Raon frowned, looking at Wrath rather than the phoenix.
'The phoenix is already burning, what do you mean by roasting it!'
-How stupid.
Wrath clicked his tongue in disdain.
-The flesh of a phoenix that dies and comes back to life is as tender as the finest beef. Plus, it's already on fire, so it's almost ready!
The guy was drooling as if he had already tasted roasted phoenix.
'What on earth do you eat...'
Raon pushed away Wrath, who was sticking out his tongue like a puppy, and looked back at the phoenix.
'Grandmaster-level martial artists would have passed through first. Seeing that the phoenix is still here...'
Is the space divided?
It seemed that from the second floor onwards, the path was splitting.
'Whatever the case, I can finally break the seal on the ring.'
The reason for requesting the phoenix's location in the black market was to break the seal on an old ring bought during his trainee days.
He had waited for a long time, and finally, that opportunity had come.
'But that phoenix...'
Why is it so big? Has it lived for over a thousand years?
The phoenix floating before his eyes now was more than three times larger than the one he had encountered in his past life, and the heat emanating from its wings far exceeded the normal range.
As phoenixes grow stronger the longer they live, it seemed to have lived for an incredibly long time.
[You worm-like humans.]
The phoenix raised its wings roughly, its eyes flashing ominously. It felt like an invisible flame was strangling their throats.
"I-it speaks?"
Burren's jaw dropped. He didn't seem to have expected the phoenix to speak.
"It's not speaking."
Raon shook his head, keeping his gaze fixed on the phoenix.
"It's communication using willpower."
The phoenix used willpower to convey malice to all humans present. Given its use of willpower, its level seemed to be above Grandmaster.
[I'll turn you all to ashes.]
The phoenix opened its beak, burning with flames. A red spark flashed from its pitch-black throat, like a bottomless abyss.
Even from a distance, the heat was so intense it felt like it could sear their skin.
"Ah..."
"H-how do we stop that!"
"It's over. It's all over..."
The martial artists stood still, unable to move a finger, seemingly overwhelmed by the phoenix's intimidation.
But the Light Wind division was different.
The swordsmen who had experienced fears greater than the phoenix gripped their swords to survive.
"Formation!"
Burren stood at the center of the formation, issuing orders to the swordsmen. A harsh gale swirled around him.
"First squad! Stick by me!"
Martha drew her sword at the front of the first squad, using her berserk mode. A thick wall of astral energy rose as if to protect the Light Wind division.
"Second squad. Fall back."
Runaan stood in front of the second squad, speaking in a calm voice. Noble frost flowers bloomed on the blade of her beloved sword.
"I'll take the front."
Mark Goetun stood at the very front of the Light Wind Formation, holding his sword with both hands and emitting astral energy.
"If a phoenix comes out on the second floor, what's going to come out next..."
Rimmer sighed and shook his head. Despite his complaint, he placed his hand on his sword hilt, ready to move at any moment.
Raon nodded as he watched the Light Wind division from behind.
'Now they're somewhat worth watching.'
Even the Masters were flustered, but the Light Wind division was preparing to overcome this crisis on their own, without expecting help from me or Rimmer.
The three weeks of focus enhancement training had paid off.
Kwaaaaaaa!
The phoenix's flames poured down towards the Light Wind Formation. It was a grotesque sight, as if lava erupting from a volcano was falling directly.
"Give it your all!"
Following Burren's shout, the Light Wind division burned with determination, shaping their flickering blue aura shields even thicker.
Woooong!
The aura of the three squad leaders soaked the edges of the Light Wind Formation, building an even more solid wall.
The phoenix's flames, said to devour even fire itself, clashed head-on with the Light Wind Formation's strongest defense.
Kugugugugu!
The Light Wind Formation's defense was solid enough to ignore astral energy, but the phoenix's flames began to burn through the aura itself, starting to crush the formation.
"Not yet."
"Hold on till the end!"
"If even one person retreats, we all die!"
Runaan, Martha, Burren. The three squad leaders boosted the morale of the swordsmen, while Mark Goetun stood at the very front, blocking the flames with his body.
But the phoenix's flames didn't extinguish, burrowing down to the feet of the Light Wind division.
'What a pity.'
Raon briefly clicked his tongue. If the Light Wind division had been just a little stronger, they might have really overcome those flames.
It was disappointing that they were pushed back by such a small margin.
'Still, they did well.'
Seeing the Light Wind division's clearly changed determination compared to before, a smile naturally came to his face.
Raon stretched out his hand towards the phoenix's flames with a satisfied smile.
What he raised from his energy center was neither Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation nor Glacier. It was the beautifully burning crimson flame, the Crimson Flame he had received from Ifrit.
As he utilized the Crimson Flame, which had control over fire, the phoenix's flames that were about to engulf the Light Wind division lost their power, bending and flowing to the left.
Kuwaaaaaaang!
As the flames met the lava, a massive explosion occurred. A dark cloud filled with ash rose into the sky.
[You...]
The phoenix trembled its beak while looking this way.
[What did you just do?]
It twisted its blue eyes, as if the word 'bewilderment' was etched into them.
[Why do you have such power...]
"..."
Raon examined the phoenix's feathers without answering.
'Where is its weakness?'
The beginning and end of a phoenix is in those golden feathers. Just as dragons have their reverse scales, phoenixes have feathers that hide their weakness.
He simultaneously utilized the Crimson Flame, the Evil Eye of Wrath, and the Perception of the Snow Flower.
As the resonating ring of fire enhanced the three traits, the aura emanating from the phoenix felt so vivid it seemed to touch his hand.
'Is it under the right wing?'
It was very slight, but the flames on the feathers under the wing were calmer than elsewhere. That place seemed to be the weakness.
[Speak! Why does a mere human have such power...]
"I received it from my younger brother."
[Y-younger brother?]
Raon ignored the confused phoenix and stepped with the Supreme Harmony Steps. He leaped as if taking flight, but the phoenix was floating too high to reach.
[How dare you!]
The phoenix, seemingly realizing that Raon couldn't reach it, sneered and beat its wings. A rain of flames poured down from countless feathers.
'Got you.'
After biting his lips firmly, he stepped deeply on the air and jumped. It was the Demon Sword Master's Sky Walk he had seen before entering this place.
[Ugh!]
The phoenix, flustered, raised its wings and ascended higher into the sky.
Thanks to that, even though he jumped once more in mid-air, there was still a considerable distance between him and the phoenix.
[You fool!]
The phoenix, seemingly embarrassed at being surprised, frowned and spread its wings.
[I'll burn you to a crisp!]
It concentrated flames at the tip of its beak, as if trying to take advantage of the fact that Raon couldn't move in mid-air.
The gathered flames formed a massive fireball and fell. The heat was so intense that it distorted the space around it.
Raon curled his lips as he watched the fireball bearing down on him.
'You probably think it's over. But...'
This is where it begins.
He placed his hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Drive sword at his waist. He raised the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation while clenching his fist.
Focusing on the inside rather than the outside, he awakened the mana circuits throughout his body.
Chiiiiing!
Feeling both his body and mind filling with the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, he simultaneously utilized Alice's Spatial Sword and Ogram's Fierce Wave Arts.
Zzzzzzt!
Using two unfamiliar martial arts at once caused a pain that felt like his brain was being ripped apart.
But now was the time to endure the pain and move forward. He drew the Heavenly Drive sword while resonating the ring of fire.
Chwaaaak!
The red blade that shot out from the scabbard ignored the phoenix's fireball and slashed under its left wing.
[Kiaaaaa!]
The phoenix let out a scream of pain that was hard to imagine was just from a cut wing.
It seemed to lose consciousness from the intense pain and began falling to the ground.
'It's not dead yet.'
His skill was lacking, and he couldn't execute perfect swordsmanship while avoiding the fireball. The phoenix was still alive.
Raon made his body heavy to quickly descend to the ground, then charged at the falling phoenix.
[Get lost!]
True to its nature as a spirit beast, the phoenix regained its senses in that moment and erected a wall of flames.
'I expected that.'
He pulled back the Heavenly Drive sword and drew the Requiem Sword. He thrust the blue flash that shimmered over the red blade straight in.
Jeoeoeoek!
The Requiem Sword pierced through the dense flames and once again roughly dug into the phoenix's weak point.
[Kyaaaaa!]
Unable to bear the pain, the phoenix's eyes rolled back. It seemed to have lost all reason.
Raon didn't miss this opportunity and thrust forward the Heavenly Drive sword he had pulled back. The red-soaked heat ray, along with a faint light, sliced through the phoenix's neck.
Kugugugugu!
The phoenix's massive body fell, separated from its neck.
Kuuuung!
The phoenix's head fell into the lava, while its body dangled halfway on the ground.
"Wow..."
"H-how many times did he swing? Was it three times?"
"Yeah, three times. Now he catches phoenixes with just three sword swings..."
"We can't even call him a monster anymore."
The Light Wind division shook their heads in disbelief.
"Is that really Raon Zieghart...?"
"There's a reason he's called the Dragon Slayer."
"Isn't his title going to change again? To Phoenix Slayer?"
"We have to compete with a monster like that...?"
"I suddenly want to go home..."
Other martial artists just sat down and shook their heads.
[It's not over yet!]
Just as everyone was losing strength and sighing, the phoenix's voice was heard again.
[You will never escape this place!]
"Doesn't it take over 10 years for you to resurrect?"
Raon shook his head, looking at the lava from which the phoenix's willpower was flowing.
While it's true that phoenixes are spirit beasts that can miraculously resurrect, they don't come back to life immediately.
As far as he knew, they were born from one of their feathers 10 years after death, so he didn't understand why it was saying such things.
[This place is special. I can resurrect whenever I want!]
The phoenix gritted its teeth, determined not to be caught off guard by tricks this time.
"Hmm..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked down at the lava.
'So it will resurrect from within the lava.'
Even phoenixes can't exert their full power immediately after resurrection.
It would undoubtedly resurrect in the lava where humans can't enter, regain its strength, and then emerge.
'If I only knew which feather it resurrects from, I could easily subdue it... Huh?'
Raon blinked as he looked at the phoenix's feathers scattered all around.
'What's this?'
Perhaps because he was still using the Crimson Flame, he could feel small embers burning in each of the phoenix's feathers.
It wasn't ordinary fire, but the vitality of the phoenix he had just been fighting.
'No way...'
Does it resurrect using the vitality infused in the feathers?
[Just wait! I'll burn you all to ashes, not leaving a single bone fragment!]
The phoenix continued to express its malice, seemingly frustrated by its death.
[I'll follow you to the end and melt you. To the point where you'll think dying in lava would be better!]
'Perhaps...'
Ignoring the phoenix's words, Raon picked up one of the fallen feathers from the ground.
Woooong!
After mixing the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the Crimson Flame, he transferred heat to the ember burning within the feather.
Whaaaa!
Suddenly, the feather trembled, and a massive sphere of flame shot up, seemingly reaching the sky.
Zzzzzzt!
The round, egg-like flame split in half, and from within, a phoenix about half the size of the one he first saw jumped out and fell to the ground.
[I will never let you escape... Peep?]
The phoenix was spewing anger but then raised its head with a chick-like sound. Its beak trembled, seemingly flustered.
[W-what is this! Why am I here...]
"So this works."
Raon smiled softly as he looked at the trembling eyes of the phoenix.
"What did you say just now? Can you repeat it?"
[Ah...]
* * *
The phoenix named Kaiyan opened its beak wide as it saw Raon smiling brightly.
'How did this happen...'
It was preparing to resurrect in the lava when suddenly its consciousness was pulled outwards, and it was forcibly resurrected.
It wanted to stop it, but it was uncontrollable, as if being sucked into a storm.
[W-what on earth happened? I had no intention of resurrecting yet!]
"Oh, I did it."
The human waved his hand annoyingly.
[What nonsense! How could you possibly resurrect me!]
"I just tried it. And it worked?"
[Preposterous! Don't lie!]
"Then let's try it again."
The human swung his hand with a grin. In an instant, the world split, and a sharp pain arose in its neck.
[Kieeeeek!]
An immense pain followed, and at the same time, its vision went dark.
How much time had passed? It could feel its consciousness again.
'Haa, it was a dream.'
It was brief but terrible.
A human forcibly resurrecting me, it was absurd even for a dream. Thankfully, it wasn't reality.
'I must have been too tense.'
It seemed like a nightmare caused by the unexpected defeat.
Just as it was about to feel the energy of the feather placed in the lava, determined to fight properly next time.
Suddenly, it felt as if its soul couldn't move and was being torn out.
'N-no way?'
It tried to stop it somehow, but there was nothing it could do. It was sucked out as if its hair was grabbed.
[Peep?]
When it opened its eyes, that annoying human was waving his hand.
"See?"
[Ah...]
Kaiyan gaped at Raon.
"You still don't seem to believe it? Should I do it one more time?"
[N-no! Wait, I believe...]
Peoeoek!
Its vision darkened again.
* * *
Meanwhile, in a quiet land shrouded in gray fog...
Delphros sat with his eyes closed in an antique chair that didn't match the surroundings.
Around him, a powerful aura that seemed capable of crushing iron writhed, indicating he wasn't resting.
The aura that had been raging like a storm gradually settled, sharpening to the point of exuding a keen edge before returning to Delphros.
"This should be enough."
As Delphros nodded with a satisfied smile, a black shadow rose behind him.
"Lord Delphros."
Sabi bowed his head to Delphros.
"All the key figures have descended to the third floor. Their injuries have worsened, and their mental fatigue seems to have doubled."
"Any casualties?"
"There are many injured, but almost no fatalities."
He nodded, indicating that everything was going according to plan.
"Then what about that guy?"
"Pardon...?"
Sabi immediately understood who "that guy" was, but his lips trembled as if he hadn't heard.
"I'm talking about Raon Zieghart."
"He... he's in battle."
"Still in battle? It seems he's having a tough time after all."
Delphros nodded with a faint smile.
"Didn't I tell you? The phoenix's flames are unrelated to fire resistance."
"T-that's not it."
"What?"
"Uh..."
Sabi bit his lip as if reluctant to speak.
"Speak quickly."
"H-he's training with the phoenix."
He held his head as if he couldn't believe his own words.
"What nonsense is this?"
The gold-plated wine cup in Delphros's hand crumbled.
"I-it's true. He's training by killing the phoenix, resurrecting it, and fighting it again..."
"Do you think that makes any sense?"
"It's not a lie. I don't know exactly how, but Raon Zieghart seems able to choose the location of where to resurrect the phoenix."
"...Bring it here."
As he stretched out his hand, Sabi presented a spherical crystal ball. When he pushed aura into it, the inside began to glow.
Woooong!
A lava zone where flames drenched both sky and earth.
A phoenix is born from a small feather. The phoenix spread its massive wings, displaying an overwhelming presence.
[Kieeee!]
Swordsmen in black uniforms rushed in as if they had been waiting, and began to beat the phoenix.
[Kiaaaak!]
The phoenix screamed and thrashed, but having just resurrected, it couldn't muster its original strength and collapsed.
After that, a handsome young man with golden hair and red eyes gripped a fallen feather and exerted force, causing the feather to ignite and the phoenix to resurrect again.
This time, swordsmen from another side approached the phoenix and began to fight.
Kyaaang!
Delphros's grip loosened in shock, and he dropped the crystal ball, lowering his head.
"What are these guys..."
* * *
"Next, second squad."
Raon nodded to Runaan with his hands behind his back.
"Yes."
Runaan came forward with the second squad swordsmen.
Raon infused the phoenix feather with the energy of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and threw it. Intense flames erupted from the feather as the phoenix was born.
[Y-you bastards! Stop this!]
"Let's go."
Runaan stepped forward, scattering silver frost.
Chwaaak!
The feathers of the phoenix, which hadn't yet regained its strength, were completely frozen.
The second squad swordsmen took advantage of the phoenix's immobility, rushing in from all sides to deliver sword strikes.
Beobeobeobeobuk!
The phoenix raised flames and flapped its wings, but in its weakened state, the Light Wind division easily penetrated the flame-filled space.
[Kueeek!]
After being beaten by the second squad, the phoenix rolled on the ground with its feathers plucked.
[S-stop! Please stop...]
The phoenix shook its head, begging them to stop.
[I've died nearly 20 times already! Even I'm at my limit!]
It screamed for them to stop.
"Hmm..."
Raon clicked his tongue as he watched the phoenix practically begging.
"We're still left!"
Burren raised his hand.
"Division Leader! I'd like to face it one-on-one!"
Mark Goetun raised his hand, saying he wanted to fight it directly.
"I see."
Raon wagged his finger at the phoenix.
"Let's finish with these guys first and then we'll see."
[W-wait!]
Raon sliced through the phoenix and gripped a feather again. As he infused the feather with flames, the phoenix was born once more.
[Kiaaaak!]
He wiggled his finger at the phoenix, which was now born screaming rather than roaring.
"Please take care of it."
"Let's go!"
[Please stop!]
Burren charged at the newly resurrected phoenix, while the phoenix flapped its wings with teary eyes.
[I'll kill myself? I'm serious! I really will commit suicide!]
The phoenix flapped its wings, threatening to take its own life.
-Using a phoenix as combat training material...
Wrath sighed as he watched the whimpering phoenix.
-The word 'devil' is too good for you! You madman!
'It's better than eating the phoenix.'
As he muttered that it was better than Wrath, he heard the phoenix crying out.
[Just eat me instead! You demons!]
"..."