Mystical Fantasy : The Analogi

A great tremor struck the territory of the Ifrit village. Not enough to destroy the settlement, but enough to terrify every creature in the area.

DUAAARRRR!!!

The mouth of the Forbidden Cave exploded, rocks blasting in all directions. A massive shockwave halted every ongoing battle. Scorching mist and crimson light enveloped the sky, forming the silhouette of something... unnatural.

From within the cloud of destruction—a massive bird-like creature soared into the sky. Its wings spread wide, feathers burning like living embers. But they didn't consume the wind—they shook it with celestial authority.

Upon its back stood a young man—Zeo—his body cloaked in ash, but his gaze sharp, carrying the golden light of the divine symbol glowing on his back.

All beings—Ifrit, Orcs, even the frog-faction djinn—fell silent.

Absolute stillness echoed. None dared to move.

Velzhara, still aching from being hurled into rocks, halted her approach. Her eyes locked onto the majestic creature now hovering before the shattered cave. Meanwhile, Zelalehm and the other injured elders unconsciously fell to their knees.

"...That's... impossible..." one of the Ifrit elders whispered, his voice trembling.

Jakovi growled, leaping to Velzhara's side, his glare fixed on Zeo, who now rode the winged inferno.

"What is that creature? And… that boy!" Jakovi demanded, stunned by what he saw. But his greed swiftly replaced confusion.

"Hahahaha, this is perfect." He turned toward Velzhara. "We have to capture them—now. That bird must hold immense power, and that artifact… it's in that boy's hands!"

But Velzhara bowed her head instead. Slowly, she knelt, followed by all the other Ifrit warriors. No words. No command. One by one, they prostrated themselves in the direction of Zeo and the flaming-winged being he rode.

Jakovi frowned, looking around. "What are you all doing?"

No one answered.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" he roared, his voice shaking the silent battlefield.

Velzhara turned to him, her voice soft, yet deep. "Bow… or something terrible will happen to you."

Jakovi gripped the handle of his warhammer tightly.

"You've all gone mad… There's no way I, Jakovi, would ever bow."

Fwoosh!

A single beat of the massive wings. Yet the gust alone was powerful enough to shake the entire hill. Orc soldiers were thrown off balance. The ground trembled.

And then… the creature spoke.

"Not to me, nor to this human, should you bow. You defiant beings are so slow to change. Even when the signs are laid plainly before you."

Its voice boomed like soft thunder—gentle, yet crashing into the soul. It struck not the body, but consciousness itself.

Jakovi roared at the creature, unable to bear it. "Capture that beast!" he shouted.

Together with his troops, he leaped high—his warhammer glowing dark, ready to strike at Zeo and the creature.

But the winged being hardly moved. Once again—

KRAAAAKKHH!!!

A single wingbeat.

DUAAAARRRR!!!

An explosive wave of blazing energy erupted from the motion. Jakovi was flung far beyond the jinn's territory. His troops were swept away—unconscious, powerless.

Still atop the creature, Zeo bowed his head slightly. "Thank you… but who are you, really?"

The creature turned its head, its fiery eyes glowing gently.

"You don't need to know yet. But someday, when you meet him—you'll understand."

Zeo gave a quiet nod and stepped down, still holding the cold black stone in his hand.

"Thank you for freeing me from that seal. Now it's time for me to leave—through dimensions—to await my era."

The creature bowed slightly to Zeo, now standing before it.

"Peace be upon you, Chosen One."

Golden-red light began to swirl around the creature's body.

"Farewell, child of man. The world will change… because of you."

SHUUUUUUAAARRRR!!!

Its form ignited like a falling star, tearing open a dimensional rift in the sky. In a flash, the being passed through, vanishing into the fold of space and time—leaving behind a sky that slowly dimmed once more.

Zeo dropped to his knees. Exhausted. Silence fell upon the entire battlefield.

Velzhara rose, eyes fixed on Zeo—who now held the black stone artifact.

"Y-You can hold it?" Velzhara gasped. "I see… So… you're the true bearer… of that artifact… Forgive my insolence, and that of the Ifrit people."

Then Velzhara and the Ifrit Djinn bowed deeply to Zeo.

Though… some of them still seemed uneasy about the reality they now faced.

---

Outside the Ifrit territory…

The heat had begun to fade. The magma mist vanished, replaced by cool mountain breezes. A powerful quake had just occurred, throwing all nearby creatures into a frenzy.

Ravyn remained waiting—standing at the edge of a high cliff, her breathing still unsteady. Her eyes scanned the sky, no longer as threatening as before. The tremor had ceased.

Suddenly—

SHUUUUUU!!!

Dark shapes approached from the distance—flying fast.

"…What is that?"

Closer and closer—until the shapes became clear: not objects… but wounded beings hurled through the air, their clothes torn and bodies bloodied.

A hot gust followed, drying out the land. Once-green trees shriveled in seconds, scorched as if fire had touched them. Ravyn winced at the heat, body swaying from the force—but she held firm.

The bodies landed near her. Many of them.

Her eyes widened as one of them fell just a few meters from where she stood. A massive figure… pale-skinned, muscular, clutching a now-fractured warhammer.

Jakovi.

Many of his orc followers and frog-headed creatures lay nearby—unmoving.

Ravyn immediately shifted into stance, reaching for her weapon.

But…

Jakovi remained limp. His breath heavy. Eyes half-open—on the verge of unconsciousness.

Ravyn stared, uncertain.

Jakovi? He's that weak? Does that mean… Master Zeo survived?

She studied him closer, considering her next move.

Should I… finish them now? she whispered.

Her hand trembled—torn between slaughtering Jakovi and his troops… or walking away.

In the end, she stepped back. She turned away, uncertain she could defeat him even in his current state—especially knowing Jakovi possessed the Pain Killer skill that numbed his pain.

But then…

"I… think I'm getting old. I didn't even recognize you at first… But now… it's clear… I wasn't wrong."

His voice was hoarse, weak—but still held a flicker of threat.

"...I thought those rumors were just myths…" he continued. "So you're alive after all… Princess… hahahaha…"

Ravyn stopped. Her body froze.

She said nothing. Didn't turn.

She just took a deep breath… and walked away—leaving his words to vanish into the breeze now drifting softly through the sky.

---