Chapter 488

〈 Chapter 488 〉 Part 1, Chapter 20

Kagagak!

The clone Phoenix swung her purple staff and deflected the arrows. The wind charged with Tubulus’s power surged forward, swallowing the air itself, but due to the Wind Attribute magic imbued within, it harmlessly passed by the clone Phoenix.

Fwoosh.

“Tch!”

The magical arrows burned up before even reaching their target. With the long-range attacks from the Blue Wind Sect members halted, only Tubulus continued assaulting from afar.

“Everyone, extinguish the flames!!”

Tubulus bought time with all his might against the viciously patterned clone Phoenix, who was giving the Blue Wind Sect quite the trouble.

Magic Consumption.

The nature of ‘Blazing Phoenix,’ often mentioned by the original Phoenix, was perfectly replicated in the clone. Though its potency paled in comparison to the original, thanks to the clone’s attack patterns, most of the officers had either brushed past flames or suffered searing burns on their skin.

“You’re a copy, fight like one!!”

[That’s exactly what I’m doing.]

Ignoring Phantom’s irritation, the clone Phoenix swung her staff towards the group of officers trying to douse the flames on their bodies.

[This is how a Phoenix fights.]

Fwoosh.

Purple eagles began gathering near the clone Phoenix, spreading their wings. Despite being no larger than sparrows, each carried a magic power far surpassing the A-Rank explosions unleashed by average fighters.

[Go.]

Keeeeeoooot!!

The flame-engulfed eagles soared fiercely in all directions, heading straight for the officers.

“I’ll block them first!!”

Phantom tapped his mask. Below the mask, his body transformed into S-Rank Durability – Chief Hydra. Slapping the ground with his hand, Phantom unleashed his magic power, forming a concrete igloo.

Kuung!!

The flame-covered eagles slammed their beaks into the concrete wall, one after another. The concrete, at least 10 cm thick, began crumbling layer by layer from the surface.

“Architect! Didn’t you say the Hydra Shield was invincible?!”

“It’s made of magic-infused concrete! Of course it would break!”

Hydra’s shield was sturdy enough to block Seok Harang’s ice spear, but since Phantom’s concrete creation was magic-based, it crumbled.

“If it were just regular concrete, it would’ve held!”

“Where are we supposed to find that around here?!”

Phantom stomped his heels hard on the floor. The battlefield resembled a pig’s innards scattered everywhere, making it difficult to even stand.

[How long do you plan to keep blocking?]

Pssshh!!

All the eagles rammed themselves into the concrete wall. As if perfectly synchronized, the moment the last eagle jabbed its beak into the wall, the concrete shield collapsed.

[You’re too weak. Is this truly the skill of S-Ranks?]

The clone Phoenix hovered gracefully in the sky, her purple-flamed wings spread wide. Beneath her helmet, her sharp gaze looked down upon the officers, brimming with arrogance and disdain.

“Weak, weak. Are these truly the subordinates cherished by the original?”

“Cherished? Bullshit! How many times have I been burnt?”

The Flame Giant gestured rudely at the clone Phoenix, his face turning red. His bald head glowed crimson as he seemed ready to devour the clone Phoenix with sheer momentum alone. Of course, much like the original Phoenix, the clone completely ignored him.

[You should be grateful I haven’t erased you entirely.]

The clone Phoenix raised her staff high into the sky. The sun-like pattern attached to the end of the rod began spinning, and soon, the purple flames covering the entire battlefield started gathering into the sun.

“Her personality seems similar to the original, huh?”

[Then allow me to erase her for you.]

“She talks just like the original too.”

The officers watched closely as the clone Phoenix began unleashing some technique, recharging their magic powers. Although the residual purple flames on their bodies occasionally disrupted or interrupted their magic flow, they still gathered their willpower to land a powerful blow.

“A battle of firepower…kuk…”

The Black Flame Dragon staggered forward. Even considering how bizarre the clone Phoenix’s patterns were, making attacks difficult, among the officers, the one who consumed the most magic power was undoubtedly the Black Flame Dragon.

“Direct confrontation!”

“Hey! You got hit earlier, just step back!”

“That’s impossible! I can’t tolerate losing in a firepower fight to anyone but Her Majesty!”

The Black Flame Dragon raised his left arm dramatically. The arm, which was scorched red as if burned, appeared to have suffered a severe burn. Yet, upholding his pride, the Black Flame Dragon channeled his magic power.

“Rise, Dark Flame!!”

Black flames began spreading from the Black Flame Dragon’s hands. The clone Phoenix momentarily tilted her head at the dark blossoming fire.

[A beautiful flame indeed. Darker than darkness itself.]

“Hmph, witness the power given to me by Her Majesty!”

[Let me remember your name. Who are you?]

For the first time, the clone Phoenix took interest in the Black Flame Dragon. With his arms crossed, the Black Flame Dragon proudly lifted his head. Bearing the same face as the original Cheongnyeon—only colored black—he summoned his magic power and placed his flaming black hand in front of his eyes.

“Kuhahaha, my name is Black Flame Dragon—”

“Ah, no way! Here it comes!”

Pabaak!!

Before the Black Flame Dragon could finish his line, Tubulus’ arrows rained down like a storm. Immediately after, ominous clouds formed overhead, and rain began pouring down.

“Heheh, look at them playing around.”

Transformed into an ox, Phantom poured heavy rain onto the clone Phoenix while sneering. Unable to fundamentally overcome the elemental disadvantage, even the original couldn’t, the clone Phoenix swung her staff wildly.

[Interrupting such an important conversation? How irritating.]

The clone Phoenix spread her arms wide. Simultaneously, purple wings unfurled behind her back, shielding her like an umbrella and repelling the rain.

Pususu.

As the rain fell, massive amounts of steam began rising. The officers gathered their magic powers.

“Hey, Cheon Gaeul. Can you keep the rain going?”

“My magic is sufficient. But I can’t do anything else besides this.”

“That’s enough. Sorry, but you’ll need to help contain its movements.”

Transformed into an ox, Phantom continuously poured rain. Although the clone Phoenix evaporated the rain with heat, she was immobilized under the torrential downpour.

[Hmpf.]

Enraged that her movement was restricted and that the Blue Wind Sect officers were scheming against her, the clone Phoenix lost her temper. From her perspective, it was absurdly disrespectful that mere ant-like beings dared to resist.

[Foolish ones. If you had surrendered peacefully, you might have lived a little longer—]

In the middle of the clone Phoenix’s speech, the officers’ Magical Gears began to sparkle. Their faces lit up, and among them, the Flame Giant bared his teeth in a fierce grin.

“A message from the Lighthouse! Attack order received?!”

“Time’s up! Now we can take it down!”

As soon as Phantom shouted, Architect pulled out two miniatures from his pocket. He may have been the only non-combatant among the officers, but as a member of the combat-oriented Blue Wind Sect, he certainly had offensive means.

“I’ll go first!!”

Architect infused magic power into the miniature tower and hurled it. The delicate model, less than 20cm tall, swelled dramatically the moment it left his hand.

“Shrink-Expand!! It’s an 11m Model Tower!”

Ssaaaack!!

Defying the law of conservation of mass, the colossal miniature tower darted forward and covered the clone Phoenix.

Kagagak!

[Gah!]

The clone Phoenix caught the tower with both arms. The impact slightly deformed the armor inside, showcasing the considerable power of the tower. The feathers on the wings sprouting from the clone Phoenix’s back fluttered and fell.

“Hey, Fake Boss! Did you think we came unprepared?!”

Architect gripped the second miniature tower. Inside it glimmered a blue flame.

“I prepared everything to crush you, alright!!”

Ssaaack—!!

Architect threw the second tower. Its sharp spire flew like a giant lance, and the clone Phoenix extended her staff toward the miniature tower aimed at her chest.

[This much is nothing!]

Kwa—ang!!

A purple laser beam shot out from the clone Phoenix’s staff. Its form resembled a dragon breathing fire.

“Of course. A fake is still a fake.”

Seeing the breath attack, Phantom, who was busy raining water, twisted his lips. The projectile was heading toward the officers, but standing firmly in front of them was the Black Flame Dragon, his long hair flickering like flames.

“Deep Dark Flare!!”

The Black Flame Dragon swung both fists forward. The black flames blazing from his fists clashed with the clone Phoenix’s attack.

Gooooh—!!

The black and purple flames greedily devoured each other. As the flames intertwined, a tug-of-war of magic ensued, with the purple flames gradually consuming the black ones. At this rate, the officers would all be swept away by the purple flames.

“Blazing Phoenix!”

At that moment, the Black Flame Dragon spread his legs and raised his arms in a Y-shape toward the sky. The black flames were quickly consumed by the purple ones, yet the Black Flame Dragon’s eyes began to glow faintly blue.

“Break—-through!!”

Like a priest conducting a sacred ritual, the moment the Black Flame Dragon roared, dark blue flames erupted from his body. Upon contact with the blue-tinted flames, the purple flames immediately dissipated.

Every single flame. The officers remained completely unharmed. Not even the Black Flame Dragon, who had blocked the attack with his body, suffered any damage.

[Wha…t…]

“We resisted it!”

The clone Phoenix’s attack was effortlessly blocked. As if everything the officers endured until now was merely an act, they drew their respective weapons and steadied their breathing.

“As expected. Just a humanoid version of a Fire Dragon.”

“One of the stronger ones among the copies, probably. Hehe.”

The Flame Giant pounded his chest with his fists. From the Spirit Stone the Phoenix had embedded in the Flame Giant’s heart, blue flames began burning, consuming the surrounding purple flames.

“I’ve already gotten permission. From now on, it’s legal. We’ve accumulated quite a bit of frustration, you know?”

“Especially me and him.”

Returning to his original form, Phantom firmly set his tentacles and raised his fists. The rain stopped, but the clone Phoenix fell into a panic-stricken state for unknown reasons.

“So…”

“Instead of the original, let’s see how you fare.”

The officers’ gazes began to flash with a menacing blue light.

With Blazing Phoenix about to launch her Second Divine Cannon in 20 minutes…

****

The clone Phoenix was aware of being a clone while taking pride in her own power.

Perfectly flawless. A clone of Blazing Phoenix, known as the strongest among the officers.

Even though the creator, Seongju, struggled considerably to create the clone, despite not matching the superior power of the original, the clone Phoenix boasted possessing about 99% of the original’s strength.

That pride shattered in an instant. The clone Phoenix couldn’t comprehend the attacks coming from all sides.

Kagagak!!

Tubulus’ arrow pierced through the clone Phoenix’s left shoulder. Clearly, with Wind Attribute magic, it shouldn’t have touched the clone Phoenix’s body, yet somehow Tubulus’ arrow dealt damage.

And that wasn’t all. The injured shoulder wouldn’t heal. The clone Phoenix stared at her non-healing shoulder.

[The original’s residual flame?]

Tat, tat.

Where Tubulus passed, a blue residual flame remained on the shoulder, hindering recovery. Though the flame was smaller than a cigarette ember, it possessed the full essence of the original’s power.

Magic Consumption.

A force akin to poison, fatal to the clone Phoenix whose body was made of magic.

[Damn bastards!]

The clone Phoenix swung her arm, cleanly slicing off her shoulder in a diagonal line. Due to the chunky cut, her left arm began dangling, but the clone Phoenix had no time to care.

“Just shut up, damn it!”

A massive fist came crashing down vertically. The clone Phoenix unfolded her wings and swiftly dodged the attack.

Kuung—-!!

An enormous handprint was stamped into the ground. The revealed Flame Giant couldn’t even stand up but still swung his fist at the clone Phoenix.

“How long do you plan to dodge?! That guy is going to counterattack anyway!!”

Lifting the hand that struck the ground, the Flame Giant raised his middle finger. Whether it was because he reached S-Rank or due to the clone Phoenix being a mockery of the original, the fiery fist perfectly formed a 凸 shape.

“Puahaha! This is totally trash! Did Seongju forget something when creating you?! Is that bastard just stupid?!”

[Nom!!]

The clone Phoenix easily fell for the provocation. She could endure other taunts, but insulting her creator, Seongju, was absolutely intolerable.

[I’ll incinerate all of you!]

Puuurrrlk–!

As soon as the clone Phoenix spread her wings, fiery feathers began scattering in all directions. Despite rapid consumption, her quick recovery allowed her area-of-effect attacks to cover the entire battlefield once per minute.

[Die already—!!]

“That won’t work.”

The Phantom, who had been sitting on the Flame Giant’s shoulder, lightly touched his mask. Instantly transforming into a 140cm high school girl—Kim Nori—Phantom grabbed a water-made sword and slashed diagonally.

“If we die here, it’d be embarrassing, right?”

Phantom threw the sword. The water blade spun and intercepted the clone Phoenix’s feathers. The feathers disappeared upon touching the water. The water sword itself didn’t vanish, continuing to eliminate all feathers along its path until it lost momentum.

[What the hell is this?! What the hell?!]

“What do you mean, ‘what’? Fakes can’t beat the original, that’s all.”

[What?!]

“This side knows exactly what the real deal is.”

Everyone knew it far too well.