Chapter 34

The Phoenix

In the tense alleyway, the air thick with the scent of impending violence, Eren's resolve ignited into a fiery determination. Drawing himself up, his body trembling not just with fear but with a newfound resolve, he locked eyes with Helios. The vampire, intrigued by this sudden show of spirit, let a twisted smile curl his lips.

"Oh? There we go, that's the spirit," Helios cooed, his voice dripping with a perverse delight. "Those are exactly the eyes I wanted to see."

Eren, his heart pounding in his chest, felt the weight of his impending doom. Yet, the thought of his mother, the only family he had left, being targeted by these monsters, fueled a desperate courage within him. "If I'm to die, and you're not sparing even my mother, then I'll do any damage I can before going down," he declared, his voice a mix of determination and despair.

With a deep breath, Eren recalled the shield spellcasting techniques Adom had taught him. Concentrating, he summoned a magical barrier around himself, more robust and refined than the one he had conjured before. Adom, despite his own dire situation, couldn't help but notice the significant improvement in Eren's spellwork.

Helios, observing the sturdy shield with a mix of amusement and surprise, remarked, "You're quite spirited, boy," he taunted, his voice smooth and dangerously playful. "But raw spirit won't save you here."His smile widened as he began his assault, each move calculated to intimidate and dominate.

Eren, tears streaming down his face as he screamed, unleashed a barrage of fireballs at Helios. The alleyway was illuminated with the bright flashes of his relentless attack, each fireball a testament to his desperation and fear. "If this is my end, I'll make you remember it!", Helios, with the grace of a predator, dodged the projectiles, almost lazily, as if he were merely a spectator at a performance.

"You'll deplete your essentia if you keep shooting like that," Helios advised mockingly, the tone of a mentor twisted into something sinister. "And remember, don't let me close the distance if you're casting long-range offensive spells,". With calculated strikes, he began to dismantle Eren's shield, each blow delivered with a precision that was as clinical as it was cruel. The shield, once a beacon of Eren's newfound strength, now flickered under the assault, its light dimming with each passing second. Adom, forced to watch helplessly, saw the truth in Helios's cruel game. The vampire was not fighting; he was toying with Eren, drawing out the boy's fear and desperation for his own sadistic pleasure.

Adom's mind raced as he assessed the dire situation before him, his analytical prowess coming to the forefront. With Eren's life hanging in the balance and Helios toying with them like a cat with a mouse, Adom knew he had to act decisively and strategically. His gaze flickered between Eren, struggling to maintain his shield, and Helios, whose casual demeanor masked lethal intent.

First, Adom considered his skills. Flameheart Resonance was the most potent at his disposal, offering access to 3% of the Phoenix's formidable power. However, he was acutely aware of the skill's double-edged nature. Utilizing such immense power would wreak havoc on his human body, akin to wielding a force his physical form was ill-equipped to handle, threatening to tear him apart from the inside.

Yet, there was a counter to this destructive potential: Phoenix Rejuvenation. This skill promised instant healing from any physical injury, a miraculous ability that could, in theory, offset the self-inflicted damage from Flameheart Resonance. Adom envisioned a scenario where he could activate Flameheart, harness its overwhelming power, and then immediately employ Phoenix Rejuvenation to heal the inevitable injuries. It was a high-risk strategy, demanding precise timing and immense willpower to endure the excruciating pain that would precede the healing.

Furthermore, Adom contemplated the use of Aetheric Echo to enhance his sensory perception and reflexes. This skill would be vital in navigating the battlefield, allowing him to anticipate Helios's movements and possibly exploit any openings, however fleeting. Enhanced perception could also aid in protecting Eren, enabling Adom to act as a guardian, intercepting any attacks aimed at the young sorcerer.

With his options laid out, Adom began to craft a strategy. He knew engaging Helios directly was tantamount to suicide, even with his skills. The vampire's strength and speed were on another level, and without a clear understanding of the full extent of Flameheart Resonance's power, Adom couldn't predict the outcome of a direct confrontation.

Instead, Adom focused on Eren's safety. The primary goal was to create an opening, a distraction significant enough to draw Helios's attention away from Eren and give the boy a chance to escape. Adom realized that a sudden, unexpected burst of power from Flameheart Resonance might provide the shock factor needed to disrupt Helios's focus. If he could combine that with a strategic use of Aetheric Echo, he might enhance his speed and perception enough to execute a swift, confusing assault, ideally positioning himself between Eren and Helios.

The order of execution was critical. Adom planned to activate Aetheric Echo first, ensuring his senses were heightened before tapping into the destructive power of Flameheart Resonance. The moment he unleashed Flameheart, he'd have to move quickly, leveraging the Phoenix's power to launch a concentrated attack, targeting not to defeat Helios but to create an opening for Eren.

The risk of bodily harm from Flameheart was significant, but Adom was prepared. He'd use Phoenix Rejuvenation immediately after his assault, healing his injuries in a burst of regenerative magic. The timing had to be impeccable; too early, and he'd waste the skill before the full extent of the damage was inflicted. Too late, and he might succumb to his injuries before he could activate the healing.

In his mind's eye, Adom visualized the sequence: Aetheric Echo to heighten awareness, Flameheart Resonance for a devastating strike, and Phoenix Rejuvenation to mend the fallout. His focus would be razor-sharp, his actions a blur of motion fueled by the raw power of the Phoenix.

As Helios prepared to deliver the final blow to a battered Eren, his voice dripped with mock pity, "See? I told you you'd deplete your reserves if you shot like that. You could have lasted longer in your little rebellion, pity." His hand rose, poised to end the futile resistance, when the atmosphere abruptly changed.

Adom, invoking the system with a focused intensity, heard Bennu's cautionary voice, "Be careful!" Ignoring the risk, he activated his skills in rapid succession. Suddenly, an immense surge of energy erupted from within him, startling everyone. Flames, bright and fierce, enveloped Adom, their brilliance forcing Helios to hiss and retreat into the shadows, reacting as if to the sun's own light. Eren, with injuries evident in his blackened eye and broken arm, watched in awe, along with everyone else, stunned by the spectacle.

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Adom's aura was overwhelming, the pressure palpable even to himself. The system interface flashed before his eyes.

[Status Window]

Name: Adom Sylla

Level: 102 (Enhanced)

HP: Stabilizing...

Strength: Increasing...

Resilience: Enhancing...

Endurance: Amplifying...

Skills Activated:

[Flameheart Resonance] - Active

[Aetheric Echo] - Active

[Phoenix Rejuvenation] - Activating...

Effects: HP -1... HP -1... (Continuous)

As Flameheart's power threatened to tear him apart, with his bones cracking and muscles tearing under the immense force, Adom activated Phoenix Rejuvenation. Instantly, the system updated:

[Phoenix Rejuvenation] - Activated

HP: Stabilizing... Fully Restored.

Adom felt an exhilarating rush of vitality as his injuries healed at an astonishing rate, the pain replaced by an invigorating surge of energy. It seemed he had miscalculated the potency of Phoenix Rejuvenation, which seemed to heal him faster than he could hurt. The world around him transformed; sounds were clearer, colors more vivid, and the very essence of life around him palpable. He felt a deep connection to the natural world, an inexplicable bond that lent him strength and clarity.

His body, a conduit of deep blue and orange fire and crackling electricity, became a spectacle of raw power. At his core, a radiant light seemed to emanate from within, illuminating his veins and pulsing with life. He could feel the energy almost bursting from his body. This power, its sensation, far beyond anything he had anticipated, was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Adom's pulse throbbed in his ears, a rhythmic drumbeat that anchored him to reality even as he flirted with the divine. The blue flames, a manifestation of the Phoenix's essence, danced around him, casting ethereal shadows and painting the world in hues of azure and indigo.

In this moment, nothing else mattered. The fear, the pain, the uncertainty that had clouded his thoughts melted away, leaving only a profound sense of clarity and purpose. Adom felt invincible, as if he could challenge anyone and emerge victorious.

The alley, once a scene of despair and defeat, now bore witness to a transformation, a display of might that would forever alter the course of their lives. Adom, at the center of this maelstrom of power, felt like nothing would ever be the same again. In the face of this incredible force, all doubts vanished; he was ready to face any challenge, any enemy.

With Helios momentarily recoiling from the radiant light emanating from him, Adom seized the opportunity to assess his adversaries and strategize his next moves. His analytical mind rapidly processed the situation, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each enemy.

The ogre, already wounded and the lowest in level at 10, was the logical first target. A swift elimination would reduce the number of threats and potentially demoralize the others. The gargoyle, at level 12, posed a more significant threat with its ability to cast spells and potentially shield the others. The wolf beastkin, though agile and fierce, was only level 9 and seemed less of a concern compared to the gargoyle and Helios.

Adom's enhanced perception, courtesy of Aetheric Echo, allowed him to predict their movements with uncanny accuracy. He knew a direct confrontation with Helios would likely lead to defeat, but the vampire's adverse reaction to his luminous aura hinted at a potential vulnerability. Adom speculated that the light and flames he emitted bore a resemblance to sunlight, possibly explaining Helios's discomfort and slight burns upon contact.

Acting on this insight, Adom focused on the ogre first. With a burst of speed that blurred his movement to mere afterimages, he appeared behind the ogre. Without hesitation, he grasped the creature's head, channeling the intense heat of Flameheart Resonance directly into the ogre's body. The ogre's screams were cut short as its body was engulfed in flames, consumed entirely in a matter of seconds. The sheer ferocity of the blaze left even Adom taken aback by his own power.

Before he could fully process the ogre's swift demise, the wolf beastkin launched an attack, its claws aimed with lethal intent. However, to Adom, the creature's movements were agonizingly slow, telegraphed and easily countered. With a flick of his wrist, Adom sent the beastkin hurtling through the air with a force reminiscent of a high-speed collision. The impact was brutal, the sound of bones shattering echoed through the alley, a testament to the devastating power Adom now wielded.

As the wolf beastkin flew backward, Adom unleashed a volley of fireballs, each one more potent than any spell he had cast before. The beastkin was still airborne when the fireballs struck, reducing it to ashes before it could even hit the ground. The display of raw power was both terrifying and exhilarating.

With two enemies dispatched in rapid succession, Adom turned his attention to the gargoyle. The creature, realizing the threat Adom posed, began to cast a protective spell. However, Adom's enhanced senses allowed him to anticipate the incantation's completion. With precision and speed that defied the natural order, he launched a concentrated beam of searing light directly at the gargoyle. The spell was interrupted, and the gargoyle, caught in the full force of Adom's attack, was obliterated, its stone form shattering into a thousand pieces.

The alley, once a place of impending doom, was now a scene of Adom's unparalleled dominance. Each enemy had fallen before him with ease, their threats nullified by his strategic planning and the overwhelming force of his newfound powers. The violence and brutality of the confrontation were stark, a vivid testament to the capabilities he now possessed.

With the gargoyle defeated and its magical barrier dissipated, the hidden confines of the alleyway were exposed to the prying eyes of the world outside. Adom, now standing amidst the remnants of his foes, turned his attention to Helios, the vampire whose level still surpassed his own. Despite the disparity in their strengths, Helios exhibited a palpable sense of fear towards Adom, a reaction that piqued Adom's curiosity and bolstered his confidence.

Adom, analyzing the situation, remembered the peculiar behavior of vampires towards sunlight. They could withstand limited exposure if equipped with certain artifacts, and his keen eyes had noted a distinctive signet ring on Helios's finger, likely a talisman enabling his daytime wanderings. This observation was crucial; it suggested a potential vulnerability in Helios's otherwise formidable defenses.

Helios, now cornered and desperate to maintain a safe distance from Adom, demanded, "What are you?" His voice, usually smooth and controlled, betrayed a hint of trepidation.

Adom, seizing the opportunity for a retort, replied with a sly grin, "You look very startled, for the mighty immortal that you are. Is this the fear of death that I see in your eyes? That's very mortal-like of you. Hahaha."

Choosing not to launch a direct attack, aware of the gap in their levels, Adom instead decided to probe Helios's defenses further. He advanced slowly, the radiant light and flames that cloaked him intensifying with each step. Helios, despite his desire to retaliate, found himself unable to approach, the searing light repelling him as effectively as a physical barrier.

As Adom directed his luminous aura towards Helios, the vampire recoiled, his skin sizzling upon contact with the light. Helios, his demeanor shifting from predatory confidence to wary confusion, struggled to comprehend this unexpected turn of events. The light, reminiscent of the sun's purifying blaze, was anathema to him, burning his flesh and forcing him into retreat.

Helios, with a frustrated grunt, spat out a threat, "I will find you... and I will finish this." The warning hung in the air, a promise of future confrontations, as he dissolved into the shadows, vanishing from sight.

Adom, despite his newfound power, chose not to pursue. He understood the tactical disadvantage of chasing a wounded predator, especially one as cunning and resourceful as Helios.