The beast master shouted as he was now visibly anxious, "Old man! We need to—"
A wave of oppressive heat exploded outward, silencing him immediately.
Fenix exhaled slowly as he cracked his neck. His smirk was gone, replaced by a cold, dangerous glare.
The playful demeanor he held earlier had vanished. His blade pulsed with fiery energy, and a flicker of something ominous flickered behind his eyes.
"Alright, no more holding back."
The old man's confident expression faltered. "What is this pressure?"
The eagle screeched in alarm, flapping its wings aggressively as if trying to dispel the sudden heat in the air.
Fenix raised his sword and intensified the flames as it wrapped around his arms like a living entity.
"Now then," he muttered, his voice dangerously low. "Let's finish this."
The old man and the eagle braced themselves, but deep down, they knew that the balance of the fight had shifted.