Chapter 293: Golden War Chariot

Entering the carriage and sitting beside Elaine, I stroked her head, soothing her as Zulo and Zala neighed before they took to the skies while Mandy and her men surrounded the carriage. However, once we flew out of the volcano and intended to leave, everyone suddenly sensed Renata's Qi, along with many others, surge through the sky before heading right toward us, causing me to click my tongue, and before I could even finish thinking, we were surrounded, by Renata and many elders of the Phoenix Clan.

"Prince Elif, where do you think you're going?" Asked Renata lightly with a deep frown as he looked at the carriage while the several elders intently eyed the royal guards surrounding the ship.

'Tsk, annoying. If you're going to go through all of this effort, drop this facade.' Mused Elif in annoyance as he moved the curtain out of the way before looking out the window and glancing at Renata in the distance.

With Maxim and Illumia present, I wasn't worried about my or Elaine's safety; they were both equally as strong as Renata, while the royal guards would be able to handle the elders, though since they were superior in number, it would be difficult. Well, that is, if Mandy wasn't present, she's a True God, and with the Half-step chasm in effect, they were all weaker than ants to her.

"Come on, Illumia, let's humor this annoying man." Muttered Elif lightly in annoyance as he glanced at Illumia before affectionately rubbing Elaine's head.

Once Illumia opened the door, I exited the carriage and floated in the air while Illumia closed the door behind her; glancing at Renata, I gave him a bored since, unlike him, I wasn't fond of playing these little games. If there were a problem, just say it so we could get this over with rather than wasting the precious time that I could be using to spend with Elaine.

"I'm returning home, Renata; I only came here for the deal we made regarding the Flame of Rebirth, and now that it has been upheld, I have no reason to stay anymore. After all, as the Crown Prince, I have things to attend to back in the Empire, especially since I've recently become an adult; my parents have given me an influx of work I must do to prepare for ascending the throne." Replied Elif in a slightly annoyed tone as he fanned himself with his Quạt tay while eyeing Renata, whose face scrunched in anger at the mention of Flame of Rebirth.

"I see. But leaving so soon and quickly, without allowing us to even hoist a small banquet-" Said Renata lightly as he suppressed his anger and behaved cordially, well, at least until Elif interrupted him with his Qi-enhanced voice.

"Enough! I'm tired of this nonsense; stop beating around the bush like a coward, or leave me be. As a Prince, I don't have time to waste on insignificant things like this." Declared Elif in annoyance as he narrowed his eyes at Renata, who clenched his fist angrily before his body erupted into a blaze of mighty blue flames that covered the very sky.

"Insignificant? INSIGNIFICANT!? You think the disappearance of the Flame of Rebirth is insignificant!?" Exclaimed Renata angrily as he glared at Elif, whom Illumia protected from the heat of his flames, while his words surprised everyone listening, including the elders, whose faces morphed into fury.

'Okay, I was mistaken. That is not an insignificant reason.' Mused Elif with widened eyes before quickly regaining his composure and shaking his head.

"No, that is not insignificant, and by all means, the Elven Empire will compensate you for the losses, but tell me, how would keeping me and my sister prisoner within your territory help your situation? You'd only end up angering a power you can't afford to, and instead of being compensated, you'd lose anymore; don't tell me your anger problems clouded your judgment that much, Renata." Remarked Elif lightly; he gently shook his head before eyeing Renata curiously, though his words only served to anger him further.

"The Flame of Rebirth is far too precious to simply be compensated, Prince Elif." Stated Renata angrily as he narrowed his eyes at Elif, who furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Then what do you propose, Renata?" Asked Elif lightly as he stared at Renata, whose expression hardened.

"Your spirit root… that's the only thing that'll serve as an adequate compensation, and even then, that's too little." Declared Renata, his words causing Illumia to frown coldly while even the surrounding elders were slightly surprised, though, after a quick thought, they promptly agreed.

Tilting my head in confusion at the ridiculous words I had just heard, I turned to look at Illumia, who was coldly staring at Renata, before I, too, glanced at him.

"I genuinely can't tell if you're being serious or if you're just implementing your bargaining skills." Said Elif lightly as he looked at Renata, who merely squinted his eyes before his blue flames that covered the sky surged with more intensity, creating a flaming dome around them.

"Ah, I see. So you were being serious. Well, then, it seems that talking anymore is pointless." Added Elif softly with a nod as he observed the flaming blue dome before turning and looking at Illumia.

"The Flame of Rebirth was the lifeblood of the Phoenix Clan; without it, we're bound to grow weaker over the next generations." Stated Renate solemnly as he clenched his fists in anger while staring at Elif, who nodded without a care in the world before turning around.

"Interesting, but I've stopped caring about any of this after you asked for my spirit root; never in my life will I ever give my spirit root to mere talking flames, you mongrels. Illumia, Mandy, deal with them as you see fit." Said Elif with a frown as he turned and opened the carriage before entering, causing Illumia and Mandy to bow deeply before two silver battle axes and a massive sword appeared in their hands, respectively.

"Yes, your Highness." Said Mandy and Illumia simultaneously as they turned and eyed the Phoenixes surrounding them while the latter kept her focus on Renata, who frowned deeply.

Sitting beside Elaine, I moved the curtain out of the way so we could better watch the battle that was about to take place, but before anyone could move, several powerful presences suddenly appeared, standing directly beside the carriage with one of them even being the ancestor from the Rebirth dimensions, and she looked very upset. With their combined might, they quickly suppressed Illumia, Mandy, and the other royal guards, causing me to frown deeply at these several figures whom I assumed were all Ancestors at the very least.

"Prince Elif, if you could please exit this carriage." Asked one of the Ancestors softly in a commanding tone as he stood before Elif's window, causing him to smile faintly.

"I will not. Now, I suggest you all return from whence you came from; you're only making this worse for yourselves. No matter what happens, you will not emerge as the victor in this situation." Remarked Elif lightly as he glanced at the older man before yawning behind his Quạt tay, causing him to turn and glance at Illumia and Mandy.

"We implore you to exit the carriage, Prince Elif, for the safety of your servants." Said the older man lightly as he furrowed his brows while eyeing Elif, only for Illumia and Mandy to float toward them before.

Furrowing my brows just as I was about to open my mouth to speak to these foolish Ancestors, I suddenly felt my royal medallion faintly tremble within my dimension ring; no, it wasn't because of Ember, who had been snooping around. It was because Mother was here, which means…

"BASTARDS!!" Yelled Maria angrily as her powerful voice resounded through the whole sky, causing the bluish flamming dome to tremble intensely before breaking, revealing a massive golden chariot in the distance surrounded by hundreds of royal guards

Following Mother's voice, an unfamiliar Qi suddenly erupted from in the distance, causing all the Phoenix Clan ancestors to be suppressed while Illumia and Mandy were set free, though instead of attacking, they quickly bowed towards the massive golden chariot in the distance.

"Woah, is that a war chariot, Brother?" Asked Elaine with wide eyes as she looked at the chariot with Maria standing at the top, looking quite furious as well.

"Yes. Though, they look much more intimidating when they're actually being used." Muttered Elif with a nod as he glanced at the massive chariot before looking at Maria, who suddenly outstretched her hand, manifesting a large golden palm in the air that slammed down onto the immobile Renata, who was now sporting an ugly expression.

"YOU BETTER HAVE ONE HELL OF AN EXPLANATION RENATA!" Yelled Maria furiously as she held Renata within her palm while glaring at him, only to squeeze harder, causing him to spill the truth.

"Mother is truly pissed." Muttered Elaine as she nervously gulped while looking at Maria, who suddenly turned and looked at them with a motherly smile.

"This is exactly why I tell you not to anger her, Elaine." Said Elif softly as he waved back at Maria, who lovingly smiled, only for it to disappear when she glared at Renata.

(Note: Image of Chariot will be on my discord for any who care)