Chapter 460 A Plan And The Phoenix's Birth

-----

As I fell into pieces, I realized I had managed to hurt the Phoenix quite a lot. Although I lost around 70% of my entire body in the process, the bastard was no way below 30% of its total HP, I would say even almost at 20%! Of course, my near-suicidal attack could easily become nothing if the bastard regenerated quick enough. His entire body was covered on holy flames, healing all wounds slowly, even broken bones and destroyed organs were regenerating at a fast speed, amazingly so. If we didn't destroy him before he could regenerate any further, we won't be able to beat him for real… or not if we don't sacrifice something.

I felt my presence in the entirety of the forest though, each fragment of myself. I ended getting broken into 23 pieces of my own soul and phantom, and each one was moving independently. But even if I hurried up, it would be useless to recover myself by merging with all pieces, as I would still be weakened. I would need to spend several minutes healing myself using [Undead Healing] which is honestly too slow, and the Phoenix will easily recover in that time.

My thoughts are usually faster than most people, probably dozens of times if not a hundred times faster, therefore, I can think of strategies while not wasting much time. And right now, the only strategy we have is… it is all on Takeshi.

"Master, we have to recover your soul pieces!" Partner cried.

"No, we don't have time, the Phoenix will catch on us, the bastard is not moving because he's recovering, but if he sees us doing something, he'll charge at us or unleash his attacks or magic…" I said. Even my voiced had changed slightly as my body was small and compact.

"Then what can we do?" Emeraldine wondered. "The fire element and the holy light element are too strong, and we lack a way to counter them ourselves…"

Elemental Affinity and the interaction between elements has always been a big thing in this world, especially in the fights there had been. Although usually most elements can hit each other neutrally sometimes, the weaknesses or resistances are strong when the recipient of such elements are also stronger. My darkness, poison, death, and illusion can't even fathom to damage the Phoenix enough to kill it, so I had to rely on my Skills to damage him, but even then… I failed.

We need someone capable of countering the elements the phoenix has, and between all of us, only one can realistically do it, the fire element can be countered by Takeshi's amazing Water Attribute Affinity and his Unique Skill [Fisherman]. Nobody else has an elemental advantage except him.

"Takeshi!" I called him, as the boy was startled.

"Mama, are you feeling okay?" He asked while feeling worried about me.

"I am okay my boy! But I need your help." I said with a smile. "We'll grant you the strength and the opportunity, you have to strike down that bird!"

"E-Eh? Me?!" He asked.

"Oh?" Laura seemed surprised.

"Fire against Water dear, can you make the math?" I sighed.

"R-Right… I am the only one here with fire… the ice of your ghost can't do it either?" He wondered.

"Nope, and my miasmic darkness gets purified by the holy light. But holy light only deals neutral damage to water." I said. "You're the chosen one!"

"M-Me?!"

Takeshi was honestly shocked. Although I found it incredibly adorable he started calling me "mama" instead of auntie as before, so much that I wanted to cuddle with him for an entire day, I had to force my son to do something that might be over exceeding his own limits.

"Okay…"

He quickly answered.

"I'll do anything I can! Please grant me your strength!"

"Atta boy!" Lucifer said.

"I can see you've grown stronger not only on stats, but also on conviction, dear." Emeraldine said.

"Can he do it tough?!" Partner wondered.

"I'll help in any way I can!" Laura said.

"Then it is decided!"

I quickly commanded everyone for battle, swiftly giving them my instructions…

-----

Long ago in this dungeon, there was once an egg. A red egg as big as a building, when it broke, several chicks came out, hundreds of them, almost a thousand. They were all colorful and beautiful, but ferocious as well. Their powerful kicks and sharp beaks easily shredded into pieces the competition and helped them eat. Amidst those chicks, one of them ate the most and was the bravest, protecting its family from the various other monsters that roamed the dungeon.

Eventually, it suddenly grew bigger than the other chicks, gaining a crown of feathers. Suddenly, the other birds heard its call, and even those from other species seemed to obey him for some reason. The clan of birds which had been on war for a long time came together to serve him. He really didn't knew why, but he was someone special.

And it was not until today, when invaders came from the "outside world" that the bird knew its true purpose, to defeat the evil coming here. However, it was not strong enough, against the endless abyssal darkness of this demonic invader, the bird fell to its death… only to be reborn.

Before dying, it heard the soothing voice of a woman resonating within its mind, this was the "God" that every monster believed on inside this enormous dungeon, or well… the Dungeon Core.

"You're the most talented and the strongest of all your siblings. You're the chosen one… I shall grant you power, my child. Now awaken your bloodline and defeat this evil from taking over our world!"

FLASH!

Without any sort of doubt, the bird took upon this brilliant power, as Mana flowed into its body and soul. All of its wounds were healed, and its entire body evolved, changing, and turning into something completely new, a completely new entity altogether. As its body was shrouded on divine flames, he finally realized who he truly was…

A phoenix!

And his duty was nothing else than defeat this evil darkness from the outside world.

-----