Saga Legacy

Akira barely had time to react as Mikage barked at the driver, "Open the window!"

The window slid down, and Mikage thrust his hand out, releasing a torrent of flames just in time to intercept a massive fireball streaking toward the car. The two forces collided midair with a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves that tipped the vehicle over.

The car flipped, metal screeching as it skidded along the road before coming to a jarring halt. Smoke and debris filled the air, and Akira groaned, disoriented and struggling to make sense of what just happened.

Mikage, already pulling himself upright, growled under his breath. "They've found us."

Akira yelled, panic lacing his voice, "What do you mean, they found us? Who's after us?" He clutched his head, muttering, "Oh God, don't tell me I've joined a cult!"

Mikage shot him an annoyed glance. "Quit yapping and check if the driver's okay—and wake up Hakuren!"

Without waiting for a reply, Mikage kicked open the mangled car door and stepped outside. Akira, still disoriented, scrambled to the driver's seat to check the driver's pulse before rushing to Hakuren, shaking him. "Hey, old man! Wake up! Now's not the time to nap!"

Meanwhile, Mikage scanned the area, his sharp gaze sweeping the attackers. He counted quickly—forty men flanking both sides of the wrecked vehicle. Each of them radiated magic energy.

Mikage chuckled darkly. "So, you brought a total of forty magic users to face an old man and two teenagers? Isn't that a bit… embarrassing?"

As he spoke, his skin began to shift, glowing red and cracking as molten magma-like patterns spread across his body. The heat around him intensified, and the air shimmered with energy.

But inside, Mikage's thoughts were far from confident. This isn't good, he admitted to himself. I might be stronger than most of them, but there's no way I have the skill set to take all of them down at once. And they're all magic users, too. This is going to be messy.

He clenched his fists, magma dripping from his fingertips as he stepped forward. "Alright," he said, his voice echoing with heat and power. "Let's see what you've got."

The group of attackers hesitated, their confidence wavering as they felt the sheer intensity of Mikage's mana radiating from him. Whispers spread among them like wildfire.

"His mana… it's stronger than all of us combined," one muttered nervously.

"What should we do?" another asked, gripping their weapon tighter.

A voice from the back barked, "We attack him together! All at once!"

The murmurs turned to determined shouts as they all roared in unison, surging toward Mikage like a tidal wave.

Mikage rolled his eyes, muttering sarcastically under his breath, "Great. A group rush. How original."

As the first attacker lunged at him, Mikage sidestepped effortlessly, delivering a fiery punch that sent the man flying back into his comrades. The flames on Mikage's fists flared as he weaved through the crowd, dodging blows and countering with precise strikes. Each punch or kick was accompanied by bursts of fire that sent attackers sprawling.

One swung a blade imbued with crackling electricity, aiming for Mikage's head. He ducked low, pivoting smoothly to grab the attacker by the arm and hurl him into a cluster of others, scattering them like bowling pins.

"Come on!" Mikage taunted, a smirk playing on his magma-like face. "Is this really all you've got?"

But even as he fought, Mikage's mind was racing. There are too many of them. I can't keep this up forever. Where the hell is Hakuren when you actually need him?

Another wave of attackers rushed in, chanting spells and launching fireballs, ice shards, and bolts of lightning toward him. Mikage stomped the ground, creating a wave of molten lava that swallowed the projectiles mid-air, neutralizing them before they could reach him.

The attackers faltered for a moment, stunned by his raw power, but Mikage could see the resolve in their eyes—they weren't giving up that easily.

"Fantastic," Mikage muttered, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "I really need a vacation after this."

Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck Mikage, the flash illuminating the battlefield.

Akira gasped in shock, his voice trembling. "Is he… dead? I-I-I can't fight so many people…"

Panic surged through him as he frantically shook Hakuren. "Wake up, old man! Please!" he begged, his voice cracking.

But a voice emerged from the smoke, clear and furious. "Who threw that lightning at me?" Mikage stepped forward, his body crackling with residual energy as his magma-like skin glowed brighter. His aura flared violently, radiating heat and anger.

"Do you think the change to my skin is just for decoration?!" he bellowed. "Or aesthetics?!"

The attackers froze as Mikage's fury grew. "I was holding back," he growled, his tone dripping with menace. "But now, you've pissed me off!" With that, he lunged at them, releasing torrents of fire in every direction, recklessly scorching the area.

Akira watched in a mix of terror and awe as Mikage unleashed his wrath. His heart raced, and a strange sensation welled up inside him. His stomach growled, a deep, unnatural hunger gnawing at him. Suddenly, he felt an ominous presence watching him from the shadows of the thick forest.

A chilling voice whispered in his mind, Don't you feel it? That hunger… These people would make fine delicacies.

Akira's pupils turned a glowing purple, and shadowy gauntlets formed around his hands. His breathing quickened as the voice continued, Embrace it. Feed.

"You're right," Akira muttered, his voice dark and almost unrecognizable. He took a step forward, preparing to lunge at the attackers, his hunger overwhelming him.

But before he could act, Hakuren stood, his movements calm yet purposeful. Without a word, he struck Akira on the back of the neck, knocking him out cold. The shadows dissipated instantly, leaving Akira unconscious on the ground.

Hakuren turned, his icy blue eyes scanning the forest's edge, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he shifted his gaze to Mikage, who was still out of control, his fire raging uncontrollably.

With a sigh, Hakuren raised his hand, and the temperature in the area plummeted. Frost spread rapidly, encasing the attackers, the ground, and even Mikage in thick, glistening ice. Everything fell silent as the flames were extinguished.

Walking over to the frozen Mikage, Hakuren adjusted his gloves and muttered, "Wasn't that a bit much?"

Mikage's eyes, still glowing with fury, darted toward Hakuren, his mouth frozen mid-shout.

Hakuren sighed again, shaking his head. "Children," he muttered, turning his attention to the unconscious Akira.

Hakuren walked up to Mikage, brushing frost off his gloves. "Calm down," he said firmly. "These people need to be brought back with us."

With a wave of his hand, he unfroze Mikage, who immediately stretched, flames flickering across his body before settling. "Pick Akira up," Hakuren ordered. "We're behind schedule."

Mikage glanced at the unconscious Akira, still sprawled on the ground, and muttered, "Fine." He hoisted him over his shoulder with ease. "What about these guys?" Mikage asked, gesturing toward the frozen attackers.

"They're not our problem anymore," Hakuren replied. "By now, the Wizard Organization in Japan will have heard about this mess and will already be on their way."

As they began walking back to the car, Mikage hesitated. "Why'd you knock Akira out anyway?" he asked, adjusting the unconscious teen on his shoulder. "I was handling things."

Hakuren stopped, glancing back toward the forest with a grave expression. "You were too enraged to notice it—the deadly amount of bloodlust coming from the forest. Somehow, it was affecting Akira."

"Bloodlust?" Mikage frowned. "It must've been strong to even wake you."

Hakuren nodded slowly, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "It wasn't just strong—it was suppressed. That's what frightened me." He paused, his voice dropping. "Think of it like when you're furious but trying to hide it, so you clench your fists instead of lashing out. It wasn't showing its full power."

Mikage shuddered despite the heat still radiating from his body. "You're saying… something that strong is lurking out there?"

Hakuren nodded again, his tone cold and serious. "Exactly. And it was watching Akira."

They exchanged a tense glance before continuing toward the car, Hakuren's mind already calculating the next steps. Whatever was in that forest, it wasn't done with them yet.

The scene shifts to a dark and eerie forest. Akira is sprinting frantically, his breaths ragged, as shadows loom around him. He glances over his shoulder but sees nothing, yet the feeling of being pursued grows stronger with each step.

"Help! Somebody, help me!" he screams, his voice echoing through the woods.

Suddenly, he spots a figure in the distance. It's Hakuren, standing calmly amidst the chaos. Relief floods through Akira, and he yells, "Hakuren!"

Hakuren turns slowly, his icy gaze meeting Akira's panicked one. "Where have you been?" he asks, his tone calm but sharp.

Akira stumbles toward him, trembling. "There's something in the forest!