Link to the song.
Silver-tongued god with your ancient lies
Pulling strings as your puppets rise
Corrupting life with your metal reign
But everything you touch turns to ash again
Set it ablaze, let it soar
Break these chains, settle the score
Twin flames rising, black and gold
Watch your empire lose its hold
Through flesh and steel, the fire calls
Until your twisted kingdom falls
Think you've won with your silver tongue
But my fire burns brighter than the sun
There's a flame in my eyes and someone's gonna pay
And if you want this girl, you'll have to go through me
Let the metal melt away
As twin flames light up the day
Watch your corruption burn
Feel the tides of battle turn
You can never break my will
Phoenix flames are rising still
Trust betrayed by mercury eyes
Behind a mask of metal lies
I'll burn right through your disguise
I'll burn right through your disguise
When your pawns all fade away, nothing left to say
See the flames arise
Watch them running from the fire
Everyone had been transfixed by the song, but as soon as Ted finished singing, Monica felt a surge of energy course through her body. The wounds from the metallic tail began to heal faster than ever before, the Golden Flame burning brighter.
*Ding*
You have been blessed by Song of the Twin Phoenix!
A golden energy coalesced around Monica, and she felt a rush of vitality of power through her body.
“AHHHH!” Monica shouted at the top of her lungs, burning the second Phoenix Feather, using the Obsidian Flame to tear apart the blade that had impaled her. Empowered by Ted’s song, her magic came rushing to her like an erupting volcano. Unlike before, when the Obsidian Flame had barely been able to do anything, this time, Monica grabbed the blade, and it melted away, burning into nothingness as her magic consumed it.
She fell to her feet and caught Heidi rushing inside the room as well.
The same golden aura that had enveloped her surrounded Heidi as well. The bald Phoenix Pyromancer extended both hands forward and shouted, “Emberstorm Convergence!”
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A gigantic tempest of Obsidian Flames showered the Corrupted Metallic Wolf Boss, the black flames intensified by Ted's song. The creature howled as Heidi's magic, now enhanced beyond its normal limits, began eating away at its metallic armor.
"Impossible!" Machina screeched, her projection flickering as the Mana distorted in the chamber because of the Obsidian Flame. "Who—"
But Ted didn't stop playing. His fingers flew across the mandolin's strings. The chamber itself seemed to pulse with the rhythm of his song. Even the crystal veins in the walls vibrated and flickered at the same beat. Whatever Skill Ted had activated, it influenced not just Monica and Heidi’s Classes but the space—the very reality around him.
Monica felt the burning sensation of having both Phoenix Feathers activated, but Ted's song somehow made the pain bearable. More than that, she felt stronger than ever before.
She saw the Special Effect of Emberstorm kick in as the Ember Vortex sucked the Boss to the center of the room, restricting its movements.
Monica channeled both flames through her body, feeling Ted's song amplifying her power beyond anything she'd experienced before. The Corrupted Metallic Wolf Boss struggled against Heidi's Ember Vortex, its mercury eyes reflecting panic as its metallic armor began to melt and crack under the intense onslaught of the Phoenix Pyromancer’s enhanced flames.
This is insane, Monica thought as she readied herself for the final exchange. This is too strong. What kind of Class did Ted even unlock?
"Now, Monica!" Heidi shouted through the storm of black flames.
She activated Phoenix Step, leaving a trail of Obsidian Flame in her wake as she blurred across the chamber. The wolf tried to snap at her with its jaws, but she was moving too fast now. Her fist, covered in dark flames, crashed into the side of its head with devastating force. The Obsidian Impact detonated on contact, and this time, enhanced by Ted's song and the burning Phoenix Feathers, the explosion tore through the corrupted metal like it was paper.
The beast howled in agony as plates of liquid mercury went flying, revealing the twisted flesh beneath. Monica didn't let up. She coiled her legs and launched herself upward, flames trailing behind her like the wings of the Twin Phoenix itself. Her uppercut connected with the same spot over the wolf's jaw, and another Obsidian Impact explosion ripped through what remained of its metallic protection.
The force of the blow sent the massive creature reeling backward, its head snapping up as plates of corrupted metal went flying in all directions. Some of its mercury eyes shattered, leaking silvery fluid that evaporated into toxic mist before it could hit the ground. The wolf's howl of pain echoed through the chamber, making the crystal veins in the walls pulse erratically, no more in tune with Ted’s song.
Monica's momentum carried her all the way to the ceiling. She twisted in mid-air, her body moving with supernatural grace as Ted's song reached a crescendo. The golden energy surrounding her expanded in time with the music, and she could feel the power of her Class responding to whatever power Ted had tapped into.
She planted her feet against the ceiling, feeling the stone crack beneath them. The wolf was still reeling from her previous attacks, trapped in Heidi's Ember Vortex as black flames continued to eat away at its armor. Monica locked eyes with the remaining mercury orbs that hadn't been shattered, seeing Machina's ancient malice turning to surprise.
"This ends now," Monica shouted, activating Phoenix Step for the third and final time.
She pushed off from the ceiling with all her might, the stone crumbling behind her. The Obsidian Flame trail from Phoenix Step combined with the momentum of her descent, turning her into a literal meteor of black fire. She pulled back her fist, channeling every ounce of power she had left into this final strike.
The wolf tried to defend itself, raising its three-bladed tail in desperate defense. But Heidi's Emberstorm intensified, the Obsidian Embers burning away what little protection the creature had left. Monica's fist crashed through the weakened metal like it wasn't even there, striking the exact same spot she'd hit twice before.
Not only did Shatterpoint increase the damage by 300%, but she could also feel the second Base Effect of Obsidian Impact kick in, magnifying the explosion. She didn’t know whether it was raw luck or Ted’s song, but she pushed through with the blow, tearing through the head of the beast.
The explosion that followed was catastrophic. The combination of Shatterpoint's effect, Obsidian Impact's detonation, Phoenix Step's momentum, and the amplification from Ted's song created a blast that shook the entire chamber. A sphere of pure darkness expanded outward from the point of impact, consuming everything it touched. The corrupted metal that made up the wolf's armor didn't just break or melt – it disintegrated.
The beast's body couldn't withstand the force. Its skull caved in where Monica struck, and cracks spread across its entire form like lightning bolts. The corruption that Machina had infused it with began to burn away, consumed by the Obsidian Flame. The wolf's mercury eyes exploded one after another, releasing clouds of silvery vapor that were immediately incinerated by the black flames.
Monica landed in a crouch as the explosion's shockwave rippled outward. The Obsidian Flame continued to burn, creating a swirling vortex of black fire that consumed what remained of the Corrupted Metallic Wolf Boss. Through the flames and smoke, she could see its massive form collapsing, the metal sloughing off its body like mercury rain.
When the flames finally dissipated, Monica rose slowly to her feet. The golden energy from Ted's song still surrounded her, though she could feel the terrible drain on her Vitality from burning both Phoenix Feathers. But she stayed standing, her eyes fixed on Machina's projection.
The chamber was eerily silent save for the dying notes of Ted's song. Where the Boss had stood was nothing but a crater of melted stone and wisps of black flame. Not even ash remained of the creature – the Obsidian Flame had consumed it completely.
Monica's voice, when she spoke, carried all the authority of the Twin Phoenix itself. "You lost, Machina. Now release the girl."
The Old God's projection flickered, her mercury form rippling with barely contained rage. "This isn't possible. A mere Bard shouldn't have this power—"
"I said," Monica cut her off, flames dancing around her clenched fists, "Release. The. Girl."
The golden energy from Ted's song pulsed one final time, and Monica saw real fear flash across Machina's metallic features. The Old God's projection looked at Ted, then at Heidi, and finally back at Monica. The Avatar of the Twin Phoenix stood tall despite her exhaustion.
“You,” Machina said in sudden understanding as she looked at Ted. “It’s you, isn’t it?”
The body of the Old Goddess bubbled and started evaporating as she gently let the girl on the ground.
“How did you do it?”
“What?” Ted had stopped playing a few instants before, completely drained. “Me? Do what? Do I know you, dude?”
Machina eerily licked her lips as she dissolved in a mercury cloud.
“We’ll see each other in Viscera, Avatar. And you—I knew you would follow her.”
The Old God's form began to dissolve, breaking apart into droplets of liquid metal that evaporated into nothingness.
Her voice echoed one last time through the chamber.
"Our new history has only just begun, Monica Monroe."