Eclipse of the Azure Flame

Chapter 4: The Phantom's Wrath

A Ghost from the Past

The air grew cold as Lorien Kaelstrade stepped forward, his silver gauntlets gleaming under the moonlight.

The Flame Hunters hesitated.

Even Rael's smirk faded.

"Lorien Kaelstrade… The Exiled Phantom." The leader's voice was tense. "We thought you were dead."

Lorien tilted his head, amusement flickering in his violet eyes. "Sorry to disappoint. But if you thought I'd let you kill my little brother—" His fingers cracked as he clenched his fists. "—then you're even dumber than I remember."

Riven, still reeling from the Abyssal Palm attack, stared in shock.

"Lorien… my brother is alive?"

The last time Riven saw Lorien, their clan had been massacred. He had assumed Lorien died with the others.

But here he was—very much alive.

And judging from the way the Flame Hunters hesitated, they feared him.

---

The Phantom Awakens

The leader recovered first, his expression hardening. "No matter. We have our orders." He gestured to his assassins. "Kill them both."

The Flame Hunters vanished in an instant.

Void Steps.

They moved through shadows, appearing from all angles, daggers coated in Onyx Flames.

Riven gritted his teeth, struggling to summon his Azure Flames—

But before he could react—

BOOM!

Lorien moved like a phantom.

With a single step, he was already in front of the first assassin. His silver gauntlet flashed—

CRACK!

His punch obliterated the assassin's ribs, sending him crashing through a stone pillar.

"What—?!" Another assassin swung at Lorien from behind—

But Lorien tilted his head slightly, the dagger missing by mere inches.

His hand shot out, grabbing the assassin's face—

And slamming him into the ground.

BOOM! The impact created a crater.

The remaining assassins hesitated.

The leader growled. "Don't falter! Attack together!"

They rushed him at once.

Ten assassins.

Lorien exhaled. His gauntlets shimmered, and suddenly—

His entire body blurred.

---

Power Explanation: Phantom Stride

Phantom Stride – A lost technique of the Kaelstrade Clan, allowing the user to move between the space of a breath.

Ethereal Crush – A devastating technique that increases Lorien's strikes tenfold in an instant.

Echo Mirage – Creates an afterimage that mirrors Lorien's attacks, confusing enemies.

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The Counterattack

The moment the assassins attacked, their blades sliced through nothing but air.

Lorien had already moved.

BOOM!

In the blink of an eye, he struck four assassins at once, his fists landing with bone-crushing force.

One went flying through a wall. Another's arm twisted unnaturally as he crumpled to the ground.

The remaining assassins barely had time to react before—

CRACK! Lorien spun, slamming his knee into an assassin's stomach.

The man gasped as blood sprayed from his mouth.

The leader staggered back, eyes wide.

"What… what kind of monster—?!"

Lorien vanished again.

Reappearing right in front of him.

"Too slow."

BAM!

Lorien's palm struck his chest, sending him skidding back.

The leader coughed, Onyx Flames flickering around him. "Tch… he's too strong."

Rael, who had been watching silently, finally stepped forward.

"Enough." His Crimson Flames ignited, burning hotter than before.

"You're impressive, Lorien." Rael's eyes narrowed. "But you're in my way."

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Betrayal in the Dark

Before Lorien could respond—

A dagger pierced his back.

Lorien's eyes widened as blood dripped down his side.

Behind him—

One of the wounded assassins smirked.

"Fool."

Lorien gritted his teeth, spinning around—his gauntlet crashing into the assassin's face, sending him flying—

But the damage was done.

The Onyx Flames from the dagger spread through his veins, weakening him.

"Damn it… I got careless."

Rael's smirk widened.

"Now then—" He raised a hand—Crimson Flames roaring to life.

"Let's end this, Kaelstrade brothers."

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End of Chapter 4