Chapter 473

〈 Chapter 473 〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 5

“We can win. In our current state.”

Baek Hee-a was confident of victory, and the others felt the same way.

“Phoenix Sir seems unusually wary of Hwanryong Sir. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t feel like a trap. According to attribute theory, the one we should be most cautious about is Seok Harang, yet…”

“Hwanryong, do you know why Phoenix insists on dodging your attacks?”

Karna asked on behalf of everyone. Phoenix avoided Hwanryong’s attacks at all costs, even if it meant allowing other attacks to hit. Hwanryong, with his gray hair flowing down past his knees, smiled slyly.

“It’s a matter of pride. No matter who else, I’m someone they absolutely don’t want to lose to.”

Hwanryong pointed at Phoenix hovering motionlessly in midair. For the past minute, Phoenix had been flapping its wings gently, maintaining a hovering state. This brief pause gave the raid members enough time to catch their breath and re-strategize.

“So, Harang, I’ll deal the damage. You just draw attention. Like before, summon some ice flowers.”

“Bigger and stronger. Got it… And this time, will you help shout the technique name again?”

“Of course.”

“I keep chanting Brahmasutra.”

Seok Harang found courage in the other Heroes’ shouts. Though initially embarrassed to call out technique names after learning from Phoenix, once everyone started doing it, Seok Harang joined in full-throatedly too.

“Then let’s keep fighting!”

“Fight!!”

As expected, Heroes shouting their technique names not only enhances mana usage but also amplifies their power. The raid members gathered their mana and resolve, preparing for the prolonged battle against Phoenix.

“Hmph, Dad…?”

Seok Harang briefly turned her gaze to Gwang-geon lying face-down on the ground. Each resurrection after death maintained the barrier, though barely, thanks to his repeated deaths and revivals from nuclear-explosion-level attacks. Gwang-geon kept succumbing to magical exhaustion and depletion.

“Don’t worry about Master Sword. If necessary, I’ll personally kill and revive him.”

Gwang-geon’s ultimate ability as a monster-form entity combined with the resurrection granted by the master of monsters, shifting control entirely.

“So you must be extra careful. If you fall, the barrier falls too.”

If Seok Harang lost consciousness or fainted, the barrier would collapse, causing the berserk Phoenix to turn Earth into an inferno.

“Damn, how much longer?”

“No way to tell how much longer we need to hold out…”

“Hold on.”

During this brief rest, Baek Hee-a suddenly remembered something.

“Is this really a berserk state? When Hwanryong went berserk due to chaos, he practically went insane.”

“…It’s less of a berserk state and more…”

La—-La—–La——

Suddenly, a song began echoing somewhere. Everyone looked up at the sky.

La–La——La———–

The blue sun began darkening. A black armor formed around the phoenix-like body of Phoenix, as if the monster-form Phoenix had put on armor while transforming into a phoenix. Black armor began enveloping the monster Phoenix’s body.

“Aww… We were so close.”

Baek Hee-a momentarily despaired, wondering if Phoenix couldn’t awaken itself and might have lost consciousness, entering a berserk state.

[What a wonderful day. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping.]

But the voice transmitted through mana reassured Baek Hee-a. It was the familiar, calm male voice they’d heard directly or secretly.

[On such a great day, let’s go with Blazing Phoenix Revival!!!]

“…Ground Zero!!”

Yuinah’s urgent voice rang out, followed by a sweep of blue flames across the land. The Dark Phoenix calmly looked down and began flapping its wings.

[Phase 2 begins.]

* * *

The situation outside was utter chaos. Due to the nature of Blazing Phoenix – igniting mana itself – even those highly synchronized couldn’t stop the berserk Phoenix.

“Did you arrive?”

Correction. They couldn’t stop the berserk Blazing Phoenix. Blazing Phoenix was using the throne like a control panel to manipulate something. The target was obvious.

“Are you controlling the monster Phoenix right now?”

“That’s right. By the way, how did you resolve things?”

“Well, I explained everything clearly. Everyone showed understanding and empathy.”

I explained exactly how they treated me in the final moments: those who yelled insults, those who coolly disappeared, those who attempted direct attacks to vent their anger, and Yuna. After recounting everything without omission, Blazing Phoenix’s response was quite amusing.

“I heard everything outside.”

“What?”

Blazing Phoenix started smirking mischievously. My face immediately heated up, making it hard to look at them directly. I shuddered at the thought of being unable to dodge in the final moment.

“After this fight ends-”

“Don’t set flags! Be quiet! I’ll say it myself.”

“Fufu.”

It’s over. Blazing Phoenix floated slightly off the throne with a teasing expression. My body naturally got pulled under Blazing Phoenix and ended up sitting on the throne while embracing them.

“Isn’t this the most stable position?”

“Yeah.”

This posture has never changed. I hugged Blazing Phoenix from behind while pulling them close, and they leaned back against me. Like watching a movie in a home theater, we observed the battle between Blazing Phoenix and the synchronized special ability users.

“Should we leave it in berserk mode, or should I continue piloting?”

“Control stick instead of my… hmmph.”

Regaining memories causes problems. A moment’s carelessness almost led to a slip of the tongue, but Blazing Phoenix quickly understood my implication and adjusted their hips backward.

“Of course, I’ll handle the control stick. But since it’s manual, please bear with me.”

“I appreciate your leniency.”

Deep gratitude. I adjusted our position so I could sit as comfortably and warmly as possible. Blazing Phoenix’s thighs remained soft and warm, and when force was applied during control, their muscles tightened, turning the control stick along with mine. The current situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable.

– Bloom, flower!

“Seriously?”

Blazing Phoenix raised the phoenix’s wings forward to create a defensive barrier. Moments later, an enormous ice flower larger than the phoenix itself descended vertically toward it. It was already too late to evade. Gale winds swept from all directions, and Brahmastra would surely come flying if anything went wrong.

“I need to block this.”

“If you block, Hwanryong will start trouble.”

“Then we should switch to area defense. Let’s block Harang’s attack first.”

“Tch.”

Blazing Phoenix cared more about Hwanryong than Seok Harang. To be precise, they didn’t want to get hit by Hwanryong. Despite saying that, they actually needed to focus on Hwanryong’s attack. While I placed my hand over Blazing Phoenix’s to concentrate, they watched above while gathering mana.

“Ring of Fire.”

Immediately after Blazing Phoenix’s words, a massive blue ring appeared above the wings. The infinite (∞) shaped ring caught the falling ice flower like a net. The flower started melting from below and burning petals, but its weight felt like an entire island crashing down.

“Those dried blueberries are real!”

– Burst, snowflakes!

With no opponent standing before Seok Harang after putting on a steel face and shouting technique names earnestly, the flower petals shattered into sharp icicles that passed through the ring and flew toward us. Thanks to reinforced mana on the wings, the icicles melted upon contact. We couldn’t evaporate them, just melt them.

Pssss…

Water droplets formed on the feathers as the icicles melted. If Blazing Phoenix burned all the mana, Seoyea would freeze it, preventing mana movement. Before the wings completely froze, we needed to spread feather by feather. Just as we dispersed them, something gray wielding a lance darted toward us.

– Die—!!

“Real one from Hwanryong!”

Blazing Phoenix cursed as Xiao Lin charged with a spear engulfed in blue flames. Spreading all the wings made it difficult for Blazing Phoenix to counter Hwanryong’s attack.

“Don’t worry.”

Then I handled it. Gathering mana, I erased the physical presence of Hwanryong’s attack point.

Whoosh!!

– Wha?!

Hwanryong and Xiao Lin’s lance charge pierced through Phoenix. However, it merely passed through a hole that already existed, dealing no damage. Hwanryong turned around with a bewildered expression, but I had already finished my follow-up measures.

“Flare!”

A massive fireball erupted from the wing joints toward Hwanryong. Hwanryong hastily transformed into a spirit form, but I scorched the surrounding area to prevent further approach.

“You did well. I trusted you.”

“Of course.”

Blazing Phoenix wasn’t neglecting their duties. They believed I could perfectly handle Hwanryong’s attack, so they focused solely on countering Seok Harang’s assault.

“Just a moment.”

Click.

Blazing Phoenix snapped their fingers, changing the temple’s appearance. The throne where we sat became the cockpit for controlling the monster phoenix.

“Eep.”

Creak. Blazing Phoenix grabbed my magic stick with their lower lip. Though only nibbling on the tip, an indescribably hot and dizzying sensation nearly made me lose consciousness. An orgasm in the spiritual world is akin to death, and I regained awareness with happiness flooding my entire being, as if reborn.

“What the heck is this sudden move?”

“This way, it’s easier for me to control.”

Before I knew it, Blazing Phoenix had incinerated all their clothing with residual flames, and somehow my clothes had vanished too. Since our spirits are trapped within the core, whatever we do here won’t be visible outside. Except for one person capable of directly infiltrating the spiritual world.

“Now, grab tightly. That’s what you’re supposed to do.”

“Are you serious…?”

“Yes.”

After exchanging a glance, we simultaneously shouted together.

“Merge!!”

Blazing Phoenix grinded their hips against my thighs, and I firmly grasped their chest with both hands.

“Blazing Phoenix, evolve!”

Thus named, Mechaphoenix.

From here onward, Phase 2 begins entirely beyond the scope of the original material.

* * *

Flowers flutter throughout the battlefield. The ice flowers created by Seok Harang repeatedly bloom and wither within the barrier maintained by Gwang-geon, numbering in the thousands.

“Man, it’s ridiculously powerful!”

Only Seok Harang could properly withstand the attacks. The assaults from the Phase 2 transitioned Phoenix were so widespread that there seemed to be nowhere to dodge. Initially, there was no intention to dodge anyway.

– Since everyone’s at level 100, we can go all out, right?

“Aaaaah!!”

Seok Harang hysterically raised their arms high into the sky. The mana spreading from Seok Harang’s hands reached the nearby sea, causing it to rise like a tsunami and cover the entire island.

The sea, water became a protective shield covering White Phoenix Isle.

“We can’t keep this up much longer!”

“Role redistribution! Harang, defend Yuna! Everyone else, attack!”

Seeing the amount of seawater near White Phoenix Isle, Baek Hee-a quickly made a decision. They couldn’t remain on the defensive forever and couldn’t keep taking hits indefinitely.

“Yuna!”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.”

Though Yuna had the highest potential to perform, excluding Seok Harang who had advantageous attributes, Phoenix thoroughly blocked Yuna from launching any offensive actions, knowing this fact.

Whoosh!

Phoenix’s mana surging into the barrier’s floor began erupting violently. Yuna had to suppress Phoenix’s volcanic-like explosions with her own strength and Ji Ryun’s power.

To maintain the battlefield itself against Phoenix’s strategy of destroying White Phoenix Isle, Yuna had to sustain it. Otherwise, everyone might end up fighting on an icy surface.

“…I can still maintain the battlefield. Don’t worry!”

Yuna bit her lips, reinforcing White Phoenix Isle further. Though hidden by seawater, Yuna was fiercely engaged in a mana tug-of-war with Phoenix. Watching Yuna’s struggle through the Magic Gear holographic battlefield, Baek Hee-a couldn’t help but feel sorry.

If she synchronized with White Phoenix Isle, Yuna could launch an offensive, but she hadn’t yet achieved perfect synergy with Angwa. Her dark attribute pair was nominally SSS but practically SS. Therefore, she had to give her best in what she could do well.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you! Reorganizing the formation!”

Command. Baek Hee-a devised a plan to deliver a decisive blow to Phoenix. There was only one way.

“Karna, prepare your ultimate skill!”

“I’ve been waiting for this!!”

Karna positioned the string of Vijaya horizontally. The phoenix floating above the sea umbrella remained calmly hovering in place.

“Preparation time: 7 seconds!”

“Harang, endure!”

“Got it!”

Just as Karna began preparing the ultimate skill, blue lasers emitted from the joint parts of the Mechaphoenix began. The attack seemed capable of vaporizing all the seawater and piercing through Seok Harang’s protective barrier. Seok Harang strained every ounce of strength to maintain the barrier.

“7 seconds left, now 4 seconds!”

“Everyone else needs 10 seconds to prepare!”

“Uaaaaaah!!!”

Seok Harang screamed and trembled. Even enduring for just a few seconds felt like their knees would buckle under the weight of Phoenix’s mana, yet they had to endure for another 10 seconds.

“Penril!”

“Leave it to me!”

The only one who hadn’t contributed significantly so far due to disadvantageous attributes—Penril—stood behind Karna. Though Karna doubted their reliability, feeding Phoenix a single shot was unavoidable.

“One chance!”

“Understood.”

Karna laid Vijaya horizontally. On top of it sat Hwanryong, riding the golden-shining arrow—Bashabi Shakthi.

“I’m ready!”

“Harang! Timing’s up to you!”

“Just do it now!!”

With a pale face, Seok Harang thrust their fist toward the sky. Instantly, the entire dome of seawater encircling White Phoenix Isle froze solid, creating a small opening straight from Karna to Phoenix.

Whoosh!

The moment the penetrable space appeared, flames rushed in, widening the ice hole. Seok Harang needed a brief moment to recover mana, and others were fully focused on preparing their ultimate skills.

Thus, the remaining members had to take care of it.

“Gawein, Veloborg, Rusalka!”

“Haaaaa!”

“…Cough!”

Two sword beams crossed in an X shape and soared into the sky. The flames Phoenix shot collided with the sword beams and rebounded as ice walls, creating an opening for Rusalka to aim her finger.

“Ready…!”

Taaang!

A small water droplet fired from Rusalka’s index finger carved a path.

Even if she’s fallen from grace, Rusalka, having once been Seoyea—the water elemental spirit, gathered the leftover elemental power from Seok Harang to form a single bullet. Though the bullet evaporated upon touching Phoenix’s armor, for a fleeting instant—a blink of an eye—a clear path to Phoenix opened.

“Windshear!”

Following Penril’s shout, a massive typhoon created a wind path. Not for attacking, but to establish a platform for the attack.

“Bashabi Shakthi, launch!”