Chapter 80

The serpent was still looking confused at the bird that was standing beside him watching Noah, who when seated said, "Then it will stay that way. Only when I'm in extreme danger, you can do something about the situation, right?"

Without saying a word, the bird just nodded to Noah. But feeling uncomfortable and also a little nervous, the snake that was now the focus of both, being watched by both of them for not yet responding or giving any sign of accepting or refusing Noah's proposed deal, turned her head. and said "You don't need to keep looking at me, because I'm not going to allow this human to use my powers anyway."

"Why you say that?" asked the bird.

Annoyed after hearing that question, the serpent turned and exclaimed "What do you mean, why?! What's the difference between leaving my child with a demon or leaving him with this human?! I'd rather disappear and never see him than leave him in the care of one of these…"

"Why do you show so much hatred for humans? Or rather, why do you show so much hatred for me? As far as I can remember, I've never done anything to you before."

"How old are you exactly?" the bird asked.

"Well, technically 20, why?" replied Noah 'Although I've only been in this world for a few days… but now I think that's beside the point.'

"I see, of course you wouldn't know. If you were a little older maybe you would understand why all this hatred. Maybe something close to 530 years or so."

"A little more?" thought Noah in surprise.

"A few years ago, being controlled by beings far beyond their comprehension, several humans began a huge and bloodthirsty hunt for beings who, just like us, were born with a little of the blood of… special beings. And they can evolve to something else."

"What do you mean something else?"

"See, despite being practically a phoenix, I cannot and should not be considered a complete phoenix. My death shows that. Phoenixes don't die, at least not definitely. They remain dead for short periods of time, and after their entire body goes up in flames they will resurface from their own ashes. But I've probably been dead for over 200 years, and as you've seen, I stayed that way."

"So what did it take for you to be truly a phoenix?"

"What did I miss? Well, that's definitely a very simple question to answer. Power, isn't it obvious? Everything in this world comes down to how powerful you are. Both money power, which was created by you humans some time ago, and power. The purest and most overwhelming, the one that cannot be measured and much less contained, the power that is capable of bringing you back from the dreaded death. That was the kind of power I lacked. Well, for me and…"

"But in the end, shouldn't death come to everyone someday? Even for phoenixes."

"Look very human, of course what you said has some truth in it, but it's not completely true either. There are many beings who seek to extend their lives throughout their lifetime, and you humans are a fine example of them. But there are also beings who are destined for the top since their birth. And that top is where only the real monsters live. Monstrosities that are almost completely immortal and also monsters that even after their death, manage to come back to life. And that's where the phoenixes live and it's clearly one of those monstrosities that roam the world, right next to the dragons."

"So you're telling me that luckily these beings are immortal from birth?"

"Technically yes. But like I said, they're almost completely immortal, so they can still be killed. And the phoenixes, well, although they always come back to life after they die. Many don't know, but there is also a way to prevent this from happening."

"And what shape would that be?"

"Well that's something you don't need to know."

"...But what if I meet a phoenix one day?"

"Don't say that, and don't even think about these beings. Because if that happens, neither I nor she could do anything to help him."

'So you mean the phoenixes are as powerful as that… How frighteningly powerful must a dragon be?