A dark room with a quiet ambiance, and an aroma of a manly fragrance. A young man is standing while facing the closed glass window; showing the group of trees, and the clear blue skies.
His right hand is resting on the hilt of his sword hanging on his belt.
"After I know that he's here, I can feel my resentment flowing through my veins once again."
His eyes narrow. "Whatever his reason is, I will bring his head to the king."
He turns around and walks towards the door. "It's time to pay that 'man' a visit."
In the farther part of the headquarters, fireballs are clashing high in the air. The grey-skinned humans are just in their place while watching the clash of the two fire users.
"Just stop your attacks! They're futile!" the burning man told Ash.
The calmness remains unfazed on Ash's face while staring at the man engulfed in flames.
"I don't have a reason to back down," Ash replied, his bravery unwavering.
"Unbelievable!" The burning man aimed his hand at Ash.
"Bring it, fireball." Ash's red eyes started to shine.
A massive twirling flame is circulating in front of the burning man's hand, and the flames form into a massive fireball before they release a massive flame.
James looks up at Ash who's standing with his back facing him. Concern for his ally, James speaks, "Those flames are hotter than the flames you have!"
Ash didn't speak a word. He inhales deeply and releases a massive amount of flames from his eyes.
Both flames collide but Ash's flames release multiple combustions. He pulls his spear from his back and speaks to James without looking at him.
"Even now, I couldn't believe that you lied. But even after you lied, I still look at you as my friend."
James raises his hand towards Ash, trying to reach him but his hand doesn't reach Ash as he runs away.
Ash swings his spear, and it cuts the fireball from above. He jumps high in the air and looks down at the burning man standing on top of an elevated platform.
Black lines extend from Ash's eyes as if they are burnt marks. Multiple round red portals open around him.
"Descent of explosions."
From the portals, multiple fireballs come out. Instead of fear, a smile forms on the burning man's face.
The group of fireballs hit the burning man, and so as the platform. A shockwave spread throughout the massive room, and before Ash falls on the ground, a slash of dark energy hits his chest.
"Have your fun?" a calm voice of a man spoke.
The dark energy sends him against the stone walls. Ash opens his eyes, and so as the young man appears in front of him.
"Who are you?" Ash stared at him.
The mysterious young man looks over his shoulder, and his eyes land on James.
"Why do you intend to save a man who betrayed you?" The mysterious young man shifted his gaze back at Ash.
"Because he's still my friend!" Ash swung his spear.
The mysterious young man was able to move his head backwards, and he wiped his hand on his cheek.
"A blood? Impressive swing but you're an idiot for standing up for him," he said before swinging his sword.
Ash slashes his spear against the blade covered in dark energy. "You don't have the right to speak those words."
The mysterious young man chuckles. "But I just said it."
The dark blade grows larger while it pushes into the spear's shaft. The sight makes the mysterious young man push the sword further into the spear but it does nothing to the spear.
"What a durable spear." the mysterious young man lowered his sword.
Ash's eyes widen as the mysterious young man lands a kick straight to his abdomen, and the pressure of the kick destroys the stone wall behind him.
The mysterious young man catches one of the falling large stones. With a calm but intense stare, the mysterious young man slams the rock against Ash's head.
"Five nightmare slashes." The mysterious young man slashed his sword four times in different directions.
Ash yells in agony as dark slashes appear on his body, causing tears in his clothes. The mysterious young man raises his foot and swings it towards Ash's neck.
"Bye," the mysterious young man said, thrusting his sword, piercing Ash's chest.
An explosion of dark energy occurs, and Ash falls from the cloud of smoke. James stands up and covers his hands in steel before pulling the handcuffs apart.
"NO!" James chased the falling figure of Ash.
The mysterious young man lands right in front of James.
"Xander! Get out of my way!" James yelled.
"You called me by my first name? Your anger came from a natural cause," Xander said.
"I don't want to hurt you! But you left me no choice!" James rushed towards Xander while throwing punches.
Xander deflects the punches with swings of his sword. James swings his foot straight at Xander's face but James jumps backward from Xander's sword.
"You've caused emotional pain to your ally and your once ally," Xander slid his sword back into its sheath.
"You'll understand my decision after you leave the syndicate!" James yelled.
"Why would I leave?! Unlike you, who left me. This syndicate never abandoned my mother and me!" Xander retorted.
James steps forward and reaches Xander's shoulder, resting his hand gently. "You're not just my comrade... You and I have the same blood running in our veins."
Xander slaps James's hand away from his shoulder. With a sharp gaze, Xander pulls out his sword.
"Forgive me! But you need to come with me, son!" James pulled Xander closer to him.
"No!" Xander snapped his fingers against the hilt of his sword, pushing it upwards, "Take your ridiculous reason with you!"
A dark aura hits James, and he rolls on the ground. He stands up and braces himself, his determination goes on.
"I have to bring you with me! This syndicate is evil!" James narrowed his eyes, "If the syndicate accomplishes their plan, this country and the others will get destroyed!"
Xander stares at him calmly. James looks down and sees dark energy covering the ground; spreading in every corner of the room.
"Nightmare Fuel," Xander said as the blade of his sword was covered by his dark energy.
"No! YOU WILL NOT HARM JAMES!" Ash halted in front of James.
"Captain!" Xander's voice shook.
"You are under my protection! AS LONG AS I LIVE!" Ash formed a fireball in front of his eyes.
Silence and darkness fill the atmosphere after Xander spreads a massive dark aura that makes the entire room dark with the grey-skinned humans tapping their eyes.
Darkness fills the entire domain. Xander pulls out his sword and jumps toward Ash and James who are covering their eyes.
"I can't see!" Ash yelled in frustration.
"That's what I thought. A man who relies on his visual abilities," Xander said as he prepared his sword, "will not survive my power."
He gazes at Ash and James who were once his allies and father. With one swing of his sword, multiple dark slashes fly towards James and Ash.
Ash suddenly feels something pulling him backwards. He falls on the ground, and he hears grunts and screams.
Ash opens his eyes after he feels the pain in his eyes disappear. His eyes widen at the sight of James standing bravely in front of him.
James coughs, and falls on his knees. Blood trickles from the slices that pierce the steel layer of his skin.
"You foolishly sacrificed yourself to be a shield for him? That's not the brutal man that I once looked up to as my father." Xander aimed his sword at James.
James can only pant while standing with eyes staring fiercely at Xander. Then, Xander swings his sword towards James' neck.
"James!" Ash pushed himself to his feet.
James falls on his knees while blood trickles from the cut on his neck. No words came out of his mouth until he fell on the ground.
Ash turns James around, and he stares at James' eyes with concern as his breath shakes.
That man, James is the one that Ash helped to repent. Ash tightens his grip on James' shoulders while tears trickle from his eyes.
Ash yells, "Why did you do that?! You knew that you were not going to withstand that bastard's attack!"
Not shock or sadness but a smile appears on James' face. With a gulp, he speaks, "I wouldn't hesitate to protect you even if it were an attack that could finish my life in seconds."
Ash couldn't believe those words. His teeth grit as he shakes.
"Why?" Ash asked.
"Because that's what being a guardian," James clenched his left hand, and bumped it against Ash's chest, "and being a friend is, captain."
Ash's head lowers, and tears begin to hit James's face as his eyes start to close.
Xander stares at James, seeing the man with his eyes closed, Xander feels nothing but anger.
"All humans aren't capable of striving," Xander said, "that's why he died because of being a human."
"What do you know?!" Ash turned his puffy eyes at Xander.
"Everything," Xander replied calmly.
"What do you mean by everything?!" Ash asked, his hands still holding James' shoulders.
Xander walks away, and he thrusts his sword back into its sheath. "Leave before I kill you."
He halts and turns around while swinging his sword upwards. He slices a massive fireball in half and swings his sword against Ash's spear.
Ash is gritting his teeth while pushing the spear towards Xander's chest but the blade of Xander's sword is stopping his spear.
"Determined to kill me?" Xander calmly asked.
Ash's left eye glows and releases a ray that explodes upon hitting Xander. The explosion pushes Xander away but he levitates in mid-air.
Xander hums, and Ash reaches him in the blink of an eye. Ash swings his spear towards Xander's face, and he stares at Ash's eyes that hold no mercy.
"I see, those eyes are truly mourning." Xander channeled his energy into the blade of his sword.
A fireball that shines brighter is forming in front of Ash's eyes, and it releases a massive amount of brighter flames.
The flames disappear after creating a large hole in the hideout which lets the sunlight stream through the hole.
The smoke disappears, and Xander is standing calmly while staring at Ash.
Xander is holding Ash's neck tightly. Ash's eyes are flinching while he's chasing his breath.
Xander speaks calmly. "I said, being a human is your weakness. No human will be able to stop the dark future."
A trail of embers, felt by the warm heat touching Xander's skin. His eyes widen and from his eyes, he sees a man running past him.
"Now!" the young man yelled.
Elesia arrives and kicks Xander right in his face. The impact of the kick sends Xander crashing against the stone wall.
Ash opens his eyes and sees Nicholas' face. Nicholas lays him on the ground, and he turns his eyes around, seeing James lying on the ground.
"What happened to him?" Nicholas asked Ash while looking at James.
Ash coughs. "H-He protected me against that bastard."
Nicholas nods and turns around but he feels Ash's grip.
"Please, don't kill that bastard that Elesia has kicked," Ash pleaded with Nicholas.
"I'll try but what's the ability of that guy?" Nicholas asked while looking at Xander who was pushing himself from the wall.
Ash replies, "He's able to blind and use dark slashes that when they hit you, you'll feel so much pain."
"Not so fast, boy!" a man said, and he walked out of the shadow.
Nicholas turns his eyes toward him, and his eyes widen. "Gale?!"
The fat man raises the bird cage he's holding.
Inside the cage, Gale is unconscious while chains are wrapped around his neck.