Chapter 89: Tess, the Phoenix
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Tess, the Phoenix
Any mage who reaches the 6-star rank can form a contract with a single phoenix.
Naturally, every mage desired to be the master of a "special" phoenix—even if it wasn't quite on the level of Belot, contracted to Kelliark Zipple, or Manier, the phoenix of the legendary archmage Oh Henserck. They all dreamed of owning a phoenix whose name alone would evoke envy in their peers.
However, mages have no say in the matter.
When one reaches the 6-star rank and opens the dimensional gate to the Fire Realm, no one can predict which phoenix will approach them.
Casimir looked up at Jin’s phoenix with a dazed expression.
Every time the phoenix, shrouded in mysterious blue flames, flapped its wings, a wave of warmth washed over even the distant Casimir.
To date, over ten thousand phoenixes had been registered in the Magic Association's records, but among them, only one boasted blue flames.
"Tess…! This is unbelievable, Young Master Jin!"
The phoenix Jin had summoned was Tess, a phantom beast known as the "Most Noble Phoenix."
And every single mage who had summoned Tess throughout history had, without exception, become the greatest mage of their era.
— Even in the distant future, I hope you remember me as a good sparring partner. Even when you reach the pinnacle of the world.
The moment Casimir saw Tess, he realized why Alisa had said those words.
Alisa was no longer a match for Jin.
Screeech…
Jin slowly drew Bradamante and spoke.
"Shall we begin, Lady Alisa?"
Jin stood still, pointing his sword at her. Until recently, he had been the challenger, but now the roles were reversed.
"Here I come, Young Master Jin."
Today, it was Alisa who stood in the position of the challenger.
The moment a white aura coated her fists, she shot forward like an arrow, closing the distance in an instant.
With Jin’s current kinetic vision, he couldn't fully track her at maximum speed. His usual pattern involved predicting her movements to some extent and counterattacking.
But today, that wasn't necessary. Tess unleashed fierce blue flames to intercept Alisa’s approach.
Whoosh! Fwoosh!
Even the smallest spark from a phoenix’s flame possessed the power of a 5-star fire spell. For a 7-star warrior with a tempered body, such power would cause serious injury unless blocked by an aura shield.
Furthermore, Tess’s flames possessed a special power called Pressure.
‘If that sticks to me, my stamina will drain too quickly. I have to end this fast!’
Pressure was exactly what its name implied—a crushing force.
Tess’s flames had weight. A spiritual weight that defied the laws of nature. Therefore, even if they landed on an aura shield, they couldn't be ignored or extinguished as easily as ordinary fire.
It made one's body feel as heavy as if submerged in deep water.
As Alisa moved nimbly to dodge the flames, the initiative instantly shifted to Jin.
‘I can maintain Tess for about three minutes. I need to inflict a significant wound on Lady Alisa within that time to end this comfortably.’
Even though it was a spar, Jin had felt the threat of death in every one of their previous 109 matches. Today, it was his turn to make Alisa feel that same sensation.
He believed that was the greatest reward he could give the person who had diligently helped him grow every single day for the past three months.
Swish!
As Alisa dodged the flames, suspended in the air for a brief moment, a sharp horizontal slash flew toward her waist.
"Kh!"
She hurriedly twisted her body, but the tip of the blade grazed her back. It was only a minor cut, but it was enough to tighten the tension in Alisa’s mind.
Before she could land and regain her balance, a sphere of mana gathered in Jin’s left hand.
‘Wind Blade! This will force Lady Alisa to retreat once more.’
The Wind Blade shot toward Alisa’s ankles. As Jin expected, she had to use her footwork again to dodge.
‘I’ll bait her into desperately trying to seize back the initiative… and then end it!’
The patterns Alisa had shown over the past 109 spars were incredibly diverse. It was impossible for the current Jin to fully predict and block all her variations.
However, there was one common thread within Alisa’s numerous patterns.
She always tried to seize the initiative, no matter the situation.
‘Once swordsmanship, magic, and spiritual energy start to harmonize, even Lady Alisa is bound to feel the strain. That’s why she’s always been obsessed with holding the lead. But today, that will be her downfall.’
Alisa took a step to the left to dodge the Wind Blade. When she shifted her gaze back to where Jin had been…
Only Tess filled her vision, fire gathering in its beak as it prepared to unleash a Breath.
‘Hah. So this is what a magic swordsman is, Young Master Jin!’
Alisa whipped her head around.
Jin was already unleashing sword light from her flank while Tess fired its Breath. Crushing attacks were coming from the front and side simultaneously.
It wasn't impossible to dodge both, but doing so would mean handing the initiative back to Jin once again.
‘I’ll endure the Breath with my aura shield and catch Young Master Jin’s blade instead!’
Alisa’s plan was to land a clean hit on Jin’s abdomen to break his tempo, then hold out until the phoenix summon expired to claim victory.
Even if she took some damage, she judged that seizing the initiative was more important than anything. If she remained on the defensive without breaking the flow, she would never find an opportunity to turn the tide.
Fwaaaaah!
Tess’s Breath engulfed Alisa. The blue flames widened like a cone, seeming to completely swallow her.
However, the flames could not pierce the aura shield she had deployed. A phoenix’s power is determined by its summoner’s mana, so for now, even Tess couldn't exert more strength than this.
‘Got you!’
Just as she planned, Alisa caught Jin’s blade. Though blood splattered from her palms despite the aura protecting them, it wasn't enough to sever her fingers.
Crunch!
As Alisa kicked off the ground with her back foot to throw a punch, Jin was pulled toward her as if being sucked in.
"Hah!"
With a shout, she threw a straight punch. She couldn't put her full strength into it while maintaining the shield, but it was more than enough power to knock Jin back.
In the moment when a satisfying thud should have echoed, Alisa’s eyes widened in shock.
‘He’s gone? I clearly pulled Young Master Jin and threw my punch!’
Her fist hit nothing but air.
Reflexively looking down at the Bradamante she was holding, she saw no sign of Jin, who should have been holding the hilt.
‘Then what I pulled was…!’
The weight of Pressure.
A clump of blue fire burned fiercely on Bradamante’s hilt.
The moment Alisa had caught the blade, Jin had already abandoned his sword and switched positions. He had then wrapped the hilt in the flames of Pressure, tricking her into mistaking its weight for his own.
Alisa hadn't realized it because Tess’s Breath had been obscuring her vision, crashing against her aura shield.
She understood everything in an instant.
But it was too late to reverse the situation.
"Haha… I lost, Young Master Jin. I’ve fought many opponents, but I never imagined a trick like this."
As Tess ceased its Breath, Alisa’s aura shield crumbled, revealing Jin pointing a dagger at her back.
"I went out of my way to deploy an aura shield and make a gamble, but it turned out to be my undoing. My goodness, to lose by having my back taken. It’s quite a shock. From what point did you calculate all this?"
"Would it sound too arrogant if I said 'from the day of our first spar'?"
Alisa waved her hand in defeat.
"No, I can believe that. That's actually a bit chilling."
"Thank you for everything, Lady Alisa."
"I enjoyed it too, Young Master Jin. You probably don't know how proud I feel right now."
As Alisa turned around, Jin withdrew his dagger.
The two looked at each other for a moment before reaching out to shake hands simultaneously.
"How does it feel to defeat a warrior from the Viment Special Task Force before turning sixteen?"
"Honestly, it feels great. Very great… but it also makes me want to fight you again next year when you're at full strength."
Alisa smiled gently.
"I don't arm myself unless I have to kill my opponent. So, you should hope you never have to fight me while I'm armed."
In their 110 spars, Alisa had never once used her gauntlets or armor. A fully armed Alisa was an opponent even Casimir couldn't guarantee victory against, which made her unsuitable for training Jin.
"Well… if you keep up this momentum, the day you surpass me even when I'm armed won't be far off. Anyway, congratulations, Young Master Jin. We should have a party tonight."
Casimir, who had been watching the spar, looked utterly shell-shocked.
‘I honestly thought six months wouldn't be enough… This is insane, truly insane. Lord Cyron, this report is going to be a bombshell!’
Casimir had expected Jin to need at least a year to surpass Alisa.
But it had only taken 110 days. Even after seeing it with his own eyes, his mind was reeling.
"Honey, snap out of it and go get the party ready."
"Ah, right. Okay."
*
Of course, all their comrades in Tikan attended the party.
During the banquet, Jin informed the others of his victory over Alisa and his summoning of the phoenix Tess.
"If it's Tess, you mean the phoenix of blue flames? Young Master, I've heard of it a few times. It's a very rare phoenix…"
"Gilly! It's more than just rare. Any mage who summons Tess is guaranteed to become the best. Young Master Jin! Give me an autograph, quick! Right here on the back of my shirt."
Enya rushed to Jin’s side with sparkling eyes.
While the others were expressing their amazement, Murakan and Quicantel—the two dragons—seemed to have lost their words.
Clatter.
They even dropped their forks at the same time, looking deeply shocked.
"Kid. Did you just say… Tess?"
"Jin, did that person really form a contract with you? And… and you had your first meeting in that humble underground training hall, and you made them fight as soon as they were summoned?"
This time, it was Jin who was bewildered.
These prideful dragons were trembling all over, using extremely formal language to refer to Tess.
"Murakan, Lady Quicantel. Is there a problem…?"
"Hey, summon it first!"
"I can't. It consumes too much mana."
The moment Jin tilted his head and summoned Tess…
"I greet the Master of the Fire Realm!"
Quicantel dropped into a full prostration and shouted.
"Uh… Master of the Fire Realm… long time no… ah… why, why again… I can speak casually, can't I? I've got some years on me too… Fine, I'm sorry. Okay, I get it, so stop swearing at me."
Murakan was acting as if he had run into a terrifying teacher.
The sudden, surreal sight was enough to give the other guests indigestion.
For a moment, Tess and Murakan seemed to be having a conversation, though the humans couldn't hear Tess’s voice at all.
"Um… yes, yes. I understand. I'll tell Jin that, so—hey, seriously. Stop swearing! This isn't the Fire Realm! If you keep this up, I'll get angry too!"
Peck peck peck peck peck!
Tess began pecking at the crown of Murakan’s head with incredible speed. Surprisingly, the foul-tempered Black Dragon didn't even fight back and only scrambled away.
After finishing the pecking, Tess said something, and Murakan nodded.
"Phew… fine, I'll tell Jin, so just calm down. Seriously, giving me such a hard time as soon as you get here. Uh-oh, you're going to hit me again. What a temper… I can't take this. Kid! Send this person back to the Fire Realm."
When Jin deactivated the summon, Tess struggled for a moment before being sucked back through the dimensional gate. Only then did Quicantel stand up and let out a sigh of relief.
"You and Lady Quicantel seem to have a difficult relationship with Tess… It's not just new to me, it's shocking. What on earth did you talk about?"
When Jin asked, Murakan shuddered as if he had just recalled a terrible memory.