Slade and his crew let out bursts of scornful laughter, their voices echoing across the battered village square, mocking Temoshí's bold declaration. To them, it was nothing more than reckless bluster. "You think you can defeat me in a one-on-one fight?" Slade sneered, his grin stretching beneath a mess of greasy hair. "Have you completely lost your mind, outsider? You won't last ten seconds against a man of my caliber."
Unfazed, Temoshí smirked as his voice cut through the mockery like a blade through silk. "Actually, I figure I can finish this in under a minute. Maybe even less if I don't hold back." Though his claim teetered on the edge of absurdity, something in his confident tone and unshaken posture made even the jeering pirates fall silent for a beat. Beneath their bravado stirred an unfamiliar sensation: unease.
Slade snorted. "You're as crazy as they come, boy. But fine—I'll entertain your delusion and fulfill it by carving you into ash. Once I'm done, I'll reduce this village to cinders."
Temoshí slowly extended his arm to the side. From his palm, a searing swirl of orange flame erupted, coiling around his hand and spreading up to his shoulder in a fiery vortex. His fingers flexed, and in the blink of an eye, the flames began to take shape, coalescing into a long, dark blade. The weapon shimmered with a threatening intensity, its aura crackling as though alive.
The crew's laughter faltered, replaced by expressions of shock and fear. They had expected the usual—bluffing, empty threats—but this? This was something else entirely. "Did... did that sword come from his body?!"
Temoshí grasped the weapon's hilt with a fluid motion, his muscles tensing as he spun the blade once in the air, the resulting gust sending dust and debris scattering in all directions. With a quick, practiced motion, he pointed the weapon directly at Slade, its fiery glow illuminating the area like a beacon of destruction. "It's massive, isn't it?"
Slade narrowed his eyes, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as he glanced at the weapon. "What the hell is that? You some kind of blacksmith? What, you can forge weapons out of thin air?"
"No." Temoshí's voice was steady and unyielding as his expression hardened. "This weapon is a product of my power. My aura, forged from flames, not some mere craft."
Slade's eyes widened, but before he could respond, Temoshí gave a short nod toward Ayuka, signaling her to move aside. "Let's see if you can keep up, then."
Temoshí's stance shifted, his body coiling with tension. The air itself seemed to hum with the weight of his presence. He pivoted, his foot slamming into the ground with enough force to shake the earth beneath him. The flames around his sword roared to life, intensifying in both size and heat as he charged forward in a blur of motion.
The pirates flinched, barely able to track his speed as he closed the distance between himself and Slade in mere seconds, the fiery trail of his sword carving through the air. Without hesitation, he swung with devastating force, the massive blade slashing toward Slade's neck.
Slade barely managed to raise his own sword in defense, but the impact was like a force of nature. The flames around Temoshí's blade exploded in a violent surge, sending Slade tumbling backward as his men screamed in terror. The heat was unbearable, and the ground cracked beneath the shockwave of the attack.
Slade staggered, his eyes wide in disbelief as his crew began to scatter in panic, their attempts to flee futile against the onslaught of flames that engulfed them. Screams echoed as the inferno spread, reducing the pirates to nothing more than burning, charred remnants. Within moments, the entire area was consumed by a blinding blaze, leaving nothing behind but ashes.
Temoshí stood at the center of the destruction, unshaken and calm. He sheathed his weapon, the flames dissipating into the air like smoke. His eyes remained closed, his posture relaxed, though a faint trace of disappointment flickered across his face. "Six seconds. I was hoping for better... maybe I rushed it."
The villagers, who had been watching in stunned silence, could hardly comprehend what had just unfolded. "Did... did he really just... take down all those pirates in a single strike?"
One man stepped forward, his voice quivering with a mix of awe and fear. "This kid... he's not like the rest! What if he turns on us next?"
"No way!" another woman shouted, shaking her head. "He just saved us! Why would he hurt us after that?"
A third voice cut through the crowd, filled with skepticism. "It's too risky. He's too powerful. What if he decides we're next?"
Temoshí's eyes narrowed at the growing murmurs, his expression hardening as he slowly turned to face them. "Are you all this stupid? I just saved your pathetic village, and this is how you thank me?" His voice grew louder, his anger rising as he gestured toward the ashes of Slade and his crew. "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have wasted my time fighting those fools. But you—" he paused, his frustration palpable, "you need to decide who you trust. Do I look like a villain to you?"
The villagers fell silent, a chill settling over the crowd as they exchanged uneasy glances.
Then, a voice rang out from the back of the crowd. "Yes."
The word hit like a blow, and Temoshí's temper flared instantly. His eyes widened in fury as he stormed toward the speaker, fury clouding his thoughts. "Am I, huh?" he bellowed. "Do I look like one of those shady bastards you're used to? If I wanted to kill you, I'd have done it before you could even breathe!"
Before Temoshí could continue, Ayuka appeared at his side, her hand gently but firmly landing on his shoulder. "Look, we get it," she said quietly, trying to calm him down. "You're angry, but—"
Temoshí turned, his fiery temper cooling just a fraction as he looked at her, blinking in confusion. "…Yeah, you're right."
"Good," Ayuka replied, her voice warmer now. "Now, calm down before you make things worse."
"Then shut up!" Temoshí snapped, throwing his hands up in frustration.
In an instant, Ayuka's fist collided with his head, sending him crashing to the ground. The loud thud echoed through the village, and the stunned silence that followed was deafening.
Ayuka sighed, brushing off her hands with a pleased expression as she turned to the crowd. "Everything's fine now, as you can see. He won't be doing anything else." She flashed a bright smile. "Now, how about some food?"
The villagers, still in shock, nodded quickly and began to prepare a meal for their unusual visitors. As they gathered around, Temoshí groaned and rubbed his bruised head, muttering curses under his breath.
"That kid's worse than I thought," one of the villagers remarked with a chuckle.
Ayuka's eyes narrowed, and she turned on them, her smile vanishing. "What did you say?"
The villagers quickly fell silent, shrinking away in fear.
"Good," Ayuka muttered to herself, "don't mess with me."
Meanwhile, Jaro approached, smiling warmly at the travelers. "We appreciate your help, and we'll gladly share our food. You're welcome to stay the night as well."
Ayuka's stern demeanor softened as she glanced at Jaro. "Thank you. We're glad we could help."
Jaro looked down at Temoshí, who was still nursing his head, and raised an eyebrow. "Is he going to be okay?"
"Oh, don't worry about him," Ayuka said with a laugh. "He's a tough one. A little food, and he'll be fine."
As the village prepared a hearty feast, Temoshí quickly regained his composure, joining his companions as they devoured the meal with enthusiasm. Codey, always quick to react, was already eyeing Temoshí's plate.
"You ate all of yours already?" Codey asked in disbelief.
"Yup," Temoshí replied, grinning as he swiped Codey's meat before the other man could react.
Codey, now furious, lunged at him, shouting, "That was my food!"
Temoshí, mouth full, just laughed and stuffed even more food in as Codey scrambled to get his share back.
"Stop stealing my food, idiot!" Codey yelled as they began bickering like children, arms flailing in the air.
Meanwhile, Elliott, ever the romantic, was lost in thought, staring at the women surrounding them. "Your beauty is like the aroma of freshly cooked meals, it inspires me to write poems that sing of my admiration."
Ayuka raised an eyebrow but didn't engage. Nina, however, chuckled, amused by the bizarre interaction. "They'll ruin our reputation if they keep this up."
Ayuka sighed, stretching as she took a bite of her food. "At least they're not boring."
The citizens, watching the exchange with a mix of confusion and amusement, began to slowly relax. They had witnessed the power of these strange travelers, and despite the chaos, they couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude.
Jaro, ever the gracious host, smiled and addressed the gathered villagers. "Today, we met some extraordinary travelers who saved our village. Make sure to show them your appreciation!"
The cheers from the villagers broke through the heavy silence, their voices lifting in unison as they celebrated the strangers who had become their unexpected heroes.
To be continued...