Everyone thought the battle was finally over. The air was thick with smoke and dust, and for a moment, it felt like peace had returned. Tobari smiled, a cold, calculating grin, and I couldn't understand why. How could he smile now? His general had just been defeated by Ryso and Akira. It made no sense. My shock must have shown on my face because I could barely believe what I was seeing.
Then, just a few seconds later, something strange happened. The ice that had trapped Fenrik began to melt—slowly at first, then faster. My heart skipped a beat. I had no idea why. And then, in the next moments, Fenrik emerged, free from the frozen cage. Flames danced around his hands as he stepped forward, and the sheer intensity of his power sent a shiver down my spine. He was using fire.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Ryso's voice broke the stunned silence. "What? That's impossible! He has both lightning and fire powers? How could that be possible?"
Fenrik's gaze swept over us, calm and composed, yet filled with a quiet menace. "Do you think I have only one power, like the other generals?" he said, voice steady. "Do you think I take pleasure in killing innocent people? No. I can't be happy doing that. How could anyone find joy in taking lives? I am not strong enough to save them all. I can save many, but not you. Did you really think my power is comparable? Didn't you see the Three Dragons of Ashes? Right now, my strength is not even ten percent of its true potential."
Tobari's expression darkened, but he laughed. "Fenrik, go ahead. Kill them. They are not strong enough to challenge you. I believe in you."
Fenrik didn't hesitate. He attacked. Using both his powers in perfect synchrony, he combined lightning for incredible speed with fire to burn anything in his path. The ground around him seemed to explode with each step. We tried to fight back, but Akira raised his quark shield just in time, holding back the brunt of Fenrik's assault. "It's not enough to stop him," Akira said urgently. "I can only hold him for a few minutes!"
Ryso's mind raced. How could they possibly defeat such a monster? "Akira," he said, "do you still have any power left?"
"Yes," Akira replied. "The shield doesn't absorb my power. That's just an added feature."
"I have a plan," Ryso said quickly. "When he attacks, I will slow his speed. You just hold him for a few seconds."
Akira nodded. "Okay."
But Fenrik was relentless. The shield shattered under his power, and the battle intensified. Ryso focused, slowing Fenrik's speed just a little, each moment a struggle. "It's not working!" Fenrik roared, each strike shaking the ground. Each time Ryso slowed him, it was only for a fraction of a second, but it was enough.
Then Akira acted. Using every ounce of his strength, he froze Fenrik in place. "Do it fast," Akira shouted to Ryso. "Do whatever you need—I'll hold him for one minute!"
"That's enough," Ryso said with determination. He concentrated his quark power, shaping it into a sharp, glowing arrow. As Fenrik broke free from Akira's freezing hold using his fire, Ryso struck. The arrow hit Fenrik in the legs. Flames and sparks erupted as Fenrik staggered, unable to move any further.
Ryso studied him carefully. "I think… you're not like the other generals," he said.
Fenrik smiled faintly, a mix of pain and resignation in his eyes. "Then kill me. You've won the battle," he said.
Akira shook his head. "Why would we kill you?"
"I am your enemy," Fenrik replied. "I would try to kill you if I had the chance."
"You don't want this," Ryso and Akira said in unison. "You're being forced by the generals. Come with us, start a new life."
Tobari's anger boiled over. He landed on the ground with a thunderous crash. "Ha! Fenrik, you're weak like the other generals!" he spat, preparing to strike. But Ryso and Akira moved between him and Fenrik. "He's our prisoner," Ryso said firmly. "You won't be able to touch him."
Tobari's eyes narrowed. "If you don't give me Fenrik, prepare to face the Three Dragons of Ashes."
Fenrik's voice rang out, calm and commanding. "Give me to him. If you don't… you will all die."
Ryso and Akira exchanged glances. "If we have to fight the Three Dragons of Ashes for him, we will," Ryso said resolutely.
The air was tense, charged with power and anticipation. Every second felt like an eternity as the storm of conflict threatened to erupt again. But one thing was clear—Fenrik was no ordinary general, and we were about to see the true extent of his power.