The night lay heavy and still on the outskirts of Azeron Guardian territory. A small camp nestled among jagged, rocky outcrops flickered with the light of a campfire. Blue Clan soldiers sat scattered around, their faces hardened by years of war. Despite the calm, they moved with the cautious efficiency of veterans who knew that quiet moments often preceded chaos.

Aoki, a seasoned instructor with sharp eyes, stood at the camp’s edge, scanning the horizon. His stance was tense, alert. Beside him sat Tezan, one of his closest comrades, poking the embers of the fire, the light catching the lines of weariness etched into his face.

"You feel it, don’t you?" Tezan’s voice was low, a murmur against the crackle of the flames. "The air—it’s too quiet tonight."

Aoki nodded, his gaze hardening. "Yeah, it’s the kind of quiet that means trouble. The Crimson Dynasty grows bolder with every attack, but what concerns me more is the silence from the other clans." He paused, watching the embers flare. "Feels like we’re out here fighting a war no one else wants to acknowledge."

Tezan’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. "The other clans? The Verdance Keepers and those arrogant solar imperials have their own agendas. They hide behind their golden towers, too proud to fight for humans like we do. They think they can stand apart but won’t for long."

Aoki’s brow furrowed. "I’ve heard whispers… something about a crystal," he said cautiously, glancing around as if wary of eavesdroppers even in their camp. "Rumors from the council hall, but nothing solid. If the Crimson Dynasty is after something, it’s big enough to make them tear through everything in their path. But no one’s telling us why."

Tezan scoffed with a hint of bitterness in his eyes. "Typical. We’re kept in the dark while they plot and scheme. And then they wonder why we’re the ones left paying the price when things go wrong. The Yellow Clan—useless as ever."

Aoki sighed, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down on him. "We made a choice. This war won’t last forever; when it’s over, maybe we’ll have a shot at something better. Who knows? Maybe even settle down, start a family."

Tezan chuckled, though his eyes remained weary. "You, sentimental? Now that’s a surprise."

Aoki opened his mouth to respond, but he froze, eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon. The air had changed, a low hum resonating in the distance, almost lost in the wind. Then he saw it—a faint red glow creeping over the distant ridge.

"Tezan," Aoki said, his voice tense, "something’s coming."

Before Tezan could reply, the sky split open with a sharp, piercing noise. Streaks of red light tore through the darkness, growing brighter with each passing second.

"Positions!" Aoki shouted, his voice cutting through the camp. "Get the soldiers ready! The Crimson Dynasty is here!"

The camp exploded into action. Soldiers sprang to their feet, grabbing weapons and forming ranks. Blue Lumina shields flared to life as they positioned themselves, creating a protective barrier around the camp. The Crimson soldiers descended, wreathed in pulsing red energy, and their leader, a towering Red Clan Commander, landed with a grin that was all teeth.

"No prisoners!" he roared, his voice echoing across the rocky terrain. "Crush them all!"

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The first wave of Crimson soldiers hit the ground, firing blasts of red Lumina energy toward the Blue Clan’s formation. Aoki and his soldiers responded in kind, their hands igniting with blue Lumina as they unleashed counter-blasts. The night was lit up by streaks of energy, blue and red clashing mid-air, sending sparks raining down as they collided.

Aoki raised his hand, summoning a shield of blue Lumina just in time to deflect a crimson blast aimed directly at his position. The impact vibrated through his arm, but the barrier held, its surface rippling with energy.

"Hold the line!" Aoki commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Push them back—don’t let them through!"

Tezan moved swiftly, his blade formed of blue Lumina energy. He dodged a crimson strike, his weapon slicing through the air as he countered, parrying and cutting down a Crimson soldier who had gotten too close. "They’re relentless tonight!" he shouted, his voice strained.

"They’re here for a reason," Aoki replied, summoning a staff from his Lumina energy and blocking a blast that threatened to breach their defense. "Stay sharp—we need to hold this position until we know what they’re after."

The battlefield became a blur of motion. The Blue Clan soldiers, trained to work as one, shifted into formation, combining their Lumina shields to form a stronger, interconnected defense. They fired blasts of blue energy in coordinated attacks, forcing the Crimson soldiers back. The ground shook beneath the impact of their blasts, a constant exchange of power that lit up the night.

The Crimson Commander, eyes locked onto Aoki, unleashed a concentrated blast of red Lumina. Aoki summoned his shield just in time, but the force sent him skidding back several feet, his boots digging into the rocky earth. The commander sneered, his confidence unshaken. "You’ll fall, just like the rest of them!"

Before Aoki could respond, the air above them changed. A deep, thrumming hum filled the night, growing louder as the clouds parted. A blinding beam of blue Lumina energy shot down, crashing into the ground with a force that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. The energy blast knocked back the Crimson soldiers, scattering them like leaves caught in a storm. The commander drove his sword into the earth, anchoring himself against the sheer power.

And then, through the smoke, Rei emerged. His steps were slow and deliberate, his eyes cold and merciless as they locked onto the Crimson Commander.

The commander, his bravado gone, began to panic. "P-please… wait…!" he stammered, his voice cracking with fear.

But Rei didn't wait. With a single, effortless movement, he gripped the commander’s face, yanking him off the ground like a ragdoll, squeezing with such force it felt as if the skull might crack open like a walnut. The commander squirmed and kicked, but it was no use. Rei slammed him into the ground, dragging him across the broken terrain like he was nothing.

Aoki and Tezan watched from a distance, speechless. They had heard tales of Rei's power, but seeing it firsthand left them awestruck.

Rei finally stopped, holding the commander down with a boot to his chest. The commander, brittle and broken, coughed as he tried to catch his breath.

"Where are the prisoners?" Rei demanded, his voice as cold as ice. "The villagers you pillaged—where are they being held?"

The commander, his mind frantic with fear, shook his head. "I-I haven't been informed! I don't know!"

With a flick of his hand, Rei summoned a glowing blue blade of Lumina energy, the sharp edge humming with lethal power. He drove the blade into the ground, mere inches from the commander's head, the energy crackling ominously.

"Tell me," Rei said, his voice low and dangerous, "where they are."

The commander's resolve broke entirely. He cried out in desperation, "I swear—I don’t know! I haven’t been told!"

For a moment, Rei stared down at him, his cold eyes assessing whether the man was telling the truth. After a tense silence, Rei stepped back, removing his foot from the commander’s chest.

"Very well," Rei said, his voice flat and emotionless. He turned to the Azeron Guardians behind him. "Take him back to the citadel for questioning. He'll talk eventually."

Two soldiers moved quickly, grabbing the battered commander and hauling him to his feet.

Just then, a third soldier approached Rei, his face serious. "Sir, we've spotted more Crimson Dynasty soldiers approaching from the east. It looks like another wave."

Rei glanced toward the horizon, his eyes narrowing. "Regather the troops and prepare for another assault. I must return to Azeron."

Without another word, Rei turned and walked away, leaving the smoking battlefield behind as the Azeron Guardians prepared for what was to come next.