Chapter 265: Fire Phoenix's Pride

Before Jayna reaches the arena's bound, she forces her wounded body and stabs her sword on the ground. *Clang* She managed to stop her momentum just right at the edge of the arena.

'Urgg.. What's that?! An Illusion? No, it is too real to be an illusion.' thought Jayna.

In the meantime, at the audience seat, "Hoo… That's an interesting little trick. If I am still six grade combatant, I may fall for that attack. It seems Lady Jayna has a slim chance to win." said Jade before looking at Angus.

Currently, Angus is completely emotionless and silent. However, Jade knows that Angus is trying to calm down his emotion so as not to jump into the arena. 

Sensing Angus's inner mood, "Angus, is everything alright?" asked Anna.

"Ahh.. Yeah, I just get a little bit too emotional." said Angus before going back to silence.

Like Jade predicted, Angus is trying to calm down his anger and stop himself from killing Nigul at this moment. Actually, he already knows that Jayna may get hurt in this fight. But, he knows he can't always protect her and needs to let her fly on her own to grow.

While the audience is surprised at the sudden turn, the fight in the arena keeps going. Currently, Jayna is trying to calm her breath, but she finds Nigul approaching her.

'What a great reaction?! She could even react in that kind of position. No matter, she will still lose this fight.' thought Nigul as he approached Jayna.

Without wasting any moment, Nigul launches another attack not to give Jayna catching her breath [Sword Art - Downfall]. Fortunately, with the help of [Analyze], Jayna already predicted this and dodged to the side.

However, Nigul doesn't stop there. He keeps attacking Jayna with various sword skills and strong attacks, not giving Jayna any time to recover. Under Nigul's attack, Jayna keeps getting wounds on her body.

These wounds inhibit her movement and she begins to receive more hits to Nigul's attack. After a while, Jayna finally managed to break Nigul's flurry attack and create a distance between them.

"Why?? I bet you know you cannot win this battle. So, Why do you keep fighting?" asked Nigul, who stopped his attack.

"Haa.. Haa.. I can't.. I feel if I retreat, I will never be able to come back." replied Jayna in a ragged breath.

"Very well, then I shall make you never come back." said Nigul as he raised his sword and took the same stance as last time.

Seeing Nigul's stance, Jayna immediately charges him to prevent Nigul from releasing his skill. 

"Wrong move." said Nigul.

Suddenly, Jayna feels her battle instinct tell her to dodge and see a huge incoming attack towards her. Without hesitation, she escaped to the side and broke her momentum. However, same as before, Nigul still does not move and only glares at Jayna.

Using this opportunity, Nigul launches his attack at Jayna [Sword Art - Tiger Maw]. Like being torn apart by a tiger, Jayna got hit directly and spurted a large amount of blood before falling down on the ground.

At this moment, Nigul feels a massive amount of killing intent from the audience seat. He immediately finds Angus glaring at him. 

Despite only being glared at, he feels like standing in front of a death god. Without him realizing it, Nigul already takes a few steps back with cold sweat on his body. Before Angus could do any action, Jayna's body was enveloped by a hot crimson flame. *Whoosh*

In the meantime, inside Jayna's mind, she finds a beautiful slender and tall red-haired woman standing on top of a calm lake.

"We met again, little girl." said the red-haired woman.

"You.. You are Fire Phoenix." said Jayna.

"Yes, I am. Hmm... It seems you are in a dire situation to be able to reach this place." replied Fire Phoenix.

"I thought you were already dead? Where is this place? Are you going to take over my body again?" asked Jayna while remaining vigilant.

"Calm down, little girl. This is just somewhere inside your inner mind. As for me taking over your body, I am afraid it will be impossible even I want to. Currently, I am nothing but a small fraction of the Fire Phoenix." said Fire Phoenix.

"Then, why am I here?" asked Jayna.

"Well, let's just say you are currently in life danger, and your consciousness somehow reaches this place in hope for survival." said Fire Phoenix.

"Life danger?? I see I lost. Am I.. No, Are we going to die?" asked Jayna.

"Die.. us?? Fufufufu… That's the most hilarious joke I've ever heard. Tell me, little girl, What I am?" asked Fire Phoenix.

"Err.. Fire Phoenix." replied Jayna.

"Yes, and??" said Fire Phoenix.

"A strong primordial beast." said Jayna.

"That's right, but not only that. Little girl, I am an immortal beast that was born since the creation of the world."

"You are already merged and become part of me. It means you are also an immortal like me. However, you are still not capable of handling my power in your current state, which somehow halts the merging process." explained Fire Phoenix.

"I see.. then, how will I come back?" asked Jayna.

"Hmm… Little girl, it seems you still do not understand. Like I said before, we are already half merged. I am you and you are also me. As a primordial beast, do you think I will let you lose to a punny person? I will show you the true power of Fire Phoenix." said Fire Phoenix.

Suddenly, the red-haired woman in front of Jayna turns into a large fire phoenix. React towards the Fire Phoenix, the entire space and lake immediately covered by crimson flame. Despite this scene, Jayna isn't afraid and even feels more comfortable.

"Little girl, remember we are the Fire Phoenix, one of the strongest primordial beasts. Don't you dare to taint our pride and body." said Fire Phoenix before Jayna was also enveloped in crimson flame.

At the same time, Jayna already stands up in the arena while being covered in flame. Nigul couldn't help but be surprised at this phenomenon. He could feel this was not an ordinary flame as the flame itself gave unexplainable pressure toward him.

At the same time, Angus managed to calm his mind after looking at Jayna's condition. Currently, Jayna is standing with fire around her.

"Fire? Does she use mana?" said one of the people.

"No, there is no mana fluctuation at all." said another person.

While all the audience is confused at Jayna's state, Jayna opens her eyes and reveals sharp predatory hawk eyes. Then, she charges at Nigul. *Clang*

'It's heavy!!' thought Nigul as he parried Jayna's attack while taking a few steps back.

Jayna didn't stop her attack and kept pressurizing Nigul. *Clang* *Clang*

After a few dozen clashes, "Don't get cocky!!" shouted Nigul as he released a strong attack.

At this moment, Jayna immediately feels an attack from her side.

"Hmph.. Petty trick." said Jayna as he ignored her instinct and countered the real incoming attack.

"Eat this!! [Sword Art - Tiger Maw]" said Nigul while giving his all at the attack.

Jayna does not stay silent and launches her attack while still covered in fire [Phoenix Dance 1st step - Feather Blossom]. *Whooshh* Suddenly, Jayna turns into countless feathers made of fire and disappears from Nigul's view.

Less than a second later, Jayna appears behind Nigul and countless sword wounds appear on Nigul's body along with burn marks.

"ARRGGHH!!" screamed Nigul, as he fell on the ground and smoke came out from his orifices.

Despite his strong body, he feels that all his inner organs are being roasted alive. Combined with all the wound and burn marks on his body, Nigul immediately fell unconscious, leaving only Jayna standing on the spot.

At this moment, her eyes turn back to normal while the flame on her body also recedes. Jayna immediately feels pain all over her body but still manages to hold on. Seeing that Nigul has completely fallen unconscious, the referee immediately announces Jayna as the winner.

"W-Wait a second!! She cheats!! She clearly uses mana and mana-based skills." said Obo towards the referee.

"Yeah, she is cheating. Give my money back!!" shouted the audience who was betting on Nigul. 

Hearing this, the referee couldn't help but speak, "We are not feeling any kind of mana during the fight. Even our mana detector is not getting alarmed." said the referee.

"Bullshit!! Then, how she could suddenly get enveloped in fire. She is clearly cheating!! This match is invalid!" rebuked Obo.

At this moment, Angus and Jade arrive at the arena at the same time. Angus is supporting the exhausted Jayna while Jade is glaring at Obo.

"Cheating?? Do you have proof? If not, I will take it as slandering her name?" said Jade.

"Isn't it obvious?!! She clearly uses mana to use that fire." replied Obo.

"Nope, I don't feel any mana during the fight. Or...  you are saying a second-grade combatant could fool anyone here in this Battle Arena, including the referee and me, the seventh-grade combatant?" said Jade while flaring up his aura.

"K-Kuhuk.. T-Then, why is she covered in flame if it is not from mana?" replied Obo despite getting pressured by Jade.

Hearing this stupid question, "Why should she tell you and explain her ability to everyone? Does everyone that wins the fight need to explain their ability? Ridiculous!!" said Jade.