Magus Supremacy

"Now tell me, my dear Yami," the Captain said as he raised his hand high. His bandana clung loosely to his hand before he let it go, causing it to flutter down slowly toward the ground.

"Can you defeat a stage six warrior?" he asked, and in a single burst of speed—before the bandana could even touch the ground—the man vanished in a flash, reappearing behind Yami with a wide grin on his face.

Bang!

Boom!

Yami's head was seized, and in the blink of an eye, his face was driven harshly into the earth. Deep fissures split open across the ground as he was dragged through it, tearing up soil and stone in his wake.

"I warned you. Back off," the Captain said coldly, yanking Yami back up by the hair before slamming a powerful punch into his face, making blood dribble from his nose and lips.

"I just wanted the young redhead, and we would've been out of your hair. But no... you forced me to use violence."

"You wanted to leave peacefully?" Yami growled, half his face now bleeding. "Then why bring a hundred men, barge into my house, and injure my son?"

"Well, I brought them to talk," the Captain replied casually, then delivered a brutal uppercut to Yami's chin, snapping his head backward slightly.

"You asked a question," Yami said as he glared up at him. "So I'll answer your question, outside. Wouldn't want to destroy my precious home now."

Without another word, he grabbed the Captain's hand, and before the man could react, Yami leapt high into the air—straight through the ceiling.

Bang!

The ceiling shattered as Yami, still gripping the Captain, burst through it and soared into the sky.

In the next instant, they both crashed outside with a thunderous boom. The earth cracked beneath them, debris flew, and they tumbled apart across the yard.

"Now that we're outside..." Yami muttered as he slowly rose to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his lips. His gaze was firm and unflinching. The Captain stood as well, his expression fierce and focused.

"Let me ask you this—can you defeat a stage five warrior who is on the cusp of becoming a stage six?" Yami asked, a wicked grin forming on his battered face as he glared at the man.

"Tsk. Weakling!" the Captain spat and shot forward like a blur, a movement too fast for the untrained eye to track.

"I dare you to say that again!" Yami roared, surging forward to meet him.

Boom!

The two clashed dead center, fists colliding in a devastating punch aimed to crush the other. Their knuckles struck with such force that a wave of wind exploded outward, tearing the leaves off the surrounding trees and shaking the air itself.

From a distance, they appeared equal in power, but the truth was clear—Yami was the one pushed back. He skidded across the cracked earth, his arms aching from the impact.

"Thought you were a martial artist?" the Captain mocked as he dashed after him. "You're boring me."

He launched his fist again. Yami leapt swiftly into the air, narrowly avoiding the blow. The punch tore through the ground, creating a jagged crater where Yami had just been.

"You should really learn to use your words wisely!" Yami shouted from mid-air. Then he dove back down with lightning speed, flipping mid-flight.

With explosive force, both of his legs slammed into the Captain's chest—like a falcon striking its prey.

His legs landed squarely on the Captain's shoulders, and Yami's Ki surged violently from his legs, slamming into the man with brutal force.

Boom!

A massive shockwave rippled outwards, so intense that the ground beneath the duo fractured under the weight of the impact. The Captain let out a harsh grunt, blood spurting from his lips as his shoulders began dripping with crimson.

Yami pressed down harder with his feet before launching himself off the Captain. Twisting mid-air, he came crashing back down with an axe kick aimed straight for the man's head.

But the Captain reacted swiftly, snapping both hands upward to block the incoming blow. The clash unleashed another shockwave, strong enough to scatter dust and debris in all directions.

"Argh!" the Captain growled, veins bulging as he forced Yami off with sheer brute strength. The bulky fighter flipped several times through the air before landing with practiced ease, crouched low with both palms pressed against the ground. A confident smirk curled on his face.

"I must say," the Captain began as he reached for his shirt and yanked it off, revealing a lean, muscular torso. Blood oozed from his wounded shoulders, tracing down his chest in thick streams.

"You're definitely strong. But you know what?" he continued, lifting the tattered shirt slightly before letting it drift to the ground. "I'm stronger!" he roared, vanishing in an instant.

Without warning, he appeared above Yami, high in the air, his legs raised above his head. As he swung them down with savage speed, something more than just raw force came with it.

A glowing yellow crescent of energy slashed through the air toward the stunned Yami.

Hearing the sharp whistle, Yami's eyes snapped upward.

"Damn it!" he cursed as his Ki burst around his legs. He leapt away in a quick blur, narrowly avoiding the attack as the crescent struck the ground behind him.

The impact shook the entire area, triggering a localized quake and sending up a storm of dust and debris.

When the cloud cleared, a massive gash had been carved into the ground—clean and deep, like a hot blade slicing through butter. The Captain landed moments later, his brows furrowed with frustration.

"From what I know, a Stage 5 warrior shouldn't be that fast," he muttered, eyeing Yami with suspicion. "Even if you're on the verge of breaking into Stage 6. So tell me, who are you really?"

"Kek, kek, kek!" Yami cackled, holding his belly, his laughter laced with both pain and amusement. He laughed for nearly half a minute before falling silent. For the next ten seconds, neither man moved. The air between them crackled with tension.

"You already know who I am," Yami said at last, a wide grin spreading across his face. "The name is Yami Cromwell. And the fact that you don't recognize that last name tells me everything. You must be a newly promoted Captain."

He raised his hand calmly, and the Captain instantly shifted into a guarded stance.

A second later, something zipped through the air and landed firmly in Yami's palm. With a flick of his wrist, a sheath dropped to the ground, revealing a gleaming katana. The blade pulsed faintly, humming with raw energy.

"I won't kill you," Yami said coldly, "but I'll definitely injure you enough to send you limping back to your clan. That way, they'll learn exactly who the hell they messed with."

Then he took a single step forward—

And vanished completely.