Chapter 533: Rebirth (2)
Chapter 533
SWOOSH!
FWIIIIISH!
A huge gust of wind exploded outward as the phoenix uncoiled its massive wings, arcs of lightning crawling and crackling violently through them like serpents of raw destruction.
Its glowing eyes opened slowly, revealing the same blinding white light as before. The talons shimmered with condensed lightning, each claw wrapped in lethal energy that hummed with deadly promise. The sight alone forced Grey to take a single step back, his heart pounding against his chest.
’Fuck, fuck, fuck! I barely have any Ki left, and my mana is almost completely drained. I could swallow a pill to recover, but at most that buys me five minutes.
Five minutes isn’t enough to defeat this beast, not when it just came back stronger than before. And worse, it seems this freak actually has a respawn option built into it. Thalos is injured too, not at full strength like he was a few minutes ago. Crap! We are dead for real this time.’
Grey swallowed hard, the gulp loud in his throat, but he didn’t allow a trace of fear to show on his face. He steadied himself, body shifting into a guarded stance as arcs of lightning coiled carefully around his fingers and climbed upwards.
His gaze locked onto the beast, whose head tilted from left to right as if it were trying to figure out exactly who or what stood before it.
"What a beautiful feeling, am I right?"
The feminine voice of the phoenix suddenly echoed inside both Grey and Thalos’ minds, forcing them to stiffen as their instincts screamed at them to prepare for an attack.
"To die... and then be reborn more powerful than before."
Grey froze, his heart skipping a beat. ’Di... did it just say more powerful? Hold on, did I already sign my death sentence without knowing? If it’s stronger than before, then I’m screwed.’ His hands trembled slightly, betraying his thoughts.
"So what huh? You want a rematch or something?" Grey spat out, lightning sparking more fiercely around his palms, the glow reflecting in his sharp eyes.
The phoenix tilted its head curiously, its radiant gaze locking on the arcs of lightning Grey commanded.
"They are beautiful and destructive at the same time," the phoenix’s voice rang again, calm and unsettling. "I never imagined in all my life that the very ability I wield would one day be the cause of my death. And to fall to the hands of a human, no less... I’ll admit, it stings my pride."
The beast chuckled within their minds, the sound chillingly soft.
"Fuck it! I’m tired of your ga..." Grey growled, about to hurl himself forward, when Thalos suddenly moved, gripping his shoulder firmly.
"Is it wise to antagonize it right now?" Thalos hissed in a low, sharp whisper, his face grim. "It’s not acting hostile like before. For some reason, it’s calm. Chill, you fool."
Grey exhaled heavily, forcing himself to ease down. His fists loosened slightly as he studied the phoenix hovering serenely before them. Then something strange happened. Its blinding white eyes began to dim, the glow fading until a calm, sapphire-blue pair of eyes stared back at them.
"I’m not here to fight," the phoenix’s telepathic voice came again, quieter now but still resonant in their heads.
"So what are you here for, phoenix?" Thalos pressed, suspicion heavy in his tone. He raised a stone brow while glaring at the magnificent beast. "Why are you suddenly calm towards us, especially after we literally killed you a few minutes ago?"
"The name is Kira," the feminine voice corrected softly. "Not phoenix."
Grey’s expression hardened, but he held his tongue.
"So why are you being calm towards us, Kira? And more importantly, how are you back so soon? Per my knowledge—well, more like my master’s words, it should take years for a phoenix to be reborn." Thalos frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"True," Kira admitted with a graceful nod of her blazing head. "That is the normal way. But something... hastened my rebirth."
Grey’s brows shot up, sparks still dancing along his fingers. "Which is?" he asked, voice firm but wary.
The phoenix’s blue eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if weighing whether or not to speak. The silence stretched heavy, broken only by the faint crackle of lightning around its wings.
’This is crazy mehn! A few minutes ago, I was struggling for my life at this same beast’s hands, and now I’m casually having a conversation with it? What the hell is going on?’ Grey thought, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It’s you," Kira finally replied, her glowing blue eyes locking onto Grey, who looked the most confused of the two. Her gaze was sharp, almost scrutinizing. "And for the record, you didn’t kill me."
The phoenix’s beak curved downward as it glared coldly at Thalos. "He did. You just helped."
Grey blinked in surprise. "I’m sorry, but I hastened your rebirth? How is that even possible? I don’t even know phoenixes exist, let alone that they can get reborn." His brows knitted tightly, his voice edged with disbelief.
"In all my years of roaming the skies and traveling from planet to planet," Kira began, her voice calm yet proud,
"I have never encountered an aura as intense as yours. A mind as sharp as yours. A power as raw and overwhelming as yours. You didn’t just wield lightning—you took it, shaped it into a weapon devastating enough to bring me down."
Grey’s eyes widened slightly.
"That is no easy feat, especially considering lightning is one of the most unstable elements to control. I am a mythical creature, the pinnacle of my kind, and yet you felled me using the very element I was born with." A low hum of admiration pulsed in her voice. "That is pure strength. And I appreciate true strength."
Grey tilted his head but didn’t soften. "Okay... but you still haven’t answered my actual question. How did I hasten your rebirth?"
"Like I said," Kira replied, her feathers glowing faintly, "your aura is so intense that merely sharing space with you was enough to accelerate my revival. You are a living catalyst. So yes, whether you realize it or not, you helped."
Her voice softened, and a small giggle rippled through their minds.
Grey smirked devilishly. "Aren’t you mad I killed you?"
"Mad? Heck no!" Kira’s laughter carried a strange warmth. "Because of you, I got the chance to come back stronger than before—and far quicker than I should have.
So for that..." Her massive head lowered, bowing ever so slightly toward Grey. "I am grateful. And I acknowledge you. You are not weak—you are strong."
Her wings shifted, one talon gesturing toward Thalos. "Strong enough to already have a sidekick that powerful at your side."
"I’m not his sidekick!" Thalos roared, his stone face twitching in fury.
"Huh? Then why do you follow his every order?" Kira tilted her head innocently.
"Tell her, sidekick," Grey teased with a broad grin, nudging the gargoyle with his elbow. His chuckle rang loud and unrestrained.
Thalos’ jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly as his eyes burned with fury. "Don’t test me. I’ll put you both down permanently if you keep it up."
Grey held back a laugh, though the thought in his mind was anything but playful. ’Hold on... this is perfect. I was literally just thinking about this. If she’s not mad about me killing her and even respects my strength, then this could work out exactly as I want.’
The phoenix and Thalos were still bickering when Grey finally cut in, his tone firm. "I want to request something from you, Kira."
The great bird turned her radiant eyes toward him. "Speak."
Grey exhaled and clenched his fists tightly. "Alright. I’m planning on growing stronger. I have enemies back home—powerful ones.
They don’t just stand at the top, they practically rule where I come from. After fighting you, I realized I can’t do this alone. I need more help. These people have crazy backing, terrifying followers, and I’m not stupid enough to think I can topple them by myself."
He lowered his head slightly, teeth gritted with determination, then bowed with conviction.
"So I request this of you, Kira. Will you join my squad?"
The air fell silent. Even Thalos’ bickering halted, his stone eyes widening in disbelief as he turned toward Grey.