Kaijin, Milim, Nago, and Daryun Unleashed

Smoke rose in pillars over the city of Kuoh, and though fire burned and the sky wept ash, one truth remained Riser's banner had not fallen.

The corrupted children of Vritra twisted by hatred, steeped in envy, born in darkness had breached Kuoh's outer wards. The screams of fallen monsters echoed in the distance. None being able to withstand the might of Riser peerage. They looked at death the moment they decided to invade their home.

Some still stood.

Four figures blocked the path of destruction Kaijin the Blacksmith pawn, Milim the Draconic Rook, Daryun the Black Knight, and Nago, the Demon Boar of Rage.

They had watched their comrades Thalia, Artoria, and even the enigmatic Merlin cleave through Vritra's elite. Their blood still burned. Their pride refused to yield.

Now, it was their turn.

The Battlefield

The ground cracked and trembled as three monstrosities approached

Obris, the Core Devourer, loomed like a volcano given breath. His obsidian hide oozed magma from joints and teeth.

Beside him, Kalzek, the Mind Eater, slithered with grotesque elegance. His coils teemed with mouths, eyes, and tendrils dripping psychic corruption.

Behind them, Drelgora, the Bone Wraith Dragon, descended with a scream that tore the wind. Her wings of sharpened bone glistened with death.

They had come seeking vengeance. Power. An end to Phenex pride.

Instead, they met fury incarnate.

Kaijin vs. Obris

Kaijin took a step forward, dragging Solrend behind him. The weapon hissed as it scraped the ground, glowing with latent Fire.

Obris's molten jaw split into a grin. "You stink of iron and sweat. A blacksmith, not a warrior."

Kaijin snorted, cracking his neck. "Tell that to the monsters my weapons have killed."

Obris charged, a tidal wave of molten fury. Kaijin didn't flinch. He launched upward, axe raised high.

"SOLREND destroy my enemies!"

The blow came down like judgment. The fire in the axe ignited Obris's skull, splattering lava and flame. The dragon screamed, crashing into the street, carving a crater as hot stone erupted around them.

Kaijin landed with a grunt. "This weapon?" he said, stepping forward as Obris tried to rise. "Forged it with my own blood. Cooled it in Phenex flame."

Obris roared and unleashed a stream of molten death but Kaijin marched through it, his body steaming, his tattoos glowing red hot.

"Built for one purpose," he whispered, before cleaving Obris's chest open in a torrent of Hellfire. The dragon howled.

"I built this as trial run," Kaijin said, lifting Solrend high, "for the King."

He brought the axe down and Obris's head rolled, eyes dimming.

Milim vs. Kalzek

A ripple of psionic decay spread as Kalzek slithered forward, tendrils writhing.

Milim stood before him, hands on her hips, pink hair fluttering, her tiny shadow dragon familiar perched on her shoulder.

Kalzek hissed. "You wear no armor. You wield gauntlets. You are a child playing war."

Milim blinked, then smiled wide. "I'm Milim Nava. That was your first mistake."

"You're weak."

"Nope. That was your second."

Kalzek struck with psychic energy, a blast meant to rupture minds but Milim danced around it like wind.

"Third mistake," she chirped.

Kalzek howled, unleashing a psychic scream meant to turn her brain to mush. Milim narrowed her glowing eyes, and

Snap!

She crushed the invisible wave with sheer will. "Your brain stuff? Lame."

She vanished then reappeared midair, driving her fist into Kalzek's face. His snout shattered, and he slammed into the dirt, his body twitching.

"You done?" she asked. "No?"

Her aura exploded, violet draconic power wrapping her like a storm. With a roar, she summoned a blazing sphere of draconian energy above her palm.

"Final mistake!"

"DRAGON STAR CRUSHER!"

The impact was apocalyptic. Light engulfed the ruins, dust clouding the sky.

When it cleared, only Milim stood, arms crossed.

She gave a thumbs up to the sky. "Riser's totally gonna hug me for this."

Daryun and Nago vs. Drelgora

Drelgora landed with a crash, flattening buildings. Her shriek echoed like a thousand damned souls.

Before her, two titans stood.

Daryun, clad in black and crimson, eyes glowing with warlight. Nago, taller than any beast, his tusks gleaming with blood.

"You think yourselves dragonslayers?" Drelgora hissed, her wings spreading. "You are insects."

Daryun raised his greatsword. "We're warriors."

Nago bellowed and charged, shaking the earth.

Drelgora whipped her tail but Nago caught it with his teeth and ripped it from her body with a roar.

Daryun leapt from his comrade's back, Halberd blazing. "FOR THE PHOENIX KING!"

The weapon bit deep, carving through her ribs.

Drelgora screamed, summoning a whirlwind of bone shards.

"Behind me!" Daryun shouted.

"No need!" Nago charged through it, bones bouncing harmlessly off his iron hide. He struck like a battering ram, lifting Drelgora off her feet.

Together, they struck again and again Daryun's Halberd a storm of fire, Nago's tusks shredding sinew and scale.

As she stumbled, Daryun locked eyes with her. "This is for the home you tried too burned. For the innocents you wanted to feed on."

He pierced her skull with a final blow, his Halberd igniting her brain.

Nago slammed his tusks into her chest, twisting.

Drelgora fell broken.

After regrouping together

Kaijin leaned on Solrend, his breath steady despite the ash on his brow.

Milim landed beside him, fists on her hips. "Told ya I'd go boom."

Daryun sheathed his sword, his voice calm. "It's done."

Nago looked to the floor gently observing a Phenex banner, fallen but not destroyed.

They turned towards the cities outskirts. Far beyond, Solar flares and void flames danced where Riser faced Vritra himself.

Kaijin looked around, nodding to each of them. "We held the line."

Daryun raised a fist. "We do more than that. We showed the world what it means to stand for something."

"For someone," Milim added, voice soft.

Nago let out a rumble. "For the King."

Kaijin straightened, holding Solrend high. "For boss man."

Daryun joined him. "For Kuoh."

Artoria smiled, her heart swelling. "For the ones we love."

And as the flashs of light and darkness peered through the ash, the Guardians of the Phenex stood tall ready for whatever came next.