Merged

'What the hell?' That's just what I could think of as when I thought that whenever a mind-blowing thing occurred, it was just the last of it. But every time, I was taken aback by new occasions that made my heart nearly race out of my chest.

This was just getting out of hand.

"They think that am still bound to them, how naive?" The Phoenix ridiculed as a layer of flames suddenly covered both of us.

I was transfixed as I emerged inside the whirlpool of flames. With time, they changed colors so fast that I nearly passed out on the spot.

This was something else. Looking at the Phoenix with a pleading gaze, I noticed that even the colors of its feathers were drastically changing.

From light blue to light green, from pink to purple the flames' colors were the most absurd as I had never witnessed any kind of other flames except earlier when I was showered with the black flames from the sea serpent and, now.

Cawww!

Too dumbfounded to talk, I watched as I was too engulfed in the raging inferno and slowly but surely I was fully covered with it.

I could feel a soothing sensation. The kind that screamed out loud, 'you are safe.'

The bird opened its beak and comforted me. "Try staying calm, this will be over just in the blink of an eye.

With that, I finally closed my eyes as I felt no harm from the flames just like earlier.

Several things were happening at once and I knew just by concentrating on the changes I could feel in my body.

I felt lighter and lighter and if it was possible, I even thought that I could fly. The injuries that I had sustained in this small period of time since I was caught, were healing up at an astonishing speed.

At first, I thought that the remedy I had taken in the morning was finally showing some effects but feeling my pores opening and welcoming the fire inside, I thought otherwise.

The broken bones were mending themselves and I rejoiced as I was getting so much from a situation that would have warranted my death. I was happy and thankful.

But with all that, something was off. Something that I hadn't thought of until now. Something that would enlighten me on which way to follow after this. Something important and I didn't want to live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder for the things that I didn't dare to ask and change.

I had to know. "Why me?.."

"Why is everything turning out the opposite from what everyone thought?.."

"Why are you even asking for a bond with me?.. Why?.. What's so special?.."

"I want to know, I'll be thankful even if you burn me to ashes... But I have to know the truth."

Now that I had the courage to blurt that out, I was contemplating on the fact that I hadn't done something that I would probably regret forever.

The Phoenix gazed in my eyes for a while then spoke in its silvery voice. "Now I like that. The spirit, courage and the burning desire... In all my years alive, I have only witnessed a handful of souls that matches yours."

"First, I won't burn you if it's a must to know... The fact that we are both in a place we aren't supposed to be, here, on the mortal realm, doesn't that make you feel something isn't right..."

The bird had my mind and heart racing. The bird said that it was escorting my soul in the underworld just before it was forcefully evicted to the world. Does that mean that I was, once dead?!

Everything wasn't adding up. I asked a simple question but what I got in return were a bunch of questions that only added more unsolvable questions to the pile.

"I am mighty and powerful so is Cerberus but am afraid that for some of your questions, I have no way of answering them until we know who, or what is responsible..."

"And secondly, you and your father were faithful to me in life and then, in death I was your guide. But here in this realm, we need to stick on each other for our survival as we are just as vulnerable as any beast in this world... That is until we gain all of the glorious power that we have lost trying to sustain our life force in a lesser realm."

With that, the flames vanished so suddenly and I was able to see a fraction of the arena before the bird drapped both of its wings over my shoulder.

Its feathers were like the finest linen I have ever felt. They were slightly warm and smelled of cinnamon, cloves and mar. Their touch made me feel safe and lighter.

I was safe, for the time being.

It seemed that I have always been in danger, or maybe my fate was just one of the horrible ones. However, with everything on my plate right now, only one goal was unscripted in my mind.

To survive!

If I could do that now, then whatever followed will just have to fall through as I couldn't see my future but at least I could channel my energy on the present.

In the split of a second that I had a view of the arena, it seemed like not even a second has passed because everything was just the way it was before the flames engulfed me.

I could swear that we had spent a few minutes in the whirlpool of fire, but I guess everything is weird as I can't explain anything that's happening right before my eyes.

The Sea Serpent was raging forward and Cerberus seemed to be flying as it tried to encounter the serpent before it reached my position.

Breathing in the wafting and comforting sweet smells of the bird, my mind raced from one place to another. However just before the serpent took a bite at me, the Phoenix suddenly vanished.

At this juncture, everything was just happened in the blink of an eye and I, as a mortal, couldn't keep up with it. In the face of danger, I commanded the spear and it created a barrier between me and the serpent's enormous mouth.

"That was a good move, I knew that you were worthy from the first time I laid my eyes on you." I heard the soothing voice and a hint of disdain plastered itself on my face.

How could these beasts always run when my life was on the line?

"Stop lamenting Lucifer... This is a win-win situation, so I suggest you get your shit together and focus on the energy flowing throughout your body."

Bam! The voice came as a shock as knew that I was just alone. It was good that I could hear it speak, but seeing that I will be the only one to be devoured alive. I felt my heart clench.

The energy?! Raising my forearms ahead and examining them, my eyes widen in shock at first but I was too devastated in the next as I saw flames erupt from nowhere and covered me wholly.

Though I have experienced this feat a few minutes ago, I was still fazed seeing it happen without the bird around.

Haahahaha!

Hahahahahaha!

"I never thought of this day to happen ever... Lucifer for a bit, I'll be taking over... What I need from you is to feel and watch."

"You are still new to all this and given the circumstances that we are in, there can't be mistakes... You know, I was limited to act on the mortals as I am different and a higher being."

"However, now that we are one...

Hahahaha!

Let me just preface it for you, shit is gonna burn... Acheron is about to witness the most gruesome scene that will forever be retold from generation to the next..."

This bird was a psycho, that I was sure of.

I had questions but whatever was happening just in front of me was so eye-catching that I just watched as everything just took place.

Bang!

Boom!

The serpent struck head first on the rotating lance and it was easily pushed back a few meters.

While it was still in motion, Cerberus nearly missed the serpent but its left paw landed a weak strike on the top of the head.

Bang!

Crush!

Booom!

The situation had turned in the blink of an eye.

"Cerberus, stay out of this..."

Just when I was rejoicing, the Phoenix ordered Cerberus to stand down.

How presumptuous!

If that didn't get me on the verge of tears, then if I could cry I would as I saw the lance move away in the next second.

This bird is so full of itself. Seeing how every strike could create a devastating shockwave, I reminisced on how I would fair alone with such a beast that even Sir. Mountain couldn't even hold a candle to it.

"Don't you worry Lucifer, you just have to sit back and enjoy the show."

Swoosh!

I shot forward like an arrow that has just been released from a bow.

I was only within five meters from the serpent.

I picked up speed and charged forward, generating a blast of air behind.