Chapter 1257 Phoenix's Unique Quirk
As Michael reveled in the continuous downpour of experience points, the thrill of nearing his next cultivation stage energized him further. He was now just a mere 100,000 points away from reaching a significant milestone in his journey. Lost in the fervor of battle, he didn't notice Gaya and Phoenix observing him from a safe distance.
With each wraith that fell, their focus shifted entirely onto Michael, their attacks becoming more relentless, yet Michael met them with unwavering resilience. This left Gaya and Phoenix momentarily out of harm's way, granting Phoenix the opportunity to explore his surroundings with wide-eyed wonder.
"Whatever you're thinking, just don't," Gaya preemptively scolded, sensing Phoenix's growing curiosity.
"Why are they all attacking him, and why aren't you helping?" Phoenix's voice carried a note of innocence, unmarred by the chaos unfolding around them.
Gaya sighed, her gaze fixed on Michael's relentless fight. "This place was already saturated with death aura. Seshat probably erected a barrier around the distillery district to prevent that aura from spreading. But then you decided it was the ideal spot for your rebirth, releasing pure celestial energy into the mix. The clash of life and death energies birthed these wraiths. So, yeah, I'm pinning this one on you," she explained, frustration lacing her voice as she crossed her arms in disapproval.
Phoenix, his head tilted in confusion, mirrored the innocence of a bewildered puppy. "So, it's my fault?" he queried.
"Yeah, pretty much, genius," Gaya replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes at the absurdity of their situation.
However, Phoenix, taking her words more seriously than intended, felt a sudden urge to make amends. Driven by his pure-hearted desire to aid the Goddess of Monsters, he stepped away from the boulder that had been their shield and moved towards the death root.
"Hey, stop!" Gaya's attempt to halt his progress was immediate, but it also inadvertently redirected some of the wraiths' attention towards them.
"Do not touch that!" she cried out, diving to evade a red beam aimed in their direction, her warning echoing across the battlefield as she sought to protect both Phoenix from his naive bravery and Michael from any distraction that could jeopardize his progress.
In a flash that caught Gaya completely off guard, Phoenix surged forward with a speed that belied his earlier calm demeanor. His sudden dash towards the death root was so swift and unexpected that Gaya barely had time to process his movement before reacting.
"Don't touch that!" she shouted again, her voice a mix of desperation and command, trying to stop him from making what she perceived as a grave mistake.
However, Phoenix, in his innocence, misinterpreted Gaya's warning. He believed her concern was for his safety, that the death root might harm him. But Gaya's actual reason behind the warning was to adhere to Michael's directive, not out of any belief that the death root would harm Phoenix.
With a determined grace, Phoenix extended his hand towards the ground, his fingers enveloped in pure red flames that seemed to draw from the very essence of his being. The flames scorched the earth around him, revealing the death root—a dark, gnarled mass that pulsed with a malevolent energy, its tendrils writhing like the fingers of a desperate creature clinging to life.
"It cannot hurt me," Phoenix declared, his voice carrying a tone of confidence and a hint of innocence. Without waiting for any response, he plunged his flame-wrapped hand into the ground, grasping the sinister root.
Before Gaya or Michael could react, Phoenix pulled the death root from its earthen hold, the dark tendrils wriggling in his grip as if seeking escape. With a calm that contrasted sharply with the violence of his actions, Phoenix crushed the root in his hand, the phoenix flames enveloping and consuming it until nothing remained but ash drifting away on the wind.
As Phoenix dismantled the death root, an ear-splitting scream emanated from the wraiths, a sound so piercing it nearly shattered Gaya's eardrums. She clamped her hands over her ears in a futile attempt to block out the agonizing noise, while Phoenix seemed utterly unaffected, standing amidst the chaos with an air of tranquility. Meanwhile, Michael, witnessing the abrupt end to his source of experience points, couldn't hide his irritation. He was tantalizingly close to his next stage of cultivation, a mere fifty thousand points short, and Phoenix's well-intentioned interference had just evaporated his chances.
"Fuck," Gaya muttered under her breath, her frustration palpable as she watched the wraiths vanish, their forms dissolving into nothingness. The distillery district was once again plunged into silence, the immediate threat gone but leaving behind a tangle of emotions.
Michael and Gaya converged on Phoenix from opposite directions, their expressions a complex mix of relief and annoyance. Phoenix, for his part, wore a smile brimming with pride and satisfaction, blissfully unaware of the impact of his actions on Michael's plans.
Gaya, seeing Phoenix's genuine happiness at believing he had aided them, felt her anger soften somewhat, despite the situation. Michael, however, remained visibly annoyed, his patience worn thin by the turn of events.
"What part of 'do not touch it' did you not understand?" Michael questioned, his arms crossed in an unmistakable sign of his displeasure.
"You don't have to worry. The death root did not hurt me at all. But thank you for the concern you've shown me," Phoenix replied, his smile unwavering, his innocence shining through, completely oblivious to the real reason behind their warnings.
Realizing the extent of Phoenix's misunderstanding, Gaya couldn't help but clarify.
"Wait, so you thought when I said 'don't touch that,' I meant because it would hurt you?" She watched as Phoenix nodded vigorously, confirming his complete misinterpretation of her caution.
"Yes," Phoenix said.
The realization brought a mix of emotions, frustration tinged with an unwilling amusement at Phoenix's innocent mistake. Despite the situation, the genuine concern Phoenix felt and his desire to help, albeit misguided, couldn't be entirely faulted.
"Dammit, you fucking oaf," Gaya couldn't help but blurt out, frustration boiling over as she castigated Phoenix for his well-intended but ill-advised actions. Internally, she cursed herself too, for not taking the time to explain the full implications of touching the death root to Phoenix. His desire to help, after being blamed, had only complicated matters further.
Despite recognizing Phoenix's innocence and naivety, which bordered on the lack of common sense, Michael exhaled a heavy sigh of resignation. Anger wouldn't rewrite the past, nor would it reclaim the lost opportunity for experience points.
"At least we have what we need to draw Borgin out," he sighed, trying to find a silver lining in the situation.
"But I don't think he can leave this place with us. Hell, we haven't even checked if we can leave," Gaya pointed out, her mind on the barrier that enveloped the distillery district.
"We can leave. So, we'll leave Phoenix here and make sure Borgin hears about him. When he decides to come here, we'll be here and mix the weakening potion in the air," Michael detailed their plan, even as Phoenix looked on with a blend of curiosity and confusion, oblivious to the deeper strategy being laid out before him.
Gaya, however, wasn't entirely convinced. "What about him? He's like a grown baby. If we leave him here, Borgin will just have to say 'get into the carriage,' and this idiot will do that," she pointed out, her worry for Phoenix's well-being evident in her voice.
"Don't worry about him. We'll take him out of here before Borgin can reach Phoenix. Besides, something tells me you're not going to let him out of your sight," Michael reassured her, well aware of Gaya's protective nature over those she considered under her care. He also recognized the power that Phoenix harbored, his yellow aura a testament to a strength they had yet to fully understand. Despite Phoenix's naivety, his innocence was matched by an innate power that, if harnessed correctly, could turn the tide in their favor.
"Now, Phoenix, let me be perfectly clear," Gaya began, fixing him with a stern gaze that left no room for misunderstanding. "You are to remain here until we come back and take you with us. Until then, just stay put and don't do anything stupid," she instructed, her tone brooking no argument.
Phoenix, ever the obedient if not overly literal being, nodded in agreement, his expression earnest.
"Good, now let's leave this place," Michael concluded, giving Phoenix an encouraging pat on the hand before turning to walk away.
As they made their way out, a minute's walk had Gaya casting a glance back at Phoenix. True to form, he hadn't budged an inch, standing as if rooted to the spot. It was then that the realization hit her.
"Fuck, he's really staying put," Gaya growled, her voice a mix of amazement and exasperation at Phoenix's literal interpretation of her words.
Michael couldn't help but chuckle at the scene, finding humor in Phoenix's unwavering compliance and Gaya's growing frustration. "Wow, seems like Phoenix takes everything literally, doing exactly as he's told without giving common sense a damn thought," he mused, shaking his head in amusement.
Shaking her head in disbelief, Gaya marched back to where Phoenix stood, an immovable figure in the midst of desolation. "What the fuck are you doing?" she demanded, her frustration bubbling to the surface.
"I am staying put," Phoenix replied simply, his voice carrying the weight of his literal interpretation of her earlier command.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Gaya exploded, her patience frayed at the edges. In a rare display of vexation, she reached out and gave Phoenix a slight smack on the back of his head.
"Not like this, you damn oaf! I meant don't wander off looking for trouble, not turn yourself into a bloody statue!"
Phoenix looked at her, slightly puzzled by her reaction but unharmed by the light hit. It was clear he was trying to do exactly as instructed, yet his understanding of the instruction was hilariously off-mark.
"Look, just go and hide in one of those buildings, alright?" Gaya said, pointing to the dilapidated structures nearby. "And for the love of god, use your head a little. 'Stay put' doesn't mean you have to stand in the open like an idiot waiting to be snatched or worse. Find a good spot where you can't be seen easily."
Phoenix's eyes lit up with understanding, a hint of an "ah-ha" moment crossing his features. "Oh, hide! Why didn't you say so?"
"Because I didn't think I had to be that specific!" Gaya shot back, throwing her hands up in a mix of frustration and resignation. "Now, go on. And be quiet about it."
As Phoenix nodded, finally grasping the concept and moving towards one of the buildings, Gaya couldn't help but mutter under her breath about the complexities of dealing with someone so literal. "Next time, I'll draw him a picture," she mumbled, shaking her head as she turned to catch up with Michael, her mood lightened despite herself by the absurdity of the situation.
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