As Isaac prepared to make his exit, he noticed a familiar wooden hand emerging from the ground beside him, followed closely by another. The hands’ mouths twisted into quirky smiles, their eyes blinking rapidly as they formed from the wooden structure of the bazaar itself.

  "Well, well," the first hand said in its deep, resonant voice. "Quite the display, young man."

  Isaac tensed, readying himself for another confrontation.

  "What do you want?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

  The second hand waggled its fingers in a calming gesture. "Easy there, fiery one," it said, its tone surprisingly polite. "We’re not here to stop or arrest you."

  The first hand nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Quite the opposite, actually. You see, your... declaration has brought business to a standstill. People are too stunned to shop."

  Isaac blinked, caught off guard by the hands' unexpected civility. "So, what do you want?"

  "We need you to leave," the second hand explained, its wooden face earnest. "Your presence is causing quite the commotion. And while we appreciate a good show as much as the next piece of enchanted timber, we have a business to run."

  Isaac looked around, noticing the crowd slowly beginning to disperse, but the air was still thick with tension. He realized the hands were right; his bold proclamation had frozen the marketplace.

  With a relieved sigh, Isaac nodded. "Alright, I'll go."

  The hands bowed slightly in unison. "Thank you for your understanding," the first hand said. "We wish you the best of luck with your... endeavors."

  As Isaac turned to leave, the second hand added, "And do be careful out there. The Kraken’s hunters are not ones to be trifled with. In fact there are several on their way to this very location as we speak."

  Isaac's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself. He gave the hands a quick nod, "Thanks for the warning."

  The hands nodded back. “Do come again, we welcome all business. Just try not to cause such a stir next time.”

  With a final glance at the bustling bazaar, Isaac moved swiftly, weaving through the emptied upper market before leaping down next to unassuming customers as he headed towards the nearest exit.

  He moved swiftly through the crowd, his mind racing. He needed to find a safe place to regroup and plan his next move. The bazaar's chaotic energy had returned, but he could feel eyes on him, and the threat of the Kraken's hunters loomed large in his mind.

  As he exited the market, he ducked into a narrow alleyway, hoping to use the maze of backstreets to his advantage. Just as he began to catch his breath and assess his surroundings, a deafening explosion shattered the relative calm.

  The force of the blast was so intense that Isaac feel to spike in temperature before he could see the fireball blooming in the distance, casting a harsh light over the city.

  Isaac’s heart dropped as he watched the explosion unfold. His thoughts immediately went to Spunk.

  “Why does it feel like that has something to do with Spunk?" he wondered aloud, panic rising in his chest.

  Isaac clinched his teeth and took off, pushing through the narrow alleyways with renewed urgency. The thought of Spunk being in danger drove him forward, determined to find out what had happened and to ensure his friend’s safety.

  He rushed through the crowded streets toward the explosion.

  Before Isaac reached the center of the explosion, he took a moment to survey the devastation around him. The city, once bustling with life, now lay in ruins. Buildings were reduced to smoldering skeletons, streets were strewn with debris, and the distant wail of sirens added to the cacophony of destruction.

  He pushed through the panicked crowds, their cries of fear and confusion blending into a discordant symphony of chaos. The thick smoke that billowed from the explosion made it difficult to see, and the acrid stench of burning materials filled his nostrils, stinging his eyes and throat.

  When Isaac finally arrived at ground zero, he was engulfed by an overwhelming sense of disorder. The scene before him was almost beyond comprehension. The explosion had carved out a vast, gaping crater in the heart of the city, surrounded by wreckage and flames that danced erratically in the smoky haze.

  Isaac's heart pounded as he navigated through the debris, trying to make sense of the devastation and find any sign of survivors, more importantly, find Spunk.

  He struggled to make sense of the devastation when suddenly, a large object was hurled toward him, crashing into the melted concrete of a nearby building. The impact sent shards of warped glass and debris flying, forcing Isaac to raise his arms in defense.

  Squinting through the haze, Isaac tried to see what had launched the projectile. The smoke began to clear slightly, revealing the source of the destruction.

  At the same time a voice called out from the direction the object had come from, firm and authoritative, "I'd suggest you retreat young man… the criminal you are standing next to has been sentenced to death, and there has been enough collateral damage for one day...."

  Isaac, focused on what was directly next to him, saw the figure of Artist standing amidst the wreckage. The voice had not come from him but from a group of Kraken hunters approaching them.

  Their leader, a tall man with a stern expression and a gleaming blade, stepped forward, his and Isaac’s eyes locked on Artist.

  Artist stood from the smoke with an intense, resolute expression, his bright pink eyes glowing with a fiery aura reflecting in their depths. His curly black hair framed his face, giving him a fierce and focused look.

  He wore the tattered remains of a prisoner outfit—a baggy, long-sleeve shirt that had once acted as a straightjacket. The oversized sleeves and criss-crossed straps now hung loosely at his sides, no longer restraining his movements. His baggy pants, also tattered, hung loosely from his waist, held only by a coarse belt that seemed difficult to adjust.

  Despite the ill-fitting outfit, Artist smirked, his calm demeanor unshaken as he tightened the belt.

  “Quit all your yapping and give me a second,” Artist said, his voice smooth and composed, carrying a sharp edge of irritation. “I’m trying to select an appropriate weapon!”

  Isaac watched as the tension mounted, the Kraken hunters closing in, their leader’s blade gleaming menacingly. Artist’s nonchalant attitude contrasted sharply with the gravity of the situation. His composure was almost unnerving, especially in such disarray.

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  The leader, clearly unimpressed by Artist's demeanor, narrowed his eyes. "We don’t have time for games..you’re unarmed," he growled. "So just lay down and die."

  Artist’s smirk widened, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his fiery pink eyes. He stepped forward, his tattered attire swaying with each movement.

  “Sorry,” Artist laughed softly, raising his hands in an almost apologetic shrug as he spoke. “But I like it louder than most. You’ll have to turn me up a little more before I lay down for you.”

  The leader’s expression hardened, and he gestured sharply to his men. “Enough of this,” he barked. “Advance!”

  The Kraken hunters moved in, their weapons at the ready. Despite the odds, Artist’s smirk never faltered. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the wreckage and debris for something that might serve as an improvised weapon.

  Isaac could see the fear in the hunters’ faces as they advanced cautiously, wary of Artist’s unpredictable behavior. The air crackled with anticipation as the two sides prepared for the clash.

  Artist, still unfazed, continued to survey his surroundings with a casual air, as if he were at a leisurely stroll rather than on the verge of combat. His gaze fell on a broken piece of metal, sharp and jagged, lying among the debris. He picked it up with a casual grace, testing its weight and edge as he turned to face his opponents.

  “Now,” Artist said with a grin that bordered on manic, “let’s see how well you handle a little noise.”

  With that, he launched himself into the fray, the sharp metal glinting in the dim light as he moved with surprising agility. The Kraken hunters, caught off guard by his sudden aggression, scrambled to respond.

  Isaac watched in stunned silence as Artist danced between the attackers, his movements fluid and precise, his laughter ringing out over the clashing steel. The scene was chaotic and violent, but Artist’s energy seemed to drive him forward, turning the battle into a bizarre spectacle of controlled mayhem.

  Isaac stood there, eyes wide, his mind struggling to make sense of the bizarre scene unfolding before him. The Kraken hunters were engaged in a frantic struggle with Artist, who seemed almost to revel in the chaos.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Isaac thought to himself, his confusion deepening as he watched Artist’s seemingly effortless maneuvering through the melee.

  The once-imposing leader and his men now seemed bewildered, their coordinated assault disrupted by Artist’s unpredictable and erratic movements. The absurdity of it all left Isaac feeling as though he were witnessing a twisted performance rather than a genuine fight.

  Excitement bubbled within Isaac as he observed the chaotic battle, but he knew he had a more pressing task: finding Spunk. Just as he turned to leave, a familiar scream pierced the chaos. Isaac’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice.

  He spun around and was met with a surprising sight. Spunk, who had been hidden in Artist’s hair, was now revealed, clinging desperately to the wild, tangled strands as Artist continued his frenetic dance through the battle.

  Spunk, noticing Isaac, yelled out in desperation, "Isaac, help us!"

  Clashing with Artist as his men circled around him, the leader of the Kraken hunters momentarily turned toward Isaac, acknowledging who he was but showing confusion at the same time before they quickly refocused on Artist.

  Slicing through the sheet of metal Artist was using as a weapon and kicking him back into the path of the other two hunters, the man yelled out.

  "Enough games! Finish him!"

  Artist, thrown off balance, barely managed to dodge the coordinated strikes of the two hunters. His movements still fluid, despite the increasing pressure, and he still wore that manic grin, his eyes shining with intensity.

  Isaac, driven by the urgency of Spunk’s plea, rushed toward the fray.

  He could see the fear in Spunk’s eyes as they clung to Artist’s hair, and the determination in Artist’s face as he continued to fend off the relentless attacks. With a surge of adrenaline, Isaac plunged into the battle, ready to do whatever it took to save his friend.

  Arriving moments before one of the hunter's blades would have slashed Artist, Isaac, with a swift motion, used his phoenix feathers to block the attack, sending sparks flying through the air.

  The force of the clash created a dazzling display, momentarily stunning the combatants around them.

  Without missing a beat, Isaac spun on his heels and smashed his elbow into the attacker's jaw, staggering him. The hunter reeled back, clutching his face in pain, as Isaac positioned himself protectively between Artist and the remaining Kraken hunters.

  Artist, momentarily surprised, shot Isaac a quick grin. "Nice timing," he said, his voice a mix of relief and amusement.

  Isaac nodded, his eyes scanning the scene for the next threat. "Let's get Spunk out of here," he replied, his tone resolute. The two of them, now a united front, prepared to face the hunters, ready to fight their way out of the chaos.

  The leader of the hunters, bracing his comrade who had just been struck, looked at Isaac with confusion etched across his face.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded, but his voice faltered as his eyes fell upon the phoenix feathers lining Isaac's arm.

  Recognition and bewilderment flashed across his features.

  He took a step back, studying Isaac more closely. "You... you have a beast soul," he muttered, the realization dawning on him. "But… why would someone like you have one?"

  Isaac, his stance firm and eyes unwavering, glanced at the leader with a mix of defiance and determination. "There's no time for explanations," he said sharply. "Step aside, or you'll regret it."

  Artist, still grinning, chimed in. "Looks like I’m not the only one with surprises," he said to the leader, his tone mocking.

  The leader, now caught between curiosity and the urgency of the situation, tightened his grip on his weapon. "This isn't over," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. But the uncertainty in his eyes betrayed him.

  Isaac, sensing the momentary advantage, turned to Artist and Spunk. "We need to move, now," he urged, ready to fend off any further attacks as they made their escape.

  "Why?" Artist asked, a dark smirk playing on his lips. "I wouldn't mind putting another one of these Kraken hunters on the obituary."

  Isaac turned to him, urgency clear in his eyes. "As much as I would enjoy that, Spunk’s more a liability than anything and if you haven’t noticed you aren’t faring too much better" he replied firmly, his gaze shifting briefly to the small figure clinging desperately to Artist's hair. "Besides, I left a little message that might have alerted the entire city's hunters.."

  Artist raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Already done that," he retorted. "They for damn sure know I'm here."

  Isaac sighed, realizing the full extent of their predicament. "All the more reason to move now," he insisted. "We're running out of time."

  The leader of the Kraken hunters, still clutching his weapon, seemed to gather himself, his confusion slowly giving way to renewed resolve. He stepped forward, his stance aggressive. "You're not going anywhere," he growled.

  Isaac took a defensive position, his phoenix feathers shimmering with latent power. "Artist, we can't afford to lose focus now. Let's get out of here."

  Artist glanced at Isaac, then at the hunters, his eyes flickering with a mix of amusement and irritation. "You seem a little eager with all this we talk, but fine, I’ll fall back but only because of Spunk." he said reluctantly, taking a step back.

  “Whatever makes you feel better!” Retorted Isaac.

  With a quick, decisive moment, Isaac led the way, his feathers sparking as they prepared to break through the encircling hunters. The leader shouted commands to his men, but Isaac and Artist moved with purpose, their coordinated efforts creating a path through the men.

  As they broke free, Isaac cast one last glance back at the disoriented hunters. "We'll play with you another time," he muttered under his breath, his focus now entirely on getting Spunk to safety.

  As Isaac and Artist made their escape, a small explosion erupted directly in front of them. A massive stone cross, wrapped in runic engraved paper talismans, emerged from the smoke and debris. Isaac and Artist skidded to a halt, their eyes widening in surprise and confusion.

  "What the hell is that?" Isaac muttered, his gaze fixed on the strange sight.

  Silence fell upon the group moments before a man came soaring from the sky, crashing onto the stone cross. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, causing Isaac and Artist to stagger.

  The hunters behind them, knowing something they didn’t, began to celebrate, their cheers echoing through the smoky air before the cloud of dust obscuring the figure even settled.

  Isaac's eyes narrowed as he took in the new arrival. "What now?" he thought, frustration mixing with his urgency.

  The man stood atop the cross, his figure imposing and radiating a powerful aura. He looked down at Isaac and Artist with a cold, calculating gaze.

  Artist, undeterred, smirked up at the newcomer. "Looks like we’ve got another one to deal with," he said, his tone almost gleeful.

  Isaac tightened his grip, readying himself for whatever came next. "Stay sharp," he warned, his voice low. “I got a bad feeling about this."