Uriel stood firm, his boots planted on the asphalt in front of the imposing structure that was the US headquarters of Hex. The grand building loomed above him, its sharp edges and metallic sheen reflecting the dim streetlights. The air was thick with tension, the quiet hum of the city disrupted only by the low rumble of the approaching convoy carrying Dan and Jennifer, held captive inside.

Beside Uriel, Lance adjusted his grip on the long lance in his hand, his shield strapped tightly to his back. They both stood as statues, waiting for the right moment. The plan was simple—intercept the convoy and rescue their comrades. But standing in their way was no ordinary foe.

On the other side of the open courtyard, Jeremy Taylor emerged from the shadows. His presence was unmistakable, his very aura commanding the space around him. A cold breeze stirred as Jeremy approached, his eyes narrowing at Uriel and Lance, sizing them up. He wore a casual, unassuming outfit, but the way he carried himself betrayed his true power. There was no doubt about it—he had come prepared.

Uriel raised his shield slightly, anticipating what was to come. Lance shifted his weight, his lance gleaming under the faint streetlights. “We’re not leaving without them,” Lance said, his voice calm but determined.

Jeremy’s lips curved into a knowing smile, a dangerous glint in his eye. “You’ve come to die for them, then?” His voice was smooth, carrying an underlying threat.

Uriel didn’t respond. He knew better than to engage in banter with someone like Jeremy. But he also knew what was coming next. Jeremy wouldn’t fight as he was now; he would show his true form.

The air around Jeremy began to shimmer, as if the very fabric of reality was being pulled and twisted by his power. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity as a brilliant fire ignited at his feet. The flames swirled around him in a rapid spiral, growing in size and intensity. The heat became palpable, even from where Uriel and Lance stood, forcing them to brace themselves.

Jeremy’s form began to change, the fire engulfing him completely as his casual clothes burned away, revealing intricate armor beneath. His arms extended outward, the flames dancing along his skin, hardening into glowing armor. His chest plate was a deep crimson, etched with golden lines that glowed like molten lava. The armor seemed alive, radiating waves of heat, and his gauntlets were lined with feathers of pure flame, pulsing with power.

His wings erupted next—massive, fiery wings that spread wide behind him, each feather made of crackling fire that fluttered in the night air like living embers. His helmet, shaped like the head of a phoenix, crowned him, the eyes of the bird glowing fiercely. The plume of feathers at the top flared with fire, giving him an even more commanding presence.

As the transformation completed, the flames settled, though they still flickered and crackled across his form, making his entire figure glow with a blinding intensity. His cape, also made of flames, flowed behind him, rippling as if caught in an eternal breeze.

This was Jeremy Taylor—Phoenix Ringmaster.

His eyes met Uriel’s and Lance’s, the heat of his power radiating from him in waves. The ground beneath his feet blackened as the sheer intensity of his transformation scorched the earth. His smile was gone now, replaced with the cold expression of a predator ready to strike.

“Do you still think you can win?” Jeremy asked, his voice layered with power, echoing like the crackle of fire.

Lance lowered his lance slightly, whispering to Uriel, “This is going to be tougher than we thought.”

Uriel’s grip tightened on his sword. He felt the heat from Jeremy’s transformation pressing against him, his armor growing warmer by the second. But his resolve did not falter. This was a battle they couldn’t back down from.

The two of them stood ready, but Jeremy—now fully in his Phoenix Ringmaster form—was unlike anything they had ever faced.

And the battle was about to begin.

The air was thick with tension, charged with the searing heat of Jeremy Taylor’s transformation. His Phoenix Ringmaster form bathed the darkened streets in a fiery glow, casting long shadows across the ground as his wings spread wide. Each flicker of flame around him seemed to pulse with life, crackling with a lethal intensity that only hinted at the true devastation he was capable of unleashing. The night had become his domain.

Uriel tightened his grip on his sword, the weight of the blade familiar but suddenly insignificant in the face of Jeremy’s overwhelming presence. His shield felt heavier, as if the sheer power radiating from Jeremy was enough to bend steel. Beside him, Lance stood, lance in hand and shield raised, but there was no denying the formidable opponent before them. Yet, neither man wavered.

Jeremy tilted his head slightly, his burning eyes locking onto Uriel. "Do you truly believe you can challenge the Phoenix?" he asked, his voice crackling like embers in a roaring fire. He didn’t wait for an answer. His wings flared and in an instant, he was upon them, a blur of heat and light that burned the very air in his wake.

Uriel barely had time to raise his shield as Jeremy’s fist, wreathed in flame, came crashing down. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, forcing Uriel back several feet. His shield glowed red from the heat, the metal groaning under the strain, but he held his ground. Lance, already moving, lunged forward with his lance, aiming for Jeremy’s exposed side. But the Phoenix Ringmaster was too fast. He spun, a wall of fire trailing his movement, and swatted Lance’s attack aside with ease.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The force of Jeremy’s counterattack sent Lance crashing into the side of one of the armored trucks nearby. The vehicle’s metal groaned under the impact, the truck's side caving in as Lance rolled to the ground, barely managing to bring his shield up to block the follow-up strike. Jeremy’s foot, ablaze with fire, slammed into Lance’s shield, sending sparks flying. The sheer heat melted part of the shield’s edge, but Lance remained focused, his eyes locked on Jeremy even as he was forced onto the defensive.

“You’re fast,” Lance muttered, pushing himself back to his feet, his lance still firmly in hand. “But you’re not invincible.”

Jeremy’s lips curled into a smirk. “I don’t need to be invincible. I only need to burn everything in my path.”

With that, Jeremy leaped into the air, his fiery wings carrying him high above the battlefield. He raised his arms, and the flames that surrounded him gathered into a blazing inferno between his hands. With a roar, he hurled the fireball down at Uriel and Lance. It was massive, larger than anything either of them had seen before, and it scorched the very ground as it descended.

“Uriel!” Lance shouted, and Uriel reacted immediately. His sword flashed as he raised it high, a barrier of magical energy forming around them just as the fireball crashed down. The explosion rocked the entire area, the blast wave shattering windows and sending debris flying in all directions. Trucks were overturned, and the ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered. But the barrier held—barely.

Uriel gritted his teeth, feeling the strain of holding the magical shield against such a powerful attack. The flames licked at the edges, threatening to break through. Sweat dripped down his face, but he refused to give in. “Lance,” he growled through clenched teeth. “We can’t hold this position.”

Lance nodded, already moving before the barrier dropped. As soon as the shield faded, he surged forward, lance aimed directly at Jeremy’s chest. This time, there was no hesitation. He moved like a predator, every step calculated. The tip of his lance gleamed with a magical aura, crackling with energy as it pierced through the air.

Jeremy, still in mid-air, narrowed his eyes. He twisted his body at the last second, the lance missing his chest by inches, but Lance anticipated it. With a fluid motion, he spun, bringing the butt of his weapon around to strike Jeremy in the side. The impact was solid, sending a ripple of force through Jeremy’s body and knocking him off balance. He faltered, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, the pavement cracking beneath him.

Uriel didn’t waste the opportunity. In a flash, he was beside Jeremy, his sword raised high, ready to bring it down with all the strength he could muster. But just as the blade descended, Jeremy’s eyes flashed with fiery rage. His wings snapped open, and a torrent of fire erupted from his body, forcing Uriel back. The sheer heat was unbearable, driving both Uriel and Lance to retreat as Jeremy rose to his feet, flames swirling around him like a living entity.

"You think a few lucky strikes will save you?" Jeremy growled, his voice now distorted by the power coursing through him. His fiery wings flapped once, sending a wave of heat in all directions, scorching the earth and setting the nearby trucks ablaze. The fire spread quickly, consuming everything in its path. One of the trucks exploded, sending shrapnel flying into the air.

Uriel and Lance barely managed to avoid the debris. The battlefield had turned into a blazing inferno, but neither of them backed down. They had to rescue Dan and Jennifer, no matter the cost.

Lance glanced at Uriel. "Go," he said, his voice firm despite the chaos around them.

Uriel hesitated for a moment. "Lance—"

"I’ll handle him," Lance insisted, stepping forward, his lance at the ready. There was something in his tone, a quiet determination that Uriel couldn’t ignore. "You know what I’ve got up my sleeve. It’s time."

Uriel locked eyes with Lance, reading the resolve in his friend’s gaze. Without another word, Uriel nodded. He turned and sprinted toward the convoy, where Dan and Jennifer were being held. The trucks were already beginning to crumble under the heat, but Uriel knew he had to act fast. Lance could hold his own—for now.

Jeremy watched Uriel go, his fiery eyes narrowing. "Running away, are we?"

Lance stepped forward, drawing Jeremy’s attention back to him. "You’re not getting past me," Lance said, his grip tightening on his lance.

Jeremy smirked. "Brave. Stupid, but brave."

Before Lance could react, Jeremy was on him again, a whirlwind of fire and fury. Lance raised his shield, blocking the first strike, but the force behind it nearly knocked him off his feet. Jeremy’s speed was relentless, his fiery wings giving him an advantage that made him almost untouchable. He moved like a blur, his attacks coming from every angle, forcing Lance to retreat step by step.

But Lance wasn’t backing down. He parried Jeremy’s next strike with his lance, spinning on his heel to bring the weapon around in a wide arc. The tip of the lance crackled with energy as it sliced through the air, aimed directly at Jeremy’s head. But once again, Jeremy was too fast. He ducked, avoiding the blow, and countered with a blast of fire that hit Lance square in the chest.

Lance staggered back, his armor smoking from the intense heat. But instead of retreating, he stood tall, determination burning in his eyes. He wasn’t finished yet.

Jeremy’s smirk faded, replaced by a look of mild annoyance. "Why do you even bother?" he asked, his voice filled with disdain. "You’re outmatched. Outclassed. You’re nothing but an insect trying to fight a god."

Lance wiped the sweat from his brow, his lance still at the ready. "You talk too much."

With a roar, Lance charged forward, his lance crackling with energy as he aimed for Jeremy’s heart. But Jeremy, with a flick of his wings, took to the air again, avoiding the attack with ease. He hovered above the battlefield, looking down on Lance with contempt.

"Pathetic," Jeremy spat. "You really think you can defeat me?"

But Lance wasn’t listening. His eyes were focused, his mind clear. He had a plan—a dangerous one. And it was time to put it into action.

With a deep breath, Lance lowered his lance and shield. The sound of metal hitting the ground echoed in the fiery chaos around them. His shield clattered to the side, his lance following it with a dull thud.

Jeremy’s eyes widened in surprise. "Giving up already?" he asked, mockingly.

But Lance didn’t answer. His hands were now free, his body relaxed. There was a calmness about him, a stillness that seemed out of place in the middle of a battlefield.

Jeremy, hovering above, narrowed his eyes. "What are you—"

Before he could finish, Lance’s body began to glow with a faint light, a power he had been holding back until now.

The battle was far from over.