A Test

"What… my Battle Soul… it's cowering…?!" the patriarch shouted in a panic, then glared at me as he took a few steps back. "Boy… what trickery is this? You cannot possibly control a real Phoenix…"

"Oh? Whether this Phoenix is real or not… you'll find out soon enough," I smirked. "Show him, Flaria."

"You don't need to tell me, Master!" she cawed in triumph and spread her flaming wings, made of raw fire hot enough to melt the toughest of metal. "Bear witness and face the wrath of a Golden Phoenix, old man!"

Uh… that part was unnecessary.

Still, at her words, Patriarch Xiang's eyes widened in shock. "G-Golden Phoenix?! The legendary Golden Phoenix Bloodline… lies! I did a background check on you, boy… you were nothing but a magicless trash just a few months ago! How is it possible for you to have a Golden Phoenix by your side?!"