Chapter 1
Botched Beginnings
It was the middle of the night.
Kubai city was nearly silent, except for the grumbling of the unfortunate few who had to work night shifts.
In a lumber mill’s warehouse just outside the castle walls, there stood two men facing each other with a space of 15 meters between them.
Surrounded by a maze of dry lumber and sawdust, neither of the men showed any interest beyond a passing glance at it. They were here for business.
Faint moonlight shone through the slitted windows high above them. It illuminated a glowing circle floating in the air.
The shinning circle glowed with an eerie red color and was being drawn by one of the men who was waving his hand in complicated patterns. The man’s exaggerated waving added more markings to the circle.
The other man seemed to take great interest in what the first one was doing, watching silently without interrupting.
“You one of those bounty hunters I keep on runnin’ into?” asked the short man in a black trench coat who was creating the circle.
His opponent was a man wearing a white hoodie that hid his eyes.
“You wouldn’t keep running into or away from us if you had just kept your hands to yourself” replied the other.
“I betcha that you would’ve done the same if you saw that idiot carrying around important shit like groceries. Hah! Serves him right!” said the first man with a definite hint of ridicule towards the unfortunate victim.
“You idiot, that man was a summoner’s apprentice. Those papers you stole were state secrets. The only reason you are still alive after that stunt you pulled is because the summoner wants this kept under the wraps.” exclaimed the second man while shaking his head.
“Hah! You shut yer trap. Those idiot summoners left me alone cuz I’ve already learned enough to become a threat to them. Those fools realize that messin’ wid the great Simon Archbald is a bad idea.” replied the first man.
The second man snorted as he heard Simon. He clearly knew that no apprentice would have access to information that would prove to be a threat to a full-fledged summoner.
What the unfortunate apprentice had lost was the information about the basics of their arcane art and summoning.
Simon was claiming proficiency in the art after reading the first chapter.
“Indeed Simon, You are a danger so great that I have to personally apprehend you to ensure that our kingdom doesn't blow up or something” replied the second man with sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Simon nodded seriously, apparently missing the sarcasm before he narrowed his eyes at the other man as he asked “You some kinda bigshot? Must be, seein’ as you here all alone against me.”
“I am called Woojin Han. Not sure if you have heard of me though” said the second man.
Simon’s jaw dropped the moment he heard the second man’s introduction. Clearly, he knew of the name.“Those wankers must be shittin’ me. Freakin’ Woojin Han of all people” he grumbled.
“You have heard of me, judging by that reaction,” said Han, pleasantly surprised at being recognized.
“Of course. I should’a recognized the ridiculous outfit. Only one guy wears somethin’ so dumb” muttered Simon, who seemed to be getting angrier with each word he said.
Han took an awkward glance at his all-white body armor which was decorated with red flame patterns all over.
Even his boots and gloves had the same design as the rest of the clothes which made him stand out against the wooden walls and floors of the warehouse that they were facing each other in.
“I see that my signature look has finally made me well known,” Han replied with a smile.
“The hell! Why you so proud? You're one the biggest joke in Kubai. To be hunted down by you is a stain to all criminals that I know.” Simon yelled out.
He remembered some of the stories he had heard about this man. It only served to make him angrier.
“Well, this joke will be the one taking you to the city guards in a few minutes," said Han as he shook his head.
He began rummaging around in his pockets to take out something.
Simon strained his eyes to note that Han was holding a metal ball in his hand. Han then threw the ball into the air, surprising Simon.
The metal ball flew upwards as Simon looked on, confused. It did not fall to the ground as he predicted, instead it began moving around Han as if it had a mind of its own.
As Simon was occupied by the first metal ball, Han took out two more and threw them into the air as well.
With all 3 balls moving around in the air, Simon noticed that they moved around Han in circles of different diameters. They kept giving Simon headaches as he tried to keep track of them.
Ever so slowly their speed began increasing as the completed rotations till all Simon could see was a blur.
“What in the bloody hell is that?” exclaimed Simon.
“I call it the Revolver” Han.
As he answered, one of the metal orbs which was the size of an apple shot out of its orbit towards Simon at a velocity that was comparable to someone shooting an arrow. It flew straight through the red circle floating between them.
The circle was fine, but Simon wasn't.
A very audible crack could be heard as the metal orb found its mark in the middle of Simon’s chest.
He staggered back and fell on the floor, groaning as he clutched his chest.
The metal orb landed on the wooden floor with a heavy thud and rolled to a stop.
“Was expecting you to put up more of a fight. What’s so great about you if this is all it takes to bring you down?” Han mocked.
Simon coughed blood as he tried to get up from the floor. He was in agony as his chest felt like it caved inward.
“Sorry about that. I wanted to restrain you before you did anything stupid” continued Han as he walked up to Simon, keeping an eye out at floating circle that still hadn’t disappeared.
Hearing Han apologizing for restraining himself as an afterthought hurt Simon more than the metal orb. His face went white with anger.
“You bloody punk. I'm gonna make you regret that. I’ll roast you with my COCK FROM HELL!” Simon screamed.
The floating circle glowed a brighter red, as it started pulsating.
Han was stunned and speechless as he tried to input Simon’s words with what was currently happening.
“Cock… From Hell? Are you going to bring out a flaming dildo or something?” Han asked in confusion, as he started inching away from Simon and the circle.
As Han’s imagination continued to run wild, a crowing sound was heard as a small red rooster emerged from the circle.
Han’s mind blanked out as he observed the rooster.
“You’re messing with me, right? That’s a freaking chicken!” Han finally exclaimed as he got his voice back.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Rage filled both Simon and the “chicken.”
“Shut the hell up! My familiar is half Phoenix” Simon screamed as the “chicken” clucked angrily in agreement. Han & Simon had both forgotten that it was Simon who first called he summon a cock.
“Half Phoenix? Shit, so you weren’t trying to feed me?” Han blinked in confusion. Simon nearly passed out as he heard him. He kept coughing out blood as Han looked at the “chicken,” searching for any phoenix-like qualities it had.
An inappropriate image of a phoenix screwing a chicken popped up in his head as he considered how the rooster came to be.
The rooster somehow understood that it was being mocked by Han as it continued clucking angrily as it started running towards him. “That’s one smart chicken” marveled Han as he prepared to launch another of his orbiting metal orbs at it.
Much to his astonishment, the rooster didn’t run close to him before jumping up to attack him with its beak.
It continued to crow like a rooster as it neared him, but a torrent of flames suddenly shot out of its beak at the surprised Han who was enveloped by it and collapsed to roll on the floor.
It didn’t help that they were in a lumber mill. The sawdust around Han caught on fire as well.
“Oi Oi stop that! Are you trying to burn down the place?” Han shouted in irritation as he slowly got up, with the flames still covering him.
“What the… ” Simon cried out in shock. The rooster fared no better, staring dumbstruck at Han and the rapidly spreading fire.
“Why aren’t you dead?” gulped out Simon as he started backing away from the fire.
“Haha, you think what I am wearing is a fashion choice? This here is top-grade Flame resistant gear that I spent a fortune on to protect myself from fire elementals.”Han declared loudly.
He then started coughing as his great reveal was ruined by him inhaling smoke.
“So ya already knew about me being a flame summoner,” said Simon as he wondered why the fool in front of him didn’t get a proper design for his armor if he spent a fortune on it.
“No matter what grade that gear is it ain’t gonna stop my phoenix’s ultimate attack… GO PHOENIX CHARGE!!!” Simon yelled frantically with all his might while pointing at Han.
The rooster crowed loudly as it started swelling up till it ended up more than two times larger than before. Heat-waves started rolling off its body, giving the air around it a hazy look.
With a peculiar glint in its eye, it looked at Han and started “running” towards him. The waddling ball of fluff looked like it was going to explode once it got close to him.
Han got a distinct feeling that he really would be roasted if that damn “chicken” finished whatever attack it was going to do. Fortunately, its waddling speed was slow enough to give him time to prepare.
“Has the heat fried your brains, you dumbass??? We are in a wooden building you know” Han shouted at Simon as he tried to speak some sense into him.
Simon didn’t care what Han said as his only desire was to cremate Han in this place with everything he had in him.
As the “chicken” got closer to Han, he started to feel the waves of heat generated by it. Han realized that he wasn’t getting through to Simon.
“I'm getting rid of you! Burn and die, fool!” screamed Simon as he observed the rooster nearing Han
Just then, the rooster waddled into the orbit of one of Han’s metal orbs. Han had timed it in such a way that the sphere would crash into the rooster before it got any closer to him.
Unfortunately for Simon who was celebrating already, the metal orb struck the rooster directly on its head resulting in a fatal blow. The rooster came to a stop a few feet from Han
Simon froze as he saw what happened. His expression changed rapidly as he realized something.
“You idiot! Who da hell tries to kill a phoenix at close range?” Simon blurted out as he turned to run away.
Han was confused by Simon’s behavior. If he was going to run away because the summon was defeated, why was he shouting weird shit? Han wondered.
He soon found out why as he felt a force akin to a wall hitting him as his world went white.
The Chicken-Phoenix dead body had gone supernova.
A massive fire blast enveloped both Han, Simon and the entire warehouse.
30 minutes later…
Han was dragging a burnt body by the leg to a boat which was on a river that flowed towards the capital city.
Han’s gear was burnt black in many areas, even showing the skin underneath in some places. He looked like he had walked through a field of flames as all exposed skin including his face had thermal burns.
“Goddamnit, it had to be an exploding chicken of all things. My handsome face is ruined just because hot wings needed to revive itself.” Han grumbled as he made his way to the boat
The body that was severely burnt slowly opened its eyes.
“I told ya… it’s a Phoenix… you didn’t understand… it's godly power.” Simon rasped out.
Han stopped dragging Simon and squatted down next to him.
“Ah shut up! You barbequed yourself so badly that I doubt the city guards will recognize you. How am I gonna make them believe it’s you when your face is roasted?”Han complained.
Scratchy laughter rang out from Simon as he whispered “At least… still look… better than you.”
Han got pissed and got up to mercilessly kick the severely injured Simon in the head, knocking him unconscious.
When Simon finally came to, he found himself chained to a bed and his entire body hurt. He looked around to find out that he was in a room with 3 other people who were also chained to their beds.
A closer look revealed that the others were injured in some way or another as well. Simon groaned out “Where the heck am I?” as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
“Oh! You’re finally awake. Guess we’ll find out if Han was telling the truth or not” said one of the others.
Hearing Han’s name bought back his memory. Simon felt his blood pressure rising as he remembered all the things Han put him through.
“So you really got done in by Woojin Han?” one man asked Simon.
Simon choked. He could only nod back as a reply. Looking around the hospital-like place, Simon noticed that Han was missing.
“Where’s that bastard? An’ who’re you? ”Simon asked.
“He is probably with the Guard Captain to collect the reward for capturing you alive by now” the man answered.
“As to who we are, take a guess” he continued, shaking the chain that tied him to the bed.
Simon felt the anger in him reach a boiling point as he imagined that piece of shit rolling in gold for capturing him.
But the scene that was actually playing out in the guard captain’s office would have made Simon happy if he saw it.
Han was stupefied as he tried to process the bombshell that the guard captain had just dropped on him.
“Why in the nine hells must I be the one paying a fine for capturing him?? And why is it 3586 gold? That fool’s bounty barely exceeds 200 gold, Rosa. What trickery is this?” sputtered Simon as he finally managed to find his voice.
The Guard Captain Rosa, a red-haired woman in her thirties who was used to Han ’s behavior calmly sipped a cup of tea while responding to him. As always, the desk she sat behind was cluttered so badly it was a wonder that she managed to get any work done.
“My dear Han, do you know the significance of the building which you both blew up?” Rosa asked as she shuffled some papers on the desk with her free hand.
Han paused for a second as he tried to recollect the details of the building.
“Wasn’t it just a storehouse for wood? What’s so great about it?” Han asked in irritation.
Rosa sprayed her tea at Han’s face in shock.
“You idiot! The building right next to the warehouse is the most important thing. Kubai city’s largest lumbermill is destroyed because of you. Do you know how much equipment and wood stock we lost because of that?” Rosa yelled.
Han took a few steps back to wipe away the tea from his face. Thinking back, he did remember seeing a larger building next to the warehouse when he was tracking Simon. He hadn't paid much attention to it at the time.
“That’s not even my fault. I even tried to talk Simon out of it! And why is Simon not taking responsibility for what his hot wings did?” protested Han.
Rosa sighed as she replied “Do you really think that Kubai city’s main lumbermill was worth only 3586 gold? The total amount of damages is more than double that of your fine.”
Rosa continued her lecture as Han tried to process the amount of money involved.
“You shouldn’t have cornered Simon in a warehouse full of wood of all things after I explicitly told you he had an affinity with flame beasts as a summoner.
By your own testimony, that Phoenix exploded only after you attacked it. Due to your ignorance in handling mythical beasts, we lost the warehouse as well as the mill itself.
Woodworking will now be halted for god knows how long while they remake the machinery. There have already been multiple calls to arrest you on the grounds of criminal negligence.
Keeping you out of jail was the best I could do. That is also under the condition that you pay the fine within the next three days” Rosa collapsed into her chair as she finished.
Han looked at the exhausted Rosa and understood that she must have honestly tried her best for him even though he had somehow managed to screw up the capture and incurred debt instead of reward.
His history with Rosa was a long one, and he could trust her with his life. Of course, he also knew that he would run to help her if she ever asked for it.
No matter how long of a history he had with her, it would be of no help when faced with that amount of money. It was equivalent to the yearly budget allocated to the gate guards.
“Rosa… I don’t know how I can come up with that much gold in three days. I spent almost all my savings to get this flame resistant gear.” Han mumbled in worry.
“Do your job and hunt more bounties to get the gold” Rosa said while pouring herself another cup of tea.
“There is no way that I can get so many criminals in such a short time. Even the most notorious ones have rewards below 600 gold. Can’t they extend the payment deadline to three weeks at least?”Han complained.
The guard captain smiled as if she was waiting for him to ask that very question.
“Do you really think a captain like me can keep you out of jail after the mess you made? The only reason you are still out here is that of the huge announcement made by the government a few hours ago.
Several bounties were released, and many are worth more than 2500 gold if captured alive and 1000 gold if they are dead. We have been ordered to use all available forces to hunt them down. Fortunately, you also fall under this category.
Other bounty hunters have already formed hunting parties which have dozens of members combining their strengths to get these fugitives” Rosa answered.
Han was stunned. Way too many things seemed to have happened in just a few hours, and he needed time to process all of it. He also felt that the ridiculously high rewards indicated some unknown danger.
“Rosa, if their value is that high, I am guessing those bounties are extremely dangerous and beyond my capability of capturing”Han tried to reject her proposal.
The guard captain nodded with a smile. It was unknown if she agreed with Han on the danger or his capabilities. It would probably be both, thought Han as he waited for her reply.
“It all depends on you, Han. All I did was give you the options. What I require is the money in the specified time. How you get it is up to you.”
Rosa smirked as she continued “Just know that I will arrest you if I don’t get the money in 3 days. My boys seemed weirdly excited when I told them about it. Some of them even started fighting over who would get to do the honors.”
Han paled as he heard her. They both knew that the guards under her command were jealous of the amount of support Han received from Rosa.
The guard captain also refused to explain why she did so, leading to rumors that grew more fanciful with the passing days. It led to Han being viewed as the enemy of captain Rosa’s men.
“Your twisted sense of humor hasn’t changed at all, Rosa” Han sighed. “Fine. I don’t think I have many other options to get that amount of money anyway. Can you show me the bounties at least?”
Rosa smiled as she rummaged around her table before putting a huge bundle of papers before him. “Well then, Mr. Woojin Han, I believe that your time starts now.”
To be continued...