Ethan's spark grew larger, a blazing ember fueled by his sheer determination to rise. His body trembled as he struggled against the crushing restraints. The fire within him refused to be extinguished. Then, in a moment of searing clarity, he heard a distinct sound echo in his mind—a ding.
A calm yet powerful voice resonated within his thoughts: "Starting rebirth of the Phoenix Bloodline."
His entire body shuddered as a wave of warmth and power surged through him. His black hair ignited, shifting into hues of reddish gold, glowing like molten fire. His eyes burned with radiant gold, their intensity rivaling the sun. The small spark within him exploded into a roaring blaze, the glory of the Phoenix enveloping him.
Ethan looked up just as the dark energy neared the hero party and the princess. His heart surged with newfound strength and purpose. "No!" he shouted, his voice ringing out like a clarion call. His body erupted into flames, and in a flash, he vanished.
The hero and princess, struggling to rise, could only watch as the dark energy approached. Their movements were sluggish, their strength sapped. Panic flickered in their eyes.
The princess, her voice trembling in her mind, thought, Someone save me! Please...
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the end. But after a few agonizing seconds, nothing happened.
Her eyes shot open as she heard Malvyr's voice cry out in disbelief, "No! That's impossible! It can't be!"
The hero and the princess turned their gazes upward, and their jaws dropped. Standing before them, holding the swirling mass of dark energy in his bare hand as if it were nothing, was Ethan. His entire body was ablaze with golden flames, his presence radiant and awe-inspiring.
The hero staggered to his feet, eyes wide. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice a mixture of awe and confusion.
Ethan turned his gaze back at them, his golden eyes blazing. "I'm Ethan Wayne," he said, his voice calm yet filled with unshakable strength.
Malvyr stuttered, his composure breaking. "Who are you? Why... why do you have the Phoenix family bloodline?!"
The battlefield went silent. The demons froze in shock, their confidence shattered. The adventurers and even the hero and princess stared in disbelief.
The princess, her voice soft but tinged with wonder, whispered, "The Phoenix Bloodline?"
Ethan's lips curled into a small smile as he met Malvyr's panicked gaze. "You," he said, his voice steady, "You brought out my power."
Suddenly, a translucent screen appeared before Ethan's eyes, visible only to him. His new status filled the screen, listing every detail of his newfound power. The information was laid out cleanly and concisely, flowing straight down in a well-organized manner:
Name: Ethan Wayne
Age: 21
Species: Human (Phoenix Reborn)
Gender: Male
Level: 52
Occupation: Mage of the Flames
Nickname: The Phoenix Ascendant
Health Points (HP): 10,000/10,000
Magic Points (MP): 15,000/15,000
Strength: 820
Agility: 760
Attack: 890
Speed: 780
Luck: 400
Intelligence: 950
Normal Skills:
Fireball (Mastered)
Flame Wall
Blazing Dash
Phoenix Strike: A rapid melee attack infused with fiery energy.
Ember Rain: Creates a shower of embers that damages enemies over time.
Thermal Vision: Enhanced vision to detect enemies through heat signatures.
Ability Skills:
Phoenix's Rebirth: Instantly revive upon death, restoring full HP and MP.
Glory of the Blaze: Drastically enhances all fire-based attacks for a limited time.
Infernal Surge: Temporarily increases speed, attack, and agility for a fiery burst of power.
Flame Barrier: Creates a shield of fire that absorbs damage and burns enemies who come near.
Ashen Resolve: Reduces all damage taken when HP is critically low.
Magic Skills:
Inferno Surge: A massive wave of fire that engulfs enemies in a wide radius.
Eternal Flame: A fire that burns indefinitely until dismissed.
Magma Vein: Summons molten lava to erupt from the ground, dealing massive damage.
Ember Bloom: Creates an area of fiery blossoms that explode after a delay.
Solar Flare: A concentrated beam of fire magic that blinds and scorches enemies.
Volcanic Wrath: Calls forth a massive eruption to obliterate all in its range.
Items:
Phoenix Amulet (Boosts fire resistance by 50%)
Flameheart Potion (Restores full MP instantly)
Phoenix Feather (Automatically revives upon death, consumed after use)
Weapons:
Emberstaff (Legendary-grade, channels Phoenix powers)
Scorching Blade (A secondary weapon infused with fire magic)
Lava Gauntlets (Boosts melee attacks with fiery strikes)
Unique Skills:
Wrath of the Phoenix: Unleashes the full power of the Phoenix Bloodline, obliterating all enemies within range but leaves the user drained.
Wings of Fire: Grants the ability to fly and control flames mid-air.
Immortality: The user cannot die from natural aging, fatal injuries are regenerated over time, and resistance to all mortal diseases.
Burning Dominion: Instills fear into enemies, weakening their resolve and attacks when in proximity.
Ethan's eyes scanned the screen, absorbing the details. He felt the power surging through him, each stat and skill resonating within his very being. He gripped the dark energy in his hand, flames swirling around it, and looked back at Malvyr with unwavering confidence.
"It's over for you," Ethan declared, the blaze around him intensifying.
The hero blinked, his voice shaking with awe. "I don't believe it. This power... it's on a completely different level."
The princess clutched her chest, her heart pounding. In her mind, she thought, He's no ordinary mage. Could he really be destined to save us?
Malvyr took a step back, his once-confident grin faltering. "The Phoenix Bloodline was supposed to be extinct! How is this possible?"
One of the demons hissed, fear creeping into its voice. "We can't fight against that! He's unstoppable!"
Ethan took a slow step forward, his golden flames spreading across the battlefield like a tide of light. He turned his gaze to the hero party and princess. "You don't need to fear anymore," he said firmly. "I'll handle this."
The princess's lips parted, her voice a whisper filled with awe. "Is this what true power looks like?"
Ethan turned back to Malvyr, who was visibly shaking now. The demon commander's confidence had crumbled, replaced by pure dread. Ethan's smile deepened. "You thought you could break me. Instead, you've awakened something far beyond your understanding."
The battle wasn't finished, but for the first time, the tide had turned—and every soul on the battlefield knew it.
Ethan stood tall amidst the battlefield, his golden flames blazing around him like a living inferno. He glanced at the trembling demons before him, their confidence crumbling. A small smirk tugged at his lips.
"Let's try out my new move," he said, his voice calm but brimming with power. "Unique skill: Burning Dominion."
The moment he invoked the skill, the air shifted. An oppressive heat radiated outward, engulfing the battlefield in an overwhelming aura of fire and despair. The golden flames surged, creating an ethereal sphere of dominance that seemed to weigh on the minds of every enemy present.
The demons' expressions twisted into terror. Their eyes widened as horrifying illusions manifested before them—visions of their own destruction, consumed by the relentless blaze. Some stumbled backward, clawing at the ground as if trying to escape an invisible force. Others collapsed entirely, screaming and crying, their minds unable to handle the torment.
"No! This can't be real!" one demon shrieked, its voice breaking.
"Make it stop! Please, make it stop!" another wailed, curling into a ball.
Even Malvyr, the demon commander, staggered back, his usually confident demeanor shattered. His voice quivered as he muttered, "What… what is this power?! It's impossible… no one should be able to wield this kind of fear!"
Ethan turned his piercing golden gaze toward Malvyr, his voice chillingly calm. "Tell me," he said, stepping closer, "what's your greatest fear?"
The moment the words left Ethan's lips, Malvyr's eyes widened. In an instant, the world around him shifted. The demon commander found himself in a desolate void, surrounded by shadows and whispers. He spun around, calling out angrily, "Let me out! This is nothing to me!" His voice echoed, but there was no reply.
Illusions began to form, showing Malvyr his deepest, most hidden fears. His once-imposing figure trembled as he tried to control himself, to fight the images in his mind. But it was futile. The visions became more vivid, breaking through his defenses. Outside the illusion, Malvyr's real body screamed, dropping to his knees as he yelled, "No more! Please, have mercy on me!"
The other demons weren't spared. One by one, they fell under the same horrifying illusions, their minds assaulted with terror. They screamed and cried, begging for it to stop. "Please! Have mercy!" they wailed.
The hero's party and the princess watched in stunned silence, their thoughts racing.
The hero whispered, "What is this power? He's broken them completely..."
The princess clutched her chest, her mind a whirlwind. "Is this the true power of the Phoenix Bloodline? It's terrifying... and magnificent."
The adventurers looked on, their faces pale. One murmured, "How... how did Ethan become something so powerful? He's like a god of destruction."
Ethan's gaze hardened as he looked down at the groveling Malvyr. The demon commander's pride and power were gone, replaced by abject fear. Ethan's voice rang out, cold and final. "Sorry," he said, his golden flames intensifying, "but no. You will die."
He raised his hands, golden fire swirling around him in an unstoppable maelstrom. "Unique skill: Wrath of the Phoenix."
The battlefield erupted into an inferno. Flames surged outward, engulfing everything in their path. The demons and Malvyr were consumed instantly, their screams lost in the roar of the blaze. The golden fire burned with a brilliance that lit up the sky, reducing the once-mighty demon army to ash in one devastating strike.
As the flames subsided, silence fell over the battlefield. The hero's party, the princess, and the adventurers all stared in disbelief.
The hero's voice was a whisper. "He... he wiped them out. All of them. In one move."
The princess's eyes were wide with shock, her thoughts racing. How can someone wield such power? Is he even human anymore?
One of the adventurers dropped to his knees. "That's not just magic. That's divine judgment..."
Ethan stood at the center of the devastation, his golden flames flickering around him like a crown. He glanced at his hands, then at the smoldering remains of the demons. A small smile crossed his lips. "This power..." he murmured. "It's more than I could have imagined."
The battlefield, once a scene of chaos and terror, was now silent. The war had turned, and everyone present knew that Ethan was no longer just an adventurer. He was something far greater, and his enemies had every reason to fear him.