Five Days Before the Explosions...

In an isolated forest, concealed by towering trees and thick brush, tension filled the air. A grand, wooden hall sat in the heart of this natural fortress. Inside the hall, Ichirou’s grandfather walked down the long corridor with heavy steps. His face, though aged, still held a stern strength that commanded respect.

Suddenly, a figure appeared behind him—the man with wild yellow hair and glowing eyes, known to some as the Bird Man. He strolled up casually, smirking.

“Oh, hi old man, long time no see,” the Bird Man greeted with a cheeky grin.

Ichirou’s grandfather chuckled warmly and motioned for him to follow. "Come with me. There's something important I need to discuss."

They walked together for a moment before the grandfather broke the silence. “A battle will break out in five days in the kingdom of Aquoria. I’ve called you here to handle it.”

The Bird Man raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Aquoria? I'm shocked you're interested in such a small kingdom. You usually focus on the big ones,” he laughed.

The grandfather’s expression darkened, his voice steady. “Ichirou is going to be there. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

“Hmm, Ichirou? The low-class element user?” the Bird Man teased.

Grandfather shook his head, chuckling. “Don’t underestimate him. Even if his element isn’t the most powerful, his swordsmanship is exceptional. Don’t ever call him low-class.”

The Bird Man shrugged, smiling again. “Alright, alright. I was just kidding. He’s a good kid. I’ll look after him.”

Grandfather then turned to him, his voice suddenly serious. "Can I trust you with this?"

The Bird Man nodded, his wild grin returning. “You don’t need to ask. If the request comes from you, old man, there’s no way I’d turn it down. Leave it to me.”

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Two Days Later in Aquoria…

Bird Man had already arrived in the kingdom, sitting atop the high stone walls of Aquoria, his piercing yellow eyes scanning the crowd. He was looking for Ichirou—a with black hair, blue eyes, and most importantly, carrying a sword from the Alcad family, a family known for engraving their name on every blade they crafted.

But waiting made him hungry. He spent some time roaming the streets, sampling food from various vendors, though none of it impressed him. "I could’ve cooked this better myself," he muttered between bites. Still, he stuck around, keeping an eye on the entrance.

Hours passed, and when he finally spotted Ichirou, Bird Man smirked. He followed him quietly, watching as Ichirou visited the guild and rented a room at the tavern. Bird Man saw him head to the Onsen, but after a long day, he chose to rest in the same tavern.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The next day, the morning came—and we know what happened at the Onsen.

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Present Day: The Attack on Aquoria...

A deafening explosion ripped through the air, shaking the ground. Smoke billowed from one of the towers, and panicked screams echoed through the streets. Among the chaos, Ichirou looked up, his eyes locking onto a figure in the sky. It was Bird Man.

"My name is Bird Phoenix!" he announced, his voice booming across the kingdom. “The immortal, fast-healing user of the Phoenix element!”

People stared in shock as fiery wings unfurled from his back, casting an ominous glow over the battlefield. Most had never believed in the legendary phoenix, but when Bird Phoenix raised his hands and shouted, "**Phoenix: Wings of Enlightenment!**" his wings grew larger, their flames intensifying.

"That’s him," someone in the crowd whispered. "A descendant of the phoenix race... He really can use the phoenix element!"

The crowd buzzed with disbelief and awe, their eyes wide as Bird Phoenix hovered in the sky.

Ichirou, watching from the ground, couldn't believe his eyes. "Bird Phoenix... That mythical creature actually exists in this world? This is amazing!" His excitement bubbled over as he reminisced. "I remember when my uncle and I used to play Phoenix: Final Destination. I got so into it, I even bought all the editions. Well, with my uncle’s money," he chuckled.

Suddenly, Bird Phoenix’s voice boomed again. “This is not a drill. We are under attack by the Shadow Clan!”

The streets fell silent as twelve figures in dark tunics, their faces hidden beneath deep hoods, appeared from the shadows. The Void Element users—known as the Shadow Clan—stood in formation, their eerie presence sending chills through the crowd.

Bird Phoenix narrowed his eyes. "So, it’s them," he muttered, before launching himself toward the nearest enemy.

With a fierce cry, he spread his wings wide, the flames roaring to life. He shot toward one of the Void users in a flash of fire, too fast for the enemy to react. "**Phoenix: Talon Strike!**" Bird Phoenix’s hand ignited as he slashed at his opponent, knocking him out cold with a single fiery swipe.

Three of the Void users immediately turned and used Abyssal Step, sinking into the shadows and vanishing. Bird Phoenix cursed under his breath. "They're running!"

He wasn’t going to let them get away. He flapped his blazing wings, accelerating toward another Void user. This one, too, attempted to use Void: Abyssal Step, disappearing into the shadows. But Bird Phoenix was faster. He spread his arms wide and unleashed a torrent of flames. "**Phoenix: Scorched Earth!**" A wall of fire erupted around him, forcing the Void users to reappear. Caught in the blaze, three of them stumbled backward, disoriented. Bird Phoenix smirked, his eyes gleaming.

Before the enemies could flee again, he rushed forward, wings propelling him at blinding speed. Another Void user raised their hand to strike, but Bird Phoenix twisted in mid-air and slammed into them with a burning shoulder, sending the enemy flying into a nearby wall.

The remaining nine Void users began to scatter, realizing they couldn’t win. One by one, they melted into the shadows, retreating. But Bird Phoenix wasn’t done yet. He flared his wings again, diving toward the last three who hadn’t managed to escape.

With a final fiery burst, he knocked them unconscious with quick, decisive strikes. The crowd, who had been watching in stunned silence, let out a collective breath of relief.

As the smoke cleared, Bird Phoenix stood tall amidst the fallen Void users. “These three will be sent to prison,” he declared, pointing to the unconscious bodies. The citizens murmured in awe, watching the legendary figure in action.

Ichirou stood frozen in awe, his heart racing as he took in everything that had just unfolded before him. His eyes sparkled with amazement, unable to tear away from the battlefield where moments ago, the legendary Bird Phoenix had fought with overwhelming power. The mythical bird, a figure from stories and old tales, had fought right in front of him. No way—he actually witnessed it with his own eyes! The clash of flames, the incredible speed, the fiery wings—it was all real, and Ichirou had been there to see every second of it.

His mind was buzzing, filled with the image of Bird Phoenix cutting through the enemies like a storm. His fascination only deepened, and a rush of excitement swelled in his chest. This was no fantasy game or story from the past; this was real, and Ichirou couldn’t believe his luck.

As the dust settled, Bird Phoenix glanced around the kingdom, spotting the approaching guards. His eyes narrowed slightly, knowing they would soon bombard him with endless questions and try to detain him. With a sharp flap of his massive wings, he rose into the sky, leaving behind a trail of embers and a kingdom still reeling from the attack. In a matter of seconds, he was high above, swiftly disappearing into the horizon before anyone could stop him.

Ichirou watched as the bird-man vanished into the clouds, still speechless. His heart pounded with inspiration. The thought of becoming someone like Bird Phoenix, someone so powerful, so legendary, sent a thrill through his whole body. A smile slowly crept onto his face as he clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination.

“One day…” Ichirou whispered softly to himself, his voice barely audible over the lingering wind. “One day, I want to be just like you!”

With that, Ichirou stood tall, his resolve solidifying as he stared at the sky where Bird Phoenix had disappeared, his journey just beginning.