Raging Phoenix: Part Eleven

”Are you a fucking Demmie?” Jacques asked the roasted chicken now flying above the Imperfect Temple. ”You know, political zealotry wasn’t exactly what I expected from you.” He pointed out, using the Gaussbow magnetically attached to his arm as a crutch to push himself back onto his feet.

”Glory to our freedom—demanded by blood! Glory to our constitution—written in blood! Glory to our democracy—preserved through blood!” The ’Raging Phoenix' roared as his flames expanded over the other half of his body, completely shrouding him with the exception of his stark expression. Then, as a rain of embers rained from his wings, Jericho brought his forearms together across his chest, clenched his fists, and violently thrust them upward in a V-shape. It was the ideological salute of the Eleutheria Republic—’Break the Chain.’

”Yeap, that’s our answer.” Jacques extended his hand to Jude, helping the man who had just saved his life to stand as well, while Agent Diflas’s voice got clogged in his throat—frozen by a mix of astonishment, betrayal, and disgust.

Instead, Ælfgifu’s instincts screamed at her to run, but her still-weakened body betrayed her, and after just three steps, she stumbled over the blanket wrapped around her body and fell, striking the ground face-first. ”What…” The ’Dust Symphonist’ whispered, barely audible as her exhausted mind struggled to process the surreal series of events. Her eyes first moved on the corpse of the tiger at her feet, then upward toward the phoenix above her, failing to understand why the angel who had saved her life was now her devil.

”Dirty reactionary pigs!” The ’Raging Phoenix’ seasoned his insult with a spit. ”By Korinna’s light, I sentence all of you to the only rehabilitation fit for the incurable brain rot that has feasted in your skulls—death!” His proclamation sent a shiver through the mortals below, and although their faces were hidden behind their helmets, the trembling of their bodies betrayed their terror. Jericho rejoiced in their fear, and his austere expression gave way to a twisted grin that spread across his face like his flame. ”Ahah—ahahaha—AHAHAHAHAHA!” Jericho began to laugh in such a hysterical and unhinged way that he had to clutch his stomach, his cries echoing across the battlefield like a sinister omen.

”What the fuck is he doing? First, he was as imperturbable as a Hero Legitim, and now…” Jude was perplexed, unable to comprehend why Jericho was ruining the solemn atmosphere he had created.

”He’s deranged, and we don’t have time to waste arguing about that.” Jacques scratched his neck with two fingers of his left hand—the index and ring—before tapping in the center three times with his middle finger. ”Angel, take the VIP and get to the boat—[Defense.Javelin].” A dark-blue wave washed over the ’Defender.’ ”Gatekeeper, and I will hold him off.”

”Survive?! He is a Class B while we are C and F. We’re gonna die before they even reach the exit of this cave!” Ludwig shouted, but after noticing the sudden increase in his [CON], his hope resurrected, gesturing Ælfgifu to retreat. The Marquise obeyed, rising from the ground despite her trembling limbs and crawling her way toward the ’Mafioso’—all while the ’Raging Phoenix’ drowned in his own maniacal laughter. ”Immortal, I don’t know why you betrayed us…betrayed me…but I know the real you. We saved the VIP! Our faces will be on the front pages of every newspaper tomorrow, and our fame will eclipse the stars—we are going to be desired by every woman in the Empire. Isn’t that what you’ve always dreamed of? Why throw everything away now? You never cared about politics, religion, or any sort of ideology!” Agent Diflas roared with every last breath he had left in his lungs, heart rate spiking to a level dangerous even for an Essentia.

”You’re right, my friend.” After hearing Ludwig’s words, Agent Van Kasteel composed himself. The laughter stopped despite the twisted grin remaining fully visible across his face. ”I ain’t a Demmie—I was just trolling. Eheh!” His chuckle echoed throughout the awkward silence of the confused souls kissed by his splendor. ”Oh, come on! Your reactions were priceless. Don’t worry, bro—I’d rather be buried alive or burned to ashes than side with those pathetic Soulfuls.”

”Ah, Immortal, you’re so funny. Truly the greatest policeman I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” Jacques mumbled, forcing a laugh as he rubbed his hands. ”A thousand apologies, but Angel and I really must be g—ACK!” A burst of flame abruptly stopped his pitiful attempt to talk his way out. Fortunately for him, the ’Defender’ once again stepped in, shielding the ’Javelinist’ just in time.

”Then why are you trying to kill all of us if you’re not a Korinthian?!” Ludwig shouted, his voice strained by the heat cooking his already-overheated Carbon-Woven Armor.

”I ain’t a Demmie, but I am working for the Republic.” Without further warning, the ’Raging Phoenix’ unleashed storms of flames in rapid succession, and again, the ’Defender’ lived up to his title. However, Agent Diflas’s [Skills] were specialized in physical damage, and against pure magical attacks, even he wouldn’t last much longer.

”Immortal, hear me out,” Jude shouted as he helped Ælfgifu to her feet. ”I have no idea how much the Korinthians are paying you, but if you let us go, I’ll give you thirty-seven million Marini in a numbered account at the Aries Bank—more anonymous, secure, and fast than cash.” Agent Van Kasteel let out a low whistle at the tempting offer, while the ’Javelinist’ bad-eyed his classmate.

That’s my money. Jacques made his disappointment clear with a sharp tilt of his head, only to receive from Jude a subtle gesture that meant—Shut up, I’m trying to save our lives.

”Even if that absurd proposal were true, I’d still refuse. Sadly for you all, the Republic is offering me something more valuable than money—emancipation.” An enigmatic expression adorned his face, a bizarre blend of concern, excitement, and unperturbedness.

”We’ve been together for over ten years, and you never told me anything!” The ’Defender’ shouted.

”I’ve talked about it a thousand times, but you just never cared about me or any of my problems!”

”What the hell do you mean by ‘problems?’ You’re a Class B, filthy rich, and everyone loves you—including the most beautiful women in Miraval City! And me? Do you have any idea how hard it is for a Class C to climb the ranks? How much I’ve had to study to keep up with your pace? And now I’m going to be a father—responsibility after responsibility weighing on my back. I’m a man, and you’re still a kid, so spare me your delusions. You’ve gotten too greedy, and now your childish pride won’t let you take your fucking responsibility—GROW UP, you looser!” A heated exchange of insults followed, both dusting out old grudges for the occasion. Meanwhile, Jacques and Jude glanced at each other, shrugged, and whistled, waiting for their marital squabble to end.

”Why…why Ysoline had to die…WHY!” Suddenly, the Marquis Rougedior shattered everything with a scream carrying the rollercoaster of emotions she had felt since the beginning of this story, yearning for the truth even more than her own life.

”Who?” Jacques and Jericho asked simultaneously.

”The only light I had in this dark nightmare called life. That beast…” She pointed at Gauda’s body. ”He killed her right in front of my eyes!” Her intense gaze conveyed all the rage that her croaky voice couldn’t express.

Jacques still had no idea who the girl was referring to, but Jericho began to recall something. ”Are you talking about the body the police found in the academy park last night?”

”What? Captain Larsan only mentioned a kidnapping in the briefing!” Ludwig interjected, visibly stunned.

”It seems our dear boss left out a few details,” Agent Van Kasteel said after a shrug. ”In short, Ludwig, we were ordered to search for this girl because another lady had been found dead.”

”Her name was Ysoline of the noble Sévériné family, Barons of La Roché. But more importantly…” Ælfgifu’s voice trembled, ”…she was…my best…” Her eyes filled with tears as her words suddenly caught in her throat. Perry’s words were still echoing in her subconscious, and whatever strength she had left was overwhelmed by doubt.

”Oh, I get it now,” Jacques exclaimed, chiming in. ”Anyway, Immortal already answered your question. He said—’The police started the investigation after finding Ysoline’s body.’ Let me guess, her corpse was desecrated to make it look like the pirates did it, right?” Jericho’s flaming hands began to clap at the ’Javelinist’s’ deduction while hundreds of cracks formed on Ælfgifu’s porcelain.

”You killed her…” Her amethyst eyes widened in horror, ”…to leave a message?!”

”Atmosphere, my dear mademoiselle.” Jericho’s smug hinted at a cruel, calculated truth. ”Even the most obvious lie can seem plausible when presented in the right context. Why? Because certain ideas are etched into our minds through culture, education, and personal experience. Call them stereotypes, call them preconceptions, call them ethos, the name doesn’t matter. What matters is that we don’t need logic or any evidence to believe them.” He spread his flaming arms theatrically. ”Now, imagine if we’d simply left a note, neatly typed on a machine or written in perfect calligraphy. Pirates would never do that, and to the police, it would look like a setup. But what about slaughtering a little girl and using her skin to adorn a statue? Illogical from both a moral and utilitarian point of view. A kidnapping in such a heavily surveilled area should have been carried out as hastily and as stealthily as possible. Yet, none in our police force was paranoid about it. After all, these pirates are uncivilized barbarians hailing from an inferior cultural background compared with our superior Rolandish heritage, whose inferior genes possess an inherent predisposition toward such atrocities.” Jericho’s gaze pierced through Ælfgifu before delivering the final blow. ”And that, mademoiselle, is why your friend was murdered. Not for revenge, not out of greed, but to create the right atmosphere to stop the police from asking a simple question.” He paused, savoring her despair. ”Do any of you know what that question is?”

”Why did the pirates reveal they were working for the Republic?” Jacques replied, now having confirmation of a reason behind all Jericho’s weird actions he had noticed.

”Bingo.” Jericho snapped his fingers. ”Isn’t it ironic that sometimes the right answer is the one that leads you further from the truth?”

Agent Diflas’s expression darkened as he suddenly remembered that only one special squad had been assigned to scout the eastern part of the Pacific Archipelago. ”You…tricky bastartd…” Due to his delay in showing up at the mission briefing, the ’Raging Phoenix’ was now the strongest Essentia within a range of thousands of kilometers.

”Before you descend the flames of hell upon my worthless existence, would you grant me one last wish?” The ’Dust Symphonist’ pleaded her personal ’Dawn Sovereign,’ who complied with a nod. ”Please, just answer my question—did my Ysoline really take part in my kidnapping?” Before accepting her death, Ælfgifu needed the truth—no matter how sweet or bitter it turned out to be.

”Yes, but actually, no,” Jericho began. ”One of our operatives has successfully infiltrated Miraval Academy. A handsome Korinthian who used his gorgeous looks to earn your friend’s trust, convincing her to let him join her scheduled meeting so he could present himself to you. That was the plan. So, ironically, by delivering you into our hands, your friend genuinely believed she was doing you a favor.” Agent Van Kasteel ended with a sadistic chuckle. However, he got puzzled by what he saw in Ælfgifu’s amethyst eyes—neither hatred nor rage, but tears of joy bathing a serene expression.

Thanks, ’Romantic Dreamer’—now I can die without regrets.

”Before we start killing each other, would you care to explain to us why you’re doing all of this?” Jude asked, perplexed. ”You’re not a Demmie, and you turned down the money, so why? What’s your goal?”

”It’s an embarrassing secret,” the ’Raging Phoenix’ replied, placing his flaming hand over his burning chest as a gentle smile adorned his lips. ”But since you’ll all be dead in five minutes, I guess I can open up.” He paused, a flicker of hesitation visible in his expression. ”The truth is…I’m sick, addicted to life’s greatest pleasure.”

”Are you…in love?” Jacques guessed.

”Kinda. However, back in school, I always hated theory, but I really enjoyed the practice.” His smirk widened. ”The truth is, there’s a demon living in my heart. An unquenchable feeling that drives every cell in my body to constantly chase pleasure, each time demanding a stronger dose to satisfy its hunger, dragging me deeper into a spiral of depravity. One night, during one of my many visits to Port Island, a little rat was hiding in my favorite spot, secretly snapping pictures of me while I was indulging in my loved hobby. And the next day, the ’Demmies’ reached out with an offer I couldn’t refuse.” He concluded his story with a smile as innocent as the one worn by a coal-town politician caught selling their voters’ land to a corporation—everything but his fault.

”You’re going to kill us all just to protect your reputation? Cringe, dude,” Jacques eloquently rebutted.

”Trust me, Thirty-Seven, if even the least damning of those photos ever went public, a mob would lynch me, and for the next century, every preacher of morality would glorify my name as the very symbol of this world’s depravity.”

”Escape to Naturia, then! With 37 million Marini, you could live like a king!” Jude’s proposal was met with a cold grimace.

”Shut the fuck up, Angel! I’m not giving up my comfortable life in Miraval City for a shithole in the middle of the jungle. Free healthcare, a vibrant social scene, and low mortgage interest rates. Plus, my elite job as a policeman comes with a retirement plan stacked with benefits—nothing in this world beats being part of such an exclusive community. Let your king die in his stupid war. Meanwhile, I’ll be having fun in his court…and with his queen.” He chuckled as the ’Mafioso’ scooped up the ’Dust Symphonist’ in his arms and sprinted toward the temple entrance.

”You’ve got a lot of guts to let them go,” the ’Javelinist’ whistled, impressed by the Raging Phoenix’s indifference to their classmates’ escape.

”That ain’t the only large part of me.” Agent Van Kasteel beamed. ”And why worry about a Class F? Gatekeeper is the only obstacle left, and killing him won’t take long anyway.” With a snap of his fingers, a tongue of fire encircled his former friend. ”The girl’s gone now, so I’m free to burn oxygen again. Take a deep breath—’cause it’ll be your last!”

”Thirty-Seven! After I block him—hit the traitor with the Blornstorn!” Agent Diflas shouted just as the ring of fire expanded upward, forming a flaming tower that cut off the view of his surroundings, including Jacques.

”Sure, dude,” Jacques replied, glad that the roasted chicken had decided to focus on his ex-colleague first. The firewall now gave him enough privacy to write an [Email], sending further instructions to Jude.

Inside the column of fire, Agent Diflas had to change his tactic. His [TurningCheek] was useless against magic attacks, so he swapped his twin truncheons for Mana Discouragers. These side-handled batons could release a magical impulse strong enough to stun a person—not powerful enough to stop Jericho, but Ludwig hoped it would be enough to slow him down.

”You love sticks, don’t you?” The ’Raging Phoenix’ taunted as he soared toward the top of the column. There, he extended his flaming right leg before diving toward his prey like an eagle swooping in for the kill. Agent Diflas crossed his Discouragers just in time to block the guillotine kick, and without asking himself why Jericho had opted for a physical attack, he activated his [TurningCheek]. However, that [Skill] came with a drawback—it temporarily disabled most of his defensive [Passive.Skills]. Just a few seconds, but more than enough for Jericho.

Agent Van Kasteel capitalized on his superior speed, twisting around Agent Diflas to evade the counterstrike before unleashing a precise yet devastating combo—one kick to the leg to bring him to his knees, a second to the solar plexus to position his head in the right place, and a final strike to the neck to drive him face-first into the ground. In a single, flawless sequence, Jericho had reduced Ludwig’s [HP] to 5.

”Did you really think you had a chance against me?” Jericho whispered, leaning over his fallen comrade. ”Your [Skills] hold no secrets from me because I’m the one who knows you better than anyone else in the world.” The fire column narrowed, smoke curling into a thick curtain around the defeated policeman as darkness began to overtake him.

Empty [MP], [SP], and [HP]. The ’Defender’ tried to rise, but none of his muscles shared his moral point of view. Then, Jericho sheathed his flaming wings and crouched, bringing their faces just a few centimeters apart. Then, he removed Ludwig’s Carbon-Woven Helmet, revealing a long flow of silken hair adorning the most celestial of visions—if it weren’t for his princely chin, Ludwig could have been mistaken for a princess from a fairy tale.

”You are as beautiful as the first day I met you—a day I’ll never forget. I was an ugly, shy, and friendless orphan from some remote Jankee village, and you hailed from one of the noblest Auxerine families. We couldn’t have been more different, and yet, the moment you saw the despair of loneliness in my eyes, you chose to approach me despite the disgusted looks from your noble friends. You are my sun, the reason I’ve survived the darkest nights because I knew you would bring light back into my life—my best friend, now, tomorrow, and forever.” Jericho gently caressed Ludwig’s cheek before scorching his skin with his flame. ”Please, Gatekeeper—don’t make me do this. Let’s kill the Class F, and let’s forget everything that happened. If you hate me, I’ll understand…but it’s my life on the line. Moreover, think of your future children—they deserve a father. Just this once, I beg you…accept a compromise.” He gently whispered into Ludwig’s ear.

”Imm…ortal…” Agent Diflas muttered as he found some strength to stand on his feet. ”It’s not about me…or you—it’s war. Should my sacrifice give the girl even a few seconds more to escape—so be it.” He wanted to raise his batons, but his arms had betrayed him.

”Any last words, my friend?” The ’Raging Phoenix’ couldn’t shed a single tear as he pointed his open palm at the ’Defender’—his flames had already evaporated them all. ”[FireBl—]”

”[ChariotJavelin]!” From outside the column of fire, a shout cut through, followed by a wooden javelin embedded with a sheep-shaped tip, which pierced the flames—straight into Ludwig’s chest.

”What?!” Despite seeing and feeling the javelin lodged in the center of his chest, Ludwig felt no pain, no blood was spilled, and his [HP] remained untouched. Then, without warning, his body began to lift from the ground before being hurled backward at incredible speed, vanishing through the ring of fire, out of Jericho’s view.

The ’Raging Phoenix’ blinked three times before processing the kidnapping of his princess, and with a mighty beat of his wings, he absorbed the column of fire back into himself, clearing the battlefield. There, standing on his feet, was Jacques, holding Ludwig in his left arm like a mother cradling her child while his right arm aimed his Gaussbow at his enemy.

”Don’t worry, Gatekeeper. Everything’s going to be okay. You did really well, but now it’s time to sleep—I’ll take care of the rest.” Jacques spoke softly, caressing with the back of his hand Ludwig’s scorched cheek. The ’Defender’ wanted to protest, to keep fighting, but both his body and mind negotiated a ceasefire. Darkness overtook him, and he sank into unconsciousness.

”I admit your Blornstorn might actually be dangerous, even for someone like me. But you still have to land the hit first—[SinnerRain]” Jericho shrouded himself in a thick crimson smoke that expanded to cover a large portion of the room, and from within the haze, his eerie laughs echoed without a common source of origin. ”By the way, what’s the average [DEX] of a Class F?”

***
STATS WINDOW
***
Name: Jericho Van Kasteel
Class: BBB.RagingPhoenix
*
HP: 1999
SP: 3234
MP: 4003
*
STR: +099
DEX: +333
CON: +099
PER: +198
INT: +354
WIS: +150
CHA: +223
LUK: +301
*
Passive Skills: 
[ EternalFlame ] 
[ LastWish ]
[ Martyr ]
***

***
STATS WINDOW
***
Name: Rinaldo Di Mario Class: [FFF.Javelinist]
*
HP: 100
SP: 100
MP: 100
*
STR: +010
DEX: +010
CON: +010
PER: +010
INT: +010
WIS: +010
CHA: +010
LUK: -999
*
Passive Skills: 
Nothing.
***

”Are you talking about this?” Jacques removed the Gaussbow and, with a swift kick, sent it flying to the other side of the temple. Jericho, fueled by a sudden rush of adrenaline, lunged after it, incinerating the weapon into ashes.

”Aaha…I can’t believe it…ahah…the smoke must’ve started rotting your brain. My brother in Adam, you’re a Class F—how the hell do you plan to kill me without that bolt?” As he suspected, the Blornstorn had been vital in eliminating the Anima, but knowing that his target held in his hands the only thing that could have threatened his life was, indeed, a major source of concern for the ’Raging Phoenix.’ So, with a long gasp, Agent Van Kasteel finally released all the stress that had plagued his mind since the moment he’d stolen those two boxes of tungsten—there were no more obstacles left in his plan.

”Ahem…Are you sure about that?” Jacques rebutted as he removed the magnetic catch holding his Carbon-Woven Helmet attached to his Carbon-Woven Armor. Doing it with just his right hand was a pain.

”About what?”

”Me being a Class F.”

”Are you stupid or what? You told me tha—” Jericho stopped mid-sentence as a shiver ran down his spine. ”Nice try, but there was no reason for you to lie to me back on the ship!”

”Frankly, I was expecting better from you.” Jacques finished removing the helmet, revealing a narrow line of exposed skin across his neck. ”Let me ask you something—do you really believe no one knew about your anthropological studies on Port Island? I mean, c’mon, I’m sure you’re aware there’s an Imperial Agency whose sole purpose is to monitor the negligence of government employees, right?”

Jericho’s eyes narrowed, the flames flickering erratically across his body. “Are you implying…there’s a Spitzel standing in front of me?”

“Absolutely not. I’m not part of the Stasi—I own it.” Jacques removed his helmet, revealing a flowing mane whose golden color effortlessly outshone the splendor of the ’Raging Phoenix’s.’ “Perhaps you’ve heard of me. I’ve got pretty famous lately.” Two diamonds now glimmered in his eyes, bewitching Jericho with their brilliance. “My name is SSS-Class ’Hero’…” Jacques extended his right arm, using the helmet to fully cover his lips. “[IllusiveJavelin=74],” he whispered as 1,369 phantom javelins materialized around him. “Chad Rolandsson!”

There hadn’t been a single day Agent Van Kasteel didn’t read an article in the newspaper speculating about the return of the ’Hero,’ analyzing the consequences of the prophecy that foretold he was destined to face the sheer essence of evil in a mortal duel to decide the fate of the world. However, he had never expected to face in battle the first reincarnation of Hero Roland in history nor to witness such an overwhelming amount of Mana released by a single [Skill]. “He’s just a student…how…?” It was as if the entire firmament had descended to punish him for his sins.

Nevertheless, the ’Raging Phoenix’ reacted steadily, using his wings to put as much distance as possible between himself and the thousands of blue points now pursuing him, all while throwing everything he had—fireballs, explosions, and incandescent rocks. So this is the power of the man destined to become humanity’s savior…I never had a chance to begin with, did I? …Fuck it, at least let me die with honor! None of his [Skills] proved effective, and in a final stand, Agent Van Kasteel poured all the [MP] he had left into one last [NeutronStar], enveloping himself in a glowing-blue shell as the javelins regrouped around him, forming a radiant sphere before striking in unison from every direction.

”Adam, you bastard! I know you’re watching right now, savoring my final moments before an eternity of torture in hell, just to satisfy your sick lust for suffering. But my last breath won’t be one of shame. I’ll face you as a free—MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa…man?” Jericho, confused by the odd fact of being still alive, slowly opened his eyes, finding no trace of the bluish javelins. Then, he shifted his gaze toward the spot where the so-called ’Hero’ had stood just a few moments ago, finding no one. ”You…MOTHERFUCKEEEEEEER!”

***

”Oh, you’re alive. A surprise for sure, but not a welcome one,” Jude greeted Jacques and Agent Diflas—the latter slumped over his back—as he stubbed out a cigarette on a 10,000-year-old mosaic. As planned beforehand, both were now at the center of the entrance tunnel, waiting for the second phase of the plan to begin.

”Here, you ungrateful leech. Bless this day, because finally, someone will have the decency to put an end to the abomination you call life!” The ’Javelinist’ replied, tossing the ’Mafioso’ the [SP] potion he’d promised in the [Email] and uncorking a [MP] one for himself.

”Thirty-seven, I’m not afraid of burning in Hell for eternity—I deserve it—but I am frightened of sharing that punishment with you. Your very existence is an insult to all of Adam’s sacred teachings, and all the angels will celebrate this day, the day of your death, as their most holy holiday!” Both men laughed, clinking their potions like goblets, as a scream of pure rage echoed from deep within the temple—heralding the arrival of their ’Grim Reaper.’

”YOU’RE DEEEEEAD!” Jericho wasted no time, flying at full speed through the narrow tunnel—his aquamarine eyes emerging from their sockets with murderous fury.

”[IllusiveJavelin=50],” Jacques said calmly, not even bothering to look back as 925 javelin illusions surged toward the ’Raging Phoenix.’

”Again? Do you really think I’m stupid enough to fall for that twice?!” Inside the narrow tunnel, the limited space forced the javelins to compress, forming a wall of shimmering blue light that completely obscured Jericho’s view. He just laughed as he flew headfirst into the glowing mass of Mana, confident in his recent experience.

*Twaaaaang!* Jericho was right. None of the javelins had hit him. However, unlike last time, something was different. He felt a sharp pain in his right eye, and worse, his left eye could now admire an entire galaxy floating at his right.

”OH N—” The last thing Jericho saw before space and time collapsed on him was Jacques and Jude’s middle fingers.

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