Mockery

The bird's weak screeches penetrated his ears to the life that was being lost. He had lost control over the hunger in his soul momentarily, but now he could hear and recognize the cries of despair the phoenix was emitting.

Surrdon quickly let go of the dying bird and backed away from it.

The sigil circle vanished as well, releasing its deathly hold on the phoenix.

"Is it...is it dead?" He asked noting it wasn't moving.

Anya stopped right above the motionless bird and poked it with her tail. For a moment, she could not feel its soul.

"I should have eaten it instead," she mumbled flying away from the little thing to stop before Surrdon. "If you want it to live, you need to transfer back what you have taken from it."

What had he taken?

Half its soul.

He looked down at his hands, and felt the new raw energy surging through them. The phoenix's life force was yet to leave his palms. If he wanted to save it, he had to hurry before his sigils devoured it.

Without any instructions, Surrdon lifted his hand to the bird and forced the soul out of his body.

A wisp of blue light wound its way through the air before going into the bird's chest, giving back its life.

Was it that easy to kill creatures in this new world? Was that what power felt like? To have other beings at your mercy.

Anya sighed relieved.

Even though she had wanted to eat the little thing, Surrdon needed it to complete his mission. She could wait till after. Or maybe not.

In the awkward silence reigning in the chamber, Surrdon's stomach growled. Complaining about how much he had abandoned it for a while day.

They both looked down at his abdomen and then at each other. "Your body is still weak."

But he was feeling more than physical hunger. Inside his soul was another hunger residing there. It wanted to devour any mana source around him. It gave his vision the ability to see any object with an aura of mana in it.

A devil within his body had been awakened during the phoenix incident.

Anya sensed it but said nothing.

He was now the Demon Lord. He was supposed to deal with his own shortcomings to be the better version. She was only there to guide him, not to control or shield him from every danger. This was his life. His mistakes. His victories.

Surrdon shook his head, dismissing the secondary hunger as a side effect of the technique, and picked up the bird. "Let's go."

--------------------------------

The seventh day.

His mission was hours away from being a failure. He had to hurry back to the sect and prove his worth to the sect's arrogant chief.

At the village's entrance, the elders and the villagers were on their knees, bidding farewell to their benefactor.

"Travel safely, and if you ever need our help, we're at your disposal, Teacher," the first elder said, her head on the rough dusty ground like the rest of them.

"I will come back to repay the favor you granted me today. I do not forget my debts." His words were as deep as the abyss. They carried with them gravity and truth. He meant what he said.

All debts, good or bad, shall be repaid one day.

Surrdon turned and walked into the thick forest, the phoenix quietly standing on his left shoulder. After its deathly experience in his hands, it had chosen to follow him without a fight.

The journey back to Timen Gate was easier and quicker than before. He now had a skill that he could manipulate as he saw fit. The only major problem was his insufficient mana. But with the little that coursed through him, he managed to create a cool layer just above his skin to shield him from the harsh heat pounding on the world from above.

As he ascended the mountain path, Surrdon felt the disciples guarding the gate aura had changed from the previous week's. And when they came in his sight, his demonic eyes were activated by the devil in him, leaving his irises with a soft red glow.

His vision reddened, with the only other color being the mana auras from the two disciples on duty. It looked appetizing. Kept drawing his attention the more he approached them.

"Stop!" One yelled.

Even though he was in his uniform, they still proceeded to harass him. "What is your name, and what is your rank?"

The second disciple burst into mocking laughter at his partner's questions. They both knew who he was. The news of an outer disciple being sent into the deep and dangerous forest had spread throughout the sect. But that was not the reason they were mocking him, it had to be Shanteng's bribe. He had asked them not to allow him through the gates till his limited time was over. He wanted Surrdon to fail the mission so the chief could give him a cruel punishment.

Surrdon brought forward his silver token.

"Surrdon, a junior outer disciple."

They double over, their laughter louder than wailing pigs. Their weapons fell on the stone ground, cluttering noisily as they directed their hands to hold their abdomens from the aches caused by their energetic cackles.

"He's a...he's a, a junior outer disciple!" One of the guards ridiculed, tears in his eyes.

"We sho- we should kowtow to-to him," his partner added, his laughter still corrupting his speech.

Surrdon's eyes hardened. They were openly insulting him. This was bound to happen since the chief herself had humiliated him. How had such a filth-filled sect gained its reputation as among the best? From the chief to the disciples, they were all ignorant and arrogant humans.

'Mere power and you all think the sky is at your reach. Pathetic.'

He took a step forward, ignoring their teasing and the hunger inside him.

"Stop right there you damned weakling!" An order rang out from one of the disciples.

Surrdon looked back, a frown on his perfect face. "What now?"

The two picked up their sharp swords and walked to stand in front and behind Surrdon. The disciple in front of him raised his sword to him, "You are not allowed to go in the sect till the sun rises tomorrow."

The redness corrupting his eyes intensified. Was the chief intentionally making things difficult for him?

"Why is that?" He calmly asked.

"Because we said so. We must protect the sect."

Surrdon showed them the token a second time. "Are you blind or ignorant? I am one of you."

The disciple behind him scoffed a laugh at Surrdon's confident words. "One of us?" He repeated laughing.

'Stay calm. Stay calm.'

He shut his eyes, pushing back the bile threatening to rise. If it did, there was no telling what would happen should he lose control.

All the laughing and talking stirred the sleeping bird awake. It yawned stretching out its stiff wings, breaking the invisible shield Anya had placed on it.

Surrdon turned his head to look at the baby phoenix as it flapped its wings, flying off his shoulder.

The majestic sight of a phoenix interrupted the laughter, turning it to gasps of shock.

"A phoenix!" One exclaimed shamelessly.

"God bless me, I have seen a real phoenix," the disciple holding the sword cried out. He dropped the weapon and fell on his knees before kowtowing three times to the little phoenix.

"God bless me with immortality and a long life for my-"

Smack!

The phoenix slapped him across his face, disgusted by his pretentious nature.

He rolled on the ground, mouth bleeding, till his back hit the gate pillar.