion!" another exclaimed. A crowd of citizens had begun to gather around, only staring at Cindi in her soccer uniform. She felt innocent, yet dozens of people criticised her for the actions that happened. She couldn't think straight and the very image of her killing her own parents was devastating. She had even killed her brothers.
"Step aside! Step aside! Move, you moron!" a voice demanded, wading through the dense crowd. An authoritative figure approached the explosion site, dressed in an all black suit with a crimson tie. His hair was silver grey and slicked back, also wearing a rectangular pair of glasses. "This is ISID, move away!"
"ISID?" Cindi asked. Mia and Rio quickly scattered into the crowd as the man approached the girl and picked her up.
"Are you crazy? That girl is a bomb! You're a fucking lunatic!" men shouted.
"I'll use her as a bomb again if you all don't shut up!" the man roared, silencing the crowd. Cindi was immediately charmed by the man's aura, his voice deep and persuasive. "You're coming with me. I know what happened."
"Who are you?" Cindi asked, her mind still ringing from the voices.
"My name is Jaxton Ozim. I'm the founder of the International Supernatural Intelligence Division and I've identified you as the Aries bearer. You're lucky that you didn't destroy the entire planet. You're one of the most destructive constellations we've ever had," Jaxton explained.
"Aries? Destructive?" Cindi asked. She was skeptical, but curious.
"You see, you're a special girl. Though you've caused tragedy, you can save tragedy. Your powers to create supernova-like explosions are useful. We've actually got a global threat on the run and could use someone like you," Jaxton added.
"What's in it for me? Why should I trust you?" Cindi asked again, jumping off Jaxton's arms. She could feel that Jaxton was quite muscular and that he had immense strength and training, assuming he was some sort of war veteran turned detective.
"Well, you'll be able to make friends with similar people like you. They have superpowers and I believe you can resonate with them really well," Jaxton smiled.
---
Ashwine stood up from Tutankhamun's coffin at midnight, feeling an overwhelming presence. He felt three entities drawing closer to him with immense power, not to mention also great resolve.
While Cindi practised and developed her explosive power in ISID facilities to grow stronger, she began to realise these explosions grew with her anger and stress. She saw immense potential in her, but also a flaw. She had to control these emotions, otherwise the fire would get to her.
"Cindi, I'd like you to come with me to Estonia. I think I may have found another Zodiac user." Jaxton explained. As they reached the quiet town of Johvi, they met Samuel.
"What do you want?" Samuel asked.
"I know you're desperate for revenge for your foster father and real parents. Hop in, we could use your help," Jaxton explained.
"Hi! My name is Cindi O-Luron!" Cindi greeted happily. "The International Supernatural Intelligence Division is quite cool, everyone is so nice to me!"
Cindi couldn't expect what happened next, but Samuel shook her hand in acceptance, following them to the private jet.
"What are your powers?" Cindi asked.
"Dunno. Think it's to do with calamity. I can force people to do things…but naturally," Samuel explained.
"So you create rules for things?" Jaxton asked. Samuel's mind clicked at the word rule. Her mother had always mentioned about rules being rules and he realised the potential of his power. To rewrite actions.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure of the limitations on it," Samuel replied.
"Don't worry, we have testing facilities. You can test them out however you want," Jaxton smiled.
Their next stop was Arada where they found a depressed Samir sitting on the rooftop, playing with a golden arrow.
"Hey, you're Samir Najm right?" Jaxton called out.
"Who are you?" Samir asked.
"The International Supernatural Intelligence Division!" Cindi and Samuel chanted in unison, then joined together to have a laugh. For some reason, Samir found the interaction funny as well, also laughing at the corny name.
"You know how to use that arrow of yours?" Jaxton asked.
"Uh, yeah. I've been hunting for a week or so and collecting bounties in my area. It's overpowered, it can literally go through walls and I can control it with my mind. It's like my second vision," Samir explained.
"Well, let's go beat the last supernatural entity. His name's Ashwine and he's the white flamed entity," Jaxton explained.
"White…flamed?" Samuel asked, almost stuttering. "The same that killed my parents?"
"Yes, that's why I said you could get revenge," Jaxton reiterated. Samuel smiled, an internal flame only growing stronger.
"Why should I join all of you?" Samir interrupted.
"Because the white flame potentially killed your parents too. There was a report in Yemen saying that hundreds died," Jaxton explained. Samir was still skeptical but saw Samuel and Cindi happy, inviting him to their group. Samir accepted, though only as a friend, not an asset.
"Ashwine, the white flame, is headed to the Arabian Desert for some reason. Be weary though, he might have increased in power," Jaxton warned. The three constellations were heavy at practise, refining their skills and improving their chemistry in the ISID facilities. For once, the three became close friends, resonating with each others' experiences. About tragedy, about guilt, about themselves.
It was high noon when the barren Arabian Desert hummed the golden tune of waste, binding the three fire constellations together. The three had surrounded Ashwine in a triangular formation, finally ready to confront him.
"So, that organisation planned this?" Ashwine muttered. "This will be quick!"
Ashwine's flames crashed like waves, his body taking the forms of various weapons. From axes to swords to maces, the golden flames only grew larger as he thrashed. Cindi dove for cover as Ashwine's thunderous body crushed the fragile ground, sending terrifying vibrations into the bodies of nearby people. Samuel peeked up from the debris, watching in terror.
"Samuel! Don't say the wrong thing! Otherwise we'll never be able to beat him!" Samir yelled as he ran towards his position. His voice was distant, but deep. Samuel thought hard. What was Ashwine's weakness?
"I can't tell him to die. His ability to adapt and shapeshift to situations allows him to redirect my misfortune…" Samuel thought.
"Teamwork? I haven't heard that word in centuries…To think humans need to rely on others to thrive…That's just incomprehensible! Ahahaha!" Ashwine's voice boomed louder than his flames, his body now igniting past the golden glamour. It had incinerated into something dark, into those of black flames that came straight from hell. The devil's flame had emerged, Ashwine's final and strongest stage. He felt overwhelmed, but he still had enough fuel to push through.
Ashwine didn't focus on Samuel for some strange reason, instead targeting Cindi. She fought back, but was unable to resist the heat. Cindi exploded, breaking Ashwine's flames and scattering them. As they reformed to create chains, the golden hue darkened, first a burnt sienna, then slowly into a midnight black.
The flames of the devil had awoken, to have rested with Tutankhamun granted him the flames of Anubis, ready to conjure all his strength into pure chaos. The darkened fiery chains tied Cindi up as she struggled to free herself from Ashwine's grasp. His grip tightened, twisting on the soft flesh of her wrists. She squealed in pain. Samuel focused, and prepared his rule.
"You will never be able to reform again!" Samuel commanded, surprising Ashwine.
"Ha! As if!" Ashwine snickered. He erupted with flare again, changing form into a large hammer. "Eat this!"
Ashwine struck his body down, relentlessly crushing everything in sight. Chaos ensued Samuel, a trail of rampage filling the environment. Cindi got up after being thrown on the ground, her body almost giving up. She ran headfirst, ready to propel herself into Ashwine.
"Now!" Samir motioned, calling for his arrow. Cindi leapt up and began her detonation, sprinting towards Ashwine. Ashwine gazed backwards, stunned at Cindi's courage to tackle him head first. As they collided, a massive explosion ensued, obliterating everything in the small radius.
"Again? You saw what happened last time! Bahahaha!" Ashwine cackled. His flares flickered, then suddenly froze in motion. "Huh? I can't…I can't feel my body…Why can't I reform?"
"Because that's my conviction…" Samuel yelled boldly. Ashwine's eyes widened. Where was Samir? "I believe you took something I owned…"
"What?" Ashwine demanded. "What did I ever take from you?"
"You took my parents…If it weren't for you…I wouldn't hold these grudges…But you're even lower than human scum!" Samuel yelled, kicking Ashwine in the face. The flames flickered, almost dampening out. They were beginning to crack.
"Enough!" Ashwine roared, his voice booming across the desert. There was no echo, but silence, then a delayed reaction. Samuel was thrown backwards, as if Ashwine even had control over the smoke the flames emitted.
"Where's that boy? Where is he?" Ashwine panicked, his face being the only piece of himself that was stable. Ashwine's body was fragmented enough, and having his head vulnerable was already looking pale for him. His flames wimped. His black flames were weakening.
The sun glistened on Samir's sights, ringing a high pitched whistle. Ashwine's eyes darted around, scanning for Samir but to no avail. He couldn't protect himself. He couldn't reform under Samuel's rule unless he was knocked out. But he wasn't, he remained calm and slowly stood up in the warm sand.
"You are the weakest among all living things…To have thought someone like you would break our fiery hearts full of courage…Deserves to endure torture until time ends!" Samir's voice echoed.
Ashwine's face went pale and his expression tensed, his body cracking further into even smaller fragments. Fear struck him like a needle, with sharp pains rendering in his expression. Samir's voice was so terribly cold, all he could do was watch.
"Go to hell!" Samir yelled, finally releasing his arrow. It pierced Ashwine's face, breaking it apart. Each piece tore off like a thin sheet of paper, like glass being compressed under heavy weight. Each piece, individual, now was nothing but a speck of fire that floated in the air. "Now, suffer forever…"
The air around Samir's arrow shimmered. With a high-pitched whine that climbed beyond the range of human hearing, the rod carved a furious circle, displacing the air with brutal efficiency. Invisible blades of compressed atmosphere lashed outwards, tearing and displacing every speck of Ashwine's body, gushing each flame into a distant country. It had reached maximum turbulence.
"No…no…no…You can't! I'll…!" Ashwine cried as his body crumbled, dissolving into the sky. Ashwine's voice faded as each speck grew further apart, his body now dissipated over the Earth's continents. Ashwine had never died, but he was permanently rendered defeated.
"Samir…That was so cool!" Cindi exclaimed, congratulating him. Cindi felt happy for her powers for once, enjoying the company Samuel and Samir had provided. She patted Samir on the back who couldn't help but blush.
"Yea! Never thought we could beat that guy…" Samuel laughed. He felt relieved and happy he could do something for his parents and Officer Magi. As he looked up into the sky, the clouds took form of those he lost: his real parents, and his foster father. Samuel sighed deeply, knowing that this was the beginning of a new chapter.
"Good thing you said the right rule!" Samir joked, laughing back at Samuel. They exchanged laughter and happiness, savouring the moment. As Samir looked towards the blazing sun that hovered over the desert's horizon, he saw a faint smile, a teary eyed man. Slowly, his jaw opened in disbelief.
The image the pastel blue sky had created wasn't an illusion, but a message from the heavens. His father appeared and looked down upon him, his soul free at last. His voice whispered into his ear, like the soft breeze.
"Son…I see your spirit…You're just like me…" his father muttered. Samir cried, with Cindi and Samuel minding their own business. Samir looked back at the arrow that stood beside him, a hazy, translucent neon orange mirage of his father's soul. He had realised that he never fought this battle alone or with friends. His father's warrior spirit carried on, finishing what he had once started. The arrow was never truly of his zodiac gift, rather the soul of his father. "You can keep that arrow, a reminder of me in the afterlife. Like a true sniper, aim for the head!"
Samir wept quietly, drawing the attention of Cindi and Samuel. They tried to comfort him, but also grieved and mourned the death of the ones that risked their lives for their success. They knew this was a crucial turning point in their lives, recognising those that had sacrificed themselves for their futures. A fiery heart, a fiery spirit. Never restless, never bashful. They bantered on as teammates, but what burnt was their friendship and blazing spirits that chose to never give up. Samir recognised this moment as growth, a catalyst to only grow stronger. Something told him that he would closely mirror that of his father's, and his legacy would not be forgotten.