The knight led his horse further into the city, asking for a place to rest from the others knights. Kurai didn't pay much mind to him leaving, far too focused on a question that arose in his mind.

Phoenixes have a hierarchy, but they aren't known to seek revenge for their kind. The queens from what I know are nothing more than the most powerful Phoenix. They usually have no regard for their kind and even kill many themselves, most of them even. But then, why is the Phoenix Queen attacking humans? For revenge is off the table, the only sensible reason would be that the city happened to be too close to her nest, and she didn't have a good sleep so woke up one day and chose violence, Kurai pondered.

While Kurai remained lost in thought, Opal climbed onto Kesshō's shoulder and talked to her about something, due to which Kesshō decided fly up to the top of the city's wall, not causing the slightest sounds from her wings. Kurai looked up on hearing a loud growl which came from Opal, seeing the two on the top of the wall, sighing at them before he noticed the horrified expression on Opal's face.

By the time he realised something to be wrong, he could hear the approach of what the two saw. Wingbeats echoed through the city as the knight from the attacked city fell to the ground in terror, the shadow of a bird passing above everyone in the city as the avian revealed itself.

"Don't worry, it's not a Phoenix, just a water elemental in the shape of a bird." A knight informed the terrified civilians, gesturing them to keep moving.

The horrified knight looked up in relief, slowly getting up from the ground. "I thought they followed me here."

"No, they definitely did!" Kurai exclaimed, "That is a Phoenix, and if you value your lives, then run!"

The knight fell backwards as he tried to flee, clawing on the ground as he rushed off. The Aqua Phoenix scoured the city from above, its head tilted to the side to get a better look at the surface. It seemed easy to mistake it for a water elemental, afterall the bird seemed to have been created from water itself, leaving a trail of droplets as it soared through the air like a water elemental would. It's coat of water appeared to be very similar to the well known flames coating the body of a Phoenix, but what most did not know is the fact that Phoenixes are not 'Fire Elemental Birds', instead they are 'Elemental Birds', though the bright flames have long been the identity of Phoenixes in most worlds.

Kurai did not blame the people for not knowing it either, being well aware that this world does not house Phoenixes of any element but fire, which raised another question to him. Just how did this one get here? It could've simply adapted or mutated from the normal one, but to go from fire to water would take decades or centuries of mutating, and a very good reason for a Phoenix to even try changing its entire identity like that.

He snapped back to attention on hearing a yelp from Opal as Kesshō jumped from the top of the wall, landing perfectly fine on her feet, but scaring Opal in the process. Opal seemed terrified of the avian's presence while Kesshō only showed the slightest signs of nervousness from her twitching ears and quick glances at the sky.

"You haven't fought a Phoenix before?" Kurai inquired.

Opal and Kesshō both shook their head.

"Very well then, observe." Kurai commanded as he walked towards the gate of the city, Kesshō following a short distance behind.

As he approached the gate he noticed a rope hanging from the top of the wall, about four-fifths of its length being coiled on the ground. He picked up the coil from the ground, tugging at it with one hand to retract the end with a metal hook attached to it, breaking a chunk off the top edge of the wall in the process.

He walked out of the city, Kesshō having stopped under the arch of the gate, having sensed that following him further could lead to unnecessary danger for her and Opal, or make her a hindrance to Kurai. Kurai did not pay much mind to it, focused on the Phoenix, not having fought one for a very long time.

Kurai spun the hooked end of the rope with high speed in his right arm before raising it above his head. Stepping forward he flung the hook towards the Phoenix with great force, blowing dust in the process and showing Opal and Kesshō his capabilities.

The hook soared through the air, cutting the Phoenix's path at the perfect timing. It smashed into the Phoenix's head, obliterating most of it before the hooked end arced downwards headed for the town. Kurai tugged at it with a snap, bringing the hook flying back and embedding it into the ground near his feet. Kesshō and Opal watched wide-eyed at the effortless execution and the sheer strength.

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The Phoenix however, did not seem amused. It's body floated in the air at the spot it lost its head, the wings beating every few seconds to keep it airborne. After a few moments the Phoenix turned it's headless neck towards Kurai, a head reforming from water droplets seconds later. The Phoenix dived downwards, charging right for him at full speed, leaving a trail of water droplets that showered its path.

"It's not fire or storm, it can't attack me physically," Kurai sighed. He again spun the hook in his right arm, slower than before. "Mana Coat," he whispered.

A bright light emitted from the hook and rope for a moment, dimming to a slight glow almost instantly. Kurai steadily increased the speed with which he spun the hook as the Phoenix came closer to the ground, preparing to slam into him.

The Phoenix spread its wings just above the level of the walls, aiming to dive right for Kurai from just above them walls. Kesshō turned and glanced at the Phoenix, still some distance away, before turning back towards Kurai. He smiled at her briefly, a reassuring smile which unnecessarily sent a calming feeling through Kesshō's mind.

She barely realised as Opal let out a horrified yelp, barely realising the gust of wind that slammed against her face and blew her hair to the side. She barely even realised the metal hook that passed barely a centimetre from her face, the only proof of it actually happening being the rope that trailed behind the metal hook.

The Phoenix tilted it's body and maneuvered itself out of the hook's path, keeping it's trajectory towards Kurai. Kurai yanked at the rope, snapping it taut and bringing it even closer to Kesshō's face, allowing her to feel the thin loose strings of the rope on her face, but she didn't flinch.

Kurai pulled the rope back, causing it to abruptly slow as it entered the Phoenix's liquid body, the metal hook swinging around the Phoenix's torso before slamming into its back, not breaking its form this time however, largely due to the coating of mana over the rope and hook. He pulled the rope down towards the ground, lowering the Phoenix to barely more than a metre over the ground.

"Kesshō, slice it," Kurai ordered.

Without a moment wasted Kesshō tossed Opal high into the air before stepping towards the approaching Phoenix. She lowered her body to a crouching position as she slid forward on the ground. As the Phoenix passed above her, unsheathing her katana in a heartbeat Kesshō performed a crescent slash aimed above her head, a crescent moon blade forming from her blade and slicing the Phoenix's body in half.

"Tsuki Kenjutsu," Kesshō whispered as she slid to a stop and sheathed her katana, "Sixteenth form: Hanging Moon Garden."

The Phoenix's body splashed on the ground, the wave of water travelling to Kurai's feet before stopping. Opal let out a yelp as she reached close to the ground, abruptly stopping as Kesshō's tails wrapped around her, catching her just above the ground.

Kesshō took Opal in her arms, attempting to calm her down, but only ending up getting bitten by Opal, which backfired on Opal. Opal's teeth were sharp and tough, but the force behind her bite not enough to pierce Kesshō's diamond-like scales, though she still managed to rip off a part of Kesshō's sleeve, hurting her feelings and making her sad.

"You two sure are getting along well," Kurai observed.

Kesshō did not react as Opal shook her head, Kesshō's tails pushing Opal out of Kesshō's hands and throwing her on the ground in anger, receiving a hiss from Kesshō for their arguably justified hostility.

I should have been more careful, Kurai thought as he looked away from the town. This Phoenix was just a summon, not an actual Phoenix, otherwise it wouldn't have lost form completely like this. Whoever sent it did so to test me, and because of me having known this was a Phoenix, now they are well aware that I am either not from this world to begin with, or I just happen to have knowledge from other worlds. It couldn't be that guy, he already has an idea of who I am. Seems like a third faction might be involved here, which only serves to further complicate things for me.

Kurai turned to Opal and Kesshō, both observing him curiously. Kurai looked at Kesshō, knowing her look of mild confusion happened to be due to being unable to figure out just what he is feeling, or get any sign of any thoughts from him. He smiled at her reassuringly, like he usually does, a gesture to tell her that she does not need to worry as long as he is with her. He didn't tell her that in this life, she just seemed to instinctively know what he means by that smile.

I have done so much to make you seem much more powerful than you already are so that they will stop trying to fight you, but it has only served to put you in even more danger. Making you appear weaker than you are puts you at a risk of being targeted by those who seek revenge against me, Kurai sighed in his mind. Maybe I am the problem here, but how am I expected to not worry about you if I don't know you are alright. You have been through a lot already, but please, bear with me for some longer. I don't want to put you through more than you have already gone through, but it will prepare you for the future, for when I won't be there to make sure you are alright. Just bear with me till my selfish desire to make sure I won't have to worry about you after dying is fulfilled.

"Let's get going," Kurai spoke after having thought a while about what to do next.

Kesshō and Opal nodded as Kesshō placed the bag she carried Opal in on the ground, letting Opal climb into it before handing it to Kurai. Slinging the bag over his shoulder and making sure Opal is fine, he walked away from the city, Kesshō walking by his side, her expression calm along with her mind, knowing she only needed to follow Kurai's orders till the end, and everything would be alright.