It was day. But it was as dark as night.
From left to right, horizon to horizon, dark heavy clouds were above and seas of ashes below.
The wind howled and carried the ashes until it reached the soot-filled clouds.
Only rays of sunlight, attempting to pierce through them, provide light in this ashen and barren world.
But it hadn't always been this way.
This world, Solvarya, was recently full of vitality and greenery.
Now, it's like a different world.
However, it was not totally lifeless. With their shins deep into the sea of ashes, two figures frantically ran around.
One furious and the other infuriated.
The man was giving his everything. Every step uses all his power. The other one, a woman, wasn't even that fast.
Yet, why? Why couldn't he catch her!?
The woman stood out the most. Her vermillion hair flew gracefully, untainted by the ashes surrounding them. Her movements were fluid as if she was dancing with the wind and the wind carrying her.
Her footsteps were unbothered by the rough surface. Every movement was meticulous and allowed her to dodge and play around the man trying to harm her.
Everything was impressive about her, especially her beauty that would make kings and emperors drop to their knees. Even the most beautiful empress of Solvarya would concede defeat at first sight.
How can a human possess beauty as if she were a goddess? It's because she is one. At least, the same level as a real goddess.
The man knew this but he couldn't care less. The desire to catch her and rip that undeserving face from her skull surged within him like wildfire.
Even though he was exerting so much energy, his movements didn't turn sluggish but became sharper than the previous. He would claw at the woman, trying to grab anything. Her vibrant infuriating hair, her annoying flowing dress, or her slippery limbs that move like that of a cockroach in his eyes.
The woman's sneer and condescending look fuels his anger and despair. All he wants is to bash this woman in the head.
How did it come to this?
The man, Asher, was not this evil nor sinister. In fact, he was a pretty tame guy recently.
But that all changed overnight.
On that fateful night, Solvarya prepared as prophets all around the world waved the flag of apocalypse.
Something is approaching.
All the world's powerhouses came together and in a hurry, created a barrier stronger than anything history had ever seen.
Epitome-Rank Soul Order: [Solvarya's Last Stand]
However, when the night approaches, the tragedy foretold has arrived. Far in the sky, a dot of light appeared. Seconds passed by and the temperature rose wherever one was standing.
Mothers would hug their children tightly while fathers would comfort them, saying everything would be alright. Even the Overlord has awakened and led all the world's powerhouses for this moment, they would add.
Unfortunately, Solvarya's efforts weren't enough.
The dark sky turned brighter than when it was daytime. In a few seconds, the dot of light became the size of a fist. Then, in a split second, it crashed into the barrier.
It broke as if it were some fragile glass and with it, all the powerhouses burned to ashes.
And when it landed, the world of Solvarya shook. Countless waves of tsunamis made of towering flames swallowed the world from its source to its very back.
For a night, the world seemed to become a star. Endlessly burning.
"... Puny-!"
The woman cursed as she was getting more and more annoyed by this mortal trying to catch her.
Normally, she wouldn't care about this world, not to mention this mortal. One breath of her would vaporize this guy. But, to her sorrow, she could not feel a tinge of power within her. She could only use her base physical strength and instinctive skills she had honed for thousands of years.
Even though this man was faster, stronger, and more agile than her, she was able to play with him and not get harmed by her experience alone.
But even then. She, a Phoenix, was getting cornered by a human!
How humiliating!
"Die! Die! DIE...!!" the human roared.
"You've gone crazy!" she wanted to kick him in the face and torture him for such insolence toward a Divine Being but she couldn't.
She couldn't muster up any energy and display her glorious power. The Phoenix could only dodge until this man got tired. She was frustrated and annoyed!
And you know what's the worst thing? She's the one who's getting tired!
Although the Phoenix's movements were flawless, there was a limit to her martial arts. Hell, she didn't even learn any!
Why would a Divine Being like her learn martial arts designed for mortals? She only learned these movements naturally throughout her life.
However, it seems that it's not enough. She was getting tired and her movements were getting more sluggish while this crazy man was getting faster and stronger.
It's only a matter of time before...!
.
.
***
That fateful night felt like a bad dream.
Asher finally woke up, buried in ashes. Sitting up, he glanced around with a blank stare.
He didn't know how much time had passed but the world had cooled down since.
Seeing everything in ashes, Asher stayed silent.Â
Was this a nightmare? He thought.
However, no matter how much time had passed, he didn't "wake" up from it.
What waited for him instead were memories of that night. They flashed in his head along with sharp pain. Like a knife being buried in his head. His face crunched in agony.
The ball of fire.
That was the cause of it all...!
Soon, Asher's body loosened and relaxed as his memories stopped flooding.
Staring at the place where the ball of fire landed, Asher slowly stood up and walked. How far is the destination?
Did he walk for hours?
For days?
He didn't know.
The lone survivor was like an undead but with a direction in mind.
Long after, he arrived at his destination. A long time had passed but for Asher, it felt like a blink of an eye.
A large crater was before him. Its edges looked like a cliff and from the sight alone, its diameter looks to be wider than a kilometer.
He went down and noticed a vibrant object in the center of it all.
Getting closer, Asher stopped in his tracks.
A woman..?
Getting closer again, a thought entered his mind.
How could someone be this beautiful?Â
Asher froze for a second before the woman sat up. She seemed to have sensed him.
The 'goddess' looked at him with a fearful expression at first. But soon realized something and became a snob.
She glanced above with a complicated face before turning to him.
"Are you a human?"
She said as she stood up with a frown.
"Human...?"
Asher didn't know why she asked that. What else would he be?
"Are you deaf?"
"Uh... y, yeah. I'm a human..."
"Tch," The 'goddess' combed her hair, "I don't like your gaze."
Thinking he was in a stuporous state because he was enamored by her beauty, the Phoenix got annoyed and slightly waved her hand as if she were chasing a fly away.
But Asher only stepped back in response.
"Huh?"
"?"
"What the..." the 'goddess' looked at the human with a deeper frown.
Why is nothing happening? She already willed for flames to make this annoying human turn into ashes but nothing happened.
That's when it dawned upon her.
Not a single string of energy was left in her body.
Without making it obvious, the 'goddess' shook from within before calming herself down.
"Listen here, human," she revealed a calm expression as she looked down upon Asher who subconsciously kneeled on the ground.
"I'm a Phoenix, a Divine Being. Greater than whatever god you're worshipping in this world."
Although her words are indescribably haughty, in Asher's perspective, she is not joking. From her appearance and the aura she exudes, she felt mythical.
"A Phoenix? You-... I mean, this Divine One is a Phoenix?"
"That's right, do you doubt me?"
"No, I don't dare..."
"Hmph!" The Phoenix has to act and not let him know that she currently has no strength or energy right now.
For now, she has to make use of this human, know this world, and slowly recover her strength.
As for Asher, how could he doubt? She was the ball of fire that instantly killed all the powerhouses of Solvarya and turned the landscape into ashes. If she is not a Divine Being, what is she then?
But that brings him hope.
The reality that he denies and sees as a dream comes crashing down on him.
Tears uncontrollably flowed from his eyes.
"Dear Divine Being, please hear!"
"..."
"Your descent had cast destruction upon this land. I know that a Divine Being such as yourself does not wish our destruction and has not meant to bring us harm." Asher lowered his head and begged.
"Thus, I'm pleading for help! My knowledge is lacking, but I believe that the Divine Phoenixes have the power to bring back the dead to life as if they did not die... Please be magnanimous and turn this world back to its former state."
He crashed his head to the ground.
"I plead the Divine One!"
Asher begged like how one zealously prayed to their god. But if a mythical Phoenix is not a god to a mortal like him, then what is a god?
Only the subject of their worship, the Supremes, could be comparable to the Divine Beings of the legend.
"Hoh..." the Phoenix relaxed as she heard the familiar tone of worship. However, she didn't reply and just looked at her nails, thinking they might be damaged.
After a moment of silence, Asher took a glimpse and shook.
"I-... is this mortal wrong?"
"No," the Phoenix shook her head and said with indifference, "You're not wrong. I indeed have the power to restore the dead back to life as if they never died. Death is non-existent to my eyes."
Resurrection is a taboo everywhere in Solvarya.
Death is impossible to cheat. The dead that are forcibly brought back to life may turn insane, have their memories lost, or not just become fully human.
No one had succeeded in complete resurrection, not even with all the greatest mages combined.
However, who is in front of him? A Phoenix, only seen in the myth! Known for its mystical power of revival!
Asher's face brightened and hope returned to his eyes.
"Then...!"
"But, why would I?"
Only for the Phoenix's words to shatter it.
"... huh..?"
She snickered, thinking the situation was ridiculous.
Who does this mortal think he is?
"Why in the forsaken cosmos will I bring you lowly mortals back to life?"
"Why? It's... because they were killed by the Divine One's descent and-..."
You're the one who killed them. Asher thought but didn't speak of it.
"And so?"
What do you mean--
"Ah..." Asher seemed to have figured it out, "Please forgive my rudeness and enlighten this lowly one on what I can do for the Divine One!"
"Haha"
… why'd she laugh? Is this a joke?
"If it will take the Divine One some time, this lowly one is willing to wait..."
The Phoenix is his only hope. He lowered his head as he had never before. Memories of his sister, his family, the servants, and the life before returned to him.
Although they had done them wrong in the past, they were precious to him. Life is precious to him and they were a part of his life.
His father has begun to be proud of him. His mother finally gives him attention. He had fulfilled his promise to his sister and brought glory to his family. The kingdom has finally given him the respect they have long been barred from him.
But it was all short-lived.
Just for a chance to bring them back, Asher would kneel, beg, and do anything!
"Are you looking down on me?" the Phoenix replied.
"It wouldn't take me a minute to revive your measly planet back to before I got here. Heh, I may even bring some other dead back to life. That's how minuscule you are compared to my power!"
Before Asher could reply, he felt pressure on the back of his head.
"But why would I bother?" she laughed as she pressed her foot on his head, "Your world can stay dead for all I care!"
"..."
"You mortals don't know your place!" the Phoenix continued to berate him.
"..."
"If I say you're dead, you should kill yourself. You don't know the honor you are receiving just by being stepped on by me!"
The Phoenix went on and on about how she's too great and how he and the other humans are too low.
Asher just stayed silent. Even when he was berated and his head was stomped onto the ground, he didn't say anything.
"Hmm..." the Phoenix sighed as she released her pent-up frustration.
"You should feel lucky that your world died by my presence. Other races would beg for it."
Eventually, the man who received all the abuse snapped.