Halfway through his trek in the deadly forest, after cutting down countless beasts along the way, Flester stumbled upon three figures blocking his path.
"Young one," said a man with short, sharp brown hair streaked faintly with black, his tone both calm and provoking, "why don't we have a little spar?"
Behind him stood two women—his wives, judging by how close they lingered. One had long, golden hair that shimmered even under the forest's dim light, her deep blue eyes sharp and cold. The other, with flowing black hair and warm brown eyes, carried a quieter allure. Both possessed figures that seemed crafted to distract; their tightly fitted garments left little to the imagination, their beauty almost unnaturally captivating—as if meant to test one's composure before any blade was drawn.
Flester frowned slightly. "Why me?" he asked evenly. "You don't even know who I am."
The man in front, with short, jagged brown hair streaked with black, grinned as though he'd been waiting. "Young one, that was not a question."
Flester stopped, his gaze sharpening.
"People sparring is common, you see," the man continued, taking a step forward, the ground crunching beneath his boots. "Or do you mean to say… you're afraid?"
Flester exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. "Arrogant," he muttered quietly.
Every instinct screamed that this man was trouble. And when his instincts spoke, he listened.
"Yes," Flester said, voice light with mockery. "I'm terrified. Now, if you'll excuse me—"
He turned to leave.
A flicker.
The next heartbeat shattered into motion.
Wind tore past his cheek—a sword, flashing in from nowhere, aiming for his neck. The man had moved faster than Flester's eyes could track.
Flester ducked, the blade slicing through a strand of his hair. His boots dug into the soil as he twisted, rolling forward before springing to his feet.
The man was already on him again, sprinting through the air like a blur of steel and shadow.
"Tch."
Flester's hand ignited. Flame crawled up his fingers, racing along his arm until his entire forearm burned with swirling light. Heat shimmered through the forest.
He thrust his palm forward.
"Burst."
The flames compressed into a single orb and exploded outward, colliding against the man's sword. Metal cracked, then shattered like glass. The explosion's recoil sent the man skidding backward, his body twisting midair before he was caught by his two wives.
"Darling!" one of them screamed, her voice trembling. "How could you!" the other cried, rage flashing in her brown eyes.
Flester straightened, the fire fading from his arm into harmless embers. "Not my fault," he said coolly.
He raised his hand again, magic swirling around his palm—runes glowing faintly beneath his skin.
"Release."
The world fractured.
The wives. The man. The forest. All of it blurred, like ink bleeding from parchment, until it melted away into nothing.
Flester's surroundings reformed—a clearing bathed in gray light. The scent of real air returned. Two figures stood ahead, watching him.
"So," Flester said, expression calm but voice edged, "you were the one behind the illusion."
Kai chuckled, slow and deliberate. He clapped twice, the sound echoing eerily in the empty clearing. "Breaking free in under five minutes… that's beyond impressive."
Raizen stood beside him, his aura heavy with hostility, eyes glowing faintly red.
Flester's gaze locked onto them both. "That was a strong illusion," he admitted, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I only realized it after I clashed with your fake swordsman."
The air between them rippled—silence before another storm.
Kai's smile was effortless, like a blade sheathed behind silk. "That was my strongest illusion too. You're exceptional, Flester," he said, voice smooth with dangerous praise.
Flester's hand tightened around the pendant at his throat. "How do you know my name?" he asked, eyes narrowing until the world around him sharpened.
Kai leaned forward a fraction, as if savoring the moment. "We've done extensive research on you, Flester." The words landed calm but heavy, and for the first time a ripple of unease ran across Flester's features.
A chill ran down Flester's spine. He could feel the heat of his own heartbeat under the skin of his palm where the necklace rested. Why would they research me? he thought, every muscle coiling into readiness.
Across from him Raizen Vale moved with a predator's ease, a crooked smile pulling at one corner of his mouth. "Why, you ask?" Raizen drawled, stepping into a low fighting stance that made his silhouette look all sharp angles and intent. "Because we're here for the Flame Elemental marble that you carry."
The name of the marble struck Flester like a physical blow. His hand went to the pendant instinctively, fingers closing over the familiar cool metal as if to prove it was still there. For a second his chest tightened; the necklace was more than ornament—it was the axis of everything he'd fought to protect.
"Don't fret," Raizen said with a sly curl of his lips. "That necklace can only be taken when its host dies."
A laugh—soft, incredulous—escaped Kai. "Before we begin, it would be rude not to introduce ourselves properly. I am Kai, and this is my partner, Raizen Vale. We represent the Dark Nemesis."
Flester's jaw clenched. "Never heard of it," he replied, the words flat but outwardly calm. Inside, a thousand calculations flickered: If they're weak, end it quickly and extract information. Ifthey're stronger—retreat, preserve the marble. The plan formed and re-formed in the span of a breath.
Kai's grin widened, like a threat made person. "As expected. But before we fight, a formal greeting is in order—for our most likely first victim."
Every small sound—a shifting stone, the whisper of wind through the ruins—seemed to amplify. Flester rose onto the balls of his feet, weight centered, senses flaring. The world narrowed to two figures before him and the single, cold light of the pendant at his chest. The moment before battle was a held breath. Then the air split with the first motion—and everything moved.
"The Dark Nemesis is an organization soon to be feared across the world," Kai declared, his voice echoing as both his hands rose toward the sky. "We exist to hunt down those who possess the elemental marbles… and claim them—for ourselves, and for our leader."
Flester's eyes narrowed, scanning every direction—the tree lines, the shadows, the possible escape routes. "And who exactly might this leader of yours be?"
Kai's grin deepened, his tone thick with arrogance. "That is not for you to know. Once we gather all the marbles, the world will witness something far beyond your imagination."
The smirk on his face sent a chill through Flester's chest. That aura—dense, suffocating—made his instincts scream for an exit. I need to find a way out of this, fast.
"Any more questions?" Raizen asked sharply, his stance shifting, fingers twitching near his weapon. He was ready for a fight he didn't want to start.
"How did you find out about me?" Flester demanded, his voice steady, though his thoughts raced beneath the surface.
Kai tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk curling at the edge of his lips. "That," he said coolly, leaping onto a high branch with effortless grace, "is something you'll learn when the time comes."
His black cloak rippled like smoke as he turned away, melting into the forest shadows until not even his aura remained.
Flester exhaled slowly, tension easing from his shoulders. "Looks like he won't fight… not yet."
Before he could gather his thoughts, a familiar surge of mana split the air. Raizen burst through the treeline, lightning coiling around his sword like a living serpent. "This will be over in no time!" he shouted, confidence blazing in his eyes.
Flester inhaled deeply, his breath glowing faintly red. A torrent of flames erupted from his mouth, roaring toward Raizen like a living inferno.
Raizen didn't flinch. With lightning and mana entwined around his blade, he slashed forward — the strike tore through the fire like a divine judgment, scattering embers into the air. But when the flames cleared, Flester was gone.
Raizen's instincts screamed. He spun just in time to intercept a glowing punch aimed at his ribs. Steel clashed against enchanted force, sparks flying in every direction. Lightning surged through Raizen's feet as he blinked behind Flester in an instant, his sword slicing toward the back of his neck.
But before the blade could land, flames burst from the ground beneath Raizen's feet. The explosion hurled him backward, smoke curling through the battlefield.
Flester leapt back, gathering mana in his palm until it blazed pure white. "Let's see you block this!" he shouted, unleashing a concentrated beam of light.
The beam struck Raizen head-on, consuming him in radiant fire. When the glow faded… he stood unharmed, lightning flickering lazily across his armor.
"I… didn't even scratch you?" Flester muttered in disbelief.
Raizen grinned, eyes gleaming with pride. "Guess you weren't listening earlier. I am Raizen Vale — the last heir of the most legendary lightning clan in existence."
Flester's eyes widened. "Vale clan… the ones said to be blessed by the fallen angels?"
Raizen's grin deepened — a silent confirmation.
Thunder cracked overhead as lightning flared around him, forming a jagged halo of power. "Prepare yourself," he roared, sword raised high, "for your death, Flester!"