It was a heavy silence—the kind of desolate stillness that precedes devastating storms. On the dueling grounds, the two brothers stood facing each other. Nearby, Andre watched the scene in silence, with Kenji, the youngest of the family, by his side.
A slick, malicious smile crept onto Kenji's lips. He leaned toward Andre, whispering gloatingly, "Doom has come for your friend. My eldest brother, Hiroki, possesses an indescribable power—a power that will crush him to dust."
Andre gave him a calm, disdainful look and replied coldly, "Isn't Ain your brother too?"
Kenji's smile widened, revealing deep-seated hatred. "That cursed weakling? I don't consider him a brother. By the way, prepare yourself, for you'll be following your friend to death soon."
Andre's expression didn't flicker. He turned slowly toward Kenji, his words dripping like melting ice: "Are you certain... that it is my head that will be severed?"
Kenji laughed dismissively. "You'll see for yourself when I hold your head like this, and place it right next to your corpse..."
Suddenly, Kenji's voice cut off. His eyes widened in a terror that froze the blood in his veins. He looked down at his outstretched hands and saw a sight that broke his mind: He was holding his own severed head between his palms! His breath hitched in panic as his mind screamed in delirium, "What is this?! I'm speaking... I feel my body... but why is my head in my hands?!"
Kenji stumbled back, squeezing his eyes shut to banish the nightmare. When he opened them and felt his neck with trembling hands, his head was still firmly on his shoulders. He realized then, in a moment of pure horror, that his instincts had been screaming a warning; that terrifying aura radiating from Andre was nothing less than a promise of certain death should he dare to challenge him. Kenji swallowed hard and did not dare look up at him again.
Andre shifted his gaze back to the arena, saying dismissively, "If you're finished with your nonsense, do not interrupt me while I am watching the duel."
The Clash of Flames
In the arena, the atmosphere had reached a boiling point. Ain and Hiroki's gazes crossed like sharpened blades. In a split second, with a speed that tore through the air, the first spark flew. The ring of steel on steel echoed as the dance of death began.
Hiroki summoned his energy, forming a blazing shroud of fire around his body like a searing shield. He unleashed a breath of fire from his blade toward his brother. Ain leaped gracefully, evading the inferno, and summoned his own aura; his blade ignited with strange flames—flames that danced with dark shadows.
Hiroki narrowed his eyes, shouting with contempt, "I am certain now... you are nothing but a curse upon our clan! You demon!"
Ain let out a bitter laugh—a sound carrying pain deeper than any physical wound. "A curse? Do you still repeat that word, brother? You know for a fact I am no demon, and you know I didn't choose this power. But you know what? I've come to accept it. In fact, I trust it more than I trust you being my older brother! This power will never betray me, but you... you are nothing but a coward. A coward who abandoned someone who looked up to you. When I was exiled to that desolate forest, you didn't even flinch. Perhaps you were trembling in fear of its monsters!"
Infuriated, Hiroki's flames roared higher. He raised his sword and bellowed, "Are these your last words? Then... farewell!"
A massive eruption of fire exploded from Hiroki's sword, blinding the area with light. In response, Ain raised his sword steadily and muttered, "Is that the best you have? Let your middle brother show you what he learned in the darkness of the forest!"
From Ain's blade emerged a pitch-black fire—strange, terrifying energy that swallowed the light around it. The spectators stood stunned, the black flames reflecting in their terrified eyes.
The Master's Intervention
Suddenly, a dominant presence split the air. Master Lao appeared in the center of the arena, striking his staff against the ground with a finality that seemed to stop time.
"Ain..." Lao said, his eyes piercing through him. "It seems you've come here again without my permission. I've looked the other way before, but now you've gone too far. You dragged Andre with you, caused this chaos, and put yourself in grave danger. Above all... you are breaking your mother's hopes. That is enough!"
Hiroki and Kenji bowed deeply in respect. Lao nodded. "No matter how much time passes, it seems my status as your master remains unchanged. I appreciate that, but this is no time for pleasantries. We must leave before the clan guards intervene."
Hiroki protested, "You are right, Master, but I have just seen something worth the effort. I want to finish this duel."
Lao replied calmly, "And why not? But not here, as you well know."
Hiroki countered defiantly, "If you mean that cursed forest, I will not set foot in it; it's against our laws. Besides, my excitement would have cooled by then." He turned to Ain provokingly, "Shall we continue, brother? I haven't seen your true strength yet."
Ain replied coldly, "I don't mind. But as the Master said, if you want to fight me, come to the forest."
The Father's Coldness
"Look at this..."
A deep, booming voice shattered the silence. From the shadows emerged a man of terrifying majesty: The Leader of the Fire Clan... their father.
"So this is the cause of all this chaos on this special day," the Leader said, scanning their faces. "My two sons, and a master with his student... Welcome, Lao."
Lao frowned. "A master and his student? Do you deny your own blood to such an extent? Do you not acknowledge your son?"
The Leader answered in a voice like frost, devoid of emotion: "A son who turns into a demon is considered dead to me."
The words hit Ain like poisoned daggers, yet he remained standing with pride. Lao sighed. "So, that is how it is. Very well. But have you come to stop us, or just to deliver these harsh words?"
"I came to tell you that your student's presence brings shame to my entire clan," the Leader replied. "Take him and go. Do not let me see this demon's face again."
At this, Andre's patience snapped. He stepped forward, unable to contain the volcano of rage in his chest. "His student?! Do you deny that Ain is of your loins?! To hell with you! If anyone is to blame, it's the person who passed this power down to him! Ain didn't choose to carry a power you curse as demonic! Tell me, what sin did he commit? Are you even fit to be a father?! You are nothing but..." he spat the final words with disgust, "...a piece of filth!"
In the blink of an eye, Hiroki and Kenji drew their swords, lunging to take Andre's head for the insult. But the Leader raised a hand, stopping them instantly.
"Stop," the Leader said, not even looking at Andre. "I have no time for this futile argument. I have greater matters at hand. Take your students, Lao, and get out of my sight. Do not test my patience further."
Lao looked at him with a mix of pity and contempt. "Patience? You are a man without a soul. Your feelings are dead, so how can you claim to have patience? Regardless, we are leaving."
The Gathering Storm
As they departed, Kenji turned to his father in protest. "Why, Father?! Why did you let them go after such an insult?"
The Leader looked toward the dark horizon, his eyes reflecting a fire only he could see. "Because there is a storm of blood coming... a devastating war looms on the horizon. A war that will either raise our clan's name to the heavens or turn us into ash."
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Water Clan's throne room, their Leader was inspecting manuscripts. Suddenly, the doors burst open to reveal an old man—frail in appearance, but with a disturbingly steady gait.
"Who are you? How dare you intrude upon my hall?" the Water Leader demanded.
The old man bowed slightly. "I am merely a messenger, My Lord. I bring an urgent message... from the Wind Clan."
"A messenger from the Wind Clan? Are you mocking me? There has been no contact between our clans for decades!"
The old man replied with a provocative calmness, "True, but the matter is grave. The Leader of the Wind Clan was forced to contact you secretly."
The Leader took the scroll. As he read, his eyes widened. "What does he mean, 'The Fire Clan possesses a weapon capable of erasing the other clans from existence'?"
The old man didn't speak. Instead, he pulled a tiny stone fragment from his cloak and placed it on the table. The Leader burst out laughing. "With this pebble, they will erase us?"
The old man's expression didn't change. "In truth, this is a mere crumb. Watch closely."
The old man closed his eyes and passed his hand over the stone. Instantly, the entire hall shook. A massive, suffocating power erupted from the old man. The Water Leader recoiled in genuine terror.
"As you can see, this is the power of a small fragment," the old man continued. "Imagine, My Lord, the power of the original giant stone!"
"A giant stone?! Is the Fire Clan planning to—"
The old man interrupted firmly, "We ask for your alliance. We must cooperate to topple the Fire Clan before they wipe us all out. What is your answer?"
The Leader struggled to regain his composure. "How do I know this is true? I will verify this myself first."
The old man smiled mysteriously and turned to leave. "As you wish. The offer stands. Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Wait!" the Leader called out. "Who are you?"
The old man turned halfway in the darkness, his voice a whisper. "Just a well-wisher."
Outside, under the cover of night, the old man stopped. He looked up, his eyes glowing with a demonic yellow light. A horrific, wicked smile stretched across his face as he hissed to himself in a voice that was not human:
"The seeds have been sown... and soon, the bloody harvest will begin. Ah... I can hardly wait."