Chapter 1: Six Years Later

(Author's Note: The timeskip is actually 6 years and 7 and a half months.) I quietly walk through the forest with Spiritus by my side. As we walk, I hear a beep from my bracer. "Hmm..." I check the bracer and I notice a new mission.

"The Solarian army has built a new outpost northwest of your current position. Go there and eliminate the soldiers, but be careful. One of Yuri's generals is visiting, so use stealth to take out the soldiers. Do not engage with the general. If he notices you, retreat immediately."

"Well, Spiritus. It looks like it's time to get the hell out of here!" Spiritus howls and we start to run northwest towards the outpost.

As we get closer to it, I start to walk slowly so no one will hear us. I de-summon Spiritus and I climb a tree to watch for patrols.

Sure enough, a lone soldier starts to walk underneath my tree. "Ugh...That damned elf thinks he's so much better than everyone else just because he's Master's favorite..."

As he passes me, I silently drop down directly behind him and I immediately summon my katana. I grab his shoulder and I place my katana at his throat. "Answer my questions and I might spare you."

The soldier growls. "Who in the realms do you think you are, threatening a Solarian soldier?! Emperor Yuri will have your head! He-"

With the hand that's on his shoulder, I quickly spin the soldier around to face me. As he takes a good look at me, his face pales. "No...Not you...!"

"Tell me, what is this outpost for? Who is in charge?" The soldier starts to laugh. "We are here to capture the town of Lazarus, you idiot. Master Yuri wishes to unite every town and village in Norzelrin under the Solaris banner!"

I press my katana to his neck, making a little trickle of blood drip down it. "I watch over Lazarus. You will all die before you even set foot there."

The soldier glares at me. "We have over one hundred of Solaris's finest warriors in our outpost! You do not stand a chance of defeating them, but even if you manage to do that, that pretentious elf will put you in your place."

"I'm sure I can handle him. Now, what-" The soldier suddenly stomps on my foot, then he takes advantage of my surprise and runs screaming towards the outpost. "THE BLAZING SCOURGE IS HERE TO KILL US ALL!"

I quickly regain my balance and I immediately throw my katana at the soldier. It flies through the air and pierces through his weak armor, killing him.

I smirk as I snap my fingers and my katana reappears in my hand. "I never get tired of hearing that." I summon Spiritus. "Let's go show these "Solaris's finest warriors" what we're made of!" Spiritus growls in agreement and we run towards the outpost.

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A soldier rushes into the largest tent in the outpost. "Lord Norvendis, you must evacuate immediately!" The tall, blue-skinned male elf in the tent sighs and puts the book he was reading away.

"I'm busy. What is it now?" The soldier points towards the forest. "The Blazing Scourge is here! You must leave now, my lord! Save yourself!"

The silver-haired elf grins. "I see. Your master will be pleased to hear this. Go stall him while I contact Yuri." "Yes, sir!" The soldier sprints out of the tent and roars a battle cry. "THE ENEMIES OF SOLARIS WILL BE BURNED BY THE LIGHT OF OUR GLORIOUS EMPEROR!"

The elf pulls out a circular device and presses a button on it. The image of a man with medium-length dark purple hair appears and hovers above it.

"Greetings, my friend. I have located your former student. The soldiers are fighting him now." Yuri smirks. "Good. I will prepare the Brightburn and head to your position immediately. If those useless grunts fail to subdue him, hold him off until I arrive, but do not kill him. I want him alive."

"Understood." Yuri nods and closes the connection. The elf sits back in his chair and waits. "You are a true survivor, Brutus Crescent. Perhaps you are the one I've been looking for all this time..."

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I laugh as I fight through the soldiers. "If these are Solaris's finest, Yuri's going to be overthrown before I even get to him!" I furiously slash one soldier across his chest and I brutally stab another in the gut. Spiritus spits an exploding fireball at five soldiers clustered together and the explosion turns them to ash.

"For our Emperor!" Ten more soldiers charge at me. I roll my eyes and I leap at them. I slash one's throat then I stab another in the chest. I dodge an axe swinging soldier and I viciously cut the back of his neck.

Spiritus spits a regular fireball that incinerates two soldiers, then he leaps on another and rips his throat out. I knock the blade out of one soldier's hand and I ferociously slash him apart. I quickly stab the next one while Spiritus pounces on another and bites at his face.

I turn to face the last one, who looks terrified. He moves to stand in front of the largest tent. "Y-You will not pass me! I will defend Lord Norvendis until my last breath!" He uses his greatshield to block the entrance.

"Ugh, how am I supposed to cut through that...?" I suddenly have an interesting idea. "Spiritus, exploding fireball!" The soldier laughs as Spiritus spits it at him. "My shield dissolves any magic that touches it, you fool!"

As the exploding fireball sails towards the soldier, I throw my katana. Right before the fireball touches the shield, the tip of my katana pierces the core of the fireball and makes it explode early, blasting the soldier's shield away and making him defenseless.

I summon my katana into my hand and walk towards the last soldier. "H-hey now, we can talk this through, can't we?" I shut him up with a stab to the throat. As I approach the largest tent's entrance, a tall elf walks out of it. "Greetings, Brutus Crescent. My name is Lonril Norvendis, and I am one of Emperor Yuri's three generals." My bracer starts to beep, but I smack it to shut it up, knowing that it's Xerkhon telling me to retreat.

I think to myself: I've been doing this for six years and I've barely done anything to weaken Yuri's reign. It's time I stop hiding and running. After all, taking action is how shit gets done.