Father’s Love [Part 2]

Sun Divine Path;

Solar magic that harnesses the power of the sun, grants night vision to wielder, and utilizes sunlight to fuel powerful attacks or abilities—heat manipulation which can create fire by generating intense heat into one space—solar construct that can create objects or creatures out of sunlight—pulse manipulation, control their own or someone else heartbeat.

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‘If I die because my guard is down, I deserve that fate for being weak.’ Ishaan's usual mindset when his father appraises him appears heightened and acute.

“Dogs of the hunter,” Ishaan greets in a mocking warm voice. 

Rocky, light, and bright auras wave through his senses as dark moss crunch beneath Kaelan, Cyralith, and Aalia footsteps.

The woods stretch out widely, with tall arched trees lining the sides and moonlight filtering between leaves. 

The usual coolness of night air here was different compared to the north—hot, moist, and filled with the scent of earthy damp soil. Kaltain missed wintry air and biting cold that did no harm.

Ishaan potent cool aura alleviating pulses, and as it surges over the enemies, they slow to a standstill.

‘We’re not the only ones wishing for death today,’ Kaelan thought, amused. He stands straight, his brown eyes sharp and nerves on edge, feeling the murderous intent tangled within the sun heir aura.

“Greetings, young sun,” Kaelan says gruffly. All three of them give Ishaan a shallow bow. “I heard of you and I am not a fan.”

‘Usually, the assassins would simply attack with no words exchange.’ Ishaan faces them with a smiling expression. “I wish I could say the same,” he opined. “I haven’t heard of you and I am my biggest fan.”

Kaelan jaw clenches. “I’m positive you know why we're here. Surrender yourself. You can not defeat us.”

“Oh?” Ishaan chuckles and speaks in a beautiful, utter merciless voice, “Can not win? Oh, I dare not lose.”

Standing on opposite sides of the clearing, the strongest one pounces Ishaan first.

The earth beneath him seems to dissolve, transforming into a dark galaxy sea and engulfing his mind with countless blurry words, intensifying a heavy weight against his temple.

‘An illusion!’ Ishaan remains calm, tracking their every move attentively.

Kaelan charges with large strides, whips of darkness writhe around him, expanding swiftly and ensnaring Ishaan ankles, attempting to chain him viciously to the ground, while the air turns cold, as if transcending into ice.

In the next second, as Aalia and Cyralith round the side, Ishaan dispels the illusion.

Above him, lightning arrows crackles, aiming straight for his head. 

Blasts of sunlight burst from Ishaan, burning the crawling whips of darkness and icy air. At the same time, a bright sword crafted in glistening metal materializes in his left hand.

Almost simultaneously, Ishaan speedily slices through the arrows, sensing them cascading around him like rain. Then he dodges to the left as thorns of shadows uprose from where he stood.

To Ishaan right, Cyralith creeps closer, holding a fancy black long gun in pale meaty hands, and releases a barrel of starlight bullets.

Her sacred light aura, which appears to be concealed to most, alarmed Ishaan.

Ishaan quickly forged a barrier in anticipation, the bullets shaking the vibrant yellow–white surface, yet it nonetheless remains stable. He continues to advance menacingly towards Kaelan as he skillfully blocks the man’s attacks.

Cyralith pursues him, undeterred as she repeatedly unloads. She exchanges a glance with the other saint, seeing the childlike girl clutching two ice blades and rushing after Ishaan. Behind the ginger, a massive ice tiger, bear, snake, and lion emerge into reality.

The creatures holler in time of Aalia ambush, her stance one of perfection as she thrust both swords through the sunlight barrier. A stifling crash sound echoes as it shatters in half.

Before Aalia can smile in victory as her left ice blade plunged at him, she notices the lack of impact. It pierced only his robe, causing it to billow with the gust of wind. 

Ishaan's finely sculpted features were exposed, his stone cold expression possessing a calculated gravity as another barrier reforges.

Aalia and Cyralith gasps in astonishment. ‘He’s even more illuminating in person.’

‘Winter, star, and moon.’ Ishaan's mind coolly noted their divine paths, running through the weakness of each power. ‘None of them appear to carry a celestial weapon. If they did, they would have pulled it out first. It’s a pride thing.’

The fact that Ishaan enemies lacked the worth he expected from assassins only determined they’re fate.

‘Helios, eliminate the ice creatures.’

‘I thought you would never ask, master,’ replied the sun messenger, shooting out of Ishaan's chest, landing frisky six meters away and wielding a spear of melting sunlight. The tip glamorously flows like molten lava as it clashes against claws.

Aalia grits her teeth in fierce frustration. ‘He's solely focused on Kaelan and we can’t find a falter blow! How fucking ridiculous, he is one man!’

Spinning on his heel rapidly, as if sensing her aggravation, Ishaan lunges forward, taking advantage of Aalia distraction and slashes, his sword erupting in brilliant white flames.

Before the attack reaches her, a manifested ice soldier takes the powerful blow, shattering instantly.

At the back of Ishaan, Kaelan unleashed shadows, darkening the area more, a cunning gleam in his eyes.

Ishaan senses the danger, but does not turn around to defend himself, feeling Helios come in his defense. 

Darkness and light collide.

Bang!

A blinding light shines the whole area like an explosion before it fades.

Despite her vision being impaired, Aalia prevails vigilance, a swirling vortex of wind and lightning sputters around her fingers, channeling it into a devastating attack that obliterates Ishaan's weakening barrier.

As Cyralith reloads her gun with stella energy, Aalia's mouth curves into a feral grin, thrilled at the prospect of trading blows with Ishaan.

However, as she takes a step forward, discomfort rattles her bones and organs. 

Glancing down, she finds herself with a hole in her chest, blood loosely oozing out in a grubby stream. The searing pain is otherworldly, as if the very sun had graced her insides.

‘W–when did he…?’

Slowly, Aalia's dark green eyes lower to Ishaan's other hand. A casual finger is raised with a dot of ultraviolet radiation. 

Then, everything went pitch black and silent.

She was dead.

Ishaan hears her lifeless body thud and reels around, ignoring the motionless Cyralith, clearly viewing her as an easy kill.

‘Go check up on Kaltain,’ Ishaan orders Helios. ‘And go in slime form. I don’t want her to see you now.’

‘Okay.’ Helios melts into a liquid essence, his squishy form crawls up a moss-covered tree trunk.

A paralyzed sensation roots in Cyralith. She believed Aalia's speed and reflexes were above both her and Kaelan.

However, upon seeing her die so quickly and smoothingly, Cyralith realized this man might best them all.

Her heart races with adrenaline and fear. ‘Are we really going to lose to someone who’s not even an Ophanim? Bullshit!’ 

Shaking off her negativity, she forces herself to move, tears streaming down her face.

Kaelan's expression turned grim, his gaze narrowing with a deadly coldness.

He casts darkness around the whole woods, but it’s soon devoured by shining sunlight.

Kaelan uses lunar energy to increase his intuition, sharpening his senses like a blade, where a spark of success burns; a pathway in his sight.

Dropping logic and embracing nature, Kaelan reacts instinctively, evading a glistening sword and blocking the bursting sunlight fire slash.

With Ishaan in his space, Kaelan retaliates, projecting hundreds whips of darkness, managing to glaze Ishaan flesh.

Unfazed, Ishaan skin heals in the next minute, leaving behind glows of deep scars.

Cyralith solidly grips her gun and takes aim, a trail of milky dark purple energy gracing reality with each shot. Some bullets knock into whips of darkness and just as Ishaan’s barrier starts to forge, time stops.

Cyralith was strong enough to bring one person in this frozen state with her for ten seconds.

Kaelan darkness attack pounce the half forged barrier and Ishaan legs. Straight after Cyralith bullets permeate Ishaan lower and upper back. 

Blood splashes, halting mid-air, as if facade paint stroking life.

Ishaan grunts, feeling warm wetness soak through his casual clothes.

‘We got him!’ Excitement and content rushes over the pope and saint.

A second passes and their overjoyed emotion plummets into a dark tunnel.

Ishaan's body had dissolved into an inky yellow-white liquid.

Cyralith was the first to see Ishaan as he reappears behind Kaelan, spotting that their attack left tatters in his attire and he was no longer bleeding.

“Leader!” She screams a warning, her eyes round in terror and disbelief.

Kaelan senses him a second too late. He spins around, distancing himself as much as he can, trying to shake off the nagging sensation of peril.

Ishaan's patience was nonexistent since they showed up, his demeanor pitiless.

It never really matters to Ishaan who or what type of person his assassins are, as he would always have to defend himself. 

To fully defend himself meant all enemies must perish.

Death wasn’t a question for these three. The second they dared showed themselves, fate was already mourning their names.

Ishaan's feet move briskly, devouring the distance between him and Kaelan in an instant. 

The air charges in an electric vibe, as if devising for retaliation of the future.

His dominant arm swings just as a sword manifests in his prepared grip, a streak of radiant sunlight lit the night and smeared the ground.

Boom!

Kaelan's body was cut down the middle with little effort, his shocked filled eyes rolled back into his skull.

Thud!