The Beast Of The Phoenix

Utilizing the [Infinite Perception] skill, Renji manipulated the senses of Amelia, Kiyomi and her guards into thinking they had already restrained them. But in actuality, the three mages of the Dancing Phoenix had left the palace.

It was only when the guards locked them up that their senses returned to normal as the range of his [Infinite Perception] was limited.

"Your highness!" One of the guards barged into the throne room where Kiyomi discussed the proceedings of the conference with her friend.

"What is it?"

"Stormbringer and the two mages from the Phoenix has escaped!" He exclaimed breaking the sudden news to her.

Both Amelia and Kiyomi stood up from their respective seats flabbergasted, deep within Amelia's heart she was relieved that both Haru and Hinata were able to escape. However she couldn't care less about the imposter Renji.

"How? How did you let Stormbringer escape!?" Kiyomi bellowed furiously, she had just apprehended her father's killer after all these years and he escaped easily.

"Find him! Find him now!" She yelled at the top of her voice, immobilizing all the Magic Knights in her disposal to hunt down the Stormbringer as he couldn't have gotten far.

They all rushed out of the palace commencing a kingdom wide search for the fugitive known as Renji Storm and his accomplices.

"Ignorant fools, and they are supposed to be Magic Knights. Tch..." Kiyomi growled with anger as she stormed out of the throne room leaving Amelia speechless, her thirst for revenge changed her from the once sweet and kind princess to a vengeful being.

..

Renji, Haru and Hinata ran all the way from the royal palace into a nearby forest near a town known as Hoshikawa which is translated as the star river. They stopped to catch their breath after running non stop at full speed.

"Why does nothing works in our favor!" Hinata exclaimed as she gasped for air, from the Reaper's Pit quest to this nothing went as smoothly as it was supposed to.

"What was that Renji?" Haru asked as what had happened was highly puzzling.

"What was what?"

"What kind of spell did you cast that made those guards think we were no longer in the castle while we were actually there?" Now that he thought about it, he was a wind mage and no possible wind magic spells could pull off an illusionary trick like that.

"Yeah, what was that?" Hinata said adding to the pressure that was already on his head.

Before he could even utter a word, they heard the footsteps of an individual approaching them and immediately all their attention was focused right in front of them.

"Renji Storm, we meet at last." A masculine voice proclaimed as he emerged from the trees, revealing his muscular body and authority. "Did you really think you can run away from me?"

"Man, just how many enemies do you have?" Haru asked as they all got into a fighting stance.

"Once we're through with this, I'm talking half your gains on this quest for the troubles you've put us in. Hmph!" Hinata said as she complained like a child.

"Who are you?" Renji asked as he was unable to feel anything from this man, it was as if he didn't exist in this world but he was right in front of them.

"Wait a minute, it can't possibly be..." He thought.

The man smiled as it appeared Renji had an idea of who he was. "It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is what I want."

"And what would that be?"

"Give me the Sphere Of Aegis, Stormbringer." He demanded for the same Sphere the Imperial Dragon was after.

"The Sphere of Aegis?" He thought as he instantly remembered the dragon's last word to him. Judging by what the dragon had said prior to it's death, they were in huge trouble.

"The Sphere of Aegis? What's that?" Haru asked directing his gaze at Renji.

"It's an ancient artifact we retrieved during the Reaper's Pit Quest." He replied.

"Ancient artifact? Wait! You don't mean that stone containing an unbelievable amount of magic? You took it!?" Hinata proclaimed with astonishment.

"Well we couldn't just leave it there given the creatures that were after it, and sure enough it was the right decision given he desires it now." He said.

"I won't ask again, give me the Sphere of Aegis Renji Storm."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. Haru, Hinata, stand back. You have no idea what he's capable off." Renji said knowing first hand the power of a divine being.

"Are you kidding? This is perfect!" Haru proclaimed as he viewed this as a competition.

"If he is as powerful as you say he is, then defeating him is exactly what I need to do to surpass you!" He added.

"I'll be the one to defeat you! Beast Magic: Full Transfiguration1!"

A red aura surrounded the whole body of Haru, drawing with it immense wind pressure which was strong enough to uproot one of the trees in the surrounding area. As the aura slowly dissipated, what stood in Haru's place was a muscular humanoid beast with sharp claws and fangs, a mane around his head and his cornea assumed the design of a lions.

"Lion's Pride." He growled softly in a distorted voice.

"Haru..." He stammered as he was flabbergasted, Haru's magic had skyrocketed to a new height. In terms of magic alone, Haru had surpassed Renji.

It was his mana that gave him the upper hand.

"Lion's Pride, one of Haru transfigurations that earned him the title the Beast of the Phoenix. It doesn't matter who that guy is, Haru will still win." Hinata declared with confidence, experience indeed was indeed a great teacher but in this situation it didn't matter.

His abilities and magic level were astonishing, however it didn't matter in the face of a deity.

"RAHH!" Haru roared out as a golden aura exploded from his body, the pressure of his magic gave rise to shockwaves which rippled through the surrounding environment. The air became distorted and the ground cracked continuously in response to his might.

Renji and Hinata tried their best not to be overwhelmed by the force of his magic, but it was just too great and they were carried backwards off their feet. The mysterious man however stood still totally unfazed as the wave of energy radiating out of Haru passed by him.

"Are you done?" He asked with a bored tone, he thought he had more to offer judging by his outburst earlier, but it appears he had his hopes too high.

"You're going to regret underestimating me!" Haru roared out with a distorted voice as he plunged forward, crushing the grounds he stepped on as he approached the man.

"Beast Art: Primal Fist!" After utilizing his [Beast Transfiguration 1] all his spells were multiplied by hundred in terms of power and speed. He balled his right fist as the energy that radiated out of his body surrounded it.

BOOM!

A deafening sound echoed through the forest followed by a golden explosion powerful enough to clear a portion of the forest, the explosion was loud enough to be heard around the whole kingdom.

"Over there!" One of the magic knights proclaimed as he caught a glance of the trail of smoke that arose from the forest.

As Renji and Hinata got to their feet, they stared on at the cloud of black smoke that engulfed Haru.

"Did he do it?" Hinata muttered as they both waited for the dust to settle.

As it eventually settled, they couldn't believe their eyes. The man was sitting on the ground with his legs folded into a meditate position and he had his right fist supporting his jaw.

"Is that really it? How disappointing." The man said as he opened his eyes and stared right at Haru who had his fist directly against his forehead.

"I-impossible..." Haru's voice trembled in disbelief.

The man didn't move an inch even after taking such a blow head on, not even a scratch was inflicted on his forehead.

"I don't have time to play around."

In a flash, he placed his right palm on Haru's chest.

"AARGH!" Haru exclaimed as he felt an overwhelming voice hitting against his chest like something unbelievable powerful had just hit him, his transfiguration wore out and his whole body returned to normal before he was brutally sent flying backwards.

"Haru!" Hinata called out to him and rushed towards him as he crashed to the ground unconscious.

"Humans are so fragile, any more force and I would have crushed his whole body to dust." He spoke softly as he directed his gaze towards Renji swiftly.

Instantly alarmed, Renji attempted to summon his dagger but was quickly intercepted by the man's palm on his stomach.

"Ghh—bleh!" His eyes were widened as blood was forcefully ejected from his mouth, he fell to his knees as his body trembled from the force placed on his body.

"Renji!" Hinata exclaimed as she watched from Haru's side, the downfall of Renji.

Before she could even blink, she found her neck in the tight grip of the man. "He's unbelievably fast and strong... Who is this man?!" She thought as she struggled to breathe.

"You have twenty four hours to bring me the Sphere or this woman doesn't live to see another day." He said issuing a warning to Renji who slowly fell unconscious before completely vanishing from his sight.

"There he is! Along with the Phoenix Beast!" The Magic Knights exclaimed as they caught a glance of Renji and Haru laying on the ground.

"Damn... It." Renji muttered softly as he fell slowly fell unconscious, with his unstable mind and fuzzy sights he couldn't utilize the [Infinite Perception] to save both him and Haru.