Chapter 1/2] The Matriarch Phoenix's Seduction
The matriarch phoenix roared in defiance and transformed mid-flight into her true form—a towering creature with fiery plumage and a blazing crown of light. Their battle escalated, a dazzling display of flames and frostfire clashing in the skies above the plateau.
But the matriarch's prowess was not enough. Linsley's control was absolute, his Real Fantasy gift rewriting the very nature of her flames, while his annihilation consumed her attacks with ruthless efficiency.
With a final blow, his frostfire engulfed her, extinguishing her flames and forcing her to crash dramatically onto the plateau. The proud phoenix's body shimmered, shrinking as she reverted to her human form.
She lay sprawled on the ground, her long, fiery hair spilling across the scorched earth. Her breathtaking beauty, marred by the tattered remnants of her regal attire, painted a pitiful picture.
Her voice was soft, trembling yet laced with desperation as she spoke. "Please... spare my clan. We can... be of use to you."
Her golden eyes glimmered as she shifted slightly, revealing just enough of her figure to attempt seduction. "Surely, a ruler as powerful as you must crave companions of beauty and grace."
Linsley smirked, his expression unimpressed. "Heh. Seduction? I already have two beautiful wives and even a fallen angel who loves me. Beauty isn't something I lack—and I'm far too disciplined to be swayed by such tactics."
The matriarch's gaze faltered, her pride bruised beyond repair. Her voice wavered. "Then what do you want from us?"
Linsley raised his hand, summoning his Real Fantasy gift to enforce his will. "Loyalty. Nothing more, nothing less."
A glowing Soul Contract materialized in the air—a scroll of purple flux that radiated authority.
He extended it toward the matriarch. "Sign this with your blood. Defiance or betrayal will result in annihilation. Refuse, and I will burn your clan from the skies."
The matriarch hesitated, but the weight of her clan's survival pressed upon her. Slowly, she pricked her finger, letting a drop of her flaming blood fall onto the contract.
The scroll absorbed the mark, pulsing briefly before embedding itself into her form. One by one, the other phoenixes followed suit, their screeches subdued as they signed their loyalty.
"Good," Linsley said, his voice calm but commanding. "Prepare your warriors. When I call upon you, you will answer."
The matriarch bowed her head, her golden eyes filled with a subdued fire. "As you command."
Linsley turned toward the citadel, his white flux shimmering faintly. The Phoenix Clan's submission marked the beginning of the Bird Continent's unification.
With his goal nearly complete, he summoned another portal, its golden energy pulsating with purpose.
Linsley stepped through the portal, emerging atop a windswept ridge overlooking the Bird Continent.
The vast expanse stretched before him—dense forests, rolling hills, and jagged peaks. The skies above crackled with vibrant flux storms, a reminder of the untamed power that still lingered in this land.
The white flux around him pulsed faintly as he activated his Real Fantasy gift, summoning glowing screens to display the region.
Territories beyond the Phoenix Clan's influence came into view, revealing scattered strongholds of the Eagle Clan, the Hawk Clan, and the Owl Clan. While these clans weren't as dominant as the Phoenix Clan, their combined strength could still pose a challenge if left unchecked.
"These clans cling to their pride and independence," Linsley muttered, his gaze sharp. "But pride won't stop the infection. Unity is the only way."
One screen caught his attention—a battle raging in the eastern skies between the Hawk and Eagle Clans.
Lightning bolts clashed with razor-sharp winds, creating chaos as the two sides fought for dominance. Neither seemed to notice the spreading infection at the edges of their territories.
Linsley's eyes narrowed. "Blind fools. They're too busy fighting to see the real threat."
He flicked his wrist, summoning a new portal. Its golden energy shimmered as he stepped through, descending into the heart of the conflict.
…
—Above the Eastern Skies of the Bird Continent—
The clash of elements roared like thunder as Linsley emerged in the middle of the skirmish. Lightning streaked across the sky, colliding with violent wind storms.
Eagle and hawk warriors darted and dived in their avian forms, their piercing cries echoing through the skies.
Linsley hovered effortlessly, his white flux forming a barrier that shielded him from the chaotic energy.
His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Enough."
The sheer authority in his tone rippled across the battlefield, silencing the fighting as both sides turned to face him. The warriors hesitated midair, their glowing eyes narrowing as they sized him up.
A massive eagle, its feathers crackling with golden lightning, descended.
It shifted midair into its humanoid form, revealing a tall, imposing figure clad in golden armor. "Who dares interfere in the affairs of the Eagle Clan?"
Before Linsley could respond, a hawk warrior—sleek and sharp-eyed, his presence swirling with wind energy—hovered beside the eagle. "This is no business of yours, outsider. Leave now, or be swept away."
Linsley's gaze was cold and steady. "Your petty squabbles blind you to the true enemy. The infection spreading at your borders will consume you both if you don't unite."
The hawk warrior sneered. "We don't need an outsider to tell us how to fight."
The eagle leader raised a hand, signaling his warriors to hold. His sharp gaze locked onto Linsley. "Unity? Under whom? You? A mere human?"
Linsley's white flux pulsed brighter. "Yes. Under me. The Phoenix Clan has already submitted. You will follow, or you will burn."
His words triggered an immediate reaction. Both clans surged forward, unleashing their combined power in a furious assault. Lightning bolts and wind blades converged on Linsley's position, creating a tempest of destruction.
Linsley sighed, his Annihilation gift flaring to life.
With a single motion, he unleashed a concentrated blast of annihilation energy, consuming the attacks midair. The force of his counterattack sent shockwaves across the battlefield, scattering the warriors like leaves in a storm.
The eagle leader roared, golden lightning enveloping his form as he charged at Linsley. "We are the rulers of the skies!"