Chapter 0:
The Mantra of a Phoenix
"That's for him to decide" replied the woman "Not us."
"So be it." the man mumbled, "I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way."
He pivoted masterfully on one foot, into a fighting stance, and placed his son under the shade of a large tree to rest.
"Come at me fools, it'll be the last thing you do."
The lackeys grunted in recognition, and each assumed a fighting stance.
Before they could even blink, a knight made of ice, duel-wielding longsword, materialised in front of them. "Protect us ice knight." he snapped. The creation rose one of its arms above its head. Suddenly it lunged forward.
SHING.
"OUCH." yelped the woman, reeling back in pain, a deep gouge in her shoulder.
"We need backup." yelled the other lackey.
"Kill them." said the man.
Shing shing.
The male footsoldier's head rolled across the forest floor. His body thumped down in place, blood spurting rhythmically from his neck.
Shwing shwing. Thud.
"Ungh" grunted the woman.
"Nice reflexes," the noted, "I see why they hired you."
The woman huffed, holding her shoulder, as the shield she magicked onto her arms to protect her, dissipated.
"Ice Knight, you're excused." stated the man calmly, and his knight processed to disappear. "I'll do this the old fashioned way."
He sprang towards her, unleashing a flurry of blows. One after anther after another. Ruthlessly pummelling her.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Each hit was blocked by her conjured metal shields.
Thud. Thud. Thud... POW.
He switch up his rhythm. Heart racing. He threw her off. That was all he needed. He grabbed her head, and vines came streaming out of his palm, tying her up before she could even react. He held out a hand in front of himself and closed his eyes. Once they were open, a sharp metal dagger appeared. It had neither a hilt nor an ornate design, but it was all he needed.
He thrust the dagger into her chest, and she unleashed an unholy scream louder than a jet plane taking off, before keeling over and dying.
"Shame, she wasn't that weak, too. Well then, let's get going again" whispered the man to himself.
As he was about to pick up his son, who was miraculously still sleeping another voice meekly piped up. "S-stop right there sir."
The man sighed "Give me a break. Officer Meekerton, are you really going to do this to me?"
"I'm sorry sir..." Meekerton muttered, conveying the uncomfortability he failed to hide in his voice.
"I swear. We unite most of the world to stop any current and future wars. We rid tyrannical regimes across multiple countries, only to have our leader, my so called 'best friend', be corrupted and start a tyrannical rule over the whole world." rambled the man.
Meekerton only sighed, and muttered "Sorry" to himself on loop, like a broken record.
"I don't blame you. Meekerton, but I won't kill you." announced the man. "You were my friend, and you're following orders from your would be friend who has no doubt threatened you."
Again the officer said nothing and just sighed, deflating.
The man suddenly coated himself in metal and lunged for the officer.
Clatter.
The officer had reappeared behind the man.
Crunch. Crunch. Thonk. The man rained down a flurry of metal coated punches onto Meekerton, who could only block the first few punches.
Crunch. His left arm had snapped. The Radius and ulna protruded out of his wrist.
The man charged head first into Meekerton, who was sent hurtling through the trees. "KYAHHH" cried the officer.
The man, undeterred, chased after Meekerton, smashing his fist into the officer's face once he hit a tree.
"Oof" winced the officer.
The man didn't stop. Thump. Crunch. Thump. The officer was sent tumbling into the underbrush, out cold.
"Are there any more of you?" the man bellowed into the thicket.
Out from the trees emerged a dozen officers. Surrounding the man.
"Wren!" shouted the man "Run!"
"Da-dy?" replied his son, groggily.
"Run." Repeated his dad.
Wren didn't need another word to know this was serious. As he ran, he saw what seemed to be a massive tree emerge from the ground and swallow his dad, followed by the unconscious corpses of the government workers flying over head. He ran until his feet couldn't no more, and he collapsed from exhaustion in a mossy hollow...
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