178. Phoenix (2)
No wonder the Orleans Saintess had shown such brazen confidence before Alicia. The phoenix that manifested before the expedition force was the phoenix from legend itself.
Intense mana clung to its crimson feathers like blazing flames, forming a vivid illusion of fire. That mana burned like actual fire, weaving through shades of red, orange, and gold. Any ordinary mage would feel their eyes scorching just from looking, their minds unraveling under the phoenix's boundless power.
"Ha. Hahaha! The Saintess commands a ridiculous monster like that?! What idiots! This can't be real!"
Indeed, among those who witnessed the phoenix, some had their minds shattered by its overwhelming might, descending into madness or losing their sanity entirely.
With every movement across the battlefield, the phoenix scattered its mana-formed feathers, obliterating and scorching everything they touched. A single flap of its massive wings unleashed a gale-force storm, making it impossible for enemies even to gaze upon it.
The sky was dyed red by the phoenix's flames, the creature itself resembling a second sun. Had it been summoned at night, it would have been a sacred divine beast tearing through the darkness like the morning sun.
"Th-this is..."
The battlefield where the phoenix rampaged fell into stunned silence, broken only by the crackling flames of mana at the tips of its wings. Everyone stood in awe, revering its majesty.
"Well? What do you think of this sacred divine beast? This is the phoenix I have contracted with!"
Seizing the moment, the Orleans Saintess amplified her presence through the phoenix, etching it—and herself—into the minds of the European Union forces. Yes, this was her scheme: borrow the phoenix's glory to claim an unchallenged status.
And this scene...
It's real. But it feels so familiar?
Not a false memory, but a real one—that was the problem. Bahamut racked his brain, and soon enough...
...This is the exact tactic I used at the beginning.
He realized it instantly. Yes, Bahamut himself had announced his descent to the masses, then summoned himself at the perfect moment and place to inspire awe. That event had birthed the Balhut Cult and paved the way for Serabeol's founding.
But... I agree it's effective. Still, seeing my own black history replayed like this...
Why was a buried embarrassment resurfacing now? Bahamut eyed the phoenix gliding elegantly around the expedition with a jaded gaze. For some reason, the phoenix seemed thrilled, looping playfully in the sky.
In any case, the Saintess stands to gain the most from this expedition.
Bahamut figured her intentions had succeeded. He expected Alicia to face a tougher fight now. He'd anticipated another being like himself, but not that it would contract with Alicia's rival, the Orleans Saintess. Her name would soon echo across Europe, letting her consolidate control over a Paris reclaimed by proxy power.
However...
"Oh, and there's another contractor here. Yes. Another one. The so-called Dragon Priestess, contracted with the Dragon God."
It could have ended there, but the Saintess's ambition knew no bounds. In this moment, she provocatively targeted another contractor—the Dragon Priestess, Alicia.
"...Huh?"
The phoenix, which had been looping happily, halted abruptly at the Saintess's words, staring at her in bewilderment.
"What? Why the sudden beef?"
"But is she truly contracted with the Dragon God? Or does she just call herself that because people do?"
Phoenix's avian face was hard to read, but its expression twisted, as if itching to shut the Saintess's beak. The crowd, fixated on the verbal sparring between Alicia and the Saintess, noticed nothing. But the phoenix fidgeted restlessly, signaling urgently—yet the Saintess ignored it, eyes locked on Alicia.
"And what about you? Is that really a sacred divine beast, or just some nickname you slapped on?"
"Heh. Of course it is. How dare anyone utter the word 'doubt' in the face of this majesty?"
The Orleans Saintess swept her gaze over the crowd, then looked up at the phoenix, implying nothing could be holier.
The phoenix startled at the focused attention, glancing around nervously before puffing its wings to display its glory.
"Phoenix! Phoenix! Phoenix!!"
As it put on a dazzling show of flames and flair, the crowd erupted in cheers, chanting its name.
But Bahamut, who alone focused on the phoenix, felt...
...an inexplicable sense of kinship.
Watching it improvise to salvage the situation stirred an odd camaraderie. It reminded him of his own past, tossed around by Yuna—his affinity for the phoenix surged. The nervous glances it shot around were almost comical. He observed quietly, but...
"You'd change your tune if you saw our Dragon God."
"Then summon it. Let's see."
Regrettably, the contractors' spat escalated. Alicia claimed the Saintess would rethink upon seeing the Dragon God; the Saintess taunted her to summon it.
Huh.
"Huh."
The phoenix whipped around to stare at the Saintess again in alarm; Bahamut shot Alicia an incredulous look. An ego clash here, of all places?! Everyone but one had failed to predict this twist. Bahamut, the phoenix, and the others grew wary, edging back as the standoff intensified.
This could turn into a shrimp's back exploding in a whale fight. A clash between those divine beasts might wipe out the expedition.
"Summon your Dragon God. I dare you."
"Hah. Think I'm scared? I'll really do it. And you'll regret it."
Alicia still had some rationality left, warning of the danger. But...
"Go ahead, then."
"Then die."
The Saintess's dare proved too much—Alicia took the bait. No need for groveling excuses anyway. In the world, there were bad answers that crumbled under debate, toppling your world. Good answers? Simply kill the opponent. Simple, no prior knowledge required, swift and decisive.
This reeks of a trap, blatantly.
Yet Bahamut suspected something from the Saintess's demeanor.
A trap, yes. But one worth springing.
Dodging her provocation would play into her hands too. Better to charge straight through, shatter her calculations. Or even willingly step in.
I can't confirm by just watching. But I must uncover the phoenix's true nature, risks be damned.
This was a legal chance to face it directly—miss it, and he might never get another. Steel resolve, Bahamut messaged Alicia.
[No problem.]
"I-it's fine?!"
[Yes. Summon away. Freely.]
With permission granted, Alicia panicked instead. She'd expected Bahamut to intervene if she overstepped, hence her bold "then die." But his approval flustered her—from "Is it really okay?" to "Did I go too far?!" Still, trusting his intent, she pressed on.
"Prepare yourself. I'll show you exactly what my Dragon God is."
No backing down now—she went all in.
"Wha—really...? You actually plan to fight?"
The Saintess had bluff-stronged, assuming Alicia would fold. She'd lost the chicken game but consoled herself: intel on Dragon God Bahamut awaited. She braced for the summon.
"Summoning spell: Bahamut!"
Soon, a massive magic circle bloomed in the sky, cracking like an egg. A colossal meteor plummeted—unfurling wings to reveal its true form, majestic before the masses...
First, greetings.
Instead of landing dramatically, Bahamut appeared before the phoenix in the sky, locking eyes silently. Humanity's first divine-beast face-off— all eyes on them.
From a distance where ground noise faded, Bahamut dipped his head politely.
"Greetings, Miss Phoenix. I am Bahamut. Pleased to meet you."
"Uh. Um. Uh."
Hm?
Unlike Bahamut's courtesy, the phoenix stammered, intimidated by the stares.
"H-hello... I am Ph-Phoenix... Just ignore me like air, please."
I have no idea what that means. But it's scary!
Bahamut felt kinship again. That aura, that total loner vibe—he knew it well.
She's a shut-in legend too!
Yes! The phoenix was just like him—a room-bound powerhouse. Mystery solved for the affinity. Who knew he'd find a fellow outcast here! The saying "two loners under heaven" was bullshit; joy surged at finding a true kindred spirit.
"...I shouldn't have contracted! Outside is dangerous! I wanna go home!"
As Bahamut silently stared, the phoenix hid its face with wings, mumbling about fleeing home. Unwilling to lose his newfound ally, Bahamut soothed her.
"Calm down, Phoenix... er, miss?"
"Female."
"Ah. Right. Miss Phoenix, then. Tell me your story. I'll adapt with utmost flexibility."
He'd gleaned her gender mid-soothing, but that was secondary. Urging her tale, she peeked out...
"R-really?"
"Well... first, we handle the stares."
Intrigued, she emerged further. But as Bahamut muttered that...
"Eek!? Their stares are too intense! Argh! First sunlight in ages! Wait—it's been a year since I left my room!"
Reality hit; panic ensued. A bigger shut-in than Bahamut, she crumbled under the crowd's gaze, outer-world motivation tanking.
Bahamut, veteran shut-in, stayed composed and revealed his crisis-escape plan.
"Miss Phoenix. This isn't WWE."
"Obviously!"
She caught the slang instantly—fellow internet shut-in.
So, their task:
"Now, we put on a scripted fight for the crowd."
Bluntly: fake it like go-stop cheating. Script a pro-wrestling spectacle, WWE-style.
"...Won't that hurt?"
"......"
"Don't look away!"
Problem: even scripted, the pain was real. Her sharp point made Bahamut avert his gaze.
He couldn't baby her that much.
"But fleeing silently would be awkward too, right? Down there, they're getting bored with our standoff."
Indeed, their sky-chat was inaudible, but the pointless deadlock bred complaints below.
Seeing her contractor dissed pricked the phoenix; she nodded reluctantly, accepting the WWE pitch.
"Y-yeah, awkward!"
"So, we WWE convincingly. Fight moderately, retreat moderately. Easy, no?"
"Looks... easy?"
Of course not. Pro-wrestling endured "fake" accusations, but moves and pain were real. They'd need genuine effort for believability—collateral issues aside...
No need to voice that.
"Turn-based: attack, retreat at the right moment. Got it?"
"Yes! I'll do my best, Lord Bahamut!"
"Good."
Any fallout? The Orleans Saintess could handle it. These beasts would enjoy their WWE and leave.