242 Phoenix

Leoz came back to the wall, and Nelson had reached the battlefield to substitute him.

"Follow me." Alex said. He then went to those high ranking people. "I have found the source of the problem. I will solve it. When I'm gone, my friends will still fight in here, so you don't need to worry."

Those people were shocked. Not because Alex found the source of the problem, it was because they saw Leoz's strength. He was only a 7-Star Martial Grandmaster just now, and not long after, he became a 1-Star Martial Lord.

They were astounded, thinking Leoz had held back his strength. Then they looked at Alex, who seemed to be the most important and strongest, they gulped down, wondering Alex's strength. If Alex tried to do anything funny to them, they could only accept their fate.

It was beyond their comprehension. Before it was Nelson, and with the sudden appearance of Leoz as a 1-Star Martial Lord, they started thinking about having a connection with him. Maybe, after this, they could make a banquet as thanks.

That way, they could also send some beauties to him. Maybe, he might fancy one of their daughters.

"Yes, Sire. Thank you for your help. We will also join the battle after this, so Sire doesn't need to mind about the safety of your friend. We will protect them." The City Lord spoke first as the others were still shocked in their mind.

Alex only nodded without waiting for anyone else to speak. He said in a casual tone. "Let's go, Leoz."

"Yes."

Alex went to the battlefield to pick Sherry up. "Sherry, come with me."

Hearing her Master's voice, she immediately turned back. She looked at Alex, perplexed. Alex only said, "We have a job. Come with me."

"Wuu!" After hearing that, she immediately leaped toward him.

Alex then released the shadow bird that Nelson gave to him. The bird started flying toward the northeast direction. There were a few flying monsters in their way. Alex said with a cold tone, "Sherry, kill them."

"Wuu!" She immediately summoned her firebirds and shot them toward those flying monsters. Just like planes that had been shot by missiles, the flying monsters died upon getting hit by firebirds. They fell down and crashed to the ground.

The monsters were only Master Stage or below. They had yet to see a Grandmaster Stage flying monsters. After flying around a minute, Nelson's shadow bird suddenly dived down. They found a cave.

Alex activated his Spirit Eyes and saw great energy inside the cave. Alex immediately thought it must be the phoenix. Sherry felt a chill from the cave. She narrowed her eyes. It might be her instinct as another holder of high level fire. She could sense something from inside the cave.

That something was challenging her. Alex didn't notice any change from Sherry. He looked around him with his Spirit Eyes. Although there were some monsters around, the highest level was only a 1-Star Grandmaster Stage monster, so it will be fine, he thought. He then spoke, "Let's go."

Leoz nodded. He immediately moved in front of Alex, ready to protect him anytime. As they got closer to the target, they could feel the heat from the phoenix.

When they found the phoenix, they could see a giant ball of fire. Alex could see it. It wasn't a ball.

The ball slowly opened, and a phoenix figure finally appeared. That's right. It wasn't a ball. It was a phoenix that curled up like a ball. The phoenix's appearance was like he had known. Red colored feathers with flame covered every inch of its body. Its appearance was majestic.

"Cry!" The phoenix let out a cry, echoing through the entire cave.

Sherry's widened her eyes. She could see that this phoenix had a similar level of her previous flame before she met Alex. Her fire was close to the Pure Fire level after being enhanced by Alex's fire and evolved. But, her instinct was still there.

She couldn't help but leap in front of Alex as her body started to grow into her big form. Sherry glared at the phoenix with dangerous eyes. She didn't want to lose and let out a howl. Everyone in the cave could feel the anger within that howl.

Alex narrowed his eyes as Leoz also moved in front of them and released his lightning. The phoenix flapped its wing and sent out another cry. The phoenix glared at Alex and co with killing intent.

The phoenix's mouth started glowing. Leoz also raised his palm toward the phoenix.

"Spark." Leoz said with a severe tone. A giant lightning ball suddenly shot out of his palm and charged toward the phoenix.

The phoenix also let out the flame from its mouth. It was also a giant fireball.

The lightning ball and the fireball clashed, and surprisingly, their power was equal. They destroyed each other. Leoz wasn't serious in his attack earlier. He immediately followed up, he stabbed the ground with his sword.

When his sword reached the ground, it suddenly sent out a few lightning sparks. The lightning moved on the ground surface and moved toward the phoenix. Those lightning sparks suddenly shot out from the ground when they reached the destination.

It was trying to strike the phoenix. The phoenix was unfazed by this attack. A few phoenix feathers suddenly fell from its wing. It fell toward the lightning strikes and neutralized it.

"Young Master." Leoz signaled him to get ready.

Alex nodded, the Fire Phoenix Seed inside his body had been revolving like crazy after reaching this cave. He opened the seed and let his Pure Fire flowed outside his body.

"Pure Fire" Alex was engrossed by the feeling of the Pure Fire Element. It seemed there was a change when he refined his heart. He just didn't notice it until now.

Alex's Pure Fire suddenly let out an overbearing pressure. The Pure Fire wanted to show who was the boss.

As soon as the Pure Fire was out, the phoenix felt oppression inside its body. It felt like Alex's fire wanted him to submit. Of course, as a phoenix, it wouldn't easily go that way. The phoenix immediately fought back with its powerful Spiritual Energy.

This was the hardest part for him. He suddenly felt that overbearing pressure. He was still a 2-Star Martial Grandmaster, to bear the full brunt from a 10-Star Martial Grandmaster. He finally understood why Nelson said he only could restrain the phoenix for a minute.

Taking this Spiritual Energy head on was really taxing for him. He started to sweat the moment he took it.

"One minute." Alex told Leoz the time limit.

Leoz understood he didn't have much time. He might need a long fight to bring this phoenix down if he didn't have Alex's Pure Fire restraint.

"Lightning!" Leoz pointed out his giant sword toward the phoenix. It suddenly shot out yellow colored lightning like a gun.

The lightning suddenly split up and became five thunder strike. Each of these 'thunder strikes' was powerful. At least, Alex could only think about dodging it if he met with this attack.

Sadly, the phoenix also had the power of a Peak Grandmaster. The phoenix flapped its wings. It sent out an attack with the same number of Leoz's. The phoenix's attack was indeed powerful. But Alex was restraining it, thus weakening the power of its fire.

Two of the thunder strikes managed to pass through and made their way toward the phoenix. Looking at the attack, the phoenix knew that this attack couldn't be avoided. It tried to protect its body with his wing. Alex was observing this phoenix's movement from the start. It seemed that the phoenix was relying on its wing. If he restricted its movement, especially its wing, Leoz would be able to deal a finishing blow.

Alex confirmed it when he saw the next attack from the phoenix. It suddenly flapped its wing once again. It sent out flame waves from its clap. Leoz was ready to put up a defense.

"30 Seconds." Alex felt half of his Spiritual Energy had been emptied. Seeing that he couldn't do anything other than this, he gritted his teeth. He really wanted to help at this fight.

Unfortunately, the feeling of suppression from Spiritual Energy took a toll on him. He couldn't assist him with this pressure. At a time like this, Alex couldn't believe that he felt Sherry's flame around him. He glanced at Sherry and found her releasing her flame to the maximum.

The phoenix suddenly felt the suppression for Sherry too. Alex's eyes widened. He could see that it was also hard for Sherry from her anguished expression.

Sherry took some pressure on his shoulder, and it gave him some room to breathe. He immediately narrowed his eyes to think up a plan. After feeling the suppression was lifted up a bit. Alex immediately said with a cold tone as he glared at the phoenix. "Leoz, don't bother to defend, just attack it with your full might. And also cover your ears."

Alex raised both of his hands. On his right hand, a green colored array was formed. On his left hand, another array was also formed, but this array was a blue colored array.

Hearing that, not only Leoz but Sherry also covered her ears with Spiritual Energy. Leoz also immediately followed his order. He raised his sword and swung it down.

"Thunder Slash!"

Seeing Leoz sent out his attack, Alex flicked his right finger.

"Death Sound Array."

A deafening and disturbing sound echoed. With that sound, it disrupted the phoenix's flow of Spiritual Energy and broke the attack. Leoz's attack flew toward the phoenix undisturbed.

The phoenix saw Leoz's attack. It had two choices, to avoid it or to take it head on with another attack from him. Unfortunately, neither the choices can be used.

Alex sent out his second array on his left hand.

"Wistful Shackle Array."

The array on his hand glowed brightly as a few blue colored whips rose from the array. It immediately chained the phoenix. Of course, the phoenix immediately retaliated. It was trying to break free. If not, it will be cut by Leoz's attack.

Feeling that struggle, Alex felt his finger might break. Even so, he maintained the array as long as possible until finally, Leoz's attack reached the phoenix.

"Cry!" It let out the last cry as loud as possible. When Leoz's strike arrived, it immediately split the phoenix into two. Alex immediately let go of his Wistful Shackle Array. His left hand felt excruciating, especially its fingers.

Alex only had a fourth of his original Spiritual Energy. It was very taxing to hold the phoenix down. Sherry was in better shape. She only lost a third of her Spiritual Energy.

Alex looked at the phoenix's corpse on the ground. Even though it had died, the flame was still covering its body. Alex felt his Pure Fire became restless. It wanted this energy. Alex refrained it a bit and glanced at Sherry. "Sherry, do you want it?"

Sherry immediately shook her head. After getting a beating from Alex, she reflected on her action. She was too comfortable this whole time. She remembered the time they spent when they were in the lower world.

"Wuu Wuu (Master should absorb it. I am content with Spirit Stones.)"

Alex was surprised to hear that from Sherry. It seemed his worry was unnecessary. He smiled a bit. Although he didn't really mind sharing with Sherry, it was a bit stressful to share everything, and he only took a smaller portion. Especially if that thing was rare.

"You can try absorbing it too after I breakthrough." Alex said, smiling softly at her.

Then, he looked at Leoz, "You will go to the battlefield, try to kill as much as possible, and protect the rest. Sherry will be here and protect me."

Leoz nodded and left the cave. Alex started absorbing the phoenix power. Even though Nelson said he could absorb his blood, in fact, it was the phoenix's fire energy inside the blood.

Sherry also made a bit of distance from Alex. Her ears suddenly picked up footsteps from outside. With her hearing, she could realize that it was not one or two. It was numerous. And they were moving toward this cave.

Sherry suddenly realized, the last cry from the phoenix, it was not because the phoenix was unwilling. It was because the phoenix was trying to call as many monsters as possible from the surrounding.

Sherry immediately moved toward the entrance of the cave. Alex didn't notice her. He felt his Pure Fire started refining the energy from the phoenix so he could absorb it.