We ran to the second meteorite, which looked exactly the same as the other when we first found it. María was the first to approach it.

"This says something about a phoenix!"

Poder: Fénix

Level: 1

Exp: 0/50

Energy:50/50

Rarity: Legendary

Race

Legendary races can switch between their original form and the legendary form, taking 5 minutes for the transformation and consuming 50 points of energy. If the user dies, this ability will transfer to a nearby compatible being without any Race ability. This ability cannot be copied, suppressed, or deleted.

A being can only have one race. Offspring will have similar but inferior powers.

The Phoenix is a majestic and mythical bird, wrapped in legends of rebirth and eternity. It is similar in size to an eagle, with red and orange plumage, orange eyes, and golden beak and claws.

The legendary form allows for flight and enhances the strength of its flames.

For each level in this race, you gain 8 points in intelligence, speed, and agility.

Both the original and legendary forms obtain the following abilities:

* The phoenix can produce two types of flames, one white and one red. Both flames consume one point of energy whether launched as a fireball or covering the body, and one point of energy per minute. You are immune to any fire damage. The intensity, damage, and speed of the flame depend on the phoenix's intelligence, level, and competence.

* The phoenix’s white flame, or sacred flame, does not cause damage but can heal chosen targets of diseases, wounds, poisons, and altered states, returning the body to an optimal state. Additionally, it deals significant damage to undead, demons, and corrupted beings.

* The phoenix’s red flame, or destructive flame, damages beings that touch it.

* The imperishable nature makes the phoenix immune to harmful effects such as curses, diseases, aging, poisons, corruption, mental attacks, moral attacks, or status alterations.

Furthermore, if the phoenix dies or wishes, it can reappear in its nest in exchange for 50 energy. After death, the phoenix's ashes continue to accumulate energy. A phoenix can have only one nest, chosen by spending 50 energy in a place with abundant mana. If a phoenix dies without an associated nest, it loses this power and dies.

All of us except Dani approached. Indeed, after five people had extracted the power, the meteorite went dark. Feeling a bit guilty, I said to Dani,

"There are more glows around. Do you want us to check them out?"

"No, thanks. All I need is the race, and I can only have one more."

I heard the sweet voice behind me again. "Of course, we need to approach the other meteorites. Are you forgetting that someone else is missing a class too?"

"No, I would never forget about you."

After saying it, I processed what I had just said. While both of us blushed like tomatoes, the twins exchanged a knowing look, and I felt two aggressive stares on my back.

"Yes, we should head towards the blue glow. It should be the most powerful one around."

Dani quickly replied, "Wait, brother. First, those are much farther away. Second, we don’t know if it’s a class. Also, it doesn’t have such a high rarity. We should familiarize ourselves with the powers we have first and only use phoenix powers in public. And we should move a bit from here."

"It’s very easy to use, we just have to wish for it to appear," I said, holding two flames in my hands, one red and one white. "I’ve spent two points of energy, so they are separate abilities. I guess if I used it for another minute, I’d spend 4. The bird thing seems more interesting. Ale, you should transform, come with Dani and me for a second."

"Eh, why? You do it."

"I just spent phoenix energy, I’d have to wait 20 minutes to have 50 again. We have to strip before using this ability, or we’ll tear our clothes."

His sister quickly supported me, "It should be as big as an eagle, so you shouldn’t tear your clothes. But we need to test it. Go and try it, but keep all your clothes on."

After moving, Ale separated from the group, and while we waited, we continued discussing our next plans.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"If we ever get into a fight, we won’t be able to change instantly and will be defenseless. This isn’t like movies or books, where the enemy waits patiently for you to finish."

"You're right, Juan," Ángela replied, "and we should decide what else to store. I think I should store the water bottle, the sandwiches, and all the phones. These are still working, and if the satellites have fallen, it should mainly affect the internet and calls from rural and remote areas. But first, you should call your family to check that everything is okay and find out their situation."

While Dani called his family and checked the situation, I called my uncles, aunts, and cousins, who were our only remaining relatives. My phone was full of messages and missed calls, and only a few minutes had passed since the meteorites fell. We put everything in my backpack (Ale had given me his phone and wallet before leaving), and a book appeared in Carlota's hand. We watched as the backpack and the items inside began to fade away.

"Is everyone okay, Dani?"

"Yes, the army is out on the streets. They say they're very scared because they can hear gunshots and screams, but they have enough food and water for 10 days. Our house is in the attic, so it's hard for anyone to get in, but it will also be difficult to get out."

"In 10 days, we should head to your house then. My relatives also have enough supplies."

"The journey will be tough. And I won't be able to go since I don't have the phoenix class. How fast can you move?"

"We're supposed to be able to maintain a speed of 70 kilometers per hour in our phoenix form. It's strange, I know the characteristics of my transformation even though I've never seen a phoenix. By the way, Google says Málaga is approximately 2,350 kilometers away, which means it would take us about 34 hours without rest or interruptions."

"Without rest?"

"Keep in mind that the white flame isn't just useful against the undead or for healing, it also restores stamina."

Just as the backpack was almost gone, we heard a soft and melodious voice.

"Guys, everything went well, but I'm freaking out. Well, my favorite shirt got torn at the sleeves and the side, but there are more important things right now. I'm coming out, try not to freak out too much."

We saw a a majestic and mythical bird, wrapped in legends of rebirth and eternity. It was similar in size to an eagle, with red and orange plumage, orange eyes, and golden beak and claws.

“Holy crap! Ale, is that you?"

"Yes, calm down, everything is fine."

"Do you feel anything strange, pains or anything like that?"

"No, in fact, I feel particularly lucid and light."

"Ale, you almost made me move and waste my class energy! I can’t be more than a meter away from things!"

"And I warned you. Anyway, it seems I can speak well, like parrots, and fly intuitively and easily. I also have 10 competence in the race. By the way, I left the clothes there. The shirt tore, but the rest is fine."

"Stop worrying about the shirt; you’re literally a roasted chicken."

"Huh? Do you want me to peck your eyes out and see how the white flame works?"

"Juan and Ale, now is not the time. I know this night is weird and that’s an understatement, but your fights don’t help. Let’s calm down a bit."

Just then, the items disappeared, and Carlota smiled. "It seems the two 20-hour counts are independent of each other. I’ll have to wait a bit more than 8 hours to create them. I prefer to think that what’s happening is real than to think I’m crazy and seeing things disappear, colorful meteorites, and beautiful phoenixes."

While Ale strutted like a peacock (pun intended), Angela nodded and looked at Dani with a malicious smile.

"Yes, for those 8 hours, we’ll be out of touch, but we already know it’s safe. Dani, I should store you. The phoenix power makes us invulnerable, and you’re the only one without it."

"Shouldn’t we do more tests first?"

"Don’t you trust my sister? We know how our ability works intuitively and precisely. If she says it, she’s sure it won’t hurt you. Besides, we’ve already seen what happened to the objects. Give us the car keys; we’ll miss you for 8 hours."

"Wait, first I want to store Juan’s combat skill and give it to Bea. That way we can see my ability."

"No, then I’ll store you with zero energy. Don’t worry, we’ll survive 8 hours without you."

Then a book appeared in Angela’s hand. As she used her ability, Dani’s outline started to blur. He got scared and tried to run, but Bea and Carlota stopped him. Angela said with a look of disgust, "Don’t move. I’ll lose all my energy, and it will waste the use. Don’t you trust me?"

"Yes, but even though I don’t feel anything strange, I can’t help but be scared. Anyway, Ale, can you copy the phoenix race even in that state?"

"What a great idea! I’ll have two phoenix powers, a shame I can’t store the same race multiple times. And yes, I can activate the other abilities normally in this form, and the phoenix abilities even better. Sister, come so I can copy the ability. And Juan, what class are you going to copy?"

"Yours, so don’t move too much. The class I copy will have 50 energy points even if you don’t have them."

I put the two inactive meteorites in a pocket of the backpack. After Dani disappeared and Ale and I copied the powers (and I copied the phoenix race again), Ale went to where he had left his clothes. He returned to human form, but it was clear that the sleeves and side parts of his shirt were torn. We all selected that place as a nest (Ale could do it since he had the race twice, and even if he died, the energy would be stored in his ability).

When we returned to the car, we saw many more parked near ours. A family of Greeks approached to talk to us. They were a couple in their 40s with two teenage children. After noticing Ale’s latest fashion shirt, they started talking to us, and the father began to speak.

"Have you also been looking for the meteorites?"

"Yes, but we didn’t find anything. How about you?" I replied.

"Yes, a blue one. It’s a class called Apprentice Mage (Space). It’s almost out of glow, but who knows how many uses are left and if it has any utility. We are looking to sell it; in truth, we already have the class and don’t know if it has any adverse effects."

"We’re interested, how much would you sell it for?"

"Do you have water and food? Give us all the water and food you have, and 100 euros. In those apocalyptic movies, food and drink are always scarce," he replied, while the mother received a call. "It seems many meteorites have fallen tonight, even in the city, but who knows when you’ll be able to get one. By the way, you speak Greek very well, but can you speak to me in English?"

"Greek? I’m speaking English."

"Huh? But I can understand you perfectly, although it doesn’t sound like Greek. How strange."

Suddenly, the mother started screaming and crying.

"Zombies and monsters have appeared in the city!"

The father sighed,

"This is what I get for talking."