The Students stood in the presence of the three elders of the Phoenix Clan. Roughly a month had passed since they began training to strengthen their abilities as individuals and as a team. Over the past month, they had been sharpening their abilities to utilise fused Psychorages via Wavelength Harmony. They were gradually becoming more adept at fusing their techniques while equipped with different elemental affinities.
"You sent for us?" Estelle asked.
"Is it finally time to commence our preparation towards confronting Souryu?" Buern asked.
"Your battle against Souryu will probably occur soon...but not just yet. However, the sooner you begin to comprehend the sort of adversary you will be facing, the more time you'll have to prepare towards confronting Souryu" Lucas Bane said.
"So we are going to commence our preparations towards that moment after all" Josec said.
"Actually, your preparations commenced the moment you set foot in the Hidden Phoenix Village. All the techniques you've learnt so far have equipped you to counter Souryu's most devastating techniques. You've mastered how to counter Debilitating Terrain Alteration Techniques with Enhancing Terrain Alteration Techniques. With the Psychorage Fusion, you should be able to match Souryu in terms of brute strength. With the Talons Of The Phoenix and the Light's Wound Limit Break as well as the Elemental Rainbow Dance Of The Fenixes which can be amplified through Harry Bane's Rune Knight Ver. Omni, you should be able to penetrate the sinister joki shielding Souryu, shatter his impenetrable scales and free Innovain from his dominion. You also have in your possession, six out of the Seven Elemental Seals needed to seal Souryu away" William Fenix said.
"When you put it that way, we certainly seem to have undergone sufficient preparations" Estelle said.
"However, one thing is still missing. Without the ability to counter Souryu's 'Flames Of Indignation', you will still be at a disadvantage in battle against Souryu" Victoria Vern said.
"The 'Flames Of Indignation' is by far the most devastating of all of Souryu's techniques, a technique centred on crushing the spirit of his adversaries through fear and attacks on the spirit. You'll need the ability of the Banes and Verns to counter this ability" William Fenix said.
"So what form will our training take?" Harry asked.
"You've been training very hard for over a month now in order to master Wavelength Harmony. This training regimen you are about to endure might be slightly exhausting for you. At least, you should rest for the night and recover your mental and spiritual fortitude. Tomorrow, your training will commence" William Fenix said.
That night, Josec sat beside a fountain in front of the Temple on the Central Island. He was staring into the Sky, at the stars. Buern noticed him and approached. She sat beside him.
"Oh, it's you Buern" Josec said with a smile.
"Is something bothering you Josec?" Buern asked.
"We're a step closer to our final confrontation against Souryu yet again" Josec said.
"Are you frightened?" Buern asked.
"Well...it is all a bit overwhelming and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little concerned but the thing is...I don't feel as frightened as I thought I would be when this moment came" Josec confessed.
"We've had this conversation before, right before we witnessed the alignment of the worlds. Facing Souryu was always intimidating especially at the beginning of our journey...but back then...it was just you, me and Harry" Buern said.
"You're trying to say we're probably less scared now because we have more help now than we did at the beginning of our journey right?" Josec said with a laugh.
Buern nodded with a smile.
"I'll admit that I was also quite frightened of Souryu when our journey began" Buern said.
"You're trying to say you're less scared of him now?" Josec asked.
Buern nodded.
"And it's all thanks to you Josec...and also Harry" Buern said as though she were struggling to let the words out.
"You always appeared undaunted to me Buern" Josec said.
"Maybe on the surface but deep inside, I was always really frightened. I have grown up constantly aware of the Black Dragon's presence lingering around me like a shadow...like a curse and I have always known the Black Dragon to be an adversary that never fails to carry out a threat. It's one of the things that made the Black Dragon so frightening but then...you freed me and severed my connection to Souryu. That was the moment I began to fear the Black Dragon a little less" Buern said.
"I think I told you once before Buern that I don't know how I did that" Josec said.
"Back in High School, you were always such a weakling..." Buern said.
"Ouch Buern, why are you bringing that up now?" Josec asked with a teasing smile.
"...I always detested you for your weakness..." Buern said.
"Such cruel words" Josec commented.
Buern laughed. Then she smiled.
"...however...it was precisely because you were such a weakling that it was so remarkable that you broke me free from Souryu's dominion. Your weakness made Souryu's strength seem insignificant. Then I heard from Marina what you did for me at the moment of our births. It was shocking to learn that Souryu was defeated by a baby. At that moment, I began to think...if Souryu was overcome by a baby, then he can't be that powerful" Buern said.
Josec stared at Buern in surprise.
"Then Souryu threatened to end your life via the curse my dad inflicted on you and showed me Harry's death..." Buern said.
There was a look of sorrow in her eyes.
"At that moment, I began to doubt that you could really overcome Souryu but then...you promised me that you wouldn't die without defeating Souryu first. I felt so relieved but I was still scared till you inherited the Crimson Wings Of Jo-lan and nullified Souryu's curse. Seeing a person I always perceived as a weakling defeat Souryu's overwhelming strength repeatedly...almost without trying made the Black Dragon seem far less fearsome" Buern confessed.
"Back in Avalon, before we journeyed to Fencer's, you told me how you felt about me" Buern said as she recalled Josec's words.
"You are acting like you're mourning for a dead man, am I really that pathetic that...I can't even protect the girl I love?" Buern recalled her surprise when she heard those words.
In fact, at that moment, she was so shocked she almost didn't hear them.
"Josec...you..." she recalled her reaction.
"I didn't answer you back then..." Buern said as she turned away.
Her face suddenly turned red.
"'I can't live without you' pretty much summed up your feelings Buern...but probably not as much as seeing you battle four giant serpents in order to protect me" Josec said with a smile.
"When you put it like that I really feel like punching you!" Buern said and clenched a fist.
"Them are demoralising lines!" Josec looked depressed.
Buern placed her head on Josec's shoulder.
"I get it. You feel the same way about me that I feel about you" Buern said and the two continued to watch the stars in silence.
"Have you ever thought about what you'd do once Souryu is defeated?" Buern asked.
"After Souryu is defeated, I intend to journey to Benedict's Ark. I'd like it very much if you came with me" Josec said.
Buern smiled.
"You've been thinking of Ryu's words concerning our second meeting with Master Pheisl which is actually his first time meeting us?" Buern said.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about that. Souryu's defeat here may not necessarily mean the 'darkness of the worlds' the Masters spoke about earlier when they explained the Legacy Of Life, has been defeated. The Master Pheisl here has tons of experience and has guided us into growing into our roles as the Successors Of The Phoenix Clan...however, I doubt he has all that experience when he first encounters us in Benedict's Ark. Defeating Souryu here will definitely weaken the darkness of the worlds seeking the destruction of the Legacy Of Life and if I recall correctly, Master Pheisl should have been preparing to confront the darkness of his homeworld right around the time he first encountered us. We'll need to help him with our experience, like he did for us here" Josec said.
"You've really given this a lot of thought haven't you?" Buern asked.
Josec nodded.
"I'm hoping you'll come with me when that time comes" Josec said.
"I don't quite know Josec. I'm a bit undecided about all of this. I was dreaming of a peaceful life here with you once we defeated Souryu" Buern said.
"Buern, think about it. Our experience of time isn't exactly in sync with Master Pheisl's and Benedict's Ark is a timeless realm. If the darkness of the worlds succeeds in destroying the Legacy Of Life, for all you know, our encounter with the Seven Masters Of Jo-lan could be erased and Souryu will never have been defeated here" Josec said.
Buern looked worried.
"I was a little scared you were going to say something like that Josec. I was half hoping you wouldn't but I understand. As long as Benedict's Ark is in danger...we'll never have a peaceful life together" Buern said sadly.
Josec nodded.
"I'll think about it" Buern promised and rested her head on Josec's shoulder.