The Damned Demon

3 months into the quest,

Bathed in the ethereal glow of the lava rivers that streamed down the fiery Pyro Peak, Asher's group and the 5 Umbralfiends tread cautiously, their every step leaving an imprint in the soft, ashen soil.

As far as the eye could see, the land was draped in a heavy veil of fog, the ashen air thick with uncertainty and laden with the faint aroma of something akin to sulfur from the sporadic volcanic eruptions that painted the far horizon with brilliant specks of molten orange and red.

The scorching heat radiating from the surrounding earth and air was overwhelming. All members of the group, save for Asher and Callisa, were visibly uncomfortable.

Rivulets of sweat trickled down their faces, seeping into their travel-worn clothes, as they trudged forward.

Isola's usually twilight blue complexion had taken on a beet-red hue, a stark contrast to her luminescent white hair, while Ceti's usually focused demeanor was marred by the thin layer of perspiration on her forehead.

Orin and Sylus and their wives, hardened by countless ordeals, remained focused despite the heat, their gaze as steady as their stride while Mirena was huffing and puffing, wishing they could just get out of this place as quickly as possible and was still wondering how crazy this Bloodburn Consort was to take up a quest like this.

If not for their princess, they wouldn't be here.

Despite the discomfort, each pair of eyes remained alert, sweeping across the seemingly endless expanse of ash and smoke, their senses heightened by the potential danger lurking in the shadows.

The eerie silence, interrupted only by the distant rumble of volcanic eruptions, seemed to amplify their heartbeat, a stark reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead.

Their journey continued in silence, each member in tune with the thoughts of the others through Isola's mental link.

Suddenly, Ceti's voice echoed in their minds, breaking the stillness, "Are we sure we're in the right place?"

Asher, his hand securely gripping his Blade of Damnation, nodded slowly in response. His gaze was distant, locked onto something unseen, "I can feel it," he said, his voice calm yet laced with an undercurrent of anticipation, "It might already know we are here. We have to be in the right place."

Not too long ago,

[ Mini-quest available ]

[ Phoenix's Descent ]

[ Pyrrah, a phoenix who was once a glorious symbol of rebirth and the cycle of life, is now but a fallen star, an ember of its former self banished to Pyro Peak to endure the eternal torment of being consumed by its own flames.

This being is living its final life. A life consumed by the very flames that once granted it rebirth. Currently in a deep slumber, Pyrrah is desperately holding on to the remnants of its existence, a feeble attempt to prevent the inevitable.

However, once it wakes up, Pyrrah will initiate its last stand, burning up its own lifeforce in a desperate last attempt to wreck chaos and death. Its power grows the more it burns its lifeforce. The closer it is to death, the more formidable it becomes, a blinding beacon of destruction and rebirth in its own flame.

Defeat this malignant creature once and for all, and you shall receive the best rewards Pyro Peak has to offer ]

[ Rewards : 300,000 Shards, ??? ]

[ Difficulty : Nightmare ]

[ Restrictions : No more than 20 people can enter the mini-quest area ]

"This is insane. Isn't a phoenix one of the divine creatures that serve the Angels? One of them is really in this mini-dungeon?" Mirena voiced out with a gasp.

"It can't be…Even if it's not the real one, it's impossible to survive this quest…" Ceti voiced out with furrowed brows.

"I think this impossible quest is just to tempt us. With 300,000 Shards, it is more than enough to advance to the next dungeon quickly, and the rewards must be at least legendary grade. But seeing how difficult it is, who in their right mind would participate in it? We don't have the strength or numbers and even then it wouldn't be easy at all," Sylus asked with a shake of his head.

Isola and Merina looked at Asher, who was standing silently with a contemplative look, and just as they expected, he curved his lips and said, "Let's give it a try. I feel like we are the only ones who might stand some chance of completing this. The quest also says this phoenix is not really its original self but a fraction of what it was. This only means it isn't hopeless."

Elysia, Lyra, and the other Umbralfiends, along with Ceti, had their eyes widened. They had looks of disbelief, wondering if they heard him right.

However, Ceti remembered how he even survived against a Soul Purger on his own for a while and felt that only someone like him had the qualifications to take risks like this.

Still...can a Soul Purger be compared to a Phoenix, even if it is in a weakened state?

And to the disbelief of the Umbralfiends, their princess nodded and said, "If you are confident we have a good chance, then...we can give it a try," Isola then looked at Mirena and the others with a concerned look.

As if guessing what she wanted to say, Orin suddenly stepped forward with a solemn look and deeply bowed, "We will be pleased to tag along and be of any assistance."

Mirena pursed her lips, but since she can't bear the thought of abandoning their princess, she also bowed along with her sisters.

They were only ten, and the one who boldly wanted to accept the quest was the weakest among them. She prayed to the devils to curse him if they all die because of him.

And the moment Asher accepted, he got a marker pop up on the map as the others exchanged knowing glances.

And now,

They were standing right where the marker was on the map. This had to be it.

Feeling the ashen soil under his foot, Asher crouched down and clawed out some of it and rubbed it against his fingers before smelling it.

His brows raised as he mumbled and looked at the vast expanse of the ashen soil, "These are…ashes of bones…"

But no sooner had his words left his mouth, a sinister sensation crept over them.

It was as if the air around them had suddenly turned electric, causing the hairs on the back of their necks to stand on end. In the heart of the fog behind them, two monstrous ember eyes flickered open, glowing ominously as they fixed their gaze on the group.

As they turned, their eyes widened in a mix of awe and dread. What met their gaze was a sight nobody else had lived to recount.

Towering over them, shrouded in the ashen fog and standing amidst the molten rivers of lava, was the silhouette of the legendary creature they had been tasked to defeat.

*SCREEEEE!!*

A screech ripped through the still air, resounding through the desolate landscape, a sound as chilling as it was majestic.

The sheer force of it shook the earth beneath their feet, a tangible reminder of the monstrous strength they faced. The silhouette moved, and with a powerful flap of its massive wings, the fog that had concealed its figure dissipated, revealing its true form.

Pyrrah, the Blazing Calamity…Asher could see the name of this giant creature.

It was a sight to behold, standing at an awe-inspiring thirty meters.

Its body glowed with an ethereal fire that seemed to dance and writhe across its feathers, each one a delicate balance of ashen gray and flaming orange, mimicking the fiery landscape that surrounded them.

Its eyes, aglow with an ember-like luminescence, bore into them with an unblinking gaze, the pupils dark abysses that seemed ancient yet...they seemed so baleful and filled with a simmering rage that was unlike what he had heard about the mythical phoenixes. What the hell happened to this phoenix?

The large, curved beak and the talons were jet-black in color, sharp and menacing.

Its wings, fully spread, eclipsed the skies, casting long, ominous shadows over the group. Each feather seemed to hold a lick of fire, flickering and dancing with each beat, a mesmerizing, terrifying display of power and beauty.

The sight of the creature sparked a whirlwind of emotions within the group. Fear, awe, determination, and the thrill of the imminent battle coursed through them, their hearts pounding against their ribs, echoing the rhythm of survival.

"Oh devils, save us…" Mirena gasped, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Asher's gaze sharpened as he studied Pyrrah, his keen senses picking up the subtleties. The terrifying aura the majestic fiery beast was exuding, while intimidating, was only around the Soul Slayer level.

However, its HP stood at a staggering 250,000. It was definitely a Boss level creature with the highest health Asher had ever seen in his life.

He couldn't even begin to imagine how powerful its original self might have been.

As he watched, the number started to decrease. But with each drop, the creature's strength increased. It was a dangerous, volatile situation, a ticking time bomb.

"You all know the plan…Buy me time while making it burn its own health as much as possible…" Asher voiced out.

A ripple of concern went through the 5 Umbralfiends, especially Mirena, wondering why the Bloodburn Consort gets to sit back and relax while they might very well be running to their death.

Why would their princess really put up with this without any question?

"We have no time to waste standing around. The more we give it time, the harder it will be to chip off its health," Ceti said with a fierce look as the others nodded, their faces set with a firm determination.

Sweating, they spread out in formation, each one pulling out their weapons of choice. The clinks and whooshes filled the air, adding to the sense of impending battle.

As they prepared to face off against the phoenix, Asher hung back and reached into his pocket, taking out a small, ornate pouch. The beast pouch. The magic within it hummed, as if sensing the anticipation in the air.

"Come out, big girl," Asher said, his voice soft but firm, "It's our time to shine."