Chapter 18 - The Demons Return

ELION was uncertain whether Solandar was contemplating his own fate or the fate of other individuals who had been sacrificed.

Maybe both. However, there was one name that piqued his interest at this point.

"Who is Elemental Nexus?" Elion queried.

Solandar merely grinned. "It's not time for you to know yet. For now, you must concentrate on why you arrived here first."

"Oh? Am I going to witness the power of Phoenix?" Tigas interjected, his excitement evident.

"What is the power of Phoenix and its successor? You have mentioned it quite a bit, Solandar. What does it mean?" 

Elion's inquiry was reasonable. He knew he would inherit something from the Ancient Elementalist, but was Solandar the Ancient Elementalist?

And if so, how did the Phoenix power connect to this legacy?

Solandar repeated his question, "You really don't know?"

"Is there something I should know?" Elion was confused.

"You're the Phoenix successor," Solandar replied.

Elion was shocked by Solandar's statement. He wanted to understand how this connected to the inheritance he had anticipated.

"Whitey, do you think he knows anything about it?" Solandar asked.

"I doubt it. Have you informed the people of Solara?" Tigas replied with a question.

"I couldn't have told them, Whitey. I was gone right after the battle with the demon," Solandar chuckled.

Tigas couldn't help but chuckle at Solandar's response. It was like him to downplay his strength, even though he was the strongest in this world.

Tigas wondered why Solandar hadn't passed through the Heavenly Gate yet, and it turned out that some force was preventing him.

It might have had something to do with the Phoenix power he possessed. Turning to Elion, Tigas asked, "Did you know that Solandar defeated the demons with the power of Phoenix?"

Elion shook his head in response. "We only knew that Solandar sacrificed himself to defeat the demon and he was the previous Fire Elemental Guardian of Solara."

Tigas expressed his frustration, "The people of Solara can be so ungrateful! Why hasn't anyone bothered to share the full story?"

Elion pondered the possibilities in silence. "Maybe the truth has been kept a secret. Someone might know what happened, but they choose to withhold it, especially regarding the Phoenix power, for their own reasons."

Tigas nodded in agreement. "That does sound reasonable."

Solandar approached Elion, his tone serious. "Don't meddle with this right now," Solandar advised, his tone serious as he approached Elion. Observing this, Tigas chose to stay quiet.

"Actually, I never placed any inheritance into the Original Orb myself. What you experienced today is a 'gift' from the Elemental Nexus. That's why you're meeting me in the Spirit World," Solandar explained.

Solandar continued, "For other Ancient Elementalists, their Original Orb's legacy contains part of their spirit and consciousness. This allows them to aid their heirs. The duration varies based on the Ancient Elementalist's strength and their heirs' potential."

"Wait a minute. If it takes a lot of time...I wonder if time here flows the same as outside?" Elion asked Solandar with a hint of worry in his voice.

"No, time here moves differently. Is there something urgent?" Solandar replied.

"My friend is in danger. She's fighting the demon's dark aura, and I'm afraid I won't have enough time to save her," Elion explained anxiously.

"Don't worry, kid. According to my ancestors, a day here is just a second outside," Tigas reassured him.

"Phew, what a relief," Elion breathed, his face breaking into a smile.

He had been concerned that his efforts here would be in vain if he could not save Wendy.

But now that he knew the time factor was on his side, he felt more confident about his mission.

However, Elion's smile froze as his mind started racing.

"Hold on a second. You've been here for ten thousand years. Meaning…over 3,650,000 years, Solandar?!" he asked incredulously.

Solandar smirked. It was understandable that somebody would go a little crazy after being stuck in a world without escape.

Tigas chimed in, "Don't be surprised, kid. These strange time shifts are a blessing for us seeking to become the Elemental Emperor. This gives us extra time to master our skills before we face the Heavenly Gate."

"That's right. Whitey has been here for over 36,500 years and still unable to pass the Heavenly Gate," Solandar added with a chuckle.

Tigas responded to Solandar's laughter, "Well, I've only been around for a hundred years... IN THE REAL WORLD! Not as long as you. It's quite normal for someone trying to break through to Elemental Emperor rank to be in seclusion for that long."

"Hahaha! Don't take it personally, Whitey. It might take you another hundred thousand years here before you're ready to tackle the Heavenly Gate," Solandar replied.

Elion couldn't shake off the image of Tigas, who was badly injured because of the Heavenly Gate. Did he need to face it too?

Solandar noticed Elion's concern and reassured him, "You're not here to face the gate. You won't have to do it for now. And frankly, I doubt you'll have much time here."

Elion visibly relaxed at Solandar's words. It seemed impossible to face the Heavenly Gate. Even Tigas, who had spent a century in the real world and was an Elemental King, couldn't conquer it.

"But you can't waste time here," Tigas interrupted.

"Exactly. I've been having dreams that the demon will return to Solara. It's less than five years from now," Solandar declared.

"The demon's coming back in five years?" Elion's throat felt dry. It was a terrifying thought not just for Elion but for everyone in Solara.

"Less than five years," Solandar corrected him.

"Scared?" Tigas mocked, his smile cynical.

Elion was at a loss for words. He had never encountered a demon before, and the prospect was terrifying. Records stated that they were powerful, cruel, and had horrifying faces.

Tigas taunted Solandar, "Is this who you're waiting for? You're just wasting time."

Solandar replied, "Wasn't your first encounter with a demon scary, too?" Solandar was unaware of Tigas's actual experience.

Tigas's smile faded. Demons were not just a threat to Solara; they plagued Level One Planets and beyond. They came from superior planets to conquer the inferior ones. Tigas first faced demons in his youth.

Even as an Elemental Beast, he shivered at remembering his first encounter. Fortunately, he hadn't been alone at that time.

"Yeah. Dealing with demons for the first time was no walk in the park," Tigas admitted. 

Despite his royal status on his planet, he saw no point in putting up a tough front when facing formidable beings like Solandar.

Having Solandar as a friend at times like these was a relief. Now, he could observe Solandar and witness the training of the Phoenix successor.

Solandar simply nodded, choosing not to tease Tigas any further. It was amusing to him, as Beast Kings in Solara were not usually as friendly or skilled as Tigas.

However, he was not as formidable as he is now. One thing he knew for sure was that Elemental Beasts were notoriously difficult to tame.

"Elion, your task is not for the faint-hearted. Demon King Azroth and the Twelve Demon Commanders are tough enemies. After ten thousand years, they will not lose their edge. They will be stronger," Solandar said, his tone serious.

Time was of the essence, and Elion could not afford to waste any more time.

"You know, when they attacked Solara way back, we were not pushovers," Solandar added, chuckling.

"All the Elementalists in Solara were formidable, but Demon King Azroth was something else. He wiped out over a thousand Supreme and Grand Elementalists in the Southern Region alone. The Elemental Guardians? We couldn't even scratch him." Solandar's laughter grew louder.

Elion and Tigas comprehended the reason behind Solandar's laughter. It was a rueful admission of his past shortcomings that he found amusing.

"That's when the Elemental Nexus intervened. He couldn't directly interfere, so he granted me the power of the Phoenix. If I fail that time, Solara is doomed," Solandar said with a confident grin.

"I'm excited to test the limits of the Phoenix's power," Tigas said. 

He enjoyed a good challenge, especially when facing opponents much stronger than himself. The Phoenix was one of the most powerful Elemental Beasts.

Solandar, with a mischievous glint in his eye, asked Tigas, "Do you want to give it a shot?" Tigas felt a chill run down his spine and quickly shook his head, regretting his earlier enthusiasm. 

"Don't worry," Solandar exclaimed, "you'll see the power of the Phoenix, but not from me. From him," he said, pointing to Elion.

"Him?"

"Me?"

Solandar nodded, admitting he only possessed a fraction of the Phoenix's power. "I've only managed to harness a quarter of it and that's all I'm able to keep as well. But Elion, you're capable of mastering it all," he said.

"That's impossible, Solandar. Even as a Supreme Elementalist, you couldn't easily control the Phoenix's power or defeat the demons. So, how am I supposed to do it?" he lamented. Elion was skeptical.