The silver-orange core, the Phoenix Essence, pulsed like a star trapped in gss, its glow throwing wild shadows across the crystalized chamber. My muscles tensed as Sora dropped into a cross-legged position near it, her wings half-open and shaking.

  I stayed on guard, Qi swirling inside me in case there was some st-minute guardian or trap. I finally noticed Vyrn again; he was perched up above on a molten outcropping, his feathers bristling with tension. The aloof owl I knew was gone—he hopped from foot to foot like he sensed something we didn’t.

  “You ready?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure we could ever be truly ready to absorb raw half-divinity.

  Sora nodded, her gaze steeled. “I think.” She set both hands on the glowing mass, and it practically roared in response, surging up her arms like liquid starlight. The chamber’s temperature spiked so fast that my skin felt like it was cracking.

  The swirl of Qi in me grew denser to protect myself, but—

  That was when everything went to hell.

  The instant Sora tried to inhale that power, her body jerked violently, and she let out a scream that tore at my ears as the divine fme wrapped around her arms, shifting from brilliant gold to a searing white that made my eyes burn. This wasn’t just around her—it was in her, burning its way through her flesh, rewriting her from the inside.

  “Sora!” I rushed toward her but had to pull up short. Even standing a foot away felt like diving into a volcano. One quick reach and my fingertips practically blistered on contact.

  “Dammit,” I hissed under my breath, heart hammering. “I knew it wouldn’t be this easy.” I wondered what I could do now. “I need a buffer or a filter to ease her in.”

  Finding such items was difficult, and it was too te to reverse course now. Cutting it off now might do more harm than letting it finish.

  “A-A-Arghhh!” Sora’s voice tore free in a ragged scream that echoed with an impossible phoenix cry, like two voices yered into one.

  I could only watch the Remnant’s energy rip through her, reworking her inner fme. Her wings burned so brightly that they left streaks in my vision. The reality around us began to tear at the seams, shifting and glitching.

  One second we were in this crystal cavern, and the next, we were standing in that weird silver grass under a massive moon. The world kept flickering, showing glimpses of something else—a battlefield drowned in ash and bones.

  Through the cracks in space, I caught sight of the Phoenix’s final stand—an enormous, divine shape fighting hordes of darkness, each fp of its wings leveling entire armies. Ash caked the nd where mountains and civilizations used to be.

  They are… memories? The chamber trembled. Huge rock sbs fell from above, trailing embers in the air. This pocket realm was unraveling under the pressure of that unleashed power. If Sora lost control, we might get erased along with it.

  Crap. My mind raced as I watched divine fme chew through Sora’s body, her own energy fring in a battle for dominance. This was raw, primal essence—and her trying to absorb it was like shoving pure lightning into her veins.

  Panicking, I scoured the Heavenly Demon’s memories for any trick to stabilize spiritual energy. Something… anything. There had to be something!

  In the end, I stumbled upon a technique that might help. Memories were hazy, so I didn’t fully grasp it, but I had to try. I forced my Qi outward, trying to form a stabilizing matrix around Sora. This technique was meant to help martial artists with breakthroughs and Qi Deviation. It might just work.

  Up above, Vyrn dove from his perch, wings spread wide. Ghostly winds swirled around us, knocking aside falling debris and forming a shaky shield. Even his uncaring self knew this was dangerous enough to cim all of our lives, so the glint in his eyes was repced by fierce concentration.

  But neither of us could actually touch Sora. She was trapped in her own personal inferno. Her wings were solid fme now, leaving scorched footprints whenever she thrashed, hitting the ground.

  I cursed again as another wave of heat smmed me. We should’ve found a way to refine this essence first, but there was no time since enemies might find us! Heck, the sleeping Mountain God of this peak might wake up, and that was the worst case scenario. Maybe Lilian… No. I shut that thought down. I’d separated us for a reason, to keep secrets.

  This was my choice, my mess.

  And I had to take care of it myself.

  Watching Sora writhe in agony was tearing me up inside, and I desperately thought of a way to help her. But I couldn’t even approach her, so it was hard to help. “Fight it!” I shouted, not sure she could even hear me through her screams. “Don’t let it overwhelm you—force it to become yours!”

  Her eyes snapped open, bzing white.

  The shriek that came out of her next was far from human—it was ancient and terrifying, yered with the echoes of old wars. The Phoenix Essence fred like a tiny sun, bsting me with a shockwave that knocked me off my feet. My boots skidded across molten rock, and my sword rattled in my grip like it might crack.

  “Sora!” I pushed myself up, rushing ahead, each step searing my soles. The heat was unreal, like stepping into the core of a forge.

  She arched backward, spine bending in a way that hurt to watch. The essence pulsed, and I saw her silhouette change for a split second. New wings—pure energy—sprouted, overpping her physical ones and spreading out to fill the entire chamber with living fme.

  Then she screamed. “STOP THIS! H-HELP, ISKANDAAR!” A raw, agonized cry that made my bones ache. Light exploded all around, and—

  Everything went white.

  ****

  [Heavenly Demon Body: Transformation]

  Pain tore through me the moment I forced the change. The Demonic Core in my chest went wild, pulsing dark energy through my veins. This wasn’t like that previous, carefully pnned transformation—I was basically rushing it, something far more barebones and brutally raw.

  [Heavenly Demon Body, 4th Stage – Dark Qi Fusion Stage: The practitioner begins fusing dark Qi with their body's cells, turning their flesh into a substance resistant to both magical and spiritual attacks.]

  It was the only option that would allow me to approach Sora. The only way I could help her from this terrible pain. My cells began to break down and rebuild themselves, fusing with the dark qi that coursed through my veins. Each breath felt like inhaling molten steel as my body reconstructed itself on a molecur level.

  In an ideal situation, I had to prepare for this stage in some blood-soaked ritual over hours like st time, but I was skipping half the steps. The phoenix fmes around us crammed all that torment into mere seconds.

  I was forcing it, and it shredded my insides. My clothes didn’t st, obviously—they burned away in that first big wave of heat.

  I could feel my flesh changing, becoming denser, more resilient. The dark qi wasn't just flowing through me anymore—it was becoming me. Every cell, every fiber of muscle and bone absorbed that energy, transforming into something that wasn't quite human.

  The agony was beyond description. It felt like I was simultaneously unmade and reforged, my very essence being rewritten by forces that defied natural w.

  But through that pain came power—raw, undiluted strength that made my previous powers feel like child's py. My bones were denser, my muscles stronger, and my qi brighter.

  Then, something shifted.

  The bzing light that had swallowed the entire chamber started to dim, not because it was fading but because my eyes had changed somehow. Evolved. I could peer through the fmes now, seeing yers of reality that had been hidden. I watched the energy swirl in patterns I never knew existed, the flow behind the light.

  That’s when I saw Sora again, hanging in the air like a broken marionette, her body shuddering while the Phoenix Essence ripped through her. She kept screaming these unearthly cries, and each wave of raw power shook the chamber like a furious god.

  My Phoenix was crying.

  The thought made something inside me snap.

  [You’ve reached Heavenly Demon Body: Dark Qi Fusion Stage.]

  The System’s update fshed in my mind, but I barely registered it. I charged forward into the inferno, each step like wading through boiling magma. My newly transformed flesh soaked up the fmes, fueling me, but that didn’t stop the pain. Spots swam in my vision, but I refused to stop.

  “Hold on… Sora…” I growled, pushing closer. The heat ramped up with every step, but my mutated body held up. I grabbed her midair, yanking her into a fierce hug.

  That doubled—no, tripled—the agony. Holding her felt like clutching a miniature sun. Still, I clung to her. The technique from the Heavenly Demon’s memories floated up again, the name of a half-remembered skill I hoped might help.

  [Nine Heavens Qi Resurgence]!

  My qi surged faster and harder than I’d ever forced it, forming this cocoon of swirling darkness ced with streaks of gold. I poured everything I had into that technique, praying to whoever might be listening.

  Please work, I begged silently, hugging her scorching body tight. Don’t let this be the end.

  Slowly—agonizingly slowly—the chaos began to ease up.

  Reality stopped glitching between battlefields and the crystal cavern. The molten rock cooled, the choking air lessening with each passing heartbeat. My arms shook from holding Sora’s overheated, naked body, but I wouldn’t let go. If it meant stopping her pain, I’d endure.

  Her violent thrashing died down to soft spasms, then weary breathing. Her wings, which had been pure fire moments before, settled back into their usual form—though they still gleamed with an inner fme I’d never seen.

  Her eyes regained crity piece by piece. First that bzing white gre toned down, letting me see her usual green irises. Then a flicker of recognition crossed her face. Finally, she just sagged against me, breathing like she’d just finished a marathon.

  She stared up with a weak smile. “You… dummy,” she croaked, her voice all torn up from screaming. “Why’d you have to go through so much for me?”

  I couldn’t find words for that second. Then a warm pulse of phoenix fme spilled off her skin, but this time it was gentler, almost soothing, not the raging inferno that had nearly killed us both. It washed over my burns, healing them, sealing cracks in my flesh. My expression didn’t change much, but I felt immense relief as the pain faded from a shriek to a whisper.

  The healing fmes did their work, rebuilding scorched flesh and easing the deep bruises. By the time they died away, I finally exhaled, my body rexing for the first time in what felt like ages.

  “Feeling calmer now?” I asked, my eyes flicking around, still not spotting the Phoenix Essence. She must’ve fully taken it in, so I hoped we were past the worst.

  But Sora shook her head. “Not really,” she admitted, sounding almost ashamed. “I… I’m unsure how long I can keep a handle on this. The power’s—” She broke off, her wings shimmering like they could still blow up at any moment.

  I frowned. Alright, so we weren’t out of the woods yet. The Phoenix Essence might settle, or it might tear her apart again if we didn’t figure out a next step.

  I stared at her trembling form, mind spiraling through every technique I’d learned. Think, think... I went through every technique I knew. Energy transfer? Too basic. Then how about Qi harmonization? No, not strong enough. Spirit exchange? Too dangerous. Vyrn will turn to ashes. Nothing seemed adequate for handling divine fme.

  Nothing typical was strong enough for the raw, divine fme. I was out of ideas. Then… it came to me. My gut twisted, but it was probably our best shot.

  “This is gonna sound insane,” I said, letting the words drop, “but I think Dual Cultivation might be our best bet.”

  Sora blinked. “I… guess that’d help. Knowing you, you should be able to handle it. If you’re sure about it, do I just sit cross-legged like st time?”

  "No..." My eyes flickered briefly to her naked body – for her clothes had burned away during the transformation – before I sighed. "Dual Cultivation, at its root, is a technique made for lovers. During intercourse, when their energy mixes, they get the most benefit. What we've been doing before was barely anything."

  She stared at me silently, her expression odd, and I sighed. "Sorry, it really is weird, isn't it? But… This way, I can give you the Phoenix Essence fully without waste while keeping some residue energy for myself. You might think of me as a weirdo, but I honestly think this will work."

  "No, no, that wasn’t what I was thinking," she shook her head fast and then smiled slowly. "I just... didn't think you'd be the one to want to sleep with me first. I really thought I'd have to drug you someday for it and then drag you to my room."

  "What?"

  "It's a joke, silly little Iskandaar," she burst out giggling. Then, she pushed her face up, pressing her lips into mine. I sighed, closing my eyes and accepting it.

  Sora's skin was warm, almost feverish, against mine, and her wings cast dancing shadows across us even in the bright light.

  Every touch felt electric, sending shivers down my spine. I could feel her heart racing against my chest, matching my own thundering pulse as we lost ourselves in each other's embrace.

  The world around us faded into background noise as we explored each other's bodies, our hands tracing curves and muscles. Heat built between us until nothing else mattered but the pleasure we shared. The rest of reality grew distant and unimportant.

  ****

  The energy flowed between us like twin rivers merging into one vast ocean. Her phoenix fmes, no longer chaotic and destructive, danced perfectly harmoniously with my qi. The raw power that had threatened to tear her apart now flowed smoothly, guided by the ancient principles of Dual Cultivation.

  With each breath, our energies intertwined more deeply. Her divine fme mixed with my Stelr Qi, creating gold and crimson patterns that spiraled through our bodies.

  I had to skillfully only use my pure core for this, otherwise the Phoenix Yang wouldn’t have mixed well. Now, the still wild and primal Phoenix Essence found bance in our shared connection.

  The Demonic Core on my chest pulsed rhythmically, drawing in some extra energy like a hungry void sometimes. I fed it. Instead of fighting the divine fme that entered through the Pure Core, it welcomed it, transforming and corrupting the raw power into something it could use. So, both my cores were growing in size.

  My energy wasn’t the only thing growing, though.

  [Your lifespan has increased by 7 years!]

  [Your lifespan has increased by 5 years!]

  [Your lifespan has increased by 10 years!]

  [Your lifespan has…!]

  The notifications kept appearing as my core absorbed more energy. Seventy years total – more than I'd dared hope for. Although given that lifespan was like a currency for me, it wasn’t much. Thankfully, I knew I’d have more chances ter on.

  But beyond the extended lifespan, I wondered about other effects. The Heavenly Demon Body technique was meant to culminate in pure demonic energy at its fifth and final stage. Would this divine fme somehow change that state?

  The thought of reaching the Heavenly Demon Stage filled me with anticipation. A body that could regenerate instantly, break all limits, and channel powers beyond mortal understanding. But now, with Phoenix Essence mixed into my energy...

  Would it create something new? Something that had never existed before?

  How long passed like that? Hours? Days? I had no idea.

  The fmes finally began to settle, and the wild energies found their proper channels. The pocket realm around us stabilized, and crystal walls solidified back into normal rock. Visions of ancient battlefields faded completely, leaving only the quiet chamber lit by our combined aura.

  I held Sora close as we both caught our breath, our skin still tingling from the residual energy. Her wings had settled into a soft, steady glow rather than the previous blinding radiance.

  The warmth of her body against mine was comforting, grounding me after the intense… ritual. I could feel her heartbeat gradually slowing to match mine, the phoenix essence within her now humming in harmony with my demonic energy rather than trying to burn it away. The feathers of her wings brushed against my arms, sending little sparks of heat dancing across my skin.

  "That was..." she panted, "intense."

  "Yeah," I managed, equally breathless. The chamber felt almost too quiet now after the chaos of the st few days.

  I held Sora close, feeling her rex completely in my arms. Her sweaty body pressed against mine, and I couldn't help but ugh at how peaceful she looked – like a content cat after a satisfying meal. As we basked in the afterglow, my fingers traced idle patterns on her skin.

  After a while, she lifted her head from my chest, her emerald eyes meeting mine. "Hey, you remember the dungeon incident, right? When we first met Vyrn.” I nodded, and she continued. “You know, I was curious what you meant when you told me you'd help me revive the Fenixia Family..."

  "Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

  She shrugged, wings rustling softly. "I thought you were promising to give me babies."

  "Uh?" I froze, caught off guard.

  "No, no, really~" she continued, propping herself up on an elbow and looking up at me. "What else did you mean? I was confused since you had a fiancé, but… I thought maybe you’re just that typa guy."

  "Girl, I meant financially and status-wise. It'd be revived. And if you wanted to continue the bloodline, I'd have helped you find a Phoenix man to matchmake you with. Not this."

  Her face scrunched up in displeasure at my words. "Hey, I’m just messing around, why do you have to say that? Well, I am gd that didn't happen. If the Fenixia Family has to return through reproduction, I… want it to be with you."

  I stayed silent for a moment, processing her words. Then I let out a ugh. “I suppose that's why you were quietly advocating for the multiple-wife concept back then. Once those two are familiar with the idea, you can smoothly slip in. Was that the pn?"

  She grinned mischievously, wings fluttering. "No idea what you mean, husband."

  “Um…” I sighed and then leaned in to kiss her again, savoring the warmth of her lips. "Speaking of those two, no need to worry. This situation was beyond our control, but I will take responsibility. Let me handle it if Nebu and Lilian begin to act up."

  “Hey, I’m gd it happened,” she said.

  Drawing back slightly, I studied her glowing form. "How's the energy feeling now?"

  "Amazing," she stopped pying around and did a proper body check, breathing out. "I've made incredible progress – I'm currently at Level 65. Can you believe that?" Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "But that's not even the best part. I can sense numerous phoenix abilities awakening within me, and my Mana... it has increased tremendously."

  She’d absorbed the essence of a dead god, so naturally, she’d gained a lot. The levels weren't representative of it, for I gained none. The benefits she must have received were far beyond mere levels, and I’d get to see them over time.

  I pulled her closer, capturing her lips in another deep kiss. Kissing her felt great, so I was doing it a lot. “That’s great,” I said, pulling back. “Then let’s get going?”

  We both knew it was time to leave this sacred space behind.

  ****

  The crystalline realm dissolved around us as Sora waved her hand, fmes tracing a glowing archway in the air. It revealed the cave through which we’d entered this pce.

  I stared at her casual dispy of power—she'd just torn a hole between dimensions like someone opening a pantry door. Of course, this was only possible in this realm, the graveyard of the Phoenix. It wasn’t something she could recreate anywhere else.

  Her new wings shimmered faintly as she tugged my arm, and her emerald eyes were bright with mischief.

  "Come on, admit it already," she said, her ughter echoing through the molten corridor we walked through. "The ‘Dual Cultivation’ part makes up for the whole near-death experience, doesn’t it?”

  "Maybe a little," I conceded, still tasting ash and something sweeter on my tongue. The air here smelled of burnt sugar and volcanic gss, starkly contrasting the metallic chill waiting outside. "But if you tell Lilian I said that, she’d get all—"

  The portal's edge rippled as we stepped through.

  Cold mountain air spped my face, and the familiar scent of pine and frost repced the heat of the Phoenix realm. My boots crunched on gravel, then froze mid-step.

  Sora's grip on my arm became vise-tight. "Oh."

  The cave wasn't empty.

  A creature occupied the space like a ndslide made flesh—a mountain of scaled muscle slumped against the far wall, emerald tail coiled around shattered stagmites. Moonlight filtering through the waterfall caught the jagged ridges of his horns, each curve thicker than my torso. The empty alcohol gourd in his cwed hand could've doubled as a war drum. When his golden eyes slid open, I felt the stare like a physical weight pressing down on my upgraded bones.

  [Ao’kai, the Green Scale King, Level 205]

  Level 205, meaning… Ninth Ascension.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]"Finally." His voice made the cave tremble, and gravel and ice shards rained from the ceiling. He unfolded to his full height, his horns scraping stone as he rose. Sake dripped from his chin onto scaled pectorals that gleamed like poisoned jade. "Trespassers. Grave robbers. Maggots."

  I opened my mouth—to expin, to scream, to buy time—but the world fractured.

  One heartbeat, the God of the Dragon’s Crown Peak was twenty paces away. The next, his fist filled my vision. Time stretched like taffy, long enough to see individual cracks spreading through the air itself. To notice the runes etched on his knuckles, ancient characters glowing crimson. To realize my newly upgraded Heavenly Demon Body might as well be rice paper against the strike of a dragon who we had awakened.

  The impact folded me in half and did the same for Sora. My Demonic Core fred in protest before going terrifyingly silent. The stone exploded behind us as we flew backward, Sora's scream cut short by the mountain itself colpsing.

  I tasted blood and phoenix ashes, felt ribs splinter like kindling, and saw the Green Scale King's snarl frozen in time as his punch propelled us through yer after yer of bedrock.

  Then the cold.

  The stars.

  The horrifying realization that we weren't just crashing through the mountain—we were clearing it, hurled into the open air with enough force to leave vapor trails. Sora's fmes winked out. My Qi refused to respond.

  Somewhere below, the Dragon's Crown peak crumbled, avanches roaring like the earth itself was mourning. As the world spun, I managed one coherent thought before darkness swallowed me whole.

  We stole from a god’s backyard, and he woke up to catch us red-handed.

  TheVeiledMan