Chapter 2: EPISODE 1; SON OF THE PHOENIX LORD
Two men stood facing each other. The spotlight shone on them but the rest of the room was dark. They were in the hall of Innovain's castle. One of them wore a vest with the symbol of a flaming phoenix imprinted behind it. The other had a dragon imprinted on his vest. A little boy watched the two men anxiously.
"Son, return to your mother"
The man with the phoenix symbol on his vest said.
"Dad, I don't want to leave you,"
The boy replied.
"Lord Vega, your skills are truly supreme but do you really hope to defeat me, Vagan, twin brother of Innovain?"
The other man said with a conceited smile.
"Dad! Don't do this! Think about Mom, if anything happens to you, Mom's going to break down!"
The little boy pleaded. He was only seven years of age.
"Your son is indeed wise. You should back down Vega!" the conceited Vagan threatened.
"Son, listen to me. I know that this endless fighting has only brought grief however, as a Jo-lan fighter, it is my duty to stop Innovain. I do this to protect your mother and your future"
Lord Vega approached his son and with a smile and patted him on the head. "Grow into a fine man" he advised his son.
"Such a display of useless sentiments is making me nauseous! A fighter must value only his strength! Vagan bragged.
Lord Vega chuckled.
"As I thought, neither you nor your brother understand the real meaning of strength" he said.
"Oh really? Then defeat me and prove it!" Vagan grinned slightly.
"Oh, I intend to defeat you if you insist on standing in my way" Lord Vega said coolly.
"Then let's get on with the show!"
Vagan roared and charged to attack Lord Vega. Lord Vega on the other hand seemed unperturbed. He simply watched Vagan with confidence. Just when Vagan was about to land a punch, Lord Vega disappeared and reappeared behind him.
"Wow! That must be Dad's ultra speed move, 'Killer Ghost Switch!'" the young boy thought in awe.
Vagan realized that Lord Vega was behind him and gave a high turning kick but Vega blocked with little effort and gave Vagan a terrible blow to the side. Vagan fell to the ground clutching his stomach tightly.
"You should stand down Vagan, I have no intention of killing you" Vega said calmly.
"You'll pay for insulting me!" Vagan roared as a dark fiery aura surrounded his body and his eyes turned into fiery slits.
"I see, so this is your Psychorage ability"
Vega did not seem surprised at all.
"Do you like it? I call it 'THE ANIMUS DRAGON!' Of course no one has ever seen it and survived my ultimate move!" Vagan bragged.
"Well then, let's see your ultimate move" Vega said with a smile.
"Dad!" the young boy called.
"Josec! Stand as far away from me as possible!" Vega warned his son. The young Josec ran to the farthest point of the hallway.
"Prepare to die Vega!" Vagan threatened as he charged to attack Lord Vega.
"Take this! Psychorage ability! TWISTING DRAGON BARRAGE!"
Vagan called as his aura stretched behind him to form a serpentine dragon. Vagan's speed increased dramatically and he seemed to be in many places at the same time. "ONE!" he roared as he kicked Vega from behind. Vega grunted in pain. "TWO!" he called again and somersaulted, kicking Vega on both shoulders. Then without warning, he began to deliver a rapid succession of attacks. Even Lord Vega could not read his moves. When Vega had delivered about five hundred hits, he leapt high into the air to deliver the final blow.
"FINAL MOVE!" he called.
"DAD!" Josec screamed desperately.
Vega gained strength from hearing his son's voice. Just as Vagan dived headlong, turning fiery and assuming the form of a dragon in the process, Vega timed his attack and gave a reverse somersaulting kick. His kick connected with Vagan's face and a cracking sound was heard. Both men fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Vega stood up but he was weak from the beating he had just received plus he had twisted his ankle with the last move. Vagan on the other hand remained still. He had died from a broken neck.
"I'm sorry Vagan but you left me no choice" Lord Vega said. Suddenly, he heard heavy footsteps. "Could it be…him?" Vega thought as he felt momentary fear. Josec could hear the footsteps too. They looked towards the sound of the footsteps and saw a very huge muscular man in armour. He had long flowing dark hair with silver edges.
"INNOVAIN?!" Lord Vega exclaimed in shock.
Innovain descended the stairs and stared at his brother's body with cold, gray eyes.
"Tell me Vega. Are you the one that killed my brother?" he said emotionlessly.
"It was not my intention" Lord Vega said regretfully.
"Whether or not it was your intention is of little consequence to me. By killing my brother, you have insulted me and the penalty for that is death"
Innovain said coolly.
"He's not bothered by his brother's death at all. Is he really human?" Lord Vega wondered.
"Human emotions mean nothing to me, they are merely a hindrance to my strength," Innovain said as though he had read Vega's mind.
"You! Did you just…?!" Vega wondered.
"Yes…and there is one thing you are right about. After I'm done dealing with you, your family will be next" Innovain said with no trace of anger or hatred in his voice.
"Oh and one more thing, is that your son?"
Innovain's lips slowly curled into a wicked smile.
"Oh no! What was I thinking allowing Josec to stick around for so long?!" Lord Vega thought with concern. In a flash Innovain was standing in front of Josec.
"Tell me boy, what is your name?" Innovain asked.
"M-m-my name is Josec F-Fenix" Josec stammered nervously.
"Fenix? Tell me boy, does your name in any way relate to the mythical bird, the Phoenix?"
"I-I don't know"
"Since your father has the emblem of a phoenix on his vest I'd say it does. How unfortunate for you for I very much despise the Phoenix!" Innovan said with a frown.
Lord Vega struggled to stand.
"Do you know that in the ancient Jo-lan myths, the only creature with the power to stand against the dragon is the phoenix?" Innovain asked Josec.
Josec shook his head ignorantly.
"Hmm, what has your father been teaching you or could it be that he doesn't want you to become a Jo-lan fighter?" Innovain questioned.
"It is not my wish for my son to follow in my footsteps. His future is to lead a happy life free from all this senseless fighting!" Vega said. "Dad" Josec called worriedly.
"And that is why…I must defeat you Innovain!" Lord Vega called as he suddenly disappeared.
"How useless"
Innovain said as he threw a punch.
The punch struck Vega just as he reappeared in front of Innovain. Vega fell to the ground.
"If you wish to defeat me, your power must match your speed" Innovain said.
"I WILL DEFEAT YOU! INNOVAIN!!!"
Lord Vega roared as he released a huge amount of energy and rushed to attack Innovain. Innovain stood his ground and dodged all of Vega's attacks with ease.
"Pity, I'd hoped you would at least be able to land one hit" Innovain said regretfully.
Vega panted wearily. The damage he had received from his fight with Vagan was beginning to take effect.
"If this is all you can do…then I can't guarantee the safety of your family. Your wife and your son will die" Innovain threatened.
"Don't you dare hurt them!"
Vega roared as his eyes became vertical slits and fiery red aura engulfed him. Part of his aura materialized behind him to form a pair of wings.
"Crimson wings? So you managed to master part of the phoenix transformation technique. This is your Psychorage ability I presume?" Innovain said with a little bit of excitement in his voice.
"Dad!" Josec exclaimed in joy.
"I didn't expect to have to go this far" Vega said.
"I see from your transformation that you inherited the power of the Crimson Phoenix of Jo-lan however…can half a Psychorage match the power of my Psychorage ability?"
Innovain said as his eyes turned dark with orange vertical slits for pupils. Dark aura engulfed him and he transformed into a huge black dragon so huge that it broke through the roof of the castle.
"Huh?! Dad! What's going on?!" Josec screamed in fear of the dragon.
"That's Innovain's Psychorage ability 'Souryu!'" Lord Vega exclaimed. "Psycho…rage?" Josec wondered.
"Even if you were a god! I would still fight you to the very end INNOVAIN! HAAAH!!!" Lord Vega roared as he charged to attack the dragon.
"Foolish human. Obviously you lack knowledge of your limits. Die Vega! BLACK FLAMES OF SUDDEN DEATH!!!" Innovain roared as he blew intense black flames at Vega.
Instead of avoiding the flames, Vega leapt right through the flames towards the dragon's head but the dragon caught him in its hand.
"You've made a tragic mistake Vega! You should have run when you had the chance. But now your son will watch you die!" Innovain roared as he began to squeeze the life out of Vega.
"Dad! Dad no! Break free!" Josec screamed desperately as he ran towards the dragon.
"Stay back Josec! Listen to me son. There are two kinds of power in this world. The Power to Destroy and the Power to Protect! Yours is not the power to destroy. You have a kind heart and abundant love within you. Let your love be your strength and never lose hope" Vega advised his son.
"Enough talk! Die already!" Innovain roared as he squeezed more tightly.
"NO! STOP! DON'T KILL MY DAD! PLEASE!" Josec pleaded as he cried in anguish.
"Remember this son. You make me proud every single day, ugh!" Lord Vega grunted and gave up the ghost.
Innovain let him drop to the ground.
"DAAAAAD!!!" Josec screamed as he ran to his father's side.
At that moment, Josec's mother who was cooking at home felt a sharp pain in her heart. Tears began to flow down her face.
"Dad! Dad! Wake up dad! Please don't do this to me! Don't leave me alone…I need you Dad" Josec cried as he knelt beside his father's body.
Innovain reverted back to his human form.
"Listen boy, the next person I'll kill is your mother, then you but I will spare you both on one condition" Innovain said with an evil grin.
Josec wept sadly.
"You must carry your father's corpse back home without dropping it on the ground even once until you get home, understand?" Innovain said.
Josec nodded sadly and struggled to lift his father's body unto his back. After that, he walked out of the castle and into the streets.
"Ysmann!" Innovain called his most loyal henchman.
"Yes, my lord?" Ysmann bowed respectfully.
"Follow him and make sure he doesn't drop Vega's body. If he does, kill him and anyone related to him!" Innovain ordered.
"Yes, my lord" Ysmann said as he trailed Josec with his henchmen.
Josec walked through the town with his father's corpse on his back. He lived quite close to the outskirts of the town so he had quite a long walk ahead of him. When he reached halfway, his body began to tremble from tiredness and his back felt like it was about to snap. His legs were aching and his neck was stiff. He felt like giving up.
"I'm sorry Dad. I don't have the power you were speaking of. I can't protect anyone, not Mom, not even myself" he thought as he looked into the sky as though searching for an answer.
Just when he was about to collapse, he saw the constellation of the Phoenix in the sky. It began to drizzle. Strangely enough, the rain only fell on him. It didn't touch anything except for his body. Josec sighed.
"I understand Dad, I'll protect Mom even if I have to crawl on the ground like a worm!" he said with new determination.
When he arrived home, his mother was waiting for him. She ran to him and helped him put his father's body on the ground.
"Oh Vega, why did you have to throw your life away like this" she cried bitterly. Josec walked to his mother and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry Mom, I'll always be here to protect you. I promise you that one day, this world will be free from Innovain's malice" Josec said confidently.
"You must promise me son, that you'll never see fighting as a means for survival" his mother said.
Josec was hesitant because deep within his heart he wanted to avenge his father's death. "Promise me son!" his mother pleaded.
"I promise…mother!" Josec promised.
TEN YEARS LATER
"Josec? Josec! Are you still sleeping? Wake up and prepare for school" Mrs. Fenix said as she drew the curtains.
Sunlight streamed into Josec's bedroom. Josec turned away from the light.
"Come on Mom, please give me a sec" Josec pleaded
"Okay, sec is up, rise up lazybones!"
Mrs. Fenix tapped him on the shoulder.
"You're so mean Mom" Josec teased affectionately.
"Well I don't work my bones off selling flowers so that you can slack off in your studies" Mrs. Fenix complained.
Josec sat up.
"Okay Mom, you're right. I'm awake now. Can you please give me some time to change" Josec pleaded.
"Of course dear" Mrs. Fenix said as she left the room.
"Aye-yi-yi, mothers" Josec scoffed and dropped back on his bed to sleep.
After about five minutes, Mrs. Fenix walked into the room.
"Josec! What impudence! I have been waiting for you all this while and you've been sleeping? Well, I think I'll wake you up just the same way your father used to wake you up!" she said as she tied her dress tightly and pulled back her sleeves.
She grabbed the underside of the bed.
"WAKE UP YOU INCORRIGIBLE SLACKER!!!" she yelled as she shook the bed with amazing strength. Josec flew from the bed and bumped his head on the roof.
"What insane strength!" he exclaimed in pain and collapsed to the ground.
"Josec, right now, I'm on the verge of delivering to you a massive slap!" Mrs. Fenix yelled.
"I bet I'll be beheaded if she did that" Josec muttered under his breath.
"Did you say something?" Mrs. Fenix glared angrily.
"Aha ha ha, I only said that you are very considerate mother," Josec lied nervously.
"To the bathroom young man!"
Mrs. Fenix pointed towards the bathroom.
"Yes ma'am!" Josec saluted and ran quickly to the bathroom.
He smiled to himself.
"I expected Dad's death to break Mom's spirit but she's stronger than ever before. It's almost as though Dad's spirit is living within her" Josec thought to himself as he turned on the shower.
"Josec, I'm proud of you. You witnessed your Dad's death yet you never allowed hatred to dwell in your heart. I'm sure that you would serve a greater purpose if you were a Jo-lan warrior" Mrs. Fenix thought to herself.
"It's been ten years since Dad died and I'm already seventeen. Mom sells flowers to take care of me. I will protect her for as long as I live and keep my promise never to see fighting as a means of survival. It was also Dad's wish that I don't become a Jo-lan fighter" Josec thought to himself as he got dressed and packed his books into his bag.
"Josec, would you prefer it if I walked you to school this morning?" Mrs. Fenix asked.
"If you're not busy, I'd like that very much" Josec said with a smile.
"Are you sure? I've heard the nicknames your friends call you by. Are you sure you don't mind at all?"
"My friends are my friends and my mother is my mother. They're probably jealous and I don't really mind being called names. In fact, it's a way of saying I'm the ideal son" Josec reasoned.
His mother smiled.
"I'm proud of you. You're already a man and a very mature one at that" Mrs. Fenix praised.
As they walked to Josec's school, Marisco Senior High, they ran into Josec's best friend Harry. Harry was the son of Ysmann but only Josec knew this secret other than Harry himself. No one knew that Ysmann was Innovain's right hand man because everyone knew him as Mr. Felix Bane. Thus Harry was known as Harry Bane. Harry had once saved Josec from some bullies when they were only in Class Three. Since then, the two boys had remained best friends. When Josec discovered Harry's secret, their friendship became a little complicated but Josec sincerely told Harry that he did not believe in the son inheriting the sins of the father and their bond became stronger than ever. Harry was a prodigy in the Jo-lan arts, inheriting his father's great skills.
"Hello Harry!" Josec greeted. "Hello Jo, how's life on the flip side" Harry greeted his friend in the usual way.
"Life is cool…most of the time" Josec answered.
"How are you Harry? Josec tells me lots of good things about you" Mrs. Fenix said with a smile.
"Heh heh, well I tell my Dad lots of nice things about Josec too" Harry laughed happily.
"Josec, since you're walking with your friend, I think I'll get back to the house now" Mrs. Fenix informed her son.
"Okay, see you later Mom" Josec waved his mother goodbye till she was out of sight.
"Josec, are you ready?" Harry asked.
"Ready for what?"
"I heard that stupid snitch Tamagov informed Sir. Somili that we were the ones that trampled on the flowers in the school garden" Harry said.
"Oh boy, we're in deep trouble this time. How will we get out of this one?"
"Leave it to me. I'll find us some alibis" Harry said with a cunning smile.
"Oh crap! When you show those thirty-two slabs in your mouth, it means you're either going to bribe people or threaten them and you always wind up putting us in even bigger trouble!" Josec sighed hopelessly.
"You know me very well. However I've only got one thing in mind this time. I'm going to make everyone in class our alibis and if that doesn't work, well no biggie because I'm going to smash Tamagov's thirty-two down his throat" Harry said slyly.
"Oh boy, here we go again" Josec sighed.
As the two boys sat in class talking, Sir Somili walked in with a cane so massive, even I wonder whether it was a cane or a tree.
"We-are-so-dead" Josec said with a nervous laugh.
"Not if I can help it! Watch this Josec" Harry said as he began to multiply in numbers.
Only Josec could see his shadow clones. Harry sent each clone to a student.
"Harry and Josec were with you all at the time the flowers were trampled. If you implicate any of them, two things will happen. One, you will have a flat nose and two, your thirty-two will fly!" the shadow clones whispered to the students.
Only Sir Somili and Tamagov couldn't see nor hear them. All the other students were trembling in fear except for one girl. She was called Buern Vane. She too could see Harry's clones. She simply punched the clone threatening her and you can guess what happened. Let me give you a hint. Whatever happens to the clone is felt by the master so OUCH! Harry held his face in pain.
"Josec Fenix! Harry Bane! Come here immediately!" Sir Somili ordered.
"Yes sir" Harry and Josec replied fearfully as they approached Sir Somili.
"I have received valuable information that you two were the ones that trampled on the flowers in the school garden. Is that true or not?" Sir Somili asked.
"No sir, we were in the dining hall at that time. You can ask everyone" Harry lied.
"Gbewa, is that true?" Sir Somili asked.
"Yes Somili, it's true" Gbewa answered.
Sir Somili lashed him on the head for not showing the proper respect.
"Is that true Jiji?" Sir Somili asked.
"I quite remember" Jiji was saying when WHAM! The cane landed on his head.
"I asked whether it was true or not and not whether you quite remember or not!" Sir Somili said.
"Eghan, what of you?" he asked.
"Sir, there are many gardens in this school? Are you talking of the Agriculture Student's Practical Garden or Sir Govina's private farm?" Eghan asked with sly innocence.
THWAP! The cane landed on his head.
"Don't try to act smart with me young man! You know what I'm talking about!" Sir Somili scolded Eghan.
"Oh sir! I don't. If you are talking about the Front Gardens or the Agriculture Practical grounds, they are innocent but they are guilty of trespassing in Sir Govina's farm" Eghan said.
"EGHAN! YOU IDIOT! YOUR THIRTY-TWO WILL DEFINITELY FLY!!!" Harry yelled angrily and in the next instant, the cane landed with a quick THWAP on his head.
"ATCHAAAA!!!" Harry screamed in pain.
"Sir Somili, Josec Fenix and Harry Bane did trample on the flowers in the school garden!" Buern confessed the truth.
"SHUT UP YOU WITCH! NO ONE ASKED YOU!" Harry yelled angrily.
THWAP! The cane landed on his head again.
"I so hate you Somili" Harry muttered under his breath.
"I do not care whether you hate me or not. As long as you remain in this highly disciplined institution, you shall conform to all school rules and I mean all of them" Sir Somili said.
Josec felt his heart turn to dust and get blown away by the wind. Buern, the only girl he had ever loved had delivered him into the hands of Sir Somili and in that school, well let me make it simple for you:
SIR SOMILI+CANE=DEATH!
So you can imagine how painful it was for Josec.
"Josec Fenix, Harry Bane, what have you to say for yourselves?"
"It's true" Josec confessed with a look of regret on his face.
"What are you doing Josec?" Harry muttered angrily.
"But Harry was not in the garden at that time. I am the only one at fault here" Josec tried to defend Harry.
"THAT'S A LIE!" Harry returned the favour.
"Josec, have you forgotten that Prince called you to the library at that time?"
Harry tried to create an alibi for Josec.
"Yeah, I remember but that was after I had trampled on the flowers. You were in the toilet at that time" Josec said slyly.
"JOSEC YOU IDIOT! HOW DARE YOU PUBLICIZE THAT TO THE WHOLE CLASS?!" Harry yelled angrily.
"So you were in the toilet at that time? Is that right Master Bane?" Sir Somili asked.
"IT'S AN OBVIOUS LIE! JOSEC IS ONLY TRYING TO PROTECT ME!" Harry yelled angrily.
"Harry, the two of us don't have to suffer at the same time you know? Just bail yourself out of this!" Josec whispered to Harry.
"No! You remember our creed don't you? We rise together…" Harry began.
"We fall together" Josec completed their creed.
"How stupid" Buern said emotionlessly.
"Pardon?" Josec asked.
"It's so useless for two people to defend each other for the sake of friendship" Buern said.
"That's because you don't understand how it feels like to have a friend you ancient bag of bones!" Harry retaliated.
In a flash, Buern stood in front of him and the two were held in a tight block hold.
"Don't talk to me about having friends! Have you forgotten your place?!" Buern roared.
"Just because my dad works for your dad doesn't mean you can boss me around! Don't try messing with me Miss Jo-lan Souryu!" Harry teased.
"Hey guys, calm down" Josec pleaded.
"Why are you smitten by her? Just what do you see in this…this…hollow being!" Harry added more fuel to the fire.
"SHUT UP BANE! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO?!" Buern threatened.
"Yes I do and that's why I don't feel hesitant to do this!" Harry yelled as he withdrew his fist and aimed a blow to Buern's face,
Everyone in the class exclaimed in shock and shut their eyes. Buern realized that she couldn't dodge the blow so she shut her eyes tightly and prepared to receive the hit. There was a loud hitting sound but Buern realized that she felt no pain. When she opened her eyes, she realized that Josec had shielded her from Harry's punch. Harry's fist was in Josec's hand.
"Jeez Harry, you really should learn to control your temper" Josec said playfully.
Harry sighed.
"Whoa, that was a close one Josec. I put enough Jo-lan power into that punch to disfigure Buern for life" Harry said.
Buern punched him. He wiped his bleeding lip.
"You should be thankful Buern. If not for the fact that Josec defended you, I can assure you that you would no longer be beautiful enough to be called 'The Rose of Jo-lan.'" Harry said with a cunning smile.
"Oh man, he really lost his cool this time" Josec thought worriedly.
"And honestly, I don't care what your father would have done after that" Harry added.
"Are you done with your pyrotechnic display?" Sir Somili asked.
"I think they are done Sir Somili" Josec laughed nervously.
"The three of you have shown gross disrespect to me and the name of this institution. As such, the only fitting punishment for you is the small portion behind the school library. You must bring all the weeds to ground level if you know what I mean" Sir Somili said seriously
"Aiiieee! I hope he's not talking of…" Harry was saying.
"That's exactly where I'm talking of" Sir Somili said with a scary look on his face.
All the students in the class turned to look at each other with scared expressions on their faces. There was absolute silence. So silent that you could hear a pin drop. Let me explain their scared expressions. Just a little equation:
SIR SOMILI+ SMALL PORTION(IMPATIENCE)=COCOA FARM!
So you can understand how the three students felt.
'The Cocoa Farm' was the term the students used to refer to any large weedy field with tough, tall grasses, specially reserved for the most notorious students.
"And we have to do this after classes?" Josec asked.
"Josec, since you attempted to end the grand battle between Harry and Buern, I'd like to reduce your burden" Sir Somili offered.
"It's okay sir. I go wherever Harry goes. Besides, they'd never be able to pull off such a herculean feat on their own" Josec refused the offer.
"Besides, without Josec, I can't guarantee Vane's safety" Harry threatened.
"Pfft! Like you can actually hurt me" Buern mocked him.
"Harry! Buern! Please calm down" Josec pleaded.
Sir Somili left the class and the three students returned to their seats.
"That stupid Tamagov! This is all his fault!" Harry growled angrily.
"Let it go already! We're in enough trouble as it is! Don't go causing more" Josec advised.
"And that Buern Vane! I tell you what, she's really vain! What do you honestly see in her?!" Harry reproached Josec for his feelings for Buern.
"It's not something I expect you to understand just yet. If you really want to know why I love her, then try to be more open minded and observe her more closely" Josec answered
"I certainly have no intention of doing that!" Harry refused.
After classes, the three students met behind the school library.
"OH-MY-GOD! Look at this place, the weeds are even taller than Sir Somili and hey, Sir Somili is really tall" Harry exclaimed in horror.
"And by 'bring the weeds to ground level,' he means we should pull out the weeds with our bare hands" Josec complained.
"Oh don't tell me you guys are spineless cowards" Buern said slyly.
"No! I could weed this entire field on my own!" Harry challenged.
"Go right ahead. That's if you can actually do it" Buern returned the challenge.
"Nice try Vane but you can't fool me that easily. I'd be more than happy to do that for Josec but I'm not foolish enough to be deceived by you" Harry said disdainfully.
"Oh if you can't do it just say so and stop this useless drama. You're a terrible actor" Buern insulted.
"Well if you'd like, I'd be more than happy to punch you in the face, then you'll see if I'm just acting" Harry said coolly.
"Will you guys just shut up?! If you haven't noticed, we're in this mess because the two of you lack restraint! So the best you can do is tolerate each other at least until our task is over!" Josec scolded Harry and Buern.
He was perfectly fed up with their attitude towards each other.
"You're no one to tell me what to do Fenix! Just mind your own business!" Buern yelled angrily.
"Then grow up already!" Josec scolded.
That silenced Buern.
"Fine, it pains me so much to take orders from a powerless nobody like you anyway" Buern said with the intention of hurting Josec's feelings.
Josec chuckled and then he frowned.
"Yes, I'm not a Jo-lan fighter like you, Harry or my dad. But if being a Jo-lan fighter brings only pain and suffering to others, then I prefer being powerless so thank you for the compliment Buern" Josec said as he walked to the weeds and began to pull them out.
Harry pulled Buern roughly to a place he was sure Josec couldn't hear what he had to say to her.
"Buern! You really are arrogant! You know better than to hit Josec where it hurts the most. Your father and my father are directly responsible for the death of his father you know?!" Harry muttered.
"I don't care. His father killed my uncle after all. I think he got what he deserved" Buern grumbled.
"Oh really? Then let me ask you this question. Have you cared to ask your father about the history of Jo-lan?" Harry asked.
"No, and I don't intend to ask him"
"Oh great! A naïve idiot! How lucky I am to be in the same class as you. I know my father's ghosts and I do not agree with him on most of his decisions. But you Buern, do you know your father's ghosts? Do you know who it was that destroyed the Jo-lan?" Harry muttered.
Buern stared at him in surprise.
"What are you insinuating Bane?!"
"Don't you get it? Josec's dad fought to protect the future of the Jo-lan! Our future! So you should have great respect for Josec. You should respect him for hating the art of fighting. And don't call him powerless, he's more powerful than you can imagine" Harry said as he left Buern and went to help Josec with the weeds.
"What were you two talking about?" Josec asked curiously.
"Nothing much, you might think I'm crazy but I actually tried to make Buern change her negative perception of you" Harry said with a chuckle.
Josec stole a glance at Buern. She seemed to be lost in deep thought. Josec stared at Harry.
"I appreciate your help but you really didn't have to do that" Josec said as he pulled up more weeds.
"OW!" he cried out in pain.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked in concern.
"These blades of grass are really sharp! Man it stings!"
Josec stared at his palms. They were bleeding.
"Josec, stand back, I'll make this a whole lot easier!" Harry ordered as he began to focus his aura.
"Just don't do too much damage to the surrounding trees" Josec advised.
Buern walked towards them.
"Bane's right this time. We can't pull up all these weeds even if we had ten days at out disposal. We'll lighten the load with our Jo-lan abilities" Buern said as she began to focus her aura as well.
"I appreciate the help Vane but you're a fire based Jo-lan fighter. You'll only succeed in causing a bushfire" Harry cautioned.
Buern glared at him.
"I don't take orders from you Bane!" Buern roared.
"You should at least use your common sense Vane!" Harry yelled.
"Jeez, they're at it again. These two are absolutely incorrigible" Josec sighed.
"Buern, I think Harry is right. Since your powers are fire-based, I believe it will be more prudent to allow a wind-based person to handle this," Josec reasoned.
"Fine, since I'm not needed I think I'll walk through the bushes to study the turf. Don't follow me" Buern said sternly as she disappeared into the bushes.
"Buern, if I use my abilities while you're in there, you could get seriously hurt!" Harry warned.
"Oh go right ahead, besides your abilities are hardly enough to scratch me but if you're really worried, just give me a minute" Buern's voice sounded from the bushes.
"Fine! Don't say I didn't warn you!" Harry said as his aura became more focused.
"Harry, just give her a minute okay?" Josec stopped him.
Harry reluctantly agreed.
Meanwhile, Innovain called his right hand man, Ysmann into the throne room.
"You summoned me Lord Innovain?" Ysmann bowed respectfully.
"I feel my daughter is trying to reach me, give me a moment Ysmann" Innovain said as he focused his mind
"Father, can you hear me?" Buern's voice sounded in the throne room.
"Speak, child" Innovain said.
"Father, regarding my mission to observe Josec Fenix, I find him to be no threat at all. He has no power and he doesn't intend to master the Jo-lan martial arts" Buern informed Innovain, her father.
"I see. However, there is something in his eyes. I saw it on the day I killed his father. He was scared but…he had the look of a warrior in his eyes, plus I never expected him to be able to do that" Innovain recalled Josec carrying his father's corpse.
"Do what father?" Buern asked curiously.
"It's nothing you should know about for now. But when you prove yourself as 'The Succeeding Souryu' I'll tell you everything you need to know" Innovain said coolly.
"Yes father" Buern said respectfully.
"Oh, and one more thing Buern, I hope you do not end up falling for Josec. It's strange but anyone I sent to destroy his father ended up becoming his father's ally. If Josec possesses that strange ability and you find yourself smitten by him, you must kill him" Innovain warned his daughter.
"Come on father, you know you don't have to tell me that. I'll never fall for a weakling like Josec! Never! It's just as simple as that!" Buern yelled and cut her telepathic link to Innovain.
"That's just what I'd expect to hear from my daughter. However Buern, you are about to find out that matters of the heart are not so simple though they are trivial" Innovain laughed vainly.
"Don't tell me you're using your own daughter as bait!" Ysmann exclaimed in shock.
"My vengeance against Vega is not over yet. Ysmann, you know your duties, now fulfill them!" Innovain ordered.
Ysmann bowed respectfully.
"By the end of this day, all Jo-lan fighters of the next generation that dwell in this village will be under your control" Ysmann said.
"There's no need to rush. Start by locating Marisco Senior High's Jo-lan fighters" Innovain said.
"If that is your wish, then it is done my lord" Ysmann replied and left to gather his men.
Meanwhile, in the 'cocoa farm,' Buern after delivering her report to Innovain returned to Harry and Josec.
"Well it's about time!" Harry said impatiently and stood up to focus his aura.
"JO-LAN ART! BLADES OF WIND!" he called as he made sweeping motions with his hands.
There was a huge gust of wind as sharp winds cut the grasses from where the three students stood to the end of the field. Soon, all the grasses were at shin level.
"That was actually impressive Bane but Sir Somili said ground level or did you forget?" Buern mocked Harry.
"No, I didn't but if I keep going I'll only end up creating a sandstorm" Harry said proudly.
"Well I say you've done well Harry" Josec complimented.
"Thanks Jo but Buern is right, if I could control my power more efficiently, I would have performed better" Harry said.
"Well well, this is a side of Bane I've never seen before. I didn't think you'd admit defeat so easily" Buern teased.
Harry was angered by her words but he decided to remain calm for Josec's sake.
"I guess we should pull up the weeds now" Josec suggested.
"Let me make this a little easier…JO-LAN ART! FLAMES OF OBLITERATION" Buern called as black flames from nowhere consumed the grasses.
Josec stared at the flames in horror as memories of Innovain's malice engulfed his mind.
"NO! STOP! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" he screamed hysterically and ran away from the school field.
"Josec wait!"
Harry called and attempted to run after Josec but he decided it more prudent to let Josec sort out his feelings.
"Aren't you going after him?" Buern asked indifferently.
Harry remained silent. When Buern stopped the flames, the entire field was bare. Not a single blade of grass was seen.
"You could at least pretend to be concerned you know?" Harry said sadly. "Emotions are just a waste of time. Power is everything. Feelings like love, care, happiness…they only prove that one's existence is superfluous" Buern said.
"My dad always told me that my emotions are my strength. He said that hatred and anger were the true meaning of weakness. You'll find that out the hard way Buern" Harry said as he walked away.
"That's a lie. Dad says anger and hatred are the true meaning of strength and so far, no one has been able to defeat him" Buern thought as she left the field
Meanwhile, Josec had run out of the village without realizing it. He kept running till he tripped on a stone and fell down. It was then that he realized that he was lost in Ferus forest. It was a dangerous place, filled with wild and poisonous animals. To make matters worse, it was the home ground of the remaining renegade Jo-lan fighters from Ferus village, Josec's village. Josec strangely felt at home in the forest.
"H-help me" A weak voice sounded from nowhere.
Josec looked around.
"Who's there?" he called.
"Help me" the voice sounded again.
Josec rushed towards the source of the voice and saw a wounded man with knives and arrows sticking out from his entire body.
"Oh no! You're wounded!"
He rushed to the man's aid and helped him sit against a tree.
"Boy, are you Josec Fenix? Son of Vega Fenix the Crimson Phoenix?" the man questioned.
"I am" Josec replied.
"That's good. Your father appeared to me in a vision and asked me to give you…this" the man said as he handed a sealed book to Josec.
"You must master the Jo-lan art, make it your own and redeem the image of all Jo-lan fighters that have lost their lives to Innovain's malice. Now, my duty has been fulfilled. I c-can die in peace" the man said as he died in Josec's arms.
"Innovain, when will you stop hurting innocent people?" Josec said as he placed the book in his shirt and gave the man a respectable burial.
He prayed for the man's soul and the soul of his father. Then he removed the book from within his shirt and examined it closely. It was a heavy brown leather book with the emblems of a phoenix and a dragon on the cover. Josec shut his eyes.
"So you did want me to master the Jo-lan art after all" he said as he opened the book.
As the seal fell and the book opened, there was a bright flash of silver light and Josec was sucked into the pages of the book.
Josec opened his eyes and saw strange ancient symbols floating all around him. As he looked around, the strange place was suddenly illuminated by a dazzling golden light. A strange old man cloaked in pure light descended from the skies.
"Are you Josec Fenix? Son of Vega Fenix the Crimson Phoenix?" the old man questioned.
"Who are you?" Josec asked.
"I am Jo-lan. The source of all Jo-lan abilities that exist" the old man said.
"Really?! I've never heard of your existence!" Josec exclaimed excitedly.
"Your name boy?" the old man questioned.
"Pardon my lack of manners, I am Josec Fenix"
"I expected as much. Josec, you are about to witness the history of Jo-lan. Are you ready for what you are about to face?" Jo-lan asked him.
"I'm ready. Now that I know that my father intended for me to master the Jo-lan arts, I'm ready to learn" Josec declared.
Jo-lan examined him closely.
"Very well, I see a bright light within your soul" the man said as the scene changed.
"Long ago, just after the birth of this world, mankind lived in peace, oblivious to the art of fighting. Then suddenly without warning it appeared! Souryu the Black Dragon! With a single swing of its mighty tail, it flattened mountains. With a single breath, it ravaged civilizations. No one could stand against Souryu" Jo-lan narrated as Josec watched the scene in horror.
"It was then that mankind sought ways to defend themselves but all their efforts were useless. All humans could do was pray and pray they did. Fervently, unceasingly, man continued to pray and as if by interference from some Divine Force, I Jo-lan was unleashed into the world. I shared my power with humans and they united to battle Souryu. Many were lost in that battle and Souryu only grew stronger" Jo-lan narrated.
"What a hopeless tale!" Josec exclaimed in distress.
"Actually, I'm getting to that part" Jo-lan narrated the events Josec was seeing.
"Man soon lost all his humanity and worshipped Souryu" the old man narrated.
Suddenly, a powerful voice spoke from the heavens.
"How terrible! How very terrible! Mankind has lost its purpose. But now I will show them the way to live" the voice said.
There was a tremendous earthquake.
"What is happening?!" Josec exclaimed in fear.
"That is the voice of God. He is very distressed because man has fallen to darkness" Jo-lan explained.
"What is about to happen?" Josec asked.
"They are about to be created" Jo-lan said with a nostalgic smile.
Josec stared at Souryu. Souryu was trembling in rage. He flew towards the heavens in an attempt to battle God.
"Let there be light!"
God called and light appeared in the world. Souryu shielded his eyes from the light. Man saw the light and marveled.
"What is this brightness? What is this warmth?"
The people questioned one another.
In a rage, Souryu charged to attack the people. He blew a huge stream of black flames towards the people.
"Let there be love!"
God called and love flowed through the hearts of the people.
"Watch out!" a man called and pushed a little girl out of the way only to end up being incinerated himself. Through love, self sacrifice was born. Still Souryu attacked the people.
Let love bring forth courage!"
God called and the people stopped running.
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Souryu will keep on hunting us till we're dead. The only way to survive is to fight him!" one man declared.
"That man is your ancestor" Jo-lan informed Josec.
The people charged to attack Souryu but he simply swept them away.
"It's hopeless!" the people began to give up.
"No! We can't give up! For the sake of our children we must fight!" Josec's ancestor said.
"Let there be hope!"
God called out as his creation became complete.
"You're right! There must be something better than this endless carnage! We must never give up!" another man declared.
"That man is the ancestor of Harry Bane" Jo-lan said.
"Wow, our ancestors were really cool!" Josec said joyfully.
"We will fight to protect the future of our children!" the people said as they rose once more to battle Souryu.
"Not enough…your power is not enough to defeat me! I am the ultimate incarnation of evil itself! I embody the darkness!" Souryu bragged.
"AND WE EMBODY LIGHT! LOVE! COURAGE AND HOPE! WE'LL NEVER LOSE! PSYCHORAGE ABILITY!" the people called together.
"IT'S USELESS!" Souryu roared.
"CRIMSON PHOENIX LEGEND!!!"
The people called together as all their positive feelings gushed out of their bodies in the form of huge fiery aura.
"What's this?!" Souryu stared in shock.
As Josec watched, the people lost their individual personalities and their will became one. That was when the aura began to materialize.
"It's forming something!" Josec exclaimed.
Souryu watched in shock as two huge fiery wings spread apart. There was a loud shriek and the fiery aura was no longer just aura. Where the people once stood, there now stood a magnificent, fiery, crimson bird. The bird was just as huge as Souryu himself. Its eyes were radiating with fire and there was a fierce look of just indignation in its eyes. It had lethal talons and a fearful beak.
"What's this? A bird?! You fools actually hope to defeat me by transforming into a fowl?!" Souryu taunted the phoenix.
"Souryu! Your reign of terror is at an end!" the phoenix declared in many voices as it leapt from the ground to attack Souryu. In a flash it had slashed Souryu across the chest though Souryu hadn't realized it because to him, he had evaded at the last moment.
"Your speed is unmatched fowl however…RRRRAAAARRRGGHHH!!! What is this pain?" Souryu roared as he realized the damage inflicted on him.
Even his iron scales couldn't protect him. Black blood began to ooze from his chest.
"You should at least be familiar with pain since it's all you've ever caused since your appearance" the phoenix said.
"YOU WILL SUFFER FOR THIS!" Souryu threatened.
The phoenix narrowed its eyes.
"What did you hope to gain by causing so much pain?" it asked.
"My sole purpose is to destroy humans. That will never change" Souryu said.
"Why do you despise humans?" the phoenix asked.
Souryu narrowed his eyes.
"Dou you really want to know?" he asked.
"Tell me!" the phoenix demanded.
"I hate them for their souls!" Souryu declared.
"Their…souls?" the phoenix asked.
"Their souls are filled with light and love. They have the courage to endure pain, they have the power to shape destiny and worst of all, they always have hope. I on the other hand was born from their collective hatred. Their desire for world domination is what gave birth to me. I am only repaying the favour by quickening their death. Their desire to become an advanced civilization is only a decorated way of seeking their own destruction so I intend to save them the trouble"
Souryu said.
"It's not your choice to make Souryu!" the phoenix shrieked.
"First, I will destroy you, and then I will destroy all of humanity!"
Souryu declared as he charged to attack the phoenix. The phoenix charged to attack in response. Souryu blew a stream of black flames but the phoenix evaded the attack and slashed Souryu again across his back.
"You anger me…FOUL FOWL!!!" Souryu roared as he released a massive amount of power from its body. Then without warning, he suddenly appeared behind the phoenix.
"IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU! DIE PHOENIX!" Souryu roared as he punched right through the phoenix's body.
"He killed the phoenix!" Josec screamed in horror.
"Don't be disturbed Josec. You are about to witness why the phoenix is such a threat to the Black Dragon" Jo-lan said.
Josec watched the scene expectantly.
"You talk too much for one so weak" Souryu said.
The phoenix turned gray and shriveled to ash. Souryu laughed vainly.
All the ash from the phoenix gathered together on the ground.
"That's strange, why isn't the ash being blown away by the wind?" Souryu wondered.
Suddenly, the ash began to pulsate. It turned fiery red, then ash, then fiery red again with each heartbeat.
"What's this?" Souryu seemed surprised.
"Josec, why do you think the phoenix is so feared by the dragon?" Jo-lan asked.
"I don't really know. I've heard nothing of the Jo-lan legends. I always figured the phoenix had greater strength" Josec said.
"It's actually the opposite Josec. When it comes to strength, the phoenix is considerably weaker than the dragon" Jo-lan informed Josec.
"No way" Josec said sadly.
"Yes, however, one trait makes the phoenix the most powerful legendary creature…" Jo-lan said as a sudden release of fire from the phoenix's ashes and a loud shriek filled the air.
Souryu covered its ears in pain.
"What's that noise?!" Josec asked.
"The phoenix's greatest power is…THE POWER OF REBIRTH!"
Jo-lan exclaimed just as the fiery ash reassumed the form of the phoenix except for the fact that it looked mightier than before and its entire body was engulfed in hot flames!
"IMPOSSIBLE! I KILLED YOU!" Souryu roared in frustration.
The phoenix charged towards Souryu. Souryu retaliated with dark fireballs but none of the fireballs hurt the phoenix.
"Know this Josec, each time the phoenix is reborn, it returns stronger than before!" Jo-lan informed Josec.
"So the phoenix is invincible right? Then how come…my father…" Josec was saying when Jo-lan silenced him.
"The power of rebirth is only inherent in the one the phoenix has chosen. That person is what legends call 'The True Phoenix.' Besides, such power is so great that it could consume its wielder. Remember that the Crimson Phoenix is the virtuous will of all humans and not just individuals" Jo-lan said as the phoenix bombarded Souryu with its ultimate move, Solar Flare.
Souryu was being transformed into a statue by the technique.
"How…could I be….defeated…like this" he struggled to say just as the transformation consumed his entire body.
The stone Souryu collapsed to the ground and shattered to pieces. The phoenix landed on the ground and transformed into the people.
"We did it! We finally defeated Souryu" Josec's ancestor said.
Harry's ancestor patted him on the shoulder. Almost immediately, a wind blew over the debris left from Souryu's shattering and the cries of a baby could be heard.
"What's that?" Josec's ancestor asked.
He followed the sound and came across a naked infant crying. Josec's ancestor felt sorry for the child and picked him up.
"Leave that child. It will only bring ill luck" Harry's ancestor suggested.
"He's only a baby, we have to take him in" Josec's ancestor said as he took off his shirt and wrapped it around the infant.
The baby stopped crying and began to giggle.
"Josec, this is all you must know for now" Jo-lan said.
"Hey, wait a minute Jo-lan. What of Buern's ancestor?" Josec asked.
At this, Jo-lan frowned seriously.
"Josec Fenix, it is against my principles to reveal truths that can alter a person's destiny but I will warn you of one thing. Beware of the girl called Buern Vane. She will only bring destruction. I see the will of Souryu within her!" Jo-lan warned.
Josec was surprised by Jo-lan's warning.
"I refuse to believe that! Buern might seem like a bad person but I can see a lot of good within her!" Josec declared.
"Do not be deceived by her beauty. She is as alluring to you as power is to any warrior however see the end results of wielding devastating power!"
Jo-lan pointed to the crumbling city and burnt forest.
"Buern isn't destructive!" Josec defended the girl he loved.
"Are you sure? Can you tell me that Buern has never caused unwarranted damage to anything?" Jo-lan questioned him.
Josec recalled Buern's flames and the indifferent look in her eyes as she destroyed the weeds in the school.
"I know that she seems heartless…but in her heart, she's always suffering. I can tell that she has never known love and she's never had any friends. She probably feels like she has no choice. That is why she has put up such a massive wall to hide her emotions" Josec said sadly.
He honestly felt sorry for Buern.
"Josec Fenix, it is a good trait to see good in people however it is utterly foolish to see good in people it doesn't exist within. Look what it did to your father. He even went so far as to perceive goodness in Innovain" Jo-lan warned.
"It's my choice to see good in Buern and it wasn't wrong for my father to perceive goodness in Innovain because it exists within every living creature of God" Josec said.
"I see I cannot reason with you so I will do what I am here for. Josec! Call forth the Jo-lan power resting within you!" Jo-lan ordered.
"What are you talking about? I have no Jo-lan power" Josec said.
"You do have Jo-lan abilities or you would neither have the strength to believe in your ideals nor the courage to defend them. Call on your Jo-lan abilities by remembering your father's Jo-lan identity" Jo-lan advised.
Josec nodded.
"I'll try" he said as he shut his eyes.
"I AM JOSEC FENIX! SON OF VEGA FENIX THE CRIMSON FENIX! HEED MY CALL
JO-LAN SPIRIT LIVING WITHIN ME!" he called.
At first, only a wind could be felt, then the wind turned silvery and began to spark like lightning. Huge bolts of lightning were simultaneously being released from Josec's body.
"I don't believe this! This is beyond anything I could have given to man. Such raw power from such an inexperienced human child. Could this be…?! Yes, there's no mistaking it! This is the trait of humans Souryu despises the most. The Power of The Human Soul!" Jo-lan thought to himself.
A sudden bolt of electricity from Josec's body illuminated the sky. The figure of a Silver Phoenix appeared above Josec.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone