Chapter 36 - phoenix

The dream shattered, and suddenly reality snapped back into focus. Kaiho blinked, his vision clearing as he looked around the familiar corridor of the labyrinth.

Lesser's calm voice broke the silence. "Interesting, so you could pull that off," he remarked, his tone cool and analytical.

Kaiho stirred, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He was already ready for what came next, though a hint of worry still crept into his expression. "You don't think the same move is gonna work if she decided to kill me, do you? I'm gone for good," he said, his voice low and tense.

Athena, who had been lying unconscious, stirred and slowly opened her eyes. When she sat up, she frowned and asked, "What happened, and why is that idiot making such a weird face?"

Lesser stepped closer, his gaze fixed on Athena as he spoke. "What's the last thing you remember?" he asked.

Athena's eyes clouded as she tried to recall the events. "I remember the smoke surrounding us, then… then…I don't seem to recall anything," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Kaiho felt a wave of relief wash over him at her vague memory. He was glad that the chaos of the dream hadn't left a clear scar on her mind.

Lesser's expression remained unreadable as he said, "Anyway, we'd better keep moving."

5 Minutes later …

Athena stepped forward, eyes locked on the glowing red feather resting on an ancient pedestal. "The Phoenix Feather…" she murmured.

Kaiho let out a breath of relief. "Finally."

The feather pulsed with a faint golden glow, radiating warmth. It was almost hypnotic.

Kaiho glanced at Athena and Lesser. "So… do we just grab it, or what?"

Lesser crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the pedestal. "You think it's that easy? If it were, someone else would've taken it already."

Kaiho groaned. "Great. Let me guess—traps?"

Athena narrowed her eyes. "Most likely. A treasure like this is never unguarded."

Lesser stepped closer, tapping his chin. "The feather is too obvious. If I were designing this, I'd make it a decoy or set up some kind of reaction when it's taken."

Kaiho shielded his face from the intense heat. "Great, a giant firebird. Just what we needed."

Athena gripped her sword tightly, eyes locked onto the creature. "No choice. We fight."

Lesser adjusted his stance, scanning the room. "Wait. If this is a test, then brute force might not be the only way to win. There could be a trick to this."

The Phoenix flapped its wings, sending a wave of fire toward them. Kaiho barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side. "Less talking, more not dying!"

Athena dashed forward, slicing at the creature, but her blade passed through it like cutting smoke. The fire reformed instantly. "Damn it, it's not solid!"

Lesser narrowed his eyes. "Then attacking won't work. We need another approach."

Kaiho wiped sweat from his brow. "If hitting it is useless, how the hell are we supposed to pass this test?!"

The Phoenix hovered above them, its fiery form glowing even brighter. Then, it spoke again.

"To claim the feather, one must embrace the flames and rise anew. Show me your resolve."

Kaiho, Athena, and Lesser exchanged looks.

Lesser sighed. "I was afraid of that. Someone has to step into the fire."

Kaiho took a step back. "Oh, hell no. That sounds like a terrible idea."

Athena stared at the Phoenix, then at the feather still floating in the air. "It's a trial of rebirth… like a phoenix. We have to prove we're willing to face destruction to be worthy of its power."

Lesser smirked. "Bingo. But the question is… who's going in?"

The flames surged again, and time was running out.

The Trial of the Phoenix

The Phoenix's fiery eyes gleamed as its voice echoed through the chamber.

"To claim the feather, one must embrace the flames and rise anew. Show me your resolve."

Lesser adjusted his glasses, his expression cold and calculating. "To obtain the feather, someone has to sacrifice himself in order to acquire it."

The Phoenix let out a low, rumbling laugh. "You are smarter than the rest."

Lesser smirked. "I figured that out when I was five."

"Yet so arrogant," the Phoenix replied. "It matters not whether the sacrifice is voluntary or not."

The room tensed immediately. Kaiho's heart pounded in his chest as he took a step back.

"Damn it… this is bad. If Athena comes after my head, I'm done for."

Lesser remained silent, his eyes darting between the Phoenix and his teammates, analyzing the situation.

Athena, gripping the hilt of her sword, narrowed her eyes.

Kaiho tensed, his body on high alert. "Here it comes…"

Then, to his shock, Athena pointed her sword—not at him, not at Lesser, but straight at the Phoenix.

"I will not sacrifice them to you," she declared.

The Phoenix's gaze bore into hers. "Foolish girl. Then pay the price."

The Battle Begins

Without warning, the Phoenix's wings erupted in a sea of flames, the sheer heat forcing Kaiho and Lesser to stumble backward. Athena barely had time to react as the legendary beast lunged at her with blinding speed.

CLANG!

Athena raised her sword just in time to block the Phoenix's talons, but the impact sent her skidding across the ground. Sparks flew as she struggled to keep her footing.

Kaiho clenched his fists. "Damn it! If only I could use magic…!"

Lesser, standing beside him, muttered, "We're dead weight in this fight."

Athena dashed forward, swinging her sword at the Phoenix's wing, but the blade barely scratched its golden feathers. The Phoenix retaliated with a burst of fire, forcing her to leap away.

The heat was unbearable. Her skin stung, her muscles ached, but she refused to back down.

The Phoenix unleashed another wave of fire, and Athena rolled to the side, barely avoiding it. She gritted her teeth. "It's too strong… I need to find an opening!"

She lunged again, aiming for the creature's neck, but the Phoenix twisted its body mid-air, its talons slamming into her shoulder.

"Aghh!" Athena crashed into the ground, blood dripping from her wound.

Kaiho's hands trembled as he watched. He wanted to help, but he couldn't.

The Phoenix flapped its wings, creating a massive gust of flames that forced Athena onto her knees. Her breath was ragged, her body screaming in pain.

Lesser's voice cut through the chaos. "Athena, fall back! You can't win this fight!"

Athena wiped the blood from her face and stood up, defiant. "I don't need to win."

The Phoenix charged once more, and Athena raised her sword, bracing herself.

Minutes passed, though to Kaiho, it felt like hours. Athena fought with everything she had, but each time she landed a blow, the Phoenix only grew stronger.

Now, she was barely standing, her body covered in wounds, blood dripping from her arms and legs.

She took a deep breath, her vision blurring. "You two… better get out of here."

Kaiho's eyes widened. "What is she saying? Is she trying to save us? But why?"

Lesser grabbed his arm. "Kaiho… Kaiho! We gotta go!"

Kaiho hesitated. "But—"

"If we don't go, all of us will die!" Lesser yelled.

Kaiho clenched his fists, his body frozen with indecision. But in the end, he turned and ran.

Athena watched them disappear, a small smile on her face. "Good."

She gripped her sword one last time, her legs shaking beneath her. "I don't think… I can fight much longer."

The Phoenix flared its wings once more. Athena took a deep breath.

This is it…