"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

All mages stood still—eyes locked on the two figures standing across the cliff. The sky above was cloudy, the wind cold, and the tension sharp like a blade.

Mekamaru stepped forward, his voice echoing: Why do you need that boy, Sunny?"

Aster smiled darkly, stepping from the shadows. "Oh, so that boy's name is Sunny... Sunny Vincent." He shrugged casually. "He's a threat to us. That's all. We are just protecting Yuzen's legacy."

Sakura, filled with rage, shouted, Why are you after my brother?! He did nothing! How is he a threat to you people?!"

Aster tilted his head. "So, you're his sister... Sakura Vincent. We had plans to erase the entire Vincent bloodline, but… looks like fate had other ideas. Your brother, he's different. Dangerous." Then his gaze shifted. "And you must be Mekamaru—the one who saved her. So Ryuki has been feeding our enemies in secret?"

Sakura snapped, Who said we're your enemy?! We've done nothing to you!"

Aster's voice deepened, colder now. "You know nothing. Give us the boy, and we'll leave Ryuki in peace. That's a promise. We will protect Yuzen—even if it costs innocent lives. That… is Yuzen's will."

Mekamaru growled, fists clenched. "What kind of twisted will is that?! You call this peace? You're the ones who bring chaos. Yuzen is evil!"

Aster's calm expression cracked—his fist tightened. "Evil...? No. We are the mature ones. We understand balance. We gave your cities warnings. You chose silence." He raised his hand. "No more words. May you rest in peace."

Mekamaru roared, Mages—ATTACK!"

In a flash, the sky was filled—mages leapt into the air, some firing flames, some charging with weapons, and others casting arrows of wind and light. The entire sky turned into a battlefield of colors and sparks.

Aster extended his hand forward: Gravitation Grasp!"

Suddenly, the mountains shook. Water, stone, and earth—all around him began floating in the air. A rumble spread, and with a flick, Aster shouted, Attack!"

Those floating pieces—boulders, waves, broken trees — launched forward like missiles, smashing into the mages.

Boom! FUSSH! THUD!

Some mages blocked, others were hit hard. Sakura swung her sword fiercely, slicing through the falling rocks, while Mekamaru charged forward, smashing through debris with his heavy punches.

As they landed on the ground, dust and smoke surrounded the battlefield.

From the far end, Levi raised his arms and laughed: Arsenal Rain!"

Suddenly, from above, a shower of glowing divine weapons descended from the sky. Swords, spears, and hammers—all spinning, glowing, and falling like a divine rain of destruction.

The war had begun.

Sakura roared, First Gate: Crimson Dash!" Her body lit up in glowing red—a blur of light and fury. She vanished, reappeared like lightning, and in a second she saved two mages from Levi's weapon storm. At the same time, Evon, Tomo, and Saku raised a combined barrier, shielding themselves and many mages beneath. They held strong.

But the fight had just begun.

Sakura dashed toward Aster, speeding like a beam, heart burning with rage. Mekamaru didn't wait either. He charged toward Levi, fists clenched, the ground cracking beneath him.

BOOM! Levi's flaming hammer clashed against Mekamaru's massive punch, shockwaves erupting. Mountains trembled. Their blows smashed boulders, collapsing terrain under their feet. Each punch, each swing, tore pieces of the battlefield apart.

Meanwhile…

Sakura vs. Aster.

She rushed him—faster than the eye could follow. But Aster smiled casually, lifting his hand. A lava sword formed from flames. Their blades met—CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Sakura pushed hard, slashing, stepping, and attacking. But Aster moved like wind, like he was playing with her. "You really think you can stop me, Sakura?" he mocked.

Suddenly, an arrow flew at him. He caught it mid-air. "Tch. Annoying sidelings." He looked at the other mages and snapped, Summon—Lava Serpent: Kagunir!"

Is that… a living volcano?!"

"It's like the sky itself is melting!"

"This thing breathes fire like it's water!"

A massive serpent of molten fire erupted from the earth. Its body burned orange, mouth steaming lava. It charged forward.

Sakura—"Noooo!"

The mages had no time to dodge. Several were engulfed. Burned. Gone.

The serpent circled back to Aster. He jumped onto its head, now flying above the ground, laughing softly.

"Kagunir... burn that woman to ash."

The serpent reared back, mouth opening, fire gathering at its core. A giant inferno aimed at Sakura. 

Sakura—I can't die here; I want to see my brother. If I die, I can't protect the plateau either. No, no, I can't die here. Do something, Sakura.

I won't let you take him from me!"

"This pain… is nothing compared to losing my brother!"

"I'm not strong enough… not yet!"

"Move, legs… MOVE!"

Sakura gritted her teeth. "I can't die here... not like this." She looked at the sky, at the fire. "So that's how powerful the Guardian of Yuzen truly is..."

Then she yelled again, First Gate: Crimson Dash!" Her body glowed red once more—she vanished, zipping across the lava serpent's back. "Faster, Sakura. Faster!" she told herself.

She ran over the lava, her boots almost catching flame. One slip = death.

She jumped.

"Moonlight Flash!" A shining blade slash burst toward Aster.

He dodged. The attack missed him but cut straight through the lava serpent, slicing it in half.

"Interesting, Miss Sakura," Aster said mid-air. "Now take this—Summon: Mamozi the Prankster Ape!"

A white, energetic ape appeared—crazy eyes, sharp teeth, holding two giant dadao swords. "What is this—?" Sakura barely finished before the ape vanished.

He reappeared in front of her—SLASH! She ducked. A shallow cut across her cheek. "Fast!" she gasped.

The ape didn't stop. It used its tail, legs, and both blades. Sakura kept clashing, parrying, and slashing. But she was outmatched.

Mamozi grinned, kicked her mid-fight, and used his tail to smack her against a broken wall.

Blood dripped from Sakura's shoulder.

But she stood again. Breathing heavily. Eyes burning.

On the other side, Mekamaru vs. Levi continued.

Hammer vs. Hand.

Both laughing. Both bloody. Their punches sounded like drums of war.

Levi grinned. You're not bad, stone hand."

Mekamaru smirked, You're not the only one with a storm in their blood."

Their battle cracked the sky. While Aster watched Sakura from above, grinning. "Let's see how long you can dance, Sakura Vincent."

The mountain shook like it feared them.

Screams echoed, but so did courage.

Smoke rose… but she didn't fall.

Even the wind seemed afraid.