86Ashes To Flames: Rebirth
"There is a limit to the strength you can obtain and control. Drawing off of a concept, however, allows you to surpass the threshold that holds everyone back. Gods use this technique already, and the Christian Pantheon was the first to use this technique on a mass scale: Religion and the concept of God."
Ruxal rubbed his head as he flicked to the next section.
"Norse magic relies heavily on your faith in the Allfather, demonic magic relies on imagination and can be further boosted by focusing their power on a concept. This technique is reinforced from Sirzechs and his Power of Destruction."
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Phenex flicked back pages, settling back on concepts.
"Relying on a concept is not the only way to boost your strength. If the users will is powerful, they can create and/or improve their powers. Despite being extremely rare, this has been seen by Sacred Gear hosts in the past. The last and most common action to increasing one's power is a path taken by many, especially those of demigods. Facing the Raven: deny fate and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when by all means, you should have died."
Ruxal scoffed and placed the book on the quickly growing stack. Glancing at Sairoarg fast asleep nearby, his book half open on his lap, the Phenex sighed.
Waving his hand, his newly found grimoire materialised, wisps of purple energy leaking a miasma into the air.
"Now, lets see what you can do..."
Holding his hand above the book, the Phenex frowned as the book rattled, chains locking it away.
Ruxal tapped the grimoire, the chains loosening slightly. Creating a flame, the chains tightened, waves of purple consuming the ember.
Ruxal scratched his nose absentmindedly before holding his hand above the grimoire. Carefully pricking his finger, a drop of vermilion fell as the wound healed instantly.
Phenex watched curiously as his blood disintegrated the chains, the book bursting open violently.
The grimoire emitted a violet light as Ruxal smiled, pages flipping furiously before resetting at the start.
"To whoever is reading this, know that my name is not relevant. Do know, however, that this is a book to power." Phenex grinned as more text flowed onto the page. "This power has had many names, but its most prominent name: Void."
"Void is a magic that is not to be toyed with. It is a magic that can absorb one's soul and kill the user in the process. With amateur use, the user can negate simple attacks, and easily destroy many forms of magic."
"Forming weapons, creating objects, extracting energy: Void is an untapped well of potential that had not been fully explored- or ever will be."
Ruxal glanced at his hand, creating swirling embers of flame. Watching curiously, Phenex's fire was slowly eaten by wisps of purple.
Flipping a page, the door to the office slammed open as a young boy panted heavily.
"T-Trouble! The Principal! W-Where is he?!"
Ruxal stood up instantly as the book dispersed, flicking a pellet of mana, forcing Sairoarg awake.
"No idea," the devil responded as Sairoarg grumbled. "What's going on?"
The kid hesitated before gulping.
"The first floor is under attack by a swarm of succubi!"
Ruxal nodded before glancing at Sairoarg.
"I'll handle it," Ruxal said. "Kid, how good's your insurance?"
The boy blinked before shrugging.
"I don't know," he said. "Why's that?"
"No reason."
Walking towards the glass wall, Ruxal smashed the glass with his foot as Sairoarg finally roused.
"Wha?! Why didn't you just take the stairs?"
Ruxal grinned.
"Convenient methods of transportation are for people with no imagination," Phenex replied, falling backwards.
The two males watched as the Phenex disappeared.
"W-Will he be alright?"
"Yeah, he'll be fine," Sairoarg muttered, yawning as he stretched in his chair. "Let's go find your Principal."
Ruxal grinned as the air rushed him, billowing his clothes out as his hair struggled to catch up.
Free-falling through the air, the sun smiled as the devil spun, laughing in pure delight as he hurtled towards the bustling pathways.
FYOOOOOM!
Wings of shimmering energy reflected the sun's hue as the Phenex took flight, soaring through the air effortlessly. With a single flap, the devil burst forwards, his leg outstretched like a talon.
SHATTER!
Shards of glass rained on the foyer as Ruxal immediately dispersed his wings, dropping into a roll before coming to a stop, instantly taking in the situation.
The foyer was smashed to pieces, succubi picking off young victims casually.
"Alright you horny sex demons!" Ruxal shouted. "Come to Papa!"
Coating his hand in fire, Ruxal sidestepped a succubus before enveloping her in hellfire. Screaming, the demon fell, writhing in pain before Phenex fried her head.
Bursting into action, the devil punched a hole through a succubus' chest, blocking a punch before swaying to the side, dodging the cat-like strikes. Phenex grinned and kicked the demon's ankles out from underneath before delivering a fatal axe-kick to her skull, wisps of flame slowly devouring the husk.
"Forget the students! Get the devil!"
Ruxal leapt into the air, landing on a wall before flipping backwards, throwing fireballs at stray demons. Landing in the middle of the foyer, Phenex smirked, plumes of fire following his footsteps.
"Try me."
Creating a shockwave of flame at an airborne demon, Ruxal blocked a blow with the back of his hand before flipping over his prey and hurling her at her allies.
Brushing aside desperate swipes, Ruxal jabbed a demon before cartwheeling forwards, plumes of flame following his body as he trampled multiple succubi to death.
Sensing mana, Phenex quickly dove forward out of his acrobatics, tackling a succubus to the ground in the process. With a quick swipe, the demon burgled to death as Ruxal quickly recovered, flicking blood from his nails.
"Woah there!"
Throwing his head back, Ruxal narrowed his eyes as an arrow of magic nicked his face. Mana manifested in his palm and a violent maelstrom of water and ice obliterated the arrow caster.
Without warning, a succubus barged Ruxal in the back, catching the devil off-guard as her claws ripped his back open.
Without a word, Ruxal spun and retaliated with a blade of wind, eviscerating a line of sex demons as he blasted another one to kingdom come with a hurricane of wind.
Raising his hand to create a wall of flame, a succubus latched onto his wrist, a devilish smirk on her lips as she knocked the devil off his feet.
"Gotcha~"
Decimating the succubus with countless air blades, the other succubi laughed as they dog-piled Ruxal before he could react, the Phenex disappearing beneath the countless limbs.
"Flare!"
A sudden pulse of fiery mana exploded outwards, sex demons repulsed and sent flying from the sheer force.
Straightening up and wiping his lip free of blood, Ruxal smirked.
"Not bad, but this is where you all die."
Snapping his fingers, a shimmering crest exploded on every succubi, piercing their hearts and killing them instantly. Bodies lifeless, blood oozed slowly from the crevasses in their chest, the mark of Phoenix glowing red.
"Mercy," Phenex stated. "Now how about the real boss come out instead of hiding behind his sex slaves. Are you that weak?"
Ruxal could sense a faint presence when all the succubi were present, but that faint presence was now gone. In its place was a raging flame that soon presented itself as a male teenager
"Tsk, you actually killed them all. What a shame."
Ruxal tensed as the male slowly approached him.
"No mana manifesting and only your bare hands..." Phenex swiped his hand, casting a wall of ice preventing his quarry to approach. "I'll have to ask you to turn yourself in now. No more conflict and I'll promise that you won't get hurt when we question you."
The male laughed before placing his hand on the ice. Instantly, the frost element coated his arm, wisps of cold floating in the air.
"You're strong," the male said. "But I'm stronger. With this ability of mine, [Absorb], I can take any element and use it to strengthen my body." The teen laughed as he drained the ice wall of its element, his aura becoming frosty as the mana used in the defence returned to its surroundings. "Give up, and I'll give you a painful death."
"Think you mean painless," Ruxal grumbled.
Faster than before, Ruxal burst forwards, slamming his fist into the teenager before unleashing a barrage of attacks.
Fist colliding, the Phenex watched as his foe crumbled to the ground, scoffing.
This would be easy.
Pacing quickly through the corridors, Sairoarg leisurely followed his guide, the boy in a synchronised panic alongside his friends and acquaintances.
Alarms blaring and students scrambling, the Bael entered a room where the Principal was hunched over a desk, staring intently at a holographic display alongside other students.
"What's going on?"
Charles glanced at Sairoarg before waving his hand, dispersing the display.
"We're under attack from my ex-pupil," the Principal stated. "I've gathered my strongest students; we will disperse their attempt and counter-attack. Hard."
Sairoarg nodded, clenching his nervous fist.
"My friend has already made his way downstairs," the Bael said, ignoring the gasps of surprise. "He'll be fine. He's strong."
"If what you say is true, then we should pinpoint their HQ," an elder student said, rubbing his chin. "While your friend defends, we create a plan in the time he gives us."
"But how do we begin, Harry?" A blond interrupted. "We have no idea where that bastard could be hiding."
"That's where you are wrong, Jamie. We've had his location the whole time."
The brunette pointed at Charles, the man a calm home in a ravaging ocean.
"He's after Charles," she continued. "Using the Principal as our bait, we can lure him out and force him to surrender."
"Harry, Jamie and...?"
"Sarah."
"And Sarah."
Sairoarg took a deep breath, calming himself before thinking deeply.
"I don't know your powers, or how well you all work together," Sairoarg admitted, scratching his head. "But I think we use Sarah's plan with a few changes."
Glancing at the Principal, the Bael nodded in thought.
"Do any of you have special abilities? Any powers that could help us set an ambush?"
All three teenagers nodded as they began listing their abilities, Sairoarg memorizing them as the Principal remained silent, nodding along whilst inputting suggestions into the plan.
Time quickly passed before all five agreed on one singular, solid plan.
"Alright then, let's get this started."
"Right!"
"There is no guarantee that this will work," Charles said slowly, closing his eyes. "We all know how dangerous he is, so we must handle this with absolute caution. Even so, there are only two that will be able to catch him off guard, and those are the devils."
Opening his eyes, Charles pierced Sairoarg with his no-longer warm hazel eyes, an air of seriousness permeating his surroundings.
"Do not expect the plan to survive first contact," Charles said. "Instead, do not use this plan until the most opportune time approaches. Do I make myself clear?"
Sairoarg nodded as the others gulped nervously before hesitantly agreeing.
"Good. Now, let's go."
Do I have an excuse for not writing and updating this whole time?
N-O-P-E
All I have is this severe condition where I want to write, but nothing is coming out, even when I force myself to write :)
At best, I'll write a few uninspired lines and that'll be that
So, feel free to trash this chapter. I wouldn't blame you.
Regardless of my current situation ()(Which spans all my Fics)(, I thought I'd give all of you something for Christmas :)
Think I might start writing out all the scenes I see strongly in my mind,, and hopefully have that clear up my mind if I'm being honest
Anyway, sorry for the super-duper late update
Feel free to ask me any questions - including personal - and I'll answer as long as it doesn't spoil the story or doesn't compromise myself too much
Merry Christmas you absolute madlads!
- Striderm8
