Hooooooooooonk!
A loud horn blared in the air.
FWIP, FWIP
The feet of numerous people moved to and fro, scampering about.
"On your feet! Armor up, blades sharp, we move in five!" a red stickman with a large scar above his brow shouted. He stood on a boulder, arms crossed. His camouflaged uniform bore three stars on the shoulder.
"This is our very first mission since graduation. My blood screams with excitement, I can't wait until we reach the battleground," said Zelest, the green stickman.
"Get off your high horse. This isn't one of those simple missions we did in our undergraduate years. We're not facing hoodlums or outlaws, but someone rumored to be on par with the gods," Raven, the black stickman, replied, unamused.
"We're facing the Archmage of the Wizard Kingdom. He fought and defeated all ten kingdoms of the Kaimaji Continent in the west."
"So? We've got a bunch of god-level warriors on our side. Even the king himself will be there," Zelest shot back.
"Doesn't that speak volumes about how dire the situation is?" Raven sighed.
Uhoooooooo!
Titanic sauropods adorned in metallic armor plates from head to tail bellowed. At their sides were massive carriages capable of accommodating a hundred people each.
Soldiers moved into them hurriedly yet in order. Zelest and Raven entered one of the carriages, both equipped with long swords and red capes.
The titanic beasts began their steady march, each step shaking the ground. Bipedal monsters with theropod-like features moved alongside them, as well as feathered, winged jaguars called Jagquins, alicorns, and several dragons, each ridden by a single warrior.
A little ways away, a sudden burst of golden radiance shone in the atmosphere. A fast-moving object shot out of it, leaving golden trails behind. The soldiers looked up, and all of them knew who it was
It was King Sora of the stickmen. His entire body shimmered with golden brilliance that enthralled all who saw him. His mount, a dragon of the Scarex kind, shone with the same golden light, weaving through the skies with graceful acrobatics.
King Sora wore a golden, shimmering helmet with three feather tufts at the front. His golden cape fluttered behind him, and his longsword gleamed with a dazzling glow.
Before long, the army reached their final destination. To their surprise, a lone figure stood on the plain, dressed in purple robes.
Everyone could tell this was the enemy, the aura he exuded was suffocating.
"That's the Archmage? What an arrogant fool, why would he come to the battlefield alone?" a yellow stickman sneered.
"We might not even need to lift a finger. The king and the top warriors will deal with him," some soldiers chuckled among themselves
But Raven didn't share their confidence. For reasons he couldn't explain, paranoia crept into his bones. No matter how powerful he is, he should have escorts. The Archmage is probably far more dangerous than we imagine
King Sora descended from the skies, standing opposite the Archmage, his body radiating golden light.
"How confident of you, Archmage Iode. You came alone to the battleground without a single escort. Should I call you brave or a fool?" King Sora said menacingly
"You started this war. For what reasons? Global domination? Fame? Historical relevance?
"Talking like you people haven't had your own share of global dominance," Archmage Iode frowned. "I don't care about any of that. I came to your palace numerous times, asking to join hands so we could fight Them. But you turned me down every time."
"You may have your reasons, but I don't care. I've decided, if you won't unite with us peacefully, then I'll forcefully unite us all to fight Them.
"You've grown intoxicated by your power… but it doesn't matter. We stickmen aren't like the kingdoms of the west. I'll knock some sense into you and send you packing," King Sora snapped.
"I came alone hoping you'd reconsider and avoid war. But since that's not happening, we'll do this the hard way." Archmage Iode snapped his fingers.
A colossal hellhound, forged from magma, bone, and charred obsidian, rose from the ground. Its body was encased in volcanic armor, each joint glowing with liquid fire. Its eyes blazed with spheres of white-hot combustion. It roared ferociously.
King Sora's blade gleamed. He gestured, and the army behind him advanced. The earth trembled at their march.
Then the unexpected happened. The ground turned to lava within seconds. Mounts and soldiers alike caught fire, both on land and in the air. Flames spread like a raging wildfire.
Bodies melted within moments, screams and wails filled the battlefield, and soldiers dropped like flies. Even King Sora felt the searing heat, his body burning under the flames
He glared at the Archmage and his familiar, the source of the inferno.
Wasting no time, King Sora lunged at the flaming beast—only for his sword to melt mid-swing. The hound swiped its paw, flinging him bac
"There's little you can do against one whose heat rivals the core of a blue star," Archmage Iode said coldly. "His flames don't just burn matter—they burn magic and the very concept of reality itself.
"As you can see, there's no need for an army. They only hold me back. Such a pity to see—"
The Archmage froze. His eyes widened.
A lone black stickman was limping toward him. His body was engulfed in flames, half of it already burnt away. Yet somehow, impossibly, he was still alive, still walking in the unbearable heat.
"How is this possible, Molgaron? How is he doing this?" Archmage Iode whispered in disbelief.
Raven dragged his feet forward, his charred body falling apart. He tried to speak, though his vocal cords were scorched. Still, a broken rasp left his lips.
"A-A-Arc… I…" His arms stretched toward the Archmage.
He couldn't finish. His body crumbled into ash, burned away completely.
***
Inside a cozy room, sunlight streamed through the window onto a small bed.
Raven jolted awake, sitting up frantically. His breathing was uneven, his eyes hollow with confusion.
"I'm alive? I'm… alive! How? I was burned to a crisp!" he muttered.
"Was it all a dream? But it felt too real…"
Then he noticed something.
"Wait—this… this is my old room. When I was still living with my sister… Did I… go back in time?!"