Phoenix Force

After an hour of the strange encounter, Shinra and Arthur who was about to leave their post sensed something, it was the smell of an infernal.

The world stood still for a fraction of a second.

Then—

BOOM.

The explosion ripped through the night, a deafening roar that shattered windows, shook buildings to their foundations, and sent debris flying like deadly shrapnel. The sheer force of the blast cracked the pavement beneath Shinra's feet, and for a terrifying moment, it felt as though the very earth had trembled.

A wave of heat surged outward, scorching the air, warping the night with its intensity. Fire erupted at the heart of the destruction, an inferno swallowing everything in its path—cars melted into twisted metal, storefronts crumbled under the searing assault, and streetlights bent and collapsed under the pressure. The acrid stench of burning metal and scorched stone filled the atmosphere, making it almost impossible to breathe.

And then—the screams.

Panic swept through the streets as civilians ran for their lives, stumbling over each other in their desperate attempt to escape. Mothers clutched their children, dragging them away from the chaos. Some fell, some didn't get up. Others simply froze in fear, paralyzed by the sight of the horror emerging from the flames.

A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air, so inhuman that it sent an icy chill down Shinra's spine.

Through the thick smoke and raging fire, the Infernal appeared.

But this was no ordinary Infernal.

It was monstrous—easily twice the size of any they had encountered before. Its body was a terrifying mass of charred, obsidian-like plating, armor cracked with glowing veins of molten fire that pulsed like a living furnace. The inferno surrounding it seemed to feed its existence rather than consume it, the flames bending toward its body as if drawn to its overwhelming heat.

But its most horrifying feature—the one that made even Shinra's blood run cold—

Was its tail.

A long, scorpion-like appendage, segmented and armored, stretching high above the destruction. Its surface was lined with jagged, razor-sharp spines, each one burning with an otherworldly fire. And at the very end—

A stinger.

Bladed. Serrated. Dripping with liquid fire that sizzled as it struck the crumbling pavement below.

The Infernal lifted its grotesque tail high into the air, the flames coursing through its body intensifying, roaring with renewed fury. Then, with a bone-rattling hiss, it lunged.

Shinra and Arthur barely had a moment to take in the devastation before the Infernal's massive tail came crashing down with the force of a wrecking ball.

BOOM!

The impact obliterated a parked car, turning it into nothing more than a molten pile of slag. Metal hissed and twisted, liquefying under the sheer intensity of the creature's heat. The shockwave from the strike sent burning debris scattering across the street, setting nearby buildings ablaze. Flames reflected in the Infernal's smoldering eyes as it slowly straightened, its monstrous tail curling upward, poised to strike again.

Arthur, standing beside Shinra, let out a sharp exhale—then grinned.

"Hah! At last! A worthy foe for the Knight King's blade!"

He twirled Excalibur between his fingers, striking an exaggerated pose like a hero ripped straight from some grand medieval legend. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he sized up the Infernal, completely ignoring the actual life-or-death stakes of the battle.

Shinra, already exasperated, groaned. "Arthur, we don't have time for your—"

Too late.

Arthur had already launched himself forward.

"With courage unmatched—onward!" he bellowed, charging straight at the Infernal without a second thought.

The Infernal's blazing tail lashed out, the jagged, flame-drenched stinger cutting through the air with terrifying speed, a blur of molten fire and death.

Arthur's eyes widened slightly—then, with surprising agility, he rolled under the strike at the last possible second. The sheer heat from the passing tail seared the air above him, leaving behind a trail of smoldering embers that rained down in his wake.

But the Infernal was relentless.

Before Arthur could regain his footing, the tail—unnaturally flexible for something so massive—curved mid-air, bending at an impossible angle as it came whipping back around toward him.

Arthur barely had time to react.

He twisted sharply, throwing his weight to the side as he raised Excalibur, the plasma blade humming with lethal energy. He prepared to parry—but the Infernal was faster.

CLANG!

The flaming stinger slammed into Excalibur with crushing force, sending a violent shockwave through Arthur's arms. The sheer power behind the strike knocked him off balance, his boots skidding across the cracked pavement as sparks erupted from the point of impact. His grip on Excalibur faltered, the blade almost slipping from his grasp.

"Damn, this thing's fast!" Arthur muttered, his usual bravado laced with just a hint of genuine surprise.

But before the Infernal could press its advantage, a sudden eruption of flames filled the air.

Shinra was already on the move.

FWOOOSH!

A powerful blast of fire erupted from his feet, propelling him high into the air. His body twisted mid-air, the embers from his launch trailing behind him like shooting stars.

His eyes locked onto the Infernal's exposed head.

He had an opening.

He shifted his momentum, diving down at full force, his right leg drawn back, flames surging violently around his foot.

"Devil's Footprint!"

The impact was instantaneous.

BOOM!

Shinra's flaming kick collided with the Infernal's skull, sending an explosive shockwave rippling through its massive body. The sheer force of the attack sent the creature stumbling backward, its molten limbs struggling to maintain balance as it let out a monstrous roar of pain.

But then—it moved.

Faster than Shinra anticipated.

The Infernal's scorching tail shot upward like a spear, cutting through the smoke-filled air in a blur of molten fire and razor-sharp destruction.

Shinra barely had time to register the motion before—

CRACK!

The bladed stinger smashed into his ribs with brutal force, the sheer impact sending a wave of agony rippling through his body. His vision blurred for half a second, the sudden, blinding pain registering just as his body was launched violently backward.

The world tilted.

Everything rushed past in a blur of light and heat before—

BOOM!

His body collided with a solid concrete wall, shattering through it like a wrecking ball. The entire structure crumbled inward, stone and metal groaning under the force of the crash.

Shinra hit the ground hard.

Dust and rubble rained down around him, the sharp scent of crushed cement filling his lungs as he gasped for breath. His ribs ached, pain thrumming through his body in waves, but he forced himself to move, to shake it off.

From outside, Arthur let out a low whistle.

"Oof. That looked painful."

Through gritted teeth, Shinra let out a strained cough, trying to force air back into his lungs.

"You think?"

Groaning, he planted his hands on the ground and pushed himself up, brushing off the debris as he stood. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored it—there was no time to dwell on pain.

Arthur, on the other hand, looked far too smug for someone in the middle of a fight.

With an exaggerated flourish, he twirled Excalibur, the plasma blade humming with energy. He smirked, completely unfazed.

"Clearly, we need a better strategy," he mused. "Luckily, as the Knight King, I shall—"

Before he could finish, the Infernal let out a bone-rattling roar, the flames around its body surging brighter, like an enraged beast preparing to end its prey.

Both of them snapped their heads up, their bodies tensing as the Infernal let out a low, guttural snarl, its monstrous form pulsating with raw heat.

The molten veins crisscrossing its obsidian-like body glowed brighter, shifting from deep ember red to a searing, molten gold, the intensity of its internal fire reaching a dangerous peak. The sheer heat radiating off its body warped the air around it, creating a shimmering, distorted mirage that made the very space around the creature seem like it was bending and twisting.

The ground beneath its feet sizzled and bubbled, asphalt and concrete melting away into molten slag, the toxic stench of burning earth thickening the already suffocating air.

And then—

Its tail split open.

Shinra's eyes widened in alarm.

"Wait—"

But before he could even finish, a blinding surge of fire exploded from the tip of the Infernal's tail, a massive fireball forming with a loud, earsplitting WHOOMPH!

The scorching mass of destruction launched straight toward them, tearing through the air at horrifying speed, its sheer heat intensity alone sending waves of blistering hot wind rushing ahead of it.

Arthur, who had been standing confidently just moments ago, let out a strangled, panicked yell.

"SHIELDS! WHERE ARE MY SHIELDS?!"

But there was no time.

No time to think, no time to plan.

Only time to move.

Shinra reacted on instinct.

BOOM!

Fire exploded from his feet as he launched himself forward, grabbing Arthur by the collar just in time, yanking him off the ground. In the same instant, he propelled them both into the air, narrowly escaping the incoming wave of fiery destruction.

A fraction of a second later—

KA-THOOM!

The fireball slammed into the street with devastating force, detonating on impact.

The sheer power of the explosion ripped the pavement apart, sending massive chunks of asphalt and stone flying in every direction. A violent shockwave tore through the area, shattering nearby windows and leaving gaping fissures in the road. Flames burst outward, latching onto buildings, vehicles, and anything flammable in its wake.

The entire street was now a battlefield of fire and ruin.

Shinra landed hard, his boots skidding against the cracked pavement as he released Arthur, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

He barely had time to catch his breath, but the situation was clear.

This was bad. Really bad.

They couldn't handle this thing alone.

They needed backup— fast.

Obi's voice crackled through the communicators, slicing through the chaos with the urgency of a commander on the battlefield. "Shinra! Arthur! We're sending reinforcements, just hold it off a little longer!"

Arthur's voice, tinged with disbelief and frustration, shot back through the comms. "A little longer?! Did you not see that thing just try to vaporize us?! Do you know what that kind of firepower is capable of?!"

Shinra, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened, barely took notice of Arthur's complaints. His mind was focused, calculating the dire situation they were in. "We can't wait, Arthur," Shinra muttered under his breath, voice tight with frustration. "If it fires another one of those blasts, the whole block is gone. We have to act, now."

Arthur, his stance already shifting as he prepared himself for action, dramatically sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fine, fine. You're always so serious. Alright, then. I'll handle it myself." He brandished Excalibur with an exaggerated flourish, the sword crackling with the distinct hum of plasma surging along its edge, ready to cut through anything in its path. The look in his eyes was that of determination, but beneath it, there was a touch of bravado—the typical arrogance of the Knight King.

The Infernal, undeterred by the previous blows, snarled and lunged forward again. Its molten eyes locked onto Arthur, its tail poised to strike. It was as if the beast was learning, adapting, and it was only growing more relentless with every second.

Without hesitation, Arthur charged headlong toward the creature, Excalibur raised high, ready to strike. He moved with the reckless bravado that defined him, but this time, it was clear the Infernal would not give him the luxury of a clean victory.

The tail lashed out—faster, fiercer, and more unpredictable than before.

Arthur tried to dodge, his instincts screaming at him to move. He pivoted, his sword flashing through the air, but the Infernal adjusted mid-swipe—anticipating his move. The tail caught him by the leg, sending a jolt of agony through his body as it whipped him through the air.

"Shit—!" Arthur's voice rang out in pain as he was hurled like a ragdoll, his body slamming into a nearby burning car with a sickening crunch. The sound of metal bending and glass shattering filled the air, but despite the pain, Arthur was quick to recover, groaning as he pushed himself up. "Okay. That hurt. A lot. This is getting ridiculous."

Shinra, his jaw set in determination, grit his teeth. He couldn't afford to let Arthur handle this alone, not when the Infernal was this powerful, not when every second mattered. He knew their time was running out. The creature was getting stronger, and they had to stop it—now.

Flames erupted from Shinra's feet as he launched himself forward, the air around him crackling with the heat of his speed. His body was a blur as he dodged the Infernal's massive tail swipes, each movement a calculated step toward the creature's weak point. His eyes locked onto the beast's exposed head, his target clear.

Just one more hit, he thought, his resolve hardening. One more hit, and it's done.

He twisted in mid-air, his body a spiraling ball of fire, and with a final burst of energy, he sent himself plummeting toward the Infernal.

"HELLFIRE DROP!"

His foot slammed into the Infernal's skull with the force of a volcanic eruption. A shockwave rippled through the creature's body, its form staggering from the blow. The impact was so powerful that it rattled the streets beneath them, the sound deafening as it reverberated across the area.

For a moment, it seemed like the Infernal would finally crumble. Its massive body teetered, and it looked as though the battle might be over.

But then, with a sickening creak, the Infernal stood firm.

It shook off the blow like a mere annoyance, its molten eyes blazing with unyielding rage. Shinra's heart sank as he realized that despite the strength of his attack, it wasn't enough. The beast was too powerful.

Its tail, still crackling with fiery energy, reared back again—this time aiming directly for Shinra's chest. The very air seemed to distort in the wake of its strike, the tail's fiery stinger poised to pierce through him.

Shinra's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure if he could dodge this one.

But then, in the briefest of moments, something unexpected happened.

A single gunshot echoed through the night.

The sharp sound rang out like a piercing whistle, cutting through the air with unnerving precision.

The world seemed to slow for a heartbeat, as though time itself held its breath.

And then—before anyone could process it fully—the Infernal's head exploded in a burst of molten fragments.

The monstrous body of the Infernal froze, standing completely still for a moment, as if it didn't know what had just happened. The head, once a symbol of its monstrous power, was now a mass of fiery debris scattering into the night air.

The entire beast's form seemed to waver, its limbs shaking, its molten veins flickering as its control over its fiery power waned.

And then, in one final act of defiance, it crumbled.

The once fearsome Infernal fell to the ground with a heavy, final thud. Its body disintegrated into ash, the flames that had once consumed it now reduced to nothing. The shockwaves from its fall dissipated into the night, leaving nothing but the sounds of crackling fire and distant sirens.

Shinra stood there, panting, his breath ragged as he tried to process what had just happened. His heart was still racing in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Arthur, ever the dramatic one, stood a few paces away, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the now-ash-covered ground. "Huh. Guess I wasn't the only one who could land a shot."

Shinra couldn't even muster a response, still too caught up in the aftermath of the fight. He looked up to see a figure emerging from the shadows—someone who had fired that shot, someone who had just saved them.

It was a figure they both don't recognized.

Shinra landed, his eyes wide. What just happened?

Arthur sat up, dazed. "Wait… did I win?"

Shinra ignored him. He turned his gaze toward a distant rooftop.

There—a figure stood against the moonlight, holding a sniper rifle.

His emerald eyes glowed faintly in the dark, the barrel of his rifle still smoking. Beside him, Joker leaned against the rooftop's edge, smirking.

Joker chuckled. "Try not to die next time, kids."

Before Shinra could say anything—they were gone.

Shinra clenched his fists, his heart pounding.

Who the hell was that?