"What? The Patriarch's location has been found!?"
A Grand Elder of the Fire Phoenix Clan abruptly shot up from his seat.
The others at the round table also stood up as they turned solemn while looking at the messenger who forced himself into the meeting hall.
This wasn't the first time they were meeting, nor was it the first time they'd had a messenger run into their clan and report a piece of bad news as tons of other dangers were befalling them as well since they failed to end the Emperor of Death.
Now, the other powers were demanding them compensation. Of course, they didn't give a single immortal crystal, but as more time passed, more powers joined in ganging up on them. The Phoenix Alliance had also forsaken them, so there was little to rely on, truly plunging them into the very calamity they tried to avoid.
Quickly, twelve Grand Elders flew out of the Fire Phoenix Clan.
*Whizzz!~*
They broke a spatial talisman, quickly appearing on the other side of the spatial tunnel as they stepped out. They did this two more times before they finally arrived in a place full of mountains where they sensed the aura of Patriarch Killian Zenflame in the distance, turning shocked.
They didn't think their Patriarch would truly be here ever since the Emperor of Death kidnapped him.
*Whoosh!~* *Whoosh!~* *Whoosh!~*
They crossed thousands of kilometers in two seconds before they appeared in the skies again.
Below them was a cliff, but further was a mountain peak where a purple-robed man sat on a boulder, appearing to be waiting for them. However, they didn't quickly move to attack as they saw a naked man trembling in front of a boulder.
Their expressions turned stern and furious.
"Emperor of Death! You dare-!"
A Grand Elder had just raised his hand and pointed at Davis when suddenly he was interrupted by another Grand Elder.
"Can't you see tendrils of soul force locking down our Patriarch? He is still his hostage…"
That Grand Elder looked at Grand Elder Seil Zenflame reproaching him, causing him to shut his mouth. But if they were to shut up, then what were they supposed to do?
Swallow the demands of an Anarchic Divergent!?
Moreover, they could recognize that the Emperor of Death in front of them was just a damned soul body, and even then, they could do nothing about it!?
How low had they fallen!?
"State what you want."
Grand Elder Seil Zenflame narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Emperor of Death. He couldn't believe this brat that he had almost killed back then was standing almost equal to them, even having captured their Patriarch.
Davis gazed at the Fire Phoenix Clan's entourage, who had come for him. He could also vaguely sense two Ancestors hidden in plain sight. He didn't know if they were truly powerful Ancestors or if Ancestor Reselius was among them, or even where they were, but he didn't care as he was just a soul body.
Standing up, he patted his dirtied robe and descended until he was standing on Patriarch Killian Zenflame's head, his hands behind his back.
His standing posture instantly caused the Grand Elders to be enraged as scarlet flames swirled out of their eyes, but Davis paid no heed, opening his mouth.
"The Fire Phoenix Clan's surrender."
Davis took a step forward before his feet touched the ground. He reached out his hand, grabbing Patriarch Killian Zenflame by his hair and lifting him up like he was a punching bag.
"If you don't, then this would be your clan's miserable fate."
He didn't even finish his sentence before the expressions of the Grand Elders flared. Flames soared around them, causing Davis to sigh lightly.
He pushed Patriarch Killian Zenflame further as he shook the latter's head, "I want to give him a respectable death since I gave my word to one of your people, but it seems like I wouldn't be able to fulfill it at this rate."
"Coward! You are as slippery as a snake, spitting poison and telling us to submit if we want the antidote. If you're a man, face us with your true body."
That Grand Elder who first spoke roared, causing Davis's lips to curl.
"Oh, I am indeed here. Used your damn bird senses to fine me instead of crying out like a chicken, Grand Elder Cuck-koo. You're that famous Fire Phoenix's Grand Elder who got cucked by a Fire Dragon Clan's Grand Elder in your prime years, weren't you?"
"Insolent!"
That Grand Elder raised his hand, and the second he did, a scarlet manifestation of a phoenix appeared in front of him, moments away from slicing Davis.
*Booom!~*
A burst of fire phoenix scarlet flames exploded right above Davis's head, blasting him into pieces along with the Fire Phoenix Clan's Patriarch. It was so fast that the Grand Elders who tried to stop the Grand Elder, who was insulted to stop from attacking, were stunned as they saw the scene in front of them.
Two crimson-robed men appeared in the air as they watched the whole peak crumble along with the Emperor of Death and the Fire Phoenix Clan's Patriarch. They had a hint of cold gleam in their eyes before they turned to look at the Grand Elders, particularly Grand Elder Seil Zenflame, who didn't seem to be surprised by their appearance.
"Try to find the Patriarch before he is captured once again while we stall the Emperor of Death."
Grand Elder Seil Zenflame nodded.
"But… but the Emperor of Death could've already killed him once." Another Grand Elder clenched his teeth, appearing worried.
"What about Lars Zenflame's case…?"
The others also looked shocked as they didn't think their Ancestors would make a killing move while their Patriarch was also held hostage. Now, it was up to their Patriarch to revive himself somehow, but even if he could, wasn't it said that the Emperor of Death could nullify their consciousness even if they were to revive?
"Either way, he deserved it. A Patriarch is allowed to make many mistakes but not a blunder that costs the future of the clan."
One of the Ancestors coldly spoke before they both disappeared.
"…!"
Shortly, they saw a ray of scarlet light emerge within the mountainous cloud of dust. They quickly shot into the depths without regard for their lives as they knew the Emperor of Death was still amidst them.
"Damn, they actually sent two Level Five Immortal Emperors. Their prowess could very well reach Level Six Immortal Emperor Stage or even further..."
But thousands of kilometers away, Davis stood at another peak as he made sense of the situation.
Beside him was a black-robed pale-skinned woman whose beauty transcended the beautiful scenery of trees and flowers blooming behind them.
"Master, it seems like it went as we expected, but when can we catch and kill him again?"
Davis's wry smile disappeared as he turned to look at her with a confident smile on his face.
"Don't worry, Nadia. That time will come soon for Killian. Besides, I've implanted something in his soul essence that would make him die in an instant as long as I willed it, and if at all they found my trap and wanted to get rid of it, that would turn him a true retard at the very least according to my calculations. He's dead in my eyes either way."
"However, it would be best if he could regain himself. Don't you think giving him a sliver of hope and taking it away would be the best ending for him?"
Nadia smiled as she licked her lips.
"I was just thinking how to make him feel true pain for causing our family so much stress and pain. If it weren't for him, everything would be fine, and master wouldn't have had the need to push yourself so hard and become the enemy of the world. But if this is the case, then I can endure him still being alive, although I feel completely consuming him, and his phoenix heart would've been good too."
"Nadia, didn't you have too many big chunks fried chicken already? You glutton…"
Davis chuckled, causing Nadia to pout as she blushed ever so lightly. However, she didn't say anything as she truly couldn't forget the taste. The meat was alone top class, but Davis's cooking had also completely made her fall.
She wanted more and forgot about killing Killian Zenflame for a while as she kept enjoying seconds of phoenix meat.
"But that wasn't why I let him leave. I also-"
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺