[50] The Phoenix against the White Tiger, and…

Chapter 50: The Phoenix against the White Tiger, and…

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The sky was painted with multiple shades of fire, the crimson glow of the Phoenix's power illuminating the heavens. The shade weakened, a pristine white aura of authority rising up as I leaped toward the sky.

Wrapping my body was the visage of a white tiger, a half-transparent body shimmering with iridescent fur, with stripes of glowing gold-tinted black. My figure was like a lake under the moonlight.

As my phantom body moved, it blurred the line between physical and ethereal, leaving ghostly footprints. Its eyes, pools of wisdom, held the universe's secrets. This mystical being embodied wisdom, strength, and extraordinary magic, a guardian of ancient mysteries and a symbol of limitless powers. Just a speck of what I once was.

The [Mirage Frame] of the White Tiger surrounding me acted as my body right now, that I controlled all the movements of. Currently, my senses are working with two perspectives. One was the human body standing inside the head of the tiger with arms crossed, while the other moved as the tiger. Of the many powers a [Icon] had, this materialization of my former body was just one of them.

"What incredible speed," the woman was still smiling as I was just meters away from her. She still didn't see me as a threat, it seemed. How foolish. "I-"

My sleek, silver-striped form blended seamlessly with the wind as I moved at a terrible speed. With a wave of my right hand, I took her by surprise. She had underestimated my speed; my attack speed was much faster. My claws ran through her smoothly, gushing blood across the sky like fireworks, and the impact force sent her flying hundreds of meters back, hitting a stone rock.

I approached her, soaring through the sky, as my eyes saw what made her so careless and confident. That wound would have killed anyone, but there she was letting out a last chuckle as her wounds healed. Even the part of her clothes that was severed healed in a second. She stopped laughing and stood up gracefully, running a hand through her hair and wearing a bit more serious expression now.

Annoying phoenixes.

"What an unfriendly brat, I wasn't done talking." She said when I reached her vicinity.

With a roar, I lunged forward, muscles rippling as I unleashed my savage fury. My claws extended like gleaming scimitars, and I aimed for her with the deadly precision of a predator on the hunt. Aiming for her head, to slice through her brain.

However, she matched the attack with one of her own, raising her palm and slamming it forward. A circulation of fire spun around her hand, and bird claws formed.

The Phoenix's Talons clashed with the White Tiger's Claws.

Against her fire, I called forth my divinity.

[Divinity: Avalanche]

The power of the avalanche rolled on my palm as it clashed with her talons, letting out vapor as ice and fire mixed. The dimension crackled as Mana and Qi burst out from the impact, I heard the awe-filled screams of devils and gods alike. The clash of our full authority, with fire and ice spiraling out of us, filling the area with both of the elements.

A domain of ice spread behind me, while a mess of fire spread behind her. Our hands clashed, almost locking with one another, and we had our faces too close. Her humane face was just a few inches from my tiger maw, as she showed me a smile.

"My, have I perhaps shown too cold a side of mine earlier? I didn't mean to be so harsh when I called you a rat, my bad, you're no rat. I should have recognized a big cat when I saw one." She had the audacity to chat.

I understood what she was doing, though. I was not a long-time enemy of hers whom she had a grudge against, it was the Gods. She knew I was only here because she attacked me first, so she was trying to calm the water. If she could turn a young human with as much power as mine into an ally, by taking a few angry hits from him, then why not?

"How about you join me, human?" she asked, just as I expected. "My family holds quite the influence in the underworld, you'll be treated well. Most humans are prejudiced against the name 'devil' but we aren't that bad. Relax and talk this through, alright?" she said, gently and recessively.

She sounded so nice, so understanding. However, that's not how the power dynamics worked in this world. Even if I am an exceptional human, I just attacked her. So even if she wanted me as an ally, usually she'd have beat me up first and then offered me that, with the word that'd be 'in exchange' for my life.

So why was she being so considerate and kind?

Because she's weak and would lose against me. She's not confident of winning, so she is trying to turn me into a friend. With my expression serious, I opened my human mouth to reply, while my tiger body still clashed with her. Before I could speak though, she thought she would try to pursue me a bit more.

"Your expression tells me what you're about to say anyway, so let me try again. How about I reincarnate you as a devil? You see, I have been unconscious for hundreds of years now, so I lack a peerage. How about I give you a good piece and reincarnate you? Are you aware of the devil chess piece system? I have the Queen Piece vacant, how about you take it?" she said with a smile on her face. "This level of power is wasted on a mere human body, such a worthless species. Become a devil, you'll be much, much more powerful than what you are right now."

I paused. For a moment, the strength behind my claws receded. She smirked feeling that, also drawing back her power. She nodded, "Wise choice, good boy."

"You dare?"

"Huh?"

I swiped at her, a blur of silver and shadow, using Soulfire on my claws that raked across her tiny body, leaving deep, bleeding gashes.

"You dare insult humanity, you filthy bat-winged creature," I tried to not talk too much, but it came out on its own. It's hard to hold back some sides of mine when faced with triggering situations.

For example, when a lower race dares to insult humanity in front of me, I act up.

No, the Emperor.

She hissed in pain and was shot back, but I pressed the advantage. My powerful hind legs propelled me forward, and I lunged once more, this time aiming for her throat.

With lightning reflexes, she raised her hand, her palm glowing with a pulsating violet light. A shimmering shield of fire formed just in time, catching my attack inches from her neck.

"There is still time, I'll forgive you for attacking me, so stop-!" Ranefer tried to calm me, but she wasn't talking to the little Aqua side of me anymore.

I snarled, my hot breath mixing with the scent of her fear, and redoubled my efforts.

My claws flashed, raining icy blows upon her defenses, each strike hitting with the force of a battering ram. She grunted under the relentless assault, her shield flickering like a dying flame. Frustration crept into her eyes as I forced her to retreat, driving her back with my overwhelming strength.

With one final, ferocious swipe, I shattered her defenses. My claws tore through her shield, slicing across her chest, and she cried out in agony. My claws were coated in Soulfire, I was using it to amplify her pain many folds, that's why even someone like her who was used to having her head severed and regrown, cried. The cold Qi from my Avalanche Divinity helped me hurt her better, and all the pain spread through her soul.

Even her regeneration was slowed down by each hit. Sadly, it didn't stop it entirely. It would have stopped the regeneration of the other Phenex devils, but she was too much, her healing powers were very strong. Blood splattered the ground, dark and ominous against the pale moonlight.

"Keugh- How ruthless, keke."

She flinched under me, chuckling like a maniac even as she trembled, weakened and defenseless. I towered over her, feral eyes locked onto her own. There was no escape now. I lunged, my jaws closing around her throat, and with a savage twist, I brought her down to the ground.

She kept healing, however.

The Icon theoretically could let me access all of the powers I had as a White Tiger, but my current body wouldn't be able to endure it. I'll die from internal injuries. This was just a miniscule of what I could do. So sadly, I couldn't call forth my iconic [White Flames] either, something that would have stopped her healing.

If that's the case, then. I'll show her another Icon. Since she insulted humanity, I'll not fight her phoenix side with my tiger one, but her devil side with my human one.

I stopped attacking, watching her heave under me as she healed.

The Tiger's [Mirage Frame] vanished from around me, but I didn't fall to my feet from where I was hovering in the air. A new phantom form began to surround me. It was a humanoid one.

The Icon in the sky, carved with a tiger's face, shimmered as it changed. The tiger's face vanished, and slowly the sign of a crown appeared.

The [Crown Icon] manifested.

The world bowed, the trees in the forest below lowered their heads, the fire stopped moving, and the ice paused in the air, as the authority of a ruler spread through the realm.

As my Icons are personalized, I can choose more than one variety of Mirage Frame in this state. The one of Genghis Khan, the Emperor, and even the Venerable One as I played ruler a few times in that life.

The one who manifested, on his own, was my true royal self, the Emperor.

I floated in the air as a vague shape formed around me. Around the vague translucent golden giant, golden armor gleaming with an otherworldly luminescence came to be, a presence that transcended mere mortals.

The phantom golden armor was adorned with intricate filigree, each plate was meticulously etched with symbols of power and conquest, a testament to my millennia-spanning rule. The chest plate featured an imposing aquila, wings outstretched, radiating an aura of divine protection.

I wore gauntlets, with each finger ending in razor-sharp talons. A crimson cape flattered behind the giant, and armored boots clanked as they formed. A magnificent crown encircled the giant's head, studded with gems of unimaginable value. Each facet of the crown sparkled with a different color of fire, reflecting the power contained within. Even in this phantom body, the Emperor's piercing, luminescent eyes bore the weight of countless ages, a gaze that held the secrets of a galaxy in turmoil.

I, the Emperor, the living legend, the icon of authority, the representation of humanity, stood before the fool that dared suggest me a race change.

I raised my hand toward the sky. "Know this, in your limited understanding, Devil. Humanity's limits are beyond your feeble grasp, fool."

A sword made out of cold light formed. I was the Monarch of the Brightest Night in my life as the Emperor, but calling forth that power would be too much for me now. What I called forth was not my power, but the one I received a while ago.

From Xolotl 's Treasure Chest which I had absorbed, I have received this long sword. I said whatever's inside, I'd be able to conjure up later, and this was that conjuration.

The [Sword of a God of Death], the opposite of Holy Gods, but one that'd surely hurt the healing capabilities of a phoenix. More so if I mix it with a bit of Light from my Monarch days, at least a bit that I can call forth. The shape of the long sword was twisted with bones, with an intricate smell of death on it, shining with a dead sun's light.

"Ah," the woman under me now looked frightened. "Shit. Where did you get such a weapon? Drop it, and let's talk this through. We have no reason to fight, I-"

"We don't?" Said the giant mouth of the emperor, while I remained silent. "Then let me give you one."

I turned to the side, my eyes locked on the devils in the back, and I waved my sword at them. The woman realized what was going on, letting out a shout, as the phoenix devils froze, watching a blade arc of death light rushing at them. Her eyes shook as she saw her sons and grandsons run, only to be cut down into pieces.

A few succeeded to avoid it, by ducking down, but most were cut, now dead. More precisely, the oldest devils were all gone, meaning her sons and daughters. Two of her grandsons were alive, and a few more of her great-grandchildren. But truly, she only had an emotional connection with her children, as the others must have been born after she fell asleep, and now they were dead.

The emperor's face turned back to look at her, as I spoke. "Now we have a reason."

"Do we?" She stared at me with glaring eyes, before dropping her head against the ground and sighing. "I don't. Scary bastard. What's up with these powers? Has humanity changed this much in the last hundreds of years? Such a young man with powers to level countries. Let us cut the small talk, I attacked you first, and you killed my kids for it. So we'll consider this even."

"What makes you think I would trust a filthy devil?" I raised my sword.

"I'll let you marry my great-granddaughter, surely then I won't kill you as you'd be a part of my family." She said, looking at me as if that made perfect sense. Did she expect me to believe that? "What? Why are you looking at me like that? Look, I am not even fighting back, I know I can't win. Your powers are scary, I am shaking right now. Let me go and we'll end this on good terms."

"Your sons tried to hurt me and my girls, and they paid for it just now," I said, my tone serious. "But you are yet to pay back for hurting me, and almost killing the girl I was protecting if the fire managed to dig through my chest. So you shall pay too."

Letting an enemy go wasn't wise, even if it's true that a few would keep their word.

"Ah, fucking humans." The woman let out a groan, gritting her teeth. "You had a great deal, but you chose otherwise. So difficult."

"And you can do nothing about it," as she said, I have already won, overwhelmingly at that. So much so that she was refusing to fight back.

The once fiery terrain filled with magma had died out as snow covered everything, the area was now snowy and cold, a proof of my ice powers having overpowered her fire ones. So, I decided to end it all at once as I brought down my sword.

"Right now, yes, I know," the sword was blocked. "But she can."

The phoenix said in a confident tone, just as a new figure entered the scene, flying between the phoenix and me, with a sword in her hand that blocked mine.

"Let this go, child," the red-haired woman said, smirking at me. "Unless you're willing to face a Satan-class?"

"Sapphire Gremory, aunt of the current Satan Lucifer, Sirzechs." Ranefer Phoenix explained. "My old buddy."

Fucking bitch, she had this level of backup plan.

She had bright red hair and blue eyes, and her face and blue eyes somewhat reminded me of Rias. She wore a questionably revealing golden armor with gauntlets, wielding a black long sword.

[Image Here]

But wait, what Gremory? But I never heard of her in DxD. Though I do know who she is. She looks familiar, I think she's from that anime, The Testament of Sister New Devil. I am half sure. She was the mother of the main character, the sister of the Demon King. Why is she here?

I shook these distracting thoughts away. I have met too many characters from other anime by now to care. Heck, even my 7th life was somewhat inspired by that game, Warhammer.

I looked at the woman blocking my sword, she was strong. "O' great lady Gremory, get out of my way, I'll give you that chance since you're my friend's aunty."

"Rias?" She blinked, raising an eyebrow. "That naughty girl didn't tell me she had such a strong human friend. I'll give you a better one, you let her go, and I'll ensure Ranefer won't mess with you again. You'll have my word on it since you're friends with Rias."

"Too bad." I didn't plan to give up.

The problem is, she's strong. She's beyond my powers right now. Unless I made some sacrifices, I wouldn't win, and even that's uncertain. I'm running low on Qi already after all these flashy attacks, just using the Icons drained a lot out of me.

But what else could I do, really? Hah, how annoying. Do I call forth the [Hero] Icon? With the Holy Powers, I should be able to win, and there's a Goddess right behind me to lend her divinity. It would drain a lot out of me since I've abandoned the ways of a Hero a long time ago and so the Icon isn't as close to me as it once was, but it held some chance.

"How annoying, Sapphire." It wasn't me who said that, another new fighter entered the scene. "Why are you here?"

Floating over my right shoulder, with her arms crossed, stood a voluptuous woman wearing a black jacket and bra, and a short skirt. She wore a cap too, and that was all that I needed to recognize her.

[Image Here]

Holy shit, it's her. From Noragami, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Few 2D women enchanted me at this age, but seeing her in real life made me surprised for a second. But I quickly pulled myself together and discerned the situation.

"Bishamon?"

I and Sapphire said at the same time, both realizing that the stake of the battle had just been balanced. The Gods too had backup. The air grew tense, thick with uncertainty.

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