Raging Phoenix: Part Eight

The Imperfect Temple had become the stage for three simultaneous shows, with the ’Raging Phoenix’ and the ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ as the undisputed leading actors and their clash as the main performance.

*GRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!* With the strength of his mighty arms, the humanoid tiger tried to tear away the flaming leg lodged in his stomach, digging in with his claws and pulling outward as the flames expanded the black stripes on his orange fur.

”Let’s go somewhere more private, shall we—*KaaaaaaBOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*” Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted from Jericho’s back, unleashing a burst of flames that propelled both warriors hundreds of meters across the temple at tremendous speed, only stopping when Gauda’s back crashed into the northern wall, shattering a thousand-year-old bas-relief depicting the Creation of Imperfection. As the dust settled, Agent Van Kasteel stood casually on one foot, hands in the pockets of his flower-patterned shorts, and his left leg formed a 90-degree angle with his right—straight at the enemy now embedded in the ancient stone. ”And now, let’s heat things up—[FireBlast]!”

From the flaming kick that sank into Gauda’s stomach, dozens of tongues of fire erupted, each lashing out in a different direction. One roared up through his trachea and burst from his mouth to the ceiling, another ignited downward from his rectum to the floor, and four more exploded outward from each of his limbs—thirty-six flaming stripes in total. From a distance, it looked as if a shining ruby, etched into the center of the temple wall, had morphed into a blazing thirty- six-pointed star, scorching what remained of the ancient bas-relief. When the star finally faded, the mural melted like ice cream on a hot summer’s day, its liquified remains dripping on the motionless corpse of a black panther lying on the floor.

”Already exhausted? The night is still young,” Jericho mocked, resting his foot on the head of the charcoal body. ”Gatekeeper, I’m going to take my time educating this bad kitty. So, no one will interrupt your fun with your three friends—enjoy yourself.”

”Don’t lower your guard, you idiot!” Agent Diflas scolded just as Agent Van Kasteel felt something grip his ankle, and a moment later, his body was slammed against the wall with brutal force. ”Curse the day I met him.” Nevertheless, his colleagues had done his job, and the now-regenerated ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ was so consumed by rage that he focused all his attention on the ’Raging Phoenix,’ allowing Agent Diflas to engage the three Betas without interference.

Despite being only half their Alpha’s size, the three tigers now surrounding Ludwig were still larger than any human—their eyes thirsted for his blood. ”Thirty-Seven, Jude! Now that the enemy’s focused on us, go save the VIP!” He bellowed, but as the two Class F agents moved, one of the Betas leapt at them. They immediately fired every bolt their Gaussbows had loaded into the beast’s massive chest, and yet none of them even slowed it down.

*GRAAAA?!* Just as his paw was about to slash Jacques’s helmet, the creature suddenly found himself floating into the air before being yanked backward by an unseen force—the tiger’s voyage ended abruptly with a Power Baton smashing straight into its face.

Like any true Tank, Agent Diflas excelled in physical and close-quarters combat, and when the other two enemies lunged at him from opposite directions, he effortlessly cracked their skulls with a single spinning strike. [BackEyes] was a rare skill for a Class C, and when combined with [Magnetism] and [TurningCheek], it made Ludwig the worst possible opponent for any Anima. “Go—now!” The ’Defender’ roared, already bracing himself for the second wave of the assault.

Obeying the order, Jacques and Jude rushed to the southern wall of the Temple, where they found their target lying in a pool of blood and urine. “Damn…I think we’re too late.” Knowing the business, the ’Mafioso’ instantly recognized just how dire her situation was. The broken doll at his feet had her hands and feet tied with a rope, and her filthy porcelain sported thousands of cracks. However, what caught their attention most were the three deep lacerations carved across her face, stretching from her broad forehead to her petite chin—their canals packed with a waxy substance that resembled animal fat.

With his fingers, Jacques took a small sample of the waxy substance, inspecting its density. “Reminds me of some ancient healing techniques the Naturians still use. It’s possible the VIP tried to escape, and they resorted to brute force to stop her.” Without wasting a second, Jacques hovered over her, placing his ear against her chest. Then he checked her wrist for a pulse and gently pried open one eyelid to examine the pupil. “Fortunately, she is alive. Bad news—she’s going to need years to recover.” He began lifting the girl with care. “For now, let’s clean her up.”

Together, the two laid the girl on a sterile patch of ground, retrieving everything they needed from their [Inventories]. Water to clean her wounds, the Fragrance of the Morning’s whiskey to disinfect them, and cotton from Jude’s pillow to dress them. Starting from her feet, they carefully treated each injury, restoring the beauty of that porcelain one crack at a time. However, just as Jude finished with her torso, he noticed something strange.

”Thirty-Seven…on her neck.” He paused, scratching his head. ”Is that…mold?”

Jacques grimaced at hearing those words, and despite his ’Carbon-Woven Armor’ guaranteeing him total protection, the moment his eyes fell on that neck, nightmarish flashbacks invaded his mind, sending thousands of shivers down his spine. “Angel, hear me out! If we make even one mistake—we’re dead.” First, Jacques pressed a button on his right arm, folding his ’Gaussbow’ into a compact bracelet. Then, he took a screwdriver from his [Inventory] and loosened a bolt on his wrist, causing his ’Carbon-Woven Glove’ to be propelled at the wall due to the sudden release of pressure. Finally, he placed his bare hand near the girl’s neck and pulled a blood-stained scalpel from his [Inventory]. “Oh fuck, I forgot to clean it.” He handed it to Jude. ”Anyway, I’m going to cut my hand to make the mold migrate onto me and expose its brain—hit it!”

Jude nodded, despite not understanding a word of what Jacques had just said. ”[Adrenaline (Eyes, Hands)].” His eyes and hands now moved in perfect sync with the speed of his thoughts, allowing him to witness the micro-demon’s ecstasy as it infected Jacques’ arm. With a swift motion, the ’Mafioso’ stabbed a now-visible white lump with the scalpel and flung the abomination to the ground, where it instantly evaporated. ”Everything okay?” Jude asked as Jacques disinfected the wound with the whisky.

”Don’t worry. I’ve seen far worse mold. More importantly, let’s see if we can fix her before…” Jacques trailed off, casting a grim glance at the duel unfolding on the other side of the room.

Jericho was taking advantage of his wings to dominate the duel, lunging at the enemy from every direction and effortlessly retreating before any retaliation. More than a phoenix, he resembled a vulture, but despite the unfairness, it was, in fact, the most effective strategy against the prideful ’Panthera Phasmavisor.’

Like all Naturians, Gauda glorified war as a matter of honor. Unlike the objectivist view of the Chaotians—where victory meant claiming the prize and defeat meant death, regardless of how just the vanquished had fought or how unfair the victor was. That being said, perfection doesn’t exist, and whenever Agent Van Kasteel, flowing with overconfidence, miscalculated—even by just a single step—he felt the full fury of his opponent’s claws. Only his top-tier regenerative [Skills] spared him from a shameful death.

It’s a pain I can’t use fire [Skills] that requires oxygen, and unlike his stamina, my [MP] is going to end sooner or later… The ’Raging Phoenix’ pondered, searching for a way to break the stalemate. “Fuck it. A bad solution now is better than a good one after you’re dead,” he declared as his flaming wings tripled in size. “Hey, son of bitch—[SinnerRain]!” Red vapor began to be released from Jericho’s back, slowly drifting toward the temple ceiling, where it amassed into a crimson cloud—Judgment Day had come to punish humanity’s depravities.

*Reeeee-WWWWWW!* Not willing to passively endure whatever punishment was about to rain down, Gauda crouched low, one hand pressed to the ground, and every muscle tensed—the rainbow iris swirling around his white pupils tripled its speed.

”Beg for your sins!” Agent Van Kasteel roared as the first drops of crimson rain seared the tiger’s flesh, leaving patches of bronze skin across the orange fur. However, the Naturian Warlord stood firm, unmoving even as the drizzle escalated into a storm. ”DIE, INFIDEL!” Jericho bellowed just as the heavens themselves collapsed—the crimson wrath of the gods descended onto the ungrateful humanity.

*Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr-ROAAAAAAAAAAR!* The muscles in Gauda’s arms and legs detonated at once, generating a surge of power capable of challenging the gods in their realm. He propelled himself, charging head-on into the crimson cloud, and not a single cry of pain escaped his throat— nothing that might give away his position. However, when the now-furless tiger emerged from the purgatory, he witnessed something unexpected on the god’s face—a leer.

“If you’re this weak, no wonder you lost your throne.” Although Gauda didn’t understand Adamic, his [Instinct] translated Jericho’s words by analyzing his tone, expression, and body language, and after a sequence of subconscious calculations—all performed in less than a thousandth of a second—Gauda understood—”Loser.”

The Alpha roared, revealing hundreds of dagger-like teeth as he lunged forward, ready to devour the flying chicken. Yet, instead of flinching before the self-proclaimed king of the jungle, Agent Van Kasteel inhaled deeply before releasing a new crimson cloud straight into Gauda’s open maw.

*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!* A horrible scream was followed by a heavy thud as the tiger crashed onto ground still incandescent from the first crimson cloud’s effects.

”You know, I’ve ruined the lives of plenty of prideful bitches like yourself. All you have to do is challenge them at the source of their pride, and they won’t even consider that your goal isn’t to win but to fuck their assholes the moment after they’ve spent all their energy and resources on it.” The ’Raging Phoenix’ descended to the ground, flames gently licking the air around him as he faced the kneeling Alpha.

”Shallow or split?” Gauda vomited his melted organs over Jericho’s feet. ”Split, huh? Don’t worry, foreplay is overrated. Now—bend over!” With one swift motion, Agent Van Kasteel flew behind him, locked his arms around the beast’s massive chest, and surged skyward, slamming the tiger’s head into the ceiling—now adorned with a dangling chandelier. ”The ladies are right,” he smirked. ”I’m a mind-blowing experience.”

Next, he glided over a Beta who had been knocked to the ground by one of Ludwig’s batons and, with a full-speed flaming kick, pierced the tiger’s chest, leaving behind a smoking crater and a cat-shaped piece of charcoal. “Gatekeeper, consider this my apology for earlier—have fun.” The two policemen exchanged a quick nod. Even if Ludwig didn’t want to admit it, three Betas at once had been a bit too much.

Agent Van Kasteel then soared back up, grabbed the dangling tiger once more, and dove downward like a comet, this time slamming Gauda’s head into the floor, flawlessly executing a move from the world’s most dangerous sport, which Jericho was an avid fan of—the Euralian Suplex.

”C’mon. Still not dead?” Slowly, the fur began to regrow, and the liquefied organs and muscles regenerated. Then, with a powerful push of both hands, the ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ stood once more, facing off the ’Raging Phoenix’ for a second round. “What’s wrong with your posture?” Jericho taunted, eyeing the unnatural way Gauda staggered. “Got a bit of Griffin Lag?” The provocation was translated by Gauda’s [Instinct] into something far more vicious—“The divine blood of the eternal sky shall not mix with the filthy blood of the cursed earth.” It was a famous Naturian aphorism—one Gauda had heard countless times in his youth—but at this moment, it was the worst thing Agent Van Kasteel could have said.

A wave of pure hatred gushed from the depths of Gauda’s heart, mixed with adrenaline already present, and the blend was pumped into every fiber of his body through his blood vessels. Now painless and full of newfound energy, the ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ crouched, tensed his legs, and launched himself toward the flying chicken at an unmatchable speed. Confident and still grinning, Jericho narrowly avoided the first strike, but just when he thought it was over, Gauda twisted mid-air, his claws slashing across Jericho’s gorgeous face before crashing violently into the temple wall.

”You motherfucker! No one—NO ONE TOUCHES MY FACE!” His [HP] had done its job, preserving the beauty he was so proud of. But then, something unsettling happened—the red bar in the lower-left corner of his vision wasn’t recovering, stuck at 98%, and worse, a new violet icon now hovered above it. Agent Van Kasteel froze the moment he heard the ping of a notification.

***
Warning: New Malus
***
You have been poisoned by [ChandrasyaTears].
On one hand, your [EternalFlame] will prevent any [HP] loss.
On the other, it will no longer regenerate your [HP]. 
***

“Fucki—” Before he could finish the sentence, the tiger bounced off the wall using his legs as springs, another time succeeding in lacerating the phoenix. “You bast—” The scene repeated over and over, dozens of times, and with each new jump, the ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ grew faster and sharper. It didn’t matter where he landed—the ceiling, the floor, or even atop priceless historical relics—after every launch, his claws never failed to find their way across the policeman.

“[SinnerRain]!” As a last resort, Agent Van Kasteel cloaked himself in a third crimson cloud. “Now what, you stup—” But once again, he felt the sting of Gauda’s claws. “WHAT?! That’s impossible…” His eyes widened in horror as he saw the beast’s fur—completely intact, not a single hair burned.

Unlike Essentias and Legalists, Animas couldn’t activate the [Status.Window], and to control their [GenomeArray], [NeuralNetwork], and [SoulField], they had to [AstralProjection] themselves into the Spiritual World—a process requiring a meditation ritual that was impossible to perform during combat. To an inexperienced observer, this might seem like a disadvantage. However, Animas possessed an autonomous system capable of collecting data during battle, adapting their bodies to counter any threat—the [Instinct].

The more Jericho fought the Alpha, the more he realized how dangerous the creature was. The [Instinct] studied every one of his movements, optimizing Gauda’s rhythm and closing the gap between their abilities. With each jump, it cooled Gauda’s emotions, improving precision. And the more Jericho’s flames scorched the ’Panthera Phasmavisor,’ the more the [Instinct] mutated Gauda’s skin, enhancing its resistance to fire.

There was a famous saying about Animas—you have five minutes to win, then you’re doomed.

Unable to attack, defend, or escape, the ’Raging Phoenix’ became a helpless target for Gauda’s supersonic jumps. Blow after blow, Jericho’s rhythm faltered, until, with one final strike from above, Gauda succeeded in delivering a devastating slash that ran from Jericho’s scalp down to his groin, splitting the Raging Phoenix in two. The recoil shattered what remained of his flaming wings, which vanished in a burst of embers as their owner crushed against the largest statue in the Imperfect Temple.

*Tink* *Tink* *Tink* Millions of marble cubes detached from one another, cascading like rain and littering the temple floor like scattered seeds after a harvest, but when the flood ended and silence returned, Jericho was nowhere to be found. That was because, despite the catastrophic loss to archaeology, the destruction of the statue had revealed a hidden passage behind it—an ancient cave shrouded in darkness, into which Agent Van Kasteel had vanished.

*Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr—* The ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ tensed his muscles for one final jump, aiming to submit once and for all Jericho with a final push deep into his hole. *ROAAAAAAAAA—*

*CRAAAAAASH!* However, an obstacle appeared in his straight trajectory just as he was a few meters from the cave’s entrance. His [Instinct] had tried to warn Gauda in time, but at such high speed, there was nothing he could do, and the tiger crashed into the orange-furred obstruction, changing his trajectory and saving Jericho’s life. The unlucky sacrifice was one of the Betas who had been fighting Agent Diflas, propelled by a perfectly timed strike from Ludwig’s Power Batons with almost godlike precision.

”This is to thank you for before—now finish him!” He yelled with all the might in his body to Jericho, now outside the hole, who smiled at his friend while swallowing all of his [HP], [MP], and [SP] potions left in his [Inventory]. The ’Raging Phoenix’s’ flaming wings flared to full brilliance as he flew at Gauda, and once above him, he spent half of his [MP] for a single and powerful [Skill]—[NeutronStar].

*Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* After a blinding blue flash filled the whole room, a massive surge of Crude Mana enveloped the ’Raging Phoenix,’ forming a radiant shell that shone like a newborn star above the Imperfect Temple. The millions of marble cubes scattered across the floor began to levitate due to the artificial gravity field generated by Agent Van Kasteel, orbiting around him like planets around a sun. And Gauda, still reeling from the previous impact, had no time to beg forgiveness for his sins as he watched the supernova falling from the radiant sky, heading straight for him.

*Kaaaaaaaaaaa-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!* The star collision annihilated half the temple’s wonders, leaving behind only a wasteland of glowing blue crystals, and what remained of the Naturian Exile was now embedded within them—like an insect trapped in amber.

”The motherfucker did it.” All the tension that had built up in Ludwig’s body evaporated in an instant. ”Holy shit, that was close.” Then, his duty took back control of his body, tackling the last surviving Beta and pinning him down. ”You’re coming with us, and you’re going to tell us who hired you.”

Meanwhile, Jericho stood triumphant in front of the crystalline system, bathed by its bluish light as he raised his arms in rejoicing. ”I’ve done it. We did it. WE HAVE WO—”

*Tok!* *Tok!* *Tok!* A succession of powerful knocks shattered the atmosphere, and the restrained Beta could be seen loudly begging in his untranslatable language, suddenly willing to accept life imprisonment if it meant escaping the thing now visible beyond the bluish mirror.

*TOK!* *TOK!* *TOK!* A crystal formed by the sudden release of Crude Mana was known as one of the sturdiest materials in the world, yet with each knock, a new crack appeared—each larger than the last. Until…*CRAAAAAAASHHHHHHHHHH!* Millions of blue shards joined the millions of marble cubes scattered across the ground, followed by the now-freed remnants of Gauda’s body.

”The fuck is that thing…” Neither Jericho nor Ludwig could believe their eyes. Hovering over the tiger was a dark entity, its silhouette vaguely human, but its features, height, and form shifted with every blink—all except for its wicked smile. The black miasma extended what could be called the right arm, its fingers morphing into long, sharp, and black blades that pierced Gauda’s chest, extracting his heart.

”Immortal, you fucking retard! Have you never read a damn book in your life? Kill him before the transformation!” Jacques shouted at Jericho, who promptly launched himself at the target. But it was too late, and the exact moment the Ashura finished consuming the heart, a blast of black energy erupted, blinding everyone. When the four opened their eyes once more, no life could be seen in the eyes of the restrained Beta, and the ’Panthera Phasmavisor ’ now stood tall beside what should have been its lifeless body.

However, there were some not-so-subtle changes in the Naturian Warlord. Its fur had turned black as obsidian, its once-black stripes now replaced by tongues of flame, and the once stoic expression was gone, replaced by a mischievous one with a broad but uncanny smile—one that could torment the most peaceful of minds in nightmares.

”What are you looking at?” Gauda’s bulging eyes seemed on the verge of popping from their sockets, and when combined with his constant giggling, they made Agent Van Kasteel deeply uncomfortable. ”Okay, so you’ve changed your look and your personality, congratulations. Yet, you can’t change your nature—you’ll always be a pathetic little kit—” Jericho’s taunt was cut short by a devastating punch from the black tiger, one that shattered every bone in the arm he raised to defend himself. ”How the hell is he faster tha—” Thousands of tremendous blows followed, and in the end, Gauda’s relentless assault totally crushed the ’Raging Phoenix,’ pulverizing each of his bones one by one. Then, the Alpha gripped Jericho’s boneless body and threw him back into the depths of the cavern from which he had emerged.

*Hehhehheh!* The giggle rose in both pitch and eeriness as the Ashura fixed his lust-filled eyes on his next prey.

Agent Diflas stood frozen, watching Gauda slowly advance toward him. ”I always knew his recklessness would one day get us both killed.” His voice trembling with resignation, knowing he barely had time to pray for his sins. And yet, he stood tall, batons raised and pointed at the enemy—if he had to die, he would do so defending the honor of the ’MCPD.’

*Twaaaaang!* A sharp sound shattered Ashura’s plan, who looked down, curious, at the bolt he stopped just a few centimeters from his heart.

“Here, catfucker!” Jacques shouted, successfully drawing his attention. The [Instinct] of the ’Panthera Phasmavisor,’ however, translated the words into—So, you are the rightful ruler of Par Myarthaw? Strange, I thought the surname Gauda promised a far grander treasure. And I know why, what happened three hundred years ago. He took everything—your birthright, your wealth, even your honor as a warrior. And still, you remained loyal, as tradition demanded…until he did the one thing you begged him not to. She was beautiful, wasn’t she? But how could your heart endure it? So you did the logical thing to do, didn’t you? You’re worse than a murderer—you’re a coward. Killing you won’t be a favor to anyone except yourself.

Although the Ashura had completely overtaken his body, the last fragments of Gauda’s consciousness sacrificed themselves to transmit one final command to the [SoulField]—’kill the man in front of you.’ The last will of the rightful ruler of the Gaudâtash Kaliphate.

The black tiger twisted into a hysterical laugh—a clumsy attempt to mimic human emotion—as he shifted all his attention from the ’Defender’ and focused it entirely on the ’Javelinist.’ Slowly, he advanced, his smirk growing creepier with every step.

*Twaaaaang!* Jacques fired a bolt from his Gaussbow, but again, the Ashura caught it mid-air with a casual flick of his pawn.

Twaaaaang! Jude joined in, shooting his own bolt, only for the Naturian Warlord to snatch it with his other hand.

*Twaaaaang!* *Twaaaaang!* This time, the two Class F fired simultaneously. However, the Ashura didn’t even bother to raise his arms, and the bolts just crashed on his chest—unable to pierce his thick fur. *Hehhehheh!* The Ashura laughed again.

*Twaaaaang!* *Twaaaaang!* *Twaaaaang!* The ’Javelinist’ and the ’Mafioso’ reloaded and fired in relentless succession, unleashing their entire arsenal at the beast. Yet, none of the bolts made the slightest difference in preventing Gauda’s unstoppable advance—his grotesque giggle echoing through the temple as dozens of projectiles shattered against his body. But amid the storm of futile shots, Jacques stealthy moved a small toggle on his Gaussbow with his little finger, and then he pulled the trigger a final time.

*Twaaaaang!* Although the sound was similar to that of the other bolts, the Karmitic Abomination felt that something was different in his body. He glanced down, and saw it—a starry night encapsulated within a small black cylinder now stuck in his chest.

*Kreeeeeeeeee-SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH* The fabric of time and space twisted in on itself, collapsing together with the Ashura into a single, infinitesimal point. Then came a blinding flash, and when Jacques reopened his eyes, the black tiger had returned to its original size, but with a little difference—every organ, from brain to bowels, now lay gruesomely exposed, pulsing in the open air.

”Immortal, now!” Jacques shouted, and within seconds, Jericho detonated a massive explosion beneath his feet, catapulting himself forward like a missile. The gamble paid off, and after a supersonic charge, Agent Van Kasteel’s hand now gripped the Ashura’s heart. However, the Tiger had already begun to regenerate, and his flesh and bones grew rapidly around Jericho’s arm, trapping it inside the creature’s ribcage like a snared animal in a closing jaw.

”Are you serious!” Jericho yelled, futilely struggling to liberate his hand, and before he could react, his neck was promptly wrapped by a black paw. ”You…bastard…[NeutronStar]!”

A burst of energy erupted from the Tiger’s heart, flooding his veins with Crude Mana—as hot as molten lava. The incandescent blue liquid rushed through the Ashura’s body, melting every fiber from the inside out. And yet, his extraordinary [GenomeArray] protected him from total destruction, regenerating each liquified tissue as fast as it was destroyed—his atoms disassembled and reassembled in a maddening dance.

”DIE MOTHERFUCKER!” Every one of Gauda’s pores erupted with flashes of Crude Mana, while blue fluid relentlessly gushed from his eyes, nose, and mouth—streaming down his body and pooling into a glowing puddle at his feet. Nevertheless, none of it slowed the Black Tiger, who kept his grip locked tight around Jericho’s neck, giggling hysterically—the more excruciating his agony, the louder he laughed.

”Y-You…ba-bast…” The ‘Raging Phoenix’ was on the verge of losing consciousness, ready to be killed by his own [Skill].

*Tink!* Just as the ’Raging Phoenix’ began to close his eyes for what he believed would be the last time, something struck the Ashura’s hand—a marble cube.

*Tink!* *Tink!* *Tink!* One by one, millions of marble cubes detached from the floors, ceiling, and statues adorning the Imperfect Temple, drawn by the gravity of the miniature sun now enveloping Gauda’s heart, and despite the unbearable heat, none of the marble cubes melted. Instead, they fused onto his flesh, creating a coating effect that further intensified the temperature, so high the melting rate overtook his body’s ability to regenerate. That brief moment of instability was enough, and with a roar, Jericho shattered the ribcage—his now free hand gripping the pulsating heart of the Karmatic Abomination.

Without Agent Van Kasteel’s [Skill] burning him from within, the Ashura regenerated in less than a second, and then the black tiger immediately lunged at Jericho, who had his back turned at him, but it was already too late. The ’Raging Phoenix’ clenched his fist, crushing the heart within.

And just like that, Level-19α ’Panthera Phasmavisor’ Ghatobhàmi Gauda—more precisely, the entity that had claimed his right to live—collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

***
Breaking News
***
The Second Battle at the Imperfect Temple was over.
A suffered, yet total Rolandish victory. 
***

WORLD'S END BLOG:

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