In the earliest days of the Phenex Clan, before their name became known across the Underworld, their lands were not as prosperous as they are now. The territory was harsh, filled with burning valleys, unstable flames, and wild magical beasts drawn to the heat of the land.
It was during this age that the first lord of Phenex discovered a creature unlike any other. Deep within the heart of the family's territory, beyond the burning cliffs and the old volcanic caves, he found a true phoenix, the mythical bird of legends.
A being of immortal flame, deathless renewal, and sacred rebirth. Its fire restored, purified, and returned life from ruin.
And so, the lord knelt before the true phoenix and offered a pact a blood pact between his bloodline and the immortal flame.
The phoenix did not grant its blessing freely. In exchange, the lord of Phenex sacrificed what was demanded of him. The record does not name every price, for some offerings were hidden from later generations, but it is written that he gave blood, treasure, and something more personal than either.
Only after the sacrifice was accepted did the true phoenix allow its flame to enter the blood of the Phenex lord. From that day onward, his descendants carried the blessing of rebirth.
This was the beginning of the Phenex Clan's immortality. A gift born from a pact with a true phoenix, sealed by sacrifice and carried through blood.
"Yeah, I expected that," Adrien said, leaning back slightly. "Ravel, do you have any idea where your old territory was?"
Ravel looked at him, then nodded.
"I do. We were taught about it in our history classes," she said, glancing at the old book. "But I didn't know this was how we gained our powers…"
"Y'all are devious fuckers," Adrien said, staring at the page with an impressed look. "Keeping the existence of an actual phoenix only to yourselves. Though, honestly, I would've done the same."
Ravel's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Do you have to say it like that?"
"Yes," Adrien answered without hesitation. "Because it's true. Your ancestors found a cheat code, locked it behind family history, and then acted like everyone else was supposed to believe Phenex immortality just appeared out of nowhere. You're a bunch of gaslighters for real."
Ravel looked away, a little embarrassed, but she could not exactly deny it. Adrien closed the old book halfway and looked at her.
"So, where is your old territory?"
Ravel stared at him for a second. Then, instead of answering, she lifted her chin. "You have to fulfill my wish first."
"Hm? You already thought about it?"
Ravel's confidence wavered for a moment. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve.
"So?" Adrien asked. "What do you want?"
Ravel's face turned slightly red, but she forced herself to look at him. "I-I want to join your peerage."
"Join my peerage?" he repeated.
Ravel nodded, her blush growing stronger. "Yes."
"You were a Bishop, right?"
Seeing that he was actually considering it, Ravel immediately nodded, her eyes brightening with excitement. "Yes. I was Riser-sama's Bishop."
"Don't say his name like that around me, it pisses me off." Adrien sighed and looked her over. "Anyway, I can't give you the Bishop piece."
Ravel's excitement froze. "Why not?"
"Because my Bishop piece is a mutation piece," Adrien said simply. "And I'mma be honest with you, Ravel. You're not strong enough for me to use a mutation piece on you. A mutation piece is valuable, It's not something I can throw around just because someone wishes for it."
Ravel clenched her hands. "So you think I'm useless?"
"I didn't say that. Don't twist my words, I'm willing to give you three of my pawns if you want."
Ravel blinked, her frustration fading into surprise. "Three… Pawns?"
"Yeah. You're not weak enough for one or two Pawns to be fair, but you're not strong enough for me to waste a mutation Bishop on you either. Two Pawns should be enough to reincarnate you properly."
Adrien noticed her silence and sighed. "Look, don't take it as an insult. Pawns are underrated. People hear 'Pawn' and think it means disposable, but that's stupid. Pawns are the most flexible pieces on the board. In the right situation, they can become anything. "Plus, if the thing I'm trying to do actually works, I could let you use it. And if that happens, your power would probably surpass your brothers' instantly."
"My brothers…?" she repeated quietly. "You really think I could become that strong?"
"Sure," Adrien said, pointing at himself. "I'm Adrien Agares. I don't take weak people with low potential under me."
Ravel stayed silent for a while. She looked down at the old book, then at Adrien, then back at the floor. After a few seconds, she seemed to come to a decision and nodded to herself.
"I'll think about it," she said quietly. "But I can't just join your peerage on my own. I need to talk to my parents first."
She quickly raised a finger, her face turning a little red. "But if it doesn't work out, I'll ask for another wish, okay!?"
"You can tell them after the gathering at the end of this month," he said. "Just say you met me there. Now that your wish is temporarily on hold, can we get back to the important part? where is your old territory?"
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Valhalla
The great hall of Valhalla was quiet. Golden light from the braziers flickered across the massive pillars, casting long shadows over the gathered gods of the Norse pantheon. At the head of the hall, Odin sat upon his throne, one eye half-lidded as he listened.
The messenger lowered his head. "And that concludes Lord Michael's report, Lord Odin."
Then one of the gods let out a rough laugh. "Those striplings sure are running wild. Pretending to be God now, Michael? The nerve of it."
Another Aesir frowned deeply. "How shall we respond? I never expected the Biblical God to have truly met his end. This changes the balance between the factions."
"To think," another voice added, "that the imposter Michael, the false Lucifer, and that upstart Azazel are sitting together like old friends over tea."
Freyr stepped forward, his expression calm but sharp.
"Shall we, the Aesir, show those miscreants what a true god looks like? If they are already moving without their creator, then perhaps it is time we remind them that the world does not belong to the Biblical factions alone."
Several gods looked toward Odin, waiting for his judgment.
Odin remained silent for a while, his fingers resting against the arm of his throne. Finally, he chuckled.
"I'm too old to throw myself into another world-spanning war, Freyr. But I will admit, I'm intrigued. These youngsters have lost the one who stood at the center of their world, and yet they continue moving forward. Michael, Lucifer, Azazel… all of them are trying to hold together what should have collapsed long ago."
Freyr tilted his head. "Then you wish to ignore them?"
"The demons are preparing a Rating Game, are they not? A public one, involving the young heirs of their noble houses."
"Yes," the messenger answered. "That is what the report suggests."
"The demons are preparing a Rating Game, are they not? A public one, involving the young heirs of their noble houses."
"Yes," the messenger answered. "That is what the report suggests."
"Then perhaps we should observe it."
Freyr smiled slightly. "A demon chess match? That does sound entertaining."
"Then I'll be joining you," a man said.
His deep voice spread through the hall. A massive hammer rested on the ground beside him, its heavy head planted against the stone floor. The man himself was enormous, broad and muscular, with long red hair and a thick red beard.
It was The God of Thunder himself, Thor. Ranked seventh among the strongest beings in the world.