The day after the Frost Titan fell, the Myth System's voice returned—sharp, almost impatient.
"Daily Quest: Hunt the Sky Phoenix Matriarch, Celestial Sovereign Realm. Threat Level: Catastrophic. Reward: 1,500,000 EXP, Phoenix Realm Territory, new follower—Unknown."
The frostlands behind me still shimmered with Glacia's gentle winter light when the sky above the southern horizon burst into fire. Clouds melted, bleeding gold across the world. Even the dragons of Lirael hid under the waves.
Mo Han grinned, eyes glowing red. "A bird made of flame? My kind of monster."
Yue Zhilan tightened her grip on her spear. "Don't let your arrogance melt us all."
Glacia stood by, frost spreading from her bare feet into the earth. "Be wary, Lord Ling Chen. A single breath from the Sky Phoenix can reduce divine lakes to ash."
I looked up as the sun turned scarlet—the hunt had already begun.
We reached the Phoenix Peaks by dusk. The air burned before we even saw fire. Mountains shimmered like glass; the ground pulsed under every quake of wings.
Then, with a cry that made even the heavens tremble, the Sky Phoenix appeared. Feathers of molten gold, wings stretching over miles. When she gazed down, the entire sky looked alive.
"Mortal who slays titans and dragons," her voice echoed across miles of firestorm. "You come to claim my skies?"
I bowed slightly. "Your flames burn a path through mortal kingdoms. Trade routes die under your dawns. This, I cannot ignore."
She laughed, her voice like thunder. "Then burn with me!"
The sky exploded into a crimson storm. Fire spirals fell like rain, burning holes into the ground. I jumped, qi flaring blue underfoot, cutting through the heat. Vulcan's flame and Glacia's frost surged together inside me.
"Zhilan, keep the air clear!" I shouted.
She raised her spear and spun it—moons formed around her, reflecting light into waves that blocked falling flame. Mo Han leapt high, hurling a sea of crimson fire straight at the phoenix's chest.
Their flames collided—Mo Han's infernal blaze vs. the Phoenix's divine sunfire. The explosion broke the clouds into pieces.
"Still alive?" I called out through the smoke.
"Barely," Mo Han coughed, grinning wildly.
I drew Eternal Sovereign's Fang, the blade shimmering from frost and lightning. "Let's end the storm."
The Phoenix screeched, diving toward me like a comet. The world turned red. I waited until her beak nearly met my blade, then unleashed the dual resonance of frost and thunder. The void cracked like shattering glass.
When the light faded, the phoenix lay across the mountain slope—still alive, breathing ragged, feathers dimmed.
"Quest Completion Detected: Target subdued."
I stepped forward slowly. "You can choose," I said. "Die... or live, and rise again with me."
She stared, then laughed faintly, her voice weaker but soft. "Rise... you say that as if it's a promise."
"I've made such promises before," I said.
Fire flared briefly, not of rage but rebirth. Her divine form shrank into a woman cloaked in golden flame, skin radiant, hair cascading red like lava. Faint scars of battle crossed her palms.
"I am Seraphine," she said. "Matriarch of the Sky Phoenix Clan, last true flame of my race."
"Congratulations! Follower 'Phoenix Queen Seraphine' Acquired (Early Celestial Sovereign). Ability: Rebirth Fire Domain, Sunflame Legion Summon. Loyalty 90%."
"Reward: 1,500,000 EXP. Realm Ascension—God Transformation (Peak). All followers +1 Realm."
The power surged like molten wind through my body. Every breath felt like lightning caught between heaven and earth.
Seraphine watched quietly, expression oddly tender. "Long ago, before gods ruled, a mortal once carried me from a battlefield, shielding my egg from divine war. That soul... carries your face."
I smiled. "Maybe fate favours second chances."
Mo Han clapped our shoulders, laughing. "Another fire in our crew. Now the sky's ours!"
She turned to him, fiery aura flaring. "Mock me, and you'll roast before you blink."
He grinned wider. "Flirt later. We've got trade routes to rebuild."
Yue Zhilan walked forward, lifting a charred feather still glowing gold. "Your fire can heal," she said.
Seraphine nodded. "My flames destroy or restore. With your forests, your seas, and your steel… the world will bloom again."
As we looked out from the mountain's peak, the burned valleys below began to shift. The ashes sprouted golden fields, phoenix flames turning soil rich.
Lu Din's message came through by array hours later: "Phoenix Peaks yield spiritual cores beyond measure. Trade surging 400%. Realm expansion confirmed."
The system added a soft chime:
"New Title: Skybreaker Sovereign. EXP Chain Bonus Activated—Next Hunt multiplier x2."
The members of the pantheon gathered that night around phoenix fire. Dragons roared with welcoming songs, demons drank firewine, and mortals danced across reborn lands.
"I think," I murmured, watching the glowing sky, "this is only the start. Each fight opens another door."
Seraphine smiled at that, eyes bright with quiet challenge. "Then burn brighter, Sovereign of Myth. The heavens aren't done testing you yet."
And high above us, for the first time in ages, the stars glowed with the warmth of a new dawn.