Chapter 4: Sacrifice

2 months later

Inside the cave, a young man could be seen closing his eyes followed by the release of a bluish aura. From head to toe, Xianth's energy was leaking but it was all under his control.

The release of his energy causes his school uniform and hair to flutter but he didn't care about that. He raised both of his arms and placed them in front of him.

His palms didn't touch each other as there is a need for space between them. With Xianth's control, the aura of energy he is emitting moved, and the energy gathered at the space between his palms.

He mustered and controlled as much energy as he could which was definitely more than what normal people on the Osmeon Continent had.

The cave might not have any food or water but it does have magic crystals all thanks to the Golden Lightning Phoenix's presence. Eating these crystals not only replenishes Xianth's mana but also strengthens his Divinity along with the increase of his mana capacity.

Staying in the cave for two whole months gave Xianth's power an explosive growth.

"Haaa!!"

The young man gritted his teeth while controlling more and more energies and condensing them into the space between his palms.

Sweat rolled down on his forehead and his physical capabilities returned to normal since the aura that made him physically stronger was condensed into a single ball.

When Xianth cannot continue pumping more energy at the ball on his palms only then did he open his eyes. His eyes were burning with strong resolve.

"Shatter!!" Xianth shouted and he released all the energy on the ball all at once.

The energy ball turned into a long energy ray that moved rapidly and it didn't take that long before it hits the cave's wall

"Shatter! Shatter! Shatter!" Xianth chanted. This energy attack was the best he could currently do. If even this cannot break the cave walls then he has to continue training until he is strong enough to shatter the wall.

However, not to mention destroying the wall even after he gave his everything not even a little bit of scratch could be seen.

"Yawn... what did I tell you? These chains are siphoning my power. Not to mention, it was also gathering the energy in the environment to reinforce itself. Unless I became significantly stronger than my previous self I wouldn't be able to destroy these chains or make a hole in this forsaken place much less someone like you" the Phoenix said boredly as it watched Xianth's futile attempt to escape.

Instead of answering, Xianth that already learned his lesson in the previous times immediately plucked a magic crystal from the ground and ate it to replenish his energy.

In these two months, there were a few instances where he depleted all of his energy and that causes his mind to be swallowed by a sense of deep gluttony that causes him to eat more magic crystals than he could handle. Every time that happens he is pushed to the brink of death since if he cannot stop himself he would definitely explode. The fortunate thing is that the Phoenix was always there to stop him from eating more than he could handle.

Only after replenishing his energy did Xianth turn to look at the Phoenix. "Do you really have no way to help me escape from here? Aren't you a Great Phoenix? Don't tell me that you're actually a small fry?" He said exasperatedly.

At first, Xianth was overjoyed to gain superpowers but that died down after two months of confinement. What is the use of transmigrating into a completely different world and having superpowers when is he imprisoned in this cave for eternity?

Aside from having a tsundere bird as a companion, this is no different than solitary confinement which breaks people's minds.

"What?! You dare call me a small fry? I'm a powerful and Noble Great Phoenix! Don't dare call me a small fry! I'll fry you to death!" The tsundere bird has too much pride to let Xianth's comment slide.

"Then think of a way to escape from here! I'll believe that you are a powerful Noble Great Phoenix when you succeed!"

"Fine! Fine! Just you wait, I will show you how great this Phoenix is"

On the outside Xianth was frustrated but on the inside, he was actually smiling. This tsundere bird is too easy to manipulate. Just a little bit of push would cause it to do exactly what Xianth wants. Isn't it a cute little bird?

Xianth gave the Phoenix time to think and he was actually not left to wait for a long time.

"This great being has an idea of how you could escape from here!" The Phoenix suddenly said and Xianth's ears perked up..

"What is it? How?"

"It's just a theory but it would cause me to die"

At first, one would expect that Xianth would absolutely refuse this idea of the Phoenix as it would cause the death of his companion but he reacted in the opposite way.

"Great, let's do it. You dying is better than living for thousands of years more in boredom here" Xianth replied with a smile on his face and he even gave a thumbs up. For the nth time since they met, the Phoenix raged.

"Ungrateful human! You didn't even hesitate to let me die!"

The Phoenix's voice was too loud and piercing that Xianth had to cover his ears.

"Why are you speaking as if I am the meanest of all demons? I just really think that it's better to die than spend an eternity in this hellhole!" Xianth reasoned although he was actually just teasing the Phoenix as it always has an amusing response.

Even though the two of them grew closer in these two months Xianth don't believe that the Phoenix would sacrifice itself. It's either that this Phoenix would reject enacting its ideas or that there was a catch that would not actually kill it.

After the two bickered for some more time, the Phoenix finally explained its theory.

"A-anyway, this great being thought of a way to use your [Gift] and escape this place" the Phoenix started and Xianth listened attentively.

"You can eat and swallow energy so I think you could swallow me and these chains. As long as you do that, this cave would lose its energy support and it should be no different than a normal cave. In that case, you could destroy the walls even if you are this weak"

The Phoenix's theory sounds plausible but Xianth looked at it as if it was a cunning demon.

"What the hell is that look for?!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I didn't expect that you'll be this devious. Didn't I already propose the plan to eat the energy of your chains but what was it that you said again? 'Hmph, you dare to eat the chains of the Saintess? Are you tired of living? Someone as weak as you are would just die. These chains will attack anyone that tries to destroy it and even if you multiply yourself to a thousand you will only die a thousand times!' isn't that what you said to me? Be honest, you're just baiting me to kill myself, right?"

If the Phoenix could move it would have already slapped the insolent human in front of it.

"I don't need to use devious tactics to kill someone as weak as you! It's true that the chains will attack and kill you if you try to eat it but that is only if you do so normally! Again, the chains are connected to me and siphoning my energy. While the chains have the upper hand over me but if you disturb it with your [Gift] I have a way to prevent the chains from killing you since again, it is connected to me. Do you understand that? I need you to eat the chains along with myself!"

"This Great Phoenix is not made from flesh and blood. I am a special being birthed from the energy of the universe. In essence, I am made from energy which is something that your [Gift] could eat. Of course, if I resist even just by a little bit your death is certain. There's no way someone like you could eat me if I don't wish to. In fact, even if I let you eat me without resisting even though your Divinity is special you'll still die. That's why you cannot eat and absorb me you understand that? All you have to do is to eat me and store my remains in your stomach before releasing all of my energy. I suggest that you release my energy into the sky if you don't want to destroy the continent"

The Phoenix explained the concepts and mechanics and for a moment Xianth was at a loss for words. Is this Phoenix really sacrificing itself for Xianth's freedom? He now felt a bit guilty for teasing it every day as a way to ease his boredom and find some amusement.