Advanced Elemental Magic.

The next morning, Hifung stepped out of his house, locked the door behind him, and ran straight to the forest where he had trained the day before.

Once he arrived, Ray and Micyl were nowhere to be seen.

Hifung (in his thoughts): "Still quiet..."

Hifung (in his thoughts): "Well then, I'll try advanced elemental magic first."

He looked at his right hand.

Hifung: To release an advanced elemental spell, I need to use chi energy twenty times stronger than regular fire magic, and then I need to alter the nature of the chi.

Hifung (in his thoughts): "Alright, let's give it a shot."

He closed his eyes, trying to change the nature of the chi within his body.

Hifung: Aargh, this is harder than I thought...

He tried again, this time calming himself.

Though he continued to struggle, he kept trying.

He compressed the chi energy slightly to make it denser.

Hifung (in his thoughts): "There it is..."

Hifung released fire magic from his hand—it began to thicken gradually.

Hifung: Hot!

The fire in Hifung's hand began to transform into solid magma.

From behind the bushes, Ray and Micyl were secretly watching him.

Hifung then pointed his right hand toward a tree.

Hifung: Let's go!

He fired the magma spell.

The spell surged toward the tree, crashing into it and snapping it in half. The magma blast kept going, piercing through two more trees before slamming into a final one and falling to the ground—setting it ablaze.

Ray (in his thoughts): "Magma, huh? Hifung's chi capacity is incredible..."

Hifung collapsed to the ground, his chi almost depleted.

Hifung: Oh no… If the fire spreads, this could get out of hand...

He panicked as the last tree caught fire, threatening to ignite more and potentially burn down the entire forest.

Ray: Hifung, watch this.

Startled, Hifung turned and saw Ray and Micyl.

Ray suddenly unleashed a long, dragon-shaped water spell.

Ray: WaterDragon!

The dragon-shaped water spell flew rapidly toward the burning tree. It crashed into it, dousing the flames and extinguishing the magma.

Hifung and Micyl let out sighs of relief.

Ray and Micyl ran over to Hifung.

Micyl helped him stand up.

Micyl: You can use magma magic?

Hifung: Yeah... just learned it.

Hifung: Agh...

He winced in pain—his right hand was burned from the intense heat.

Micyl: Are you okay?

Hifung: I'll be fine...

He tried to endure the pain.

Ray: Your hand must've gotten burned.

Hifung: Huh? How did you know?

Ray: You haven't mastered magma magic yet, and magma is extremely hot. Once you've mastered it, you'll be able to control it so it won't hurt you.

Hifung: Yeah...

Micyl took his right hand, opened his palm, and saw the burn.

She looked shocked.

Micyl: This is bad...

Hifung: Don't worry, it'll heal soon.

He pulled his hand away.

Hifung: I don't think I can keep training today. I'll head home first.

Micyl: Are you sure you're okay? Want me to take you to the hospital?

Ray: Yeah, you should get that checked out, Hifung.

Hifung: Don't worry, I can handle this.

He began walking toward home.

But after only a few steps, a loud explosion echoed in the distance.

Hifung, Ray, and Micyl all heard it. They immediately looked toward the source, but since they were still in the forest, their view was blocked by the trees.

Panic surged through Hifung.

Without hesitation, he ran toward the sound.

Hifung: Come on, Ray, Micyl!

Ray: Right!

Ray and Micyl followed behind, worried.

As they exited the forest, they saw a horrifying sight: around two hundred Hakao soldiers had defeated the Milty kingdom guards.

The three of them were stunned and frightened.

The enemy troops were now charging toward the kingdom center.

Without wasting time, Hifung, Ray, and Micyl took to the skies using wind magic.

Ray: This is bad. If they reach the city outskirts, the battle could drag in civilians.

Micyl: You're right. What should we do?

Hifung: I have an idea.

Ray: What is it?

Hifung: Do you trust me?

Micyl: Of course we do.

Ray sensed something off.

Ray: Don't tell me...

Hifung: You two head to the castle. Warn the king. I'll hold them off here.

Ray: Are you crazy? You'll die!

Hifung: I won't.

Hifung: See ya.

Hifung unleashed a massive wind spell, launching Ray and Micyl ahead toward the kingdom—and drawing the Hakao soldiers' attention.

Ray: Dammit!

Hifung landed ahead of the enemy forces.

The soldiers came to a halt.

Hifung (in his thoughts): "I just need to hold them back..."

Meanwhile, Ray and Micyl arrived at the castle and rushed toward the throne room.

They burst through the door, stumbling and falling to the ground.

The king looked confused. Inside the room stood Mr. Feds as well.

Feds: Hey! You're supposed to knock before entering!

Ray: YOUR MAJESTY, DANGER! THE HAKAO KINGDOM IS ATTACKING!

Feds: What!?

King: What!?

Ray: Hifung's holding them off. They haven't reached the city yet.

King: He's holding off the enemy army!?

King: Feds!

Feds: Yes, sir!

King: Call Darius. Tell him to find out why the front-line units aren't responding. Reinforce the perimeter around the city center.

Feds: Understood!

King: You...

(He pointed at Ray.)

King: Bring me to your friend.

Ray: Yes, Your Majesty.

Back to Hifung.

Hifung: How dare you attack the Milty Kingdom! You think you can win?!

One of the enemy soldiers stepped forward. He wore a general's armor.

General: And you think you can stop us, all by yourself?

Hifung: Heh... Hahahahaha.

General: What's so funny?

Hifung: I'm not stopping you.

Hifung: I'm going to defeat you.

General: You're pretty cocky.

Hifung summoned his orange fire magic, amplifying it with aura.

General: Orange flame!?

General: Looks like you're not too weak.

Hifung smiled.

The general charged forward with incredible speed, sword in hand. His weapon glowed with blue aura.

Hifung fired the orange fire spell at him.

The general blocked it with his sword coated in blue aura.

He struggled to hold it back.

Hifung collapsed to the ground.

Hifung (in his thoughts): "Hehe... I forgot my chi is almost gone... and my right hand is still hurt... What do I do now..."

The general continued to struggle with the orange fire until it finally exploded, sending him flying backward.

Hifung (in his thoughts): "At least I took down their general..."

But the general slowly stood up again.

Hifung's eyes widened.

He tried to get up and fled.

Enemy soldiers, led by the general, chased after him.

They were gaining fast.

The general leapt and cast wind magic.

General: WindSmash!

A giant wind fist spell launched straight at Hifung.

Right before it hit—

The king arrived just in time, slicing through the wind spell with his sword.

He landed behind Hifung.

King: Are you alright?

Hifung: Your Majesty… my chi is almost depleted...

King: Then head back to the castle. I'll hold them off and slowly retreat.

Hifung: Understood.

The general held his soldiers back.

Ray and Micyl arrived.

Micyl: Hifung!

They landed beside him.

Ray: Hifung!

Ray lifted Hifung and carried him back toward the kingdom, with Micyl following closely behind.

The general eyed the king.

General: Let me guess… You're the king of Milty.

King: Correct. If I were you, I'd retreat right now.

The general laughed.

General: Hahahahaha...

He paused.

General: Unfortunately for you, I'm not like you. My king ordered me here to declare war on Milty.

General: So until I and my troops storm your capital, I won't retreat—not even if it costs me my life.

King: If your intentio

n is to declare war, then fine—return now. As of this moment, our kingdoms are at war.

The general looked displeased.

King: Unless, of course, your true goal is to destroy the Milty Kingdom by slaughtering innocent civilians.

His tone was cold and confident.

The general's expression darkened.