Chapter 2: Attack on Black Phoenix

The guild was quiet before, but it was especially quiet now. A good chunk of the members had gone on missions, and that had made it quieter than it was. The only person in the guild hall currently was Tristan, sitting around, considering either what he would make next, or if he should go out on an S-class job or not. While thinking this he stared at where the "TristKaru" sign, or rather where it had been. Just before everyone had left, he had teleported the sign out and into some random body of water that may or may not have been an ocean.

The silence only lasted for a few precious moments, before the sounds of random moans filled the guild hall, startling the steel-make wizard. A few moans later, as well as a few random remarks later, Tristan figured it was Cecilia and Trace, two of the newest members of BP, as well as a couple in the guild. Cecilia was a fire mage, but the exact details were unknown about what really the properties of it, seeing as even though the flames were blazing hot they didn't harm her in the slightest. She could even ignite her entire body on fire, not even being affected by the heat in anyway. The biggest irony of it all was that she was also her hair was a blazing orange, the same color of her flames. Then there was her boy friend, Trace, who was actually the guild master's brother. He was basically a male Mizaki, only his magic was different and he was probably a bit more cocky. He was an Antimatter mage, able to more or less blow up anything at a mere thought. He may not have been S-class, but he probably could go toe-to-toe with the guild master.

And speaking of the guild master, a yawn escaped her lips from her room, still snuggled up under her covers, her arms outstretched like she was holding someone, even though no one was there. She slowly started to move, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. This was Anri Varsuna, sister to Trace Varsuna. Not that much was known of either of their pasts, but only one thing was known for sure; Anri and Trace had been separated at some point in their lives before they regrouped close to a year ago. She also was an Antimatter mage, much like her brother, but she also held a magic known as Dimensional magic. She could send anyone or anything to a void, where no magic could be restored and she had full control over. But, for the moment, she was too sleepy to send anyone there. She was just looking around, trying to find her cock, or as it was known now a days, a rooster. This was basically her alarm clock, but she had lost it again. It seemed to pick up a habit of disappearing every now and then, but it turned up eventually. "You really like vanishing, don't ya?" She then slothily got out of bed, knowing that her question would remain unanswered.

After getting actual clothes on, she stepped out of her room, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, hearing Cece and Trace's moans. "Those two really have to go at it this early?" She said as she went down the stairs, drawing Tristan's attention to her.

"Ohayou, Master Anri," he said with a light smile on his face, the thoughts of the sign pushed to the back of his mind. All Anri did in return, however, was look around, trying to figure out where everyone went. "If you're wondering where they all are Master, they either went on missions or they're still asleep. The only people awake and here are Cece, Trace, and myself." She nodded, walking the rest of the way down before heading to the kitchen for her breakfast, seeing as Mathias wasn't there to prepare it for her.

However, as soon as the door to the kitchen shut, the door to the guild opened, a figure shrouded in a shadowy cloak, hiding any feature they may or may not have held. It just looked around, taking in everything in the guild, only seeing one person around. 'This should be easy if there's only one person,' the figure thought as it made its way over to the steel-make mage, standing across from him, looking down at where we was sitting.

This in turn confused Tristan, staring at the figure confused. "Can I help you?" That was all that Tristan knew to ask at the moment. The figure, however, remained silent, staring down at him completely silent. "Um, hello?" Tristan stood up, walking over to the figure slowly, finding himself taller than the other figure, nearly a foot so. Although the figure, still, remained silent and unmoving from its spot other than to face Tristan as he moved. The SS-class mage remained unknowing of what the figure had planned, moving his had so he could wave it in front of its face.

Before he could do so though, the figure grabbed him by the wrist to stop him. After that, the figure made no movement to show what its next move would be, just remaining there. Even despite this though, a blast of green fire shot out from the center of the cloak, hitting Tristan square in the chest. Due to the surprise of it, as well as the sheer force of the attack, the Steel Make mage was shot out of the guild, landing a few feet away from the entrance, flat on his back.

He shakily got up, his back aching from the fall. The figure stepped out, slowly walking towards Tristan. "What's the meaning of this?" Tristan asked as he slammed his right fist into his left palm. "Steel Make: Sword and Shield!" Once said, a sword appeared in his left hand, while a shield appeared in his right hand. He wasn't going to let this attacker catch him off guard again.

"Hmph, I thought you'd be more of a challenge," the figure spoke, a light, airy tone to his voice, finally revealing which gender he was. "But it seems that you little birds are completely unable to fly." With each passing word, the cloak began dispersing into multiple whisps, revealing a Caucasian male with deep brown hair, slicked back like a greaser would, and hazel eyes. His attire consisted of a white polo with a plaid vest over it, jeans that looked like they'd been washed quite a few times, white, mid-thigh length socks, and white running shoes. His expression was nothing less than angry, right on the verge of complete and utter madness. Again, he made no movements, the green fire again shooting out from in front of his chest towards Tristan. Unfortunately for him, the steel make mage had his shield up, easily blocking the blast.

He easily stood tall against the blast, despite being pushed back quite a few feet. "You want a challenge?" Tristan rushed forward, his sword pulled back for a downward slash. "You got one!" He swung down with tremendous force, a crater forming upon impact. 'Wait, impact?' Tristan thought as he looked at his blade. It hadn't cut through his skin, just simply touching it. A sigh escaped the unknown male's lips as he grabbed the blade, pulling it off him with practiced ease.

"Not impressive." He stated blandly, throwing an uppercut at Tristan's gut, muttering under his breath something inaudible. Tristan only moved his shield in the way, however it didn't even slow down the hit, the fist busting through the shield like it was paper, still connecting his fist into the other mage's gut once again sending him flying back a few feet.

Tristan didn't understand how his defenses could be torn apart so easily, but he didn't have time to mull it over as yet another green fire ball speeding towards him. This one however exploded once it hit where Tristan was standing moments before. After those moments though, Tristan had teleported high into the air above the mysterious figure, already in the typical molder stance. "Steel-Make: Lance!" Once said, five lances fell down, all aimed directly at the attacker. There seemed to be no escape from this, but a bright, blinding light seemed to prove otherwise. Expecting an attack, Tristan teleported down to where had been standing a before.

The light died down, smoke and a cloud of debris covering the figure, but his shadowed figure was still visible. "Heh, you think these measly attacks will appease my wrath?" He said, his voice much deeper than it was before. He also sounded much different; like he was drowning. The cloud disappeared, revealing that the figure's body was engulfed in the green flames. Tristan's expression was that of pure shock, however he still had the mind to slam his fist into his palm, ready to create his armor at a moment's notice. "Nice try. It's not that easily put out you stinking bastard of a light mage!" As he said this he threw one hand forward, a column of green flames engulfing Tristan.

In the fire, Tristan tried to create his knights armor, but he couldn't for some reason. It was like the fire completely shut off his magic completely while in it. He could feel the flames lick at his exposed skin, leaving light burns on them, nothing too serious. Until the flames grew hotter with each passing second, the numerous burns increasing in intensity as well, quickly approaching first degree burns. The flames only lasted for a few brief seconds however, even though inside it had seemed much longer.

The flames dissipated, Tristan still standing, not having moved an inch from his current position. He was ignoring the pain from the burns as best he could, but it wasn't the easiest thing to do. They were all over his face and arms, especially on his elbows and shoulders. Not to mention how his clothes were singed due to the intensity of the flames. He knew that if he put his armor up he'd only be like a trapped lobster ready to be boiled. "Not impressive in the slightest," the figure said, his body still burning with the green flames. "You're worse than pathetic." He stood in front of Tristan, who was trying to think of a plan of attack at the moment. "You're not even worth the air you breathe."

His body glowed brightly, the ground beneath Tristan glowing just as brightly. "Return to ash worthless-" He wasn't able to finish his sentence as a vortex of cold slammed into him from his right, throwing him away a good ways, his body steaming as he hit the ground. Tristan's eyes were completely surprised, following where the attack had come from. Standing a good ways away was a girl with black hair, tied up in a pony tail with light blue highlights in it, simply smirking.

"You're a little off your game, huh Tristan?" She said with as she set down two bags next to a rock. One containing the jewels she had gotten from the job she was just returning from, the other a shopping bag full of ice pops. Tristan just smirked, wincing as he got into a normal stance.

"No, he just surprised me is all Hikaru-san," his voice was a little relieved, not only that she had saved him, but that she was relatively unharmed. He began walking over to her, thinking that all was said and done.

How wrong he was. Half way to the dragon slayer, a column of green flames, much wider and larger than the previous one had been. Heavy breathing was heard in the center, the man's form barely noticeable. "You trash… You dare put out my flames of rage!?" As he walked, the column sucked into his body, completely engulfed in the green fire now. "I'll murder you bitch!" With that said, he charged forward with great speed.

Hikaru just sighed, cracking her neck. "You know, you're a big pain. Just walking in and attacking Tristan like that." She walked towards the running figure, her left fist becoming engulfed in ice. "Attacking my home." She then began running towards him with just as great a speed. "Solid Fist," once she was close enough, she pulled her fist back, cold mist rolling off it, "of the Ice Dragon!" She slammed it down on the attacker's head, sending him hard down to the ground, a crater forming from where his head had hit, the flames extinguishing.

She got back up, looking down at him condescendingly. She shook the ice off her hand as she turned around and began walking away, only for the man to get back up, his nose broken and blood dripping down his forehead. Compared to now, before he seemed extremely calm. "Don't turn your back on me bitch!" A large beam of green flames shot out in front of him, aimed directly at the ice dragon.

However, because he spoke before attacked, she was able to jump to the side to avoid it. "Nice try." Her limbs became covered in frost, getting into a fighting stance. "Prideful Dance of the Ice Dragon." She spun around behind him, delivering a quick kick to his back, causing him to stumble forward. After that, she gracefully leapt into the air, landing in front of the fire mage, elbowing his nose. After which she twirled like a ballerina, delivering a round house kick to his head as she spun for the third time, sending him flying away. But she wasn't done there. She leapt up into the air, aiming to meet the mage as he landed. Her plan was a success as she landed directly on the dark mage's gut, causing him to cough violently.

She jumped off him, landing on the ground next to him, looking down to see if he'd get up again or not. He laid motionless, seemingly knocked out. Once she was sure of this, she turned around yet again to walk away. Before she could move though, she felt a huge amount of pain, some burning and some just like she was being punched, throwing her forward with enough force to send her crashing into Tristan, both of them falling over to the ground hard.

The fire mage's arm was nearly ten times its original size, covered in green flames. He stood, much angrier than before. Hikaru got up, shocked at what he had done but didn't show it. Tristan, however, did. "Bastards and bitches, all of you little birds!" The flames swelled around him, his body slowly growing.

Before it got to even twice its size though, a crack appeared behind him, an audible sound, like glass breaking, sounding as it formed. The fire mage stopped completely, his flames being put out, and fear etched onto his face. "N-no! I'm not thro-" he began to protest before the crack formed a large hole, a whole rainbow of light inside of it, and sucked him in. All that could be heard was his screams of defiance as he disappeared from sight, the hole closing quickly, leaving a confused Hikaru and Tristan lying on the ground.

"Hikaru-san…" was all Tristan said, still staring at where the hole had just been. Hikaru didn't respond, just nodding, probably as surprised and confused as to what happened. "I think we were just saved." By who or what, or even why, was a complete mystery to him. His eyes widened as a thought came to mind. "What about the others? What happened to them?"

Unfortunately, his question had to go unanswered. As to what had happened to them was another story. He wouldn't receive an answer until all of them were back home, either safe and sound or in a body bag.