"Eh? You're not going to kill me?"
Hearing Yuzuru's words, shock immediately appeared on the firebird's haughty face. Though it was greatly surprised, it seemed that the prayer in its heart had somehow come true...
"What would I kill you for? To eat the meat off your body? There's so little meat on you that it wouldn't even fill the gaps between my teeth."
As Yuzuru spoke, he pinched and kneaded the firebird's body. Then, a look of disdain appeared on his face.
This sight made the firebird grit its teeth in fury. It wished it could burn this bastard to ashes with a mouthful of Tri-Color Flames!
"Submit to me and work for me, and I'll spare your life!"
Yuzuru stopped joking with the firebird and spoke with a serious expression, his tone carrying an unquestionable command.
"...I'm willing!"
For a firebird that wanted to live, there was no choice at all. It had only one path to take, so it lowered its head directly, showing its submission to Yuzuru.
Seeing this, Yuzuru smiled. Then, under the firebird's gaze, a one-meter-long Black Rod suddenly appeared beside his hand. It shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye, finally becoming so tiny that it could no longer be seen.
Yuzuru then directly inserted this inconspicuous Black Rod into the firebird's head. The firebird immediately fell silent. It had originally still harbored a faint thought of running away, but that thought was now completely shattered.
After leaving behind a means to restrain the firebird, Yuzuru withdrew all the Black Rods from its body, restoring its freedom.
Freed from the Black Rods' restrictions and interference, the firebird quickly sensed the surrounding Natural Energy and rapidly absorbed it into its body. A special crimson flame emerged from within it, and the puncture wounds caused by the Black Rods rapidly healed at a speed visible to the naked eye...
"What kind of fire is that?"
Yuzuru curiously stared at the crimson flames on the firebird's body and asked. During their battle earlier, it had not used this type of flame.
"I call it the Flame of Life. It has an extremely strong healing effect on injuries."
Looking at the master who held its life in his hands, the firebird quickly adjusted its mindset. Thus, it explained Yuzuru's question without holding anything back.
"By the way, do you have a name?"
Hearing the firebird's words, Yuzuru felt more and more that it resembled a divine beast from his memories of his past life, so he asked it.
"They all call me Firebird, or something like Blaze Calamity..."
The firebird thought for a moment before replying. From the day it gained consciousness, it had lived within the magma of Flame Mountain. Only occasionally, when Flame Mountain erupted, would it go out for a few laps. The rest of the time, it simply stayed in Flame Mountain.
"In that case, from now on, you'll be called Phoenix!"
Yuzuru spoke to the firebird, then continued, "Your Tri-Color Flames will be called Samadhi Fire, and that Flame of Life ability with its healing effect will be called Rebirth Through Fire..."
The firebird did not care much about such names. Since Yuzuru said so, it would change them accordingly.
Yuzuru was very satisfied with the firebird's—no, Phoenix's—reaction. This gave him a powerful helper, but having only Phoenix as a hidden card was hardly safe. It would be best to have a few more.
With that thought, Yuzuru immediately opened a black-and-red portal and pulled Chimimōryō out from inside.
Phoenix was instantly shocked by this sight. After all, it was no ignorant young Yokai. This ability to manipulate space was enough to demonstrate how terrifying Yuzuru's strength was!
"Lord Yuzuru! Have you already subdued Firebird?"
The moment Chimimōryō was pulled out by Yuzuru, it saw a huge flaming bird meekly crouching before him. There was no need to think further; Phoenix had clearly been subdued by Yuzuru.
"Mm. It'll be called Phoenix from now on. Remember that."
Yuzuru nodded and told Chimimōryō.
"Yes, Lord Yuzuru!"
Chimimōryō answered respectfully. Then, like a large floating purple-black insect, it circled Phoenix before speaking smugly. "Little brother Phoenix, I'm Chimimōryō. I'm an old-timer who submitted to my lord before you did. Please take care of me from now on!"
Chimimōryō still remembered being chased relentlessly by Phoenix's Tri-Color Flames. That humiliating and shameful memory had lingered deep in its heart. Now, it could finally regain some face in front of Phoenix!
As a newcomer, Phoenix had to respect an old-timer!
That was the only natural thought in Chimimōryō's mind.
A thin strand of Tri-Color Flames shot from Phoenix's beak and landed directly on Chimimōryō.
The next moment, Chimimōryō let out a scream. Its purple-black energy body dragged a small flame emitting black smoke as it frantically spun through the air...
"Don't let it happen again!"
Seeing this, Yuzuru knew Phoenix had shown mercy, so he merely reprimanded it and did not impose any real punishment.
Upon hearing that, Phoenix simply lowered its head slightly in obedience. It could submit to and respect Yuzuru, who was far stronger than itself. That was the proper attitude toward the strong. But it did not care in the slightest about a tiny monster from another world that toyed with people's hearts!
As for old-timers and newcomers?
Phoenix had no such concept.
In Phoenix's heart, there were only two kinds of people: the strong and the weak!
After an unknown amount of time, Chimimōryō finally managed to extinguish that wisp of Tri-Color Flames. It then floated listlessly behind Yuzuru, staring at Phoenix ahead with lingering fear. What had just happened made it relive the humiliation of that year...
"Alright, I have something important to—"
Yuzuru began to speak, but before he could say the final word, Chimimōryō and Phoenix lost sight of him.
Just as Chimimōryō and Phoenix were feeling confused, the sound of something cutting through the air suddenly came from afar, carrying gusts of wind with it.
"Hey! Blaze Calamity!"
A young girl's voice rang out. Immediately afterward, a massive snow-white tiger with wings sprouting from her ribs appeared above Chimimōryō and Phoenix. Her proud tiger eyes looked down as she asked Phoenix, "Where's the person who fought you? I clearly sensed that he was still here just now!"
White Tiger was not very old to begin with, and she loved excitement by nature. So when she learned that Phoenix was fighting an enemy, she considered whether to go take a look. She had barely managed to suppress her curiosity and decided not to go, but then Phoenix flew straight toward the territory where she was...
So she leaped out of the canyon and headed straight for Phoenix. Fortunately, she excelled at speed through her ability to control wind and space-time, so it did not take her long to arrive. She had originally wanted to join forces with Phoenix and have some fun with that enemy, but now the enemy had vanished without a trace!
Phoenix looked up at this foolish White Tiger, and pity and anticipation immediately appeared in her flame-filled bird eyes. Even Chimimōryō beside her helplessly shook its head, its human-like face soon revealing an expression of eager anticipation for the show to come...
"?"
White Tiger sensed two waves of deep malice, yet she had no idea why. She merely tilted her head at Phoenix and Chimimōryō, her adorable tiger face filled with confusion.
Before you continue