Kamari found himself floating in a vast, endless void. There was no ground beneath his feet, no sky above—just an overwhelming emptiness pressing in on him from all sides. In the near distance, a flickering light began to form. It started as a tiny spark but quickly grew into a magnificent flame, its colors shifting through red, orange, blue, purple, and finally to a deep, pulsing green.
The Phoenix Core.
Its warmth called to him, but as he reached out, it drifted further from his grasp. Then the void twisted, and suddenly, his mind was flooded with images from the night his clan was slaughtered.
The Red Massacre.
Flames devoured homes, bodies lay broken in the streets, and the screams—the screams—rang in his ears.
The Phoenix Core pulled even further away from him, its radiant glow dimming as it drifted into the distance. He tried to chase it, but his body felt heavy, burdened by the guilt that clung to him like a shroud. No matter how hard he reached, the Core eluded him. Its light then vanished completely, leaving him alone in the suffocating darkness.
It was at that moment that a figure began to materialize—Zaire. His twisted, clawed hand reached out, hovering inches from Kamari’s chest.
Suddenly, Kamari jolted upright, gasping for breath. Sweat clung to his skin, his body trembling from the vividness of the nightmare. It felt too real—too close, as if Zaire had truly been there, inches away from tearing into his chest.
His eyes darted around the room, but it was still. Quiet. The soft glow of moonlight spilled through the window, casting long shadows across the floor.
His gaze stopped on a familiar figure sitting quietly at his side—Byron. Before Kamari could speak, Byron leaned in, wrapping his powerful arms around him in a firm, protective embrace. Kamari stiffened at first, caught off guard by the gesture, but then he let himself sink into Byron’s hold. The tension in his body began to ease, the fear ebbing away. In that moment, sheltered in Byron’s arms, he felt untouchable—as if no harm could reach him.
Just as Kamari’s heartbeat began to slow, the memory of the battle returned to him. He pulled back slightly.
"Leon! Is he okay?"
"His condition is stable. He's safe now. You both are."
Kamari exhaled and leaned back into the pillows.
Byron moved in closer, his gaze soft.
"Eli told me what happened in the forest. About Zaire."
Kamari swallowed hard, his hands gripping the blanket.
"I froze. And it almost cost us our lives."
"That's understandable. I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for you, given everything he’s done—everything he's taken from us."
Kamari stayed silent, but his jaw tightened.
Byron hesitated, then spoke again.
"Eli also said you transformed. Did you unlock the Phoenix Core’s power?"
"I did. But now... I can’t feel it. It’s like it’s buried deep inside me, out of reach. I’m worried it’s gone."
"If it’s withdrawn, it might be protecting itself. Or it might be waiting. Either way, you need to be careful. Rest, let your body and mind recover. Lay low for a while."
"No."
Kamari's voice hardened.
"I’m done hiding. I won’t run from Zaire anymore. He’s taken too much from me—my parents, my clan. I won’t stop until I make him pay."
"That fire inside you never ceases to amaze me. But listen to me, kid. Don’t let your thirst for vengeance consume you. That kind of anger—if it takes over, it’ll destroy you."
Kamari’s jaw tightened.
"I won’t let that happen."
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In a hidden, dimly lit chamber, Zaire stumbled out of the shadows. The room was filled with the soft hum of machines and the faint flicker of buttons casting sporadic flashes of light across the space. Crystal lamps illuminated the various devices and contraptions scattered around—a blend of magic and technology working in eerie harmony.
Zaire’s body was still far from fully regenerated. His leg dragged behind him, and his mangled right arm hung limply at his side. Every step he took sent waves of pain through him. The shadows that once healed him were now slow and reluctant to mend his injuries—but none of it mattered to him at that moment. There was only one thing on his mind as he made his way deeper into the lair.
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In the center of the room sat a massive glass vat filled with a strange, shimmering liquid. Inside the vat, his father—Zion—was suspended in the fluid, his eyes closed and his body still. Although he appeared lifeless, his chest rose and fell faintly. Tubes and wires snaked around the vat, connecting to various machines that maintained his fragile state.
Zaire's steps faltered as he approached the vat. He reached out, placing a trembling hand against the cold glass, his fingers brushing the surface gently. His sharp, fearsome eyes softened as he gazed at his father's still face.
Zaire closed his eyes, his forehead resting against the glass, and spoke in a barely audible voice.
"Father, I failed again."
His words caught in his throat.
"I was so close to obtaining the Phoenix Core, I could feel it. The Young Phoenix was stronger than I expected."
He clenched his fist, pressing it harder against the glass. The room was silent for a moment, except for the soft hum of the machines.
"But I won’t stop until I've obtained it. No matter what it takes— I will restore you, and we will finish what we started—together."
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The next day, Kamari returned to the training room at the Seraphim Military Compound. His body had fully recovered, but the memories of the battle still weighed heavily on his mind. The room was filled with the familiar sound of warriors training, but Kamari's focus was on Leon and Eli, who were standing at the far end of the room.
As he approached, Leon's face lit up, although he raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"You're up and moving already? Are you sure you shouldn't be resting a bit longer?"
"I’m fine, Leon. Besides, if you’re feeling good enough to be here, then so am I."
Eli was leaning against the wall as he gave Kamari a quick once-over.
"It's good to see that your stubbornness is still intact."
He gave Kamari a nod of approval before continuing.
"Glad you're not dead. That would have been... inconvenient."
Kamari rolled his eyes as they exchanged handshakes. Then, he glanced between Leon and Eli.
"Now that we're all here, we still have one thing to settle."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"And what’s that?"
Kamari crossed his arms, his grin widening.
"Oh, you know, me becoming the leader of the squad."
Leon laughed.
"Are you sure you don't have a concussion?"
"Haha, but seriously, we can’t go on missions without knowing who’s calling the shots."
The two of them locked eyes. Leon crossed his arms, mirroring Kamari's stance.
"So, what do you suggest?"
Before Kamari could respond, Eli stepped forward.
"Why don’t we settle this in the Onyx Chamber?"
"The Onyx Chamber?" Kamari asked.
"Whoever defeats the most Infernals during the training simulation wins and gets to be the leader. Simple as that."
Eli shrugged as if the idea were the most obvious solution in the world.
Leon and Kamari gazed at him, both astonished by how direct—and brilliant—his proposal was. Leon was the first to acknowledge it, with Kamari following shortly after.
"That’s— actually not a bad idea."
"Yeah, why didn't I think of that?"
Eli smirked.
"Because you weren’t built for complex thinking. That’s why you’ve got me."
Leon laughed, but Eli shot him a sidelong glance—his eyes narrowing.
"What’s so funny? You’re in the same boat. You two are all brawn, no brain."
Leon's smile turned into a frown as he refocused his attention on Kamari.
"Fine. We’ll settle this in the Onyx Chamber."
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After a short trip, the trio stood before the massive double-stone gate of the Onyx Chamber, the interlocking solid pistons sealing it shut like the jaws of a fortress. Leon gave a quick signal to one of the workers sitting behind a reinforced glass window in the control room above, and within seconds, the gate roared to life. The pistons retracted with a thunderous rumble as the stone doors slid open, granting them access to the chamber.
Inside, the space was vast and empty, its smooth white tiles reflecting the overhead lights. A large display screen dominated the rear wall, and the air felt still, as if the room was waiting for something to happen. Kamari and Leon stepped inside. They began a few light stretches as their names appeared on the display screen, each next to a zero.
To Eli’s horror, his name appeared alongside theirs, the same zero flashing beside it.
“Hey, wait a second! I never agreed to this! I have zero interest in being the leader!”
Leon grinned, still stretching.
“Sorry, Eli, but you're still a part of the squad, so you have to participate.”
Eli sighed dramatically, his eyes rolling as he muttered under his breath.
“Just say you hate me.”
Just then, the voice of a worker crackled through the chamber’s hidden intercom.
"The Battle Simulation will now commence. Difficulty Level has been set to Fury Class. Prepare yourselves."
A countdown flashed on the screen, starting from ten. As the numbers ticked down, the entire chamber began to transform. Multicolored energy leaked up through the cracks between the tiles, spreading across the floor. From the glowing energy sprouted grass, rocks, hills, and a vast forest. The once-sterile environment was now brimming with life.
When the countdown reached five, the energy shifted to a deep black—from it spawned hordes of Infernals—Goblins, Orcs, Wyverns, and even the deadly Vexs. The final horn blared as the countdown hit zero.
Leon and Kamari wasted no time. They leaped into action, disappearing into the thick forest. Eli, however, lingered, lazily making his way toward the trees with a sigh.
"This is such a drag."
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Minutes passed, and the kill count on the display screen climbed steadily. Nine minutes and fifty seconds into the simulation, the scores showed Leon and Kamari evenly matched at 119 kills each. Unsurprisingly, Eli’s score remained firmly at zero.
With only ten seconds remaining, Kamari spotted his last target—a lone, unsuspecting goblin. He charged forward, flames igniting around his fists as he closed the gap. In one swift motion, he incinerated the goblin to ash, turning his score to 120 just as the final second approached. At that exact moment, a loud boom shook the entire chamber, echoing through the forest.
Kamari glanced up at the scoreboard and was stunned by what he saw. Leon’s score had jumped to 121, overtaking him at the last possible second. But what truly shocked him was Eli’s score—200.
Kamari's eyes widened as he replayed the loud boom in his mind, suddenly connecting it to Eli. He sighed in defeat.
As the simulation ended, the trio regrouped by the gate.
Despite Eli’s overwhelming victory, he waved it off with a dismissive hand.
"Nope. Not happening. I’ve got way better things to do than boss you two around."
"Fair enough. Looks like I’m up then," Leon said.
"So, what are you going to name the squad?" Kamari asked.
Before Leon could answer, the stone gates roared open once more, and Malik strode toward them.
"New mission. Terror-Class Incursion. We need all hands on deck."