Lionel watched as the sword flew swiftly through the air, the sheer force behind the throw propelling it forward. Just as quickly as it had gone, he saw the sword return, embedding itself in the tree behind him, missing him by just a hair's breadth.
'What the fuck?!' Lionel exclaimed in his mind, replaying the incident that had just occurred.
He could say he almost died, with no way to log out. And that made him think, what if he died permanently? Could that even happen? His mind reeled with fear as he grappled with the idea of not being able to log out.
As he struggled with his thoughts, the black smoke left by the Shadowflame Sword began to clear, revealing a beautiful black bird. Its feathers flapped, dispersing everything in their path.
Lionel's senses heightened as he watched, his eyes admiring the bird's sleek feathers, its sharp beak, sturdy legs, and the dark elegance of its plumage. But there wasn't much time for admiration. As the bird's wings stilled, Lionel suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, as if he were being pulled by an immense gravitational force.
His body felt heavy, and his knees almost buckled under the weight. His face turned red as he held his breath, his heart finding it difficult to hold up under the pressure put on him but with a surge of strength, he managed to hold his ground.
"What the hell is that?" he muttered under his breath, staring at the bird. It stood there, just watching him, but that gaze made his heart tremble.
"Appraise," he forced out with a shaky breath, clutching his chest as his eyes shielded away from the beast.
He needed to know what he was dealing with. A creature that radiated such immense pressure without attacking must be incredibly dangerous. And when the results appeared before him, his mouth dropped open.
[Name: Dark Phoenix
Class: Mythical Beast
Tier: ????
Rank: ?????]
"A Mythical Beast?" Lionel whispered, his heart pounding in his chest.
The creature before him wasn't just any beast; it was a Mythical Beast, the highest class of all. He knew the hierarchy well: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and then Mythical—the pinnacle of power of beasts in the world.
He tried again, activating his appraisal skill, but the rank remained hidden. Not that it mattered—he stood no chance against any Mythical Beast. He had only just begun cultivating his abilities and could barely handle a Rare beast, let alone a Mythical one. To stand a chance, he would need to reach the peak of power... or so he thought.
But something still felt off. Despite the beast's overwhelming aura, it wasn't attacking. It just stood there, watching him, as if searching for something. The pressure continued to weigh on him, but oddly, it didn't crush him as much as it should have.
Then Lionel felt it—a strange sensation passing through him, like an invisible eye scanning his very soul. His body felt transparent, as though he was being scrutinized on the deepest level.
Suddenly, the beast moved, taking a step toward him. Panic surged through Lionel, and without thinking, he staggered back, his feet stumbling toward the tree behind him. He was cornered.
'What do I do?' his mind screamed as fear gripped his heart.
Was this the end? Was the beast going to kill him? But before he could dwell on his impending doom, a gust of wind snapped him out of his thoughts.
He looked up, eyes wide in shock, as the beast—the one he feared would end his life—shifted form. It transformed into a humanoid figure draped in black, with a long cloak swirling around it. The figure kicked its cloak and the immense pressure vanished.
Lionel's lips parted as if to speak, but the words caught in his throat. The majestic bird was now a woman, kneeling before him. Her black, ink-stained lips parted slightly as she spoke, her voice cold and detached.
"Your Highness, how are you feeling?"
"Huh?" Lionel blinked in confusion, caught off guard by the question.
The words rattled around in his brain, pushing aside the fear. He stared at the kneeling figure, trying to process what she had just said.
"Highness? Me?" Lionel's voice sounded oddly calm, considering the situation.
Still perplexed, he added, "Bird... why do you call me that?"
The woman rose from her kneeling position, brushing off her knees. She straightened and met his gaze, her eyes sharp, dark, and cold. Her skin was pale, almost vampiric, and her long, black hair matched the name she had once worn.
She moved away from Lionel, dusting her hands as she spoke again, her tone now less formal. "Ugh... I can't believe I had to go through that."
"It's all because of the royal lineage pact still within me. If only I hadn't signed that deal… with him…"
None of it made sense to Lionel, and his confusion only deepened. His lips parted, ready to voice his questions, but before he could, the woman turned back to him, her dark eyes piercing into his soul.
"Bird?" She scoffed, her tone simmering with anger. "You called me a bird?"
"No—" Lionel stammered, feeling the need to correct himself. "I mean... you are like a bird, part of the bird family…"
Despite his fumbling explanation, the woman's frown softened slightly. She eyed him with a mix of exasperation and amusement before saying, "Don't worry, Prince. I understand your ignorance. But next time, address me properly. I am the Dark Phoenix—or Phoe, if you prefer."
"Okay..." Lionel responded, his voice strained.
He tried his best to stay calm in front of the Mythical bird, who surprisingly had no intention of killing him. "Erm... and who exactly are you?"
Her voice cut through his confusion like a blade. "I am Alison. A Mythical Beast. I am also a familiar to the Vampire King and protector of the royal vampire lineage."
Her tone became more boastful as she added, "For centuries, I have served the vampire lords."
"You... serve me?" Lionel asked, trying to piece together her words.
She looked at him, unimpressed. "I don't serve the useless ones," she said flatly. "I only serve the important ones."
Lionel coughed lightly, his cheek turning red from embarrassment. He raised his hand to his neck, scratching it lightly.
'I should've known the useless prince wasn't just useless to himself but to others, how exactly is he being treated in the palace?' he thought, his hands sweating as he dreaded what was to come.