Phoenix Force

The shrill wail of the alarm ripped through the halls of Company 8's headquarters, sharp and urgent, like a war drum pounding in the distance. The once-quiet station instantly erupted into motion.

A voice crackled through the speakers, laced with urgency.

"Infernal sighted in the industrial district! It's aggressive and causing heavy destruction! Mobilize immediately!"

Captain Obi's voice cut through the commotion like a blade—steady, unyielding, and sharp as steel. There was no hesitation, no doubt—only action.

The team sprang to life.

Maki was already slipping into her protective jacket, her muscles tensing as she adjusted the straps with practiced ease.

Hinawa, ever calm, was checking his weapons with precision, loading rounds into his pistol with the efficiency of a man who had done this a thousand times before.

Sister Iris moved swiftly, securing the small cross around her neck, her expression serene yet focused—ready to offer prayers amidst the chaos.

I grabbed my own jacket, throwing it over my shoulders before fastening the clasps. The weight of the fabric was familiar now—like a second skin. The emblem of Special Fire Force Company 8 gleamed under the harsh lighting, a reminder of the responsibility we carried.

The air buzzed with tension.

Another mission. Another fight.

But this wasn't just about defeating an Infernal.

This was about saving lives.

Obi turned to us, eyes burning with determination. "Move out!"

Without another word, we rushed toward the fire truck, sirens already blaring as the doors slammed shut behind us. The engine roared to life, and with a jolt, we sped toward the heart of the flames.

Shinra Kusakabe flexed his fingers, tightening his gloves as he tried to steady his breathing. The sirens wailed, their sharp, relentless cry echoing through the air, matching the rapid rhythm of his heartbeat.

Another mission. Another fight.

Another chance to prove himself.

Across from him, Arthur Boyle leaned back with an infuriatingly confident smirk, arms crossed over his chest like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Hah! A mere Infernal?" Arthur scoffed, flipping Excalibur over his shoulder with a dramatic flourish. "It doesn't stand a chance against the Knight King!"

Shinra exhaled sharply, already feeling a headache coming on. Here we go again…

Before he could fire back, Lieutenant Hinawa's voice cut through the cabin, firm and unwavering.

"Shinra. Arthur. You two are handling the fight. Work together."

Shinra groaned, slumping slightly. He could already see how this was going to go.

Arthur, on the other hand, beamed, as if he'd just been handed a royal decree.

"Of course! The Knight King shall lead his loyal squire into battle—"

Shinra shoved him.

"I'm not your squire, dumbass!"

Arthur stumbled slightly before regaining his footing, flipping his hood up with a dramatic flair. "Denial is the first step to acceptance, Shinra!"

Shinra gritted his teeth. This idiot…

Obi let out a long, exhausted sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose before motioning to the truck's open doors.

"Just get in the damn truck."

Without another word, Shinra and Arthur scrambled inside, their bickering fading into the background as the doors slammed shut. The engine roared to life, tires screeching as they sped toward the raging inferno ahead.

The instant the truck screeched to a halt, a wave of blistering heat slammed into them, thick and suffocating. Even through their protective gear, the intensity was undeniable—a scorching reminder of the chaos unfolding ahead.

The factory was a blazing inferno, its once-sturdy walls now crumbling under the relentless assault of the flames. Smoke curled into the sky in twisting, black tendrils, darkening the horizon like writhing serpents. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burning metal, the distant sound of twisting steel and shattering glass adding to the nightmarish cacophony.

Workers poured out of the factory in a panicked stampede, their screams blending with the roar of the fire. Some stumbled, coughing violently as they tried to escape the choking smoke, while others called out for missing colleagues, their voices desperate and hoarse.

And then—a deafening crash.

From within the collapsing structure, the Infernal emerged.

It was a towering monstrosity, far more terrifying than a simple, smoldering corpse. Its body was a grotesque fusion of charred flesh and molten veins, the fire pulsing through its form like liquid magma. Glowing fissures cracked along its arms and torso, casting an ominous red light that flickered like the heart of a dying star.

Its burning eyes—seething pits of pure destruction—scanned the factory ruins with a cruel, unnatural hunger.

Unlike most Infernals, which simply burned in place, trapped in their final moments, this one moved with violent intent.

With a single, devastating swipe of its molten arm, it tore through a massive support beam, sending an entire section of the factory collapsing in a storm of fire and debris. Steel groaned. Machinery screeched. The ground trembled under its sheer ferocity.

This wasn't just an Infernal.

This was a force of destruction.

Captain Obi's voice rang out like a war drum, cutting through the chaos with unwavering authority.

"Maki, create a perimeter! Hinawa, take a suppressive position! Shinra, Arthur—neutralize the target!"

The team moved with precision—years of experience making their coordination seamless. Maki Oze wasted no time, her flames twisting like living chains as they slammed into the ground, forming a controlled barrier to keep civilians out of harm's way. Hinawa had already positioned himself atop a half-collapsed structure, rifle aimed, eyes locked onto the Infernal, calculating its every movement with military precision.

But Arthur?

Arthur was already moving.

With a flash of light, he brandished Excalibur, the plasma blade crackling as he held it high.

"Heh. Watch and learn!"

And then—he charged.

"Arthur, you dumbass, wait—!"

Shinra's shout barely reached him before Arthur was already engaging the Infernal head-on.

The towering beast roared, flames surging around its molten form like a violent storm. With a single, earth-shaking motion, it brought down its flaming arm like a massive hammer, intent on pulverizing the reckless knight into the ground.

Arthur, to his credit, sidestepped with ease, his movements fluid and practiced. His blade flashed—a strike aimed straight at the creature's core.

But then, the air wavered.

The overwhelming heat warped the space around them, bending light, distorting depth perception. Arthur's aim—normally precise—was just a fraction off.

The blade scraped against superheated flesh, but it wasn't enough.

And before Arthur could adjust—

A second molten fist came out of nowhere.

Arthur didn't see it in time.

BOOM!

The impact was instantaneous, devastating. The ground shattered beneath the force of the blow. Arthur was sent hurtling backward, his body crashing through twisted metal and burning debris before slamming into a crumbling wall with a sickening crunch.

A cloud of dust and embers billowed into the air.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then—a groan.

Arthur staggered to his feet, dazed but still standing, a cocky grin plastered on his face despite the blood dripping from his forehead.

"Ha… Not bad. But you'll have to try harder than that to defeat the Knight King!"

Shinra facepalmed.

"Idiot."

The Infernal's molten jaws cracked open, embers spilling from its maw like the mouth of a raging volcano. The glow inside pulsed—growing brighter, hotter—ready to unleash devastation.

Arthur was still steadying himself, his grip on Excalibur tightening, but even he wasn't fast enough to react.

Shinra didn't hesitate.

Fire erupted from his feet as he launched himself forward, the force of his ignition shaking the ground beneath him. He twisted midair, dodging flying shards of molten debris as he rocketed toward the Infernal at breakneck speed. The world blurred around him—heatwaves distorted the air, shadows danced against the blazing backdrop—but his focus was razor-sharp.

"You want a fight? Then take this—!"

BAM!

Shinra's foot slammed into the Infernal's head with a devastating impact. A shockwave of force and heat erupted outward, scattering embers like fireflies in a storm. The Infernal staggered backward, its massive form quaking from the blow.

For a moment, Shinra thought he had the upper hand.

Then—the creature twisted unnaturally, its burning limbs snapping into place with an eerie, bone-chilling fluidity. It didn't move like something made of flesh and fire—it moved like something cursed.

And then—it counterattacked.

"Shinra, move!"

Hinawa's sharp command cut through the roaring flames, but the Infernal was already in motion.

Without warning, a surge of fire exploded outward from its body—a violent, spiraling inferno that tore through the battlefield like a tidal wave of destruction.

Shinra reacted on instinct, boosting himself upward, fire igniting from his feet at full power to carry him above the blast. But the sheer force of the shockwave hit like a sledgehammer, knocking him off balance midair.

He spun uncontrollably, the world tilting, twisting as embers and smoke swirled around him. The heat was suffocating, his breath caught in his throat as he tumbled downward—

Straight into the raging inferno below.

Arthur, shaking off the last of his dizziness, tightened his grip on Excalibur. A cocky smirk spread across his face as he charged forward once more, his confidence unshaken.

"Hah! Thought you could handle this alone?" he taunted, his voice brimming with arrogant amusement.

His plasma blade hummed with energy, the air around it warping from the sheer heat. This time, Arthur didn't hesitate. With a powerful swing, he brought Excalibur down in a brilliant arc—a searing flash of light slicing through the smoky battlefield.

The blade connected.

A deep, glowing cut split across the Infernal's massive shoulder, its molten flesh hissing and crackling from the intensity of the strike.

The Infernal let out an agonized shriek, its body recoiling from the pain, its burning limbs flailing wildly as the force of the attack sent lava-like embers flying.

Hinawa didn't waste the opportunity.

His eyes locked onto the Infernal's weaker points—joints, core, exposed areas where the fire didn't burn as intensely. He adjusted his stance, lifted his rifle, and—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three consecutive shots rang out, each one striking with pinpoint precision. The Infernal stumbled, its movements slowing as Hinawa's bullets chipped away at its stability.

Maki, already in position, clenched her fists, summoning orbs of controlled flame that ignited in the air around her. With a swift motion, she lashed out, sending them hurtling toward the Infernal's limbs.

Fire wrapped around its arms and legs, binding it in place, weighing it down. The monster thrashed violently, but Maki's fire held firm, restricting its movements just enough to give them the upper hand.

"This is our chance!" Obi's voice boomed through the battlefield. "Finish it!"

Shinra and Arthur exchanged a glance.

Arthur smirked, eyes gleaming with challenge. "Try to keep up, squire."

Shinra exhaled through his nose. "Just shut up and follow my lead!"

And then—they moved.

Shinra launched first.

Flames erupted from his feet as he rocketed into the air, twisting his body mid-flight. His form blurred against the inferno around them, heatwaves distorting the battlefield as he gathered momentum.

With a powerful pivot, he came crashing down, his leg blazing with intense fire.

"Blazing Axe Kick!"

The impact was devastating.

His foot smashed into the Infernal's chest, the force behind it shattering its molten body, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The monster's massive form lurched backward, collapsing under the force of the blow.

Arthur followed up instantly.

Seizing the moment, he dashed forward, Excalibur pulsing with fiery energy. With one final, fluid motion, he drove the plasma blade straight through the Infernal's core, piercing it all the way through.

The creature screamed—

Then, its body began to disintegrate.

The once monstrous form crumbled into glowing embers, the flames flickering out, leaving behind nothing but ash and silence.

The fire settled.

The battle was over.

A moment passed—then Obi clapped his hands together, grinning. "Good teamwork, even with all the arguing."

Shinra wiped a streak of sweat from his forehead, letting out a deep breath. Arthur, still in full Knight King mode, twirled Excalibur with a flourish.

"Like I said," Arthur declared dramatically, "the Knight King leads."

Shinra rolled his eyes before flicking Arthur's forehead with two fingers. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

The battle was over, but the adrenaline still thrummed in Shinra's veins. The city, though shaken, had begun to settle back into its usual rhythm. The worst of the destruction had been contained, and the fire had been extinguished. Now, only smoke lingered in the air, curling into the night sky like fading echoes of the chaos that had unfolded.

Shinra and Arthur strolled through the streets, their uniforms slightly singed, the embers of the fight still glowing faintly in their minds.

Arthur stretched his arms behind his head, yawning. "That fight was way too easy. Next time, I'll take down the Infernal before you get in my way."

Shinra shot him an amused look, crossing his arms. "Oh, really? Because from where I was standing, you were about five seconds away from being turned into barbecue."

Arthur scoffed, puffing out his chest. "Tch. A true knight adapts to any battlefield! It was all part of my plan."

Shinra sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah… whatever you say, 'Knight King.' Just try not to get yourself killed next time."

Arthur grinned. "Hah! As if! The Knight King is invincible!"

But as Shinra let out a small chuckle, the lighthearted moment shattered.

A strange, unshakable tension settled over him, like the heavy weight of static before a lightning strike. The air, once filled with the ordinary buzz of the city—civilians talking, vendors calling out their wares, children laughing—felt different.

Shinra's instincts screamed at him.

He tensed, his muscles coiling like a spring. His sharp eyes flicked over the bustling crowd, scanning the movement of people. The city was alive, moving forward, healing from the battle—but something, somewhere, was wrong.

Then, he saw them.

A shadow in the firelight.

Two figures stood at the edge of the dispersing crowd. One was masked, his posture sharp, his presence radiating quiet danger. But it was the other one that made Shinra's chest tighten.

A figure with white hair and piercing emerald eyes.

For a split second, Shinra forgot how to breathe.

There was something familiar about him—something that sent a chill through his spine. His heart pounded against his ribs, an unspoken recognition clawing at the back of his mind.

Who…?

His lips parted, his body moving before his mind could catch up.

But just as quickly as he saw them—

They were gone.

A blink. A single heartbeat.

And the figures vanished into the shadows.

Shinra's pulse thundered in his ears. His feet took an instinctive step forward, his body still on edge. Had he imagined it? Or had they truly been there?

Beside him, Arthur frowned. "Oi, what's up?"

Shinra didn't answer right away. His gaze swept over the streets again, searching, but there was nothing. No sign of them. No trace.

Had it just been a trick of the firelight?

Or had someone— something— really been watching them?