The muggy air, thick with moisture, made it nearly impossible for Red to concentrate on the task at hand. He was accustomed to the searing heat of the desert, the crisp air of the north, and even the bone-chilling nights in Habrin. But this was a new kind of discomfort, a sweat-soaked air that clung to his skin and filled his every breath with warmth and moisture.

He wasn't alone, but he was the only one with blood in his veins that the world could punish. Red was surrounded by strange markings under his feet, and statues of stone depicted creatures Red could never fathom.

These statues towered over him and swallowed up any free room he had to move or defend himself. This was likely his creditor's goal because while Red was down here, his creditor was floating in the air with wings made of flames. Acuzio rested on a floating cloud made of fire and bobbed along as if floating.

"Make your choice!" A voice from above him drew his gaze towards said man watching him. The man's eyes glowed like hot embers as his face showed overwhelming joy at another's expanse.

Red hesitated to choose because his last choice cost him half his footing. He couldn't believe this was what Gods did to pass the time. They watched mortals and took bets on how they would live their lives. Right now, Mordecai is making them watch a strange wolfman struggle to change his destiny. The glowing image of the other man's life filled the air as a reflection did in a copper mirror. It hung suspended in space and time in bright, vivid colors. The man in the reflection was close enough that Red could hear him breathe.

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"He will sell the company and use the money for the treatment," Red said.

"Bzzzzz! Wrong answer! You need to get better at reading idiots," Mordecai said with a jeer. "He's a selfish piece of shit who will gamble that chunk of change."

Red looked at Mordecai, who was grinning down at him. It was eerie how often the Phoenix God was correct in what he placed his bets on.

Red could only hope that the bet he placed was the right one. He couldn't afford to lose more ground.

The scene in front of them changed, and true to his words, Mordecai was correct. The ground rumbled and ripped statues apart. Red dodged the flying pieces and random flying spears that aimed for his life.

With a head resembling a bird's nest, Mordecai laughed at his misfortune as the sky around them crackled with energy. "Isn't this fun?" The man said as he held out his arms to greet the chaos below his feet. "This is just the warm-up for the real game. Be grateful because the stakes will be worse for you when I drop you off in a doomed world."

Red did feel grateful because this blunt God saved his daughter. He trusted that Merin would do what was needed until he returned to them.

So, no matter what the Phoenix God threw his way, he would triumph over it.