While the flames remained unchanged, the Sage had transformed. Once a wielder of Fire, he had become one with it. Almost. Merging with his flames consumed aether, and his reserves were far from infinite.

[Aether Reserve: 82/325 (temporary)Conquest Timer: 4 min 44s]

Yet, Unity was much more. The Sage smiled as a trident of light pierced through his body. The blinding attack left a hole in his abdomen before vanishing into the wall behind him. The Tier 2 had condensed enough aether in its skill for it to continue its path in the earth for about twenty meters, vaporizing any mineral matter in its way.

The assailant tilted its head, seeing the Fire champion still smiling. No blood flowed from his wound, just a few sparks. His body had become fire. A flame sealed the hole, dissipating to reveal charred abs. Previous wounds lingered, but his vitality rapidly healed him.

The Sage had achieved Unity, becoming immune to most physical attacks.

"I am Fire, and Fire is me," he thundered in an alien tongue. An untrained ear would have heard crackling sounds and flame whispers.

To emphasize his words, the Sage punched into thin air. At the last moment, his arm disappeared into the flames, reappearing against the rabhorn's temple. Empowered by Conquest, the Sage's strength exploded. With a terrible crack, the Tier 2's body was catapulted against a cave wall, creating a hole.

A flame flashed across the Sage's severed shoulder and his arm reappeared. Now whole again, he effortlessly conjured a fireball the size of a house. He condensed it before launching it at the enemy like a Genki Dama.

A wave of flames engulfing the cave followed the explosion. The next moment, the Sage evaded a terrifying counterattack by merging into his flames. His instinct warned that the second trident was dangerous, possibly infused with a Concept, Mastery, or Aura capable of harming him despite his connection to fire.

Riding the flames, the Sage opened metaphorical eyes to a fiery realm. This parallel world was the Fire Domain. Unlike the mist, fire wasn't omnipresent in the real world. Perhaps because Mist was a Tier 1 Concept and Fire a Tier 0?

It was irrelevant to the Sage. Each flame and spark was a portal back to the material world. Having unleashed Ifrit's wrath on the surface and in the underground, he had plenty of exit options.

Above the rabhorn, a tongue of fire danced before revealing the Sage. Promesse materialized in his hand, adorned with flame-like patterns. The bound weapon had evolved with its wielder.

Its tip lit up as the Sage's fire and aura merged to deliver a finishing blow to the rabhorn. The Tier 2's horn intercepted the attack before glowing.

The Sage rode his flames, disappearing again into the Fire Domain. Suddenly, his instinct screamed. Without hesitation, he spent a significant portion of his aether to find a safe place.

Above, the forest was reduced to ash and cinders. On a charred trunk, a flame grew, transforming into a humanoid figure. Just in time.

Fifty meters away, the ground erupted in a luminous burst. Radiant tridents of light shot in all directions. Each had the potential to kill the Sage.

With perception and agility, he avoided fifteen, contorting himself. One of the last weapons still found his chest. Piercing a charred pectoral, the attack was blocked by a rib. Boosted by Conquest, the Sage's constitution was so exceptional that even a Tier 2 elysian's special attack couldn't pierce his bones.

Feeling invincible, his Assistant reminded him of reality.

[Conquest Timer: 4 min 17s]

Without swiftly killing another enemy, his boosts would vanish. Time was ticking, and the Tier 2 was as terrifying as promised.

Unlike Tier 1s and 0s, its attack didn't disappear. The solid light harpoon remained lodged in the Sage's body, and he frowned. The weapon must have interfered with his concept, for it was impossible for him to ride the flames.

Annoyed, the Sage grabbed the trident to remove it manually. Barely touching it, the weapon exploded. Roaring in rage, the Sage was thrown backward, shards of solid light in his body.

Cushioned by a mat of hot ashes, he felt his strength waning.

[Aether Reserve: 41/325 (temporary)]

[Aether Reserve: 40/325 (temporary)]

[Aether Reserve: 39/325 (temporary)]

His ember-like pupils widened as the Tier 2's aether spread into his body, replacing his own energy.

"Squik!"

The rabhorn's screech surprised the Sage. The Tier 2 was less than fifty meters away and seemed more annoyed than tired. Its horn glowed again, and a thousand spears appeared in the sky, aimed at the ground. A Tier 2's aether reserves were incomparable to those of a Tier 0.

For the Sage, the show of power didn't matter. As the embodiment of an eternal Concept, it was his duty to win. Grinding his teeth, he plunged his hand into his wound, searching for solid light fragments. He yanked them out brutally, scattering ashes and charred flesh. Meeting the gaze of his nemesis, he disappeared. The deluge of light smashed the ground, shaking the ruined forest and raising a cloud of ash.

The Sage reappeared in the cave. His consciousness was in dire straits, but he understood that an open-area battle wasn't to his advantage.

The Tier 2 had lived in the huge warren and would die there.

With wings of fire spread and his body restored, the Sage floated in the air, waiting for his adversary.

Flames had quieted, and lava had solidified. The room was dimly lit by a few holes in the ceiling due to the rabhorn's attack. In the darkness, two ember eyes gleamed.

The Tier 2 appeared. Without a word, the Sage's wings vibrated, seemingly teleporting him behind the rabhorn. A serpent of fire coiled around his fist before striking. Enhanced by Conquest, his strength surpassed the Tier 2's, lifting it off the ground. The Sage reappeared behind the rabhorn and executed a volley, then another. In the next seconds, he chained the igneous opponent into a devastating aerial combo.

The choreography ceased when the Tier 2's horn glowed again. Breaking the sound barrier, the Sage retreated as an intense and focused beam of light was fired. The ceiling lifted, and the laser pierced the clouds. Despite his constitution, the attack would have annihilated the Sage.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The Tier 2 realized he needed to finish its opponent, and the Sage agreed. It was time to end the battle.

As the rabhorn struggled to breathe, wounded by the combos and fatigued by its attacks, the Sage spread his arms, summoning fire.

Surface and depth flames converged. The blaze that had engulfed the forest and the tunnels vanished in a heartbeat. The wrathful hydra gathered its forces into a single point. Like a receding ocean, the sea of flames flowed, merging with the incarnation of Fire.

The Tier 2 recoiled as rivers of fire entered the Sage’s body. An orange glow emanated from his orifices, and his muscles glowed from within. The Sage screamed as his body absorbed the thermal energy and fire concept.

His soul was flame-resistant, but his body wasn't as well-tempered. The energy he manipulated was too vast, too intense. Yet, as the flames ravaged his body, they also baptized his flesh. Every surviving cell, refined by the fire, transformed the Sage's body. He felt his physical affinity with the concept increase. His bones sang while cracking, and his tendons were tempered while burning.

Time was running out.

With an open mouth, the Sage consumed every last drop of fire on rabhorn territory. The entire forest, animals, and ambient aether gathered in the draconic third lung in the form of flames.

The rabhorn looked at him anxiously, but it didn't flee. Its horn glowed again, preparing another laser. The Sage accepted the challenge. Conquering Fire allied with the Tyrannical Dragon.

A devastating Breath exploded.

Hell broke loose, colliding with the laser. Both attacks measured each other for a moment before the fire broke its chains, annihilating the light.

The Breath hit the rabhorn head-on, slamming it to the ground. Its fur began to vanish as the monster howled.

Pressure and heat increased in the cave before its ceiling gave way. The earth burned, melted, and evaporated as the air turned into plasma. A tower of fire assaulted the heavens in a destructive imitation of Babel.

The cataclysm lasted nearly ten seconds before the column dissipated. Of the Tier 2, only a horn remained at the bottom of a lava puddle. Elysian ground had bowed to draconic flames.

The feat's author was in no state to rejoice, his body also gone. The Sage had burned everything that could be, including himself.

After several seconds, a sigh was heard. Feet passing through lava without touching it, the illusion of a young woman appeared. Her clothes and features changed every second, but her golden, piercing eyes remained the same.

"What an idiot!" she cursed, watching the ashes of her rival lifted by hot air currents.

She turned to an open chasm in the indestructible ground. The huge crack wasn't caused by the draconic breath. The death of the rabhorn guardian had revealed it. The young woman hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. If he hadn't wasted his last life, her rival would return quickly. Curious, he would plunge into the depths of Elysium.

But I might as well make sure.

Priam's spirit dissipated in silence, stunned by his fractured soul. Nothing remained of his body but ashes and a few drops of golden blood mixed with lava.

Phoenix’s blood.

As his consciousness scattered, Priam heard the voice of his heritage.

Fire is a cycle.

Nirvana triggered. Connection established.

Death's Obsession... A fitting name for a Phoenix.

But you're still raw.

May the Fire’s Unity teach you a lesson.

Nirvana failure.

The suns began to set as a fine rain extinguished the last lingering flames. The skies sought revenge for the fire that had failed to stay in its place.

Facing the sea of ashes, flames, and mud, Sphinx wept softly. Priam had vanished without a word. He was her first friend, and he had hurt her. Mixed feelings battled in the child's heart and incomprehension emerged from the conflict.

She felt like sulking, making him understand that she was sad. But perhaps he needed her?

"He was weird," she murmured. Despite the heat, he had looked at her with such cold eyes... As if he didn't know her. Sphinx shivered, feeling very alone.

"Poor darling... Are you hurt?"

Sphinx raised an eyelid. A young woman was smiling at her. Ashen snow passed through her.

[Grand Identification]

[Error] - Incorrect target.

Her skill detected nothing but her Karmic Talent did.

"Who are you?" growled Sphinx, wiping the huge tears streaming down her cheeks. The woman seemed kind, but Sphinx didn't need more friends right now.

"My name is Ophia. I am—"

"Liar."

"Excuse me?"

"Your name isn't Ophia."

"Oh?" The stranger gave an awkward smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you, but names hold power."

Sphinx already knew that. Thanks to her karmic talents, she could use a name to boost the power of her abilities.

"Forget my name. I came to tell you that your friend is in danger," the stranger continued.

Sphinx shook her head. The karmic link to Priam was inert, not broken.

"He's just dead."

The stranger grimaced. "One might think everything's fine," she ironized. "But his consciousness was damaged. He could need you to regain his senses. You're not obliged to help, of course, but that's what friends do..."

"I... I think he doesn't want to be my friend anymore. I must have done something wrong..."

Fresh tears flowed from Sphinx's gigantic face, and the stranger's gaze softened.

"Oh, my dear... It's not your fault; he wasn't himself anymore. His consciousness merged with an infinite Concept, and he let himself be controlled. That's the problem with prodigies, thinking nothing can resist them. However, I'm sure he loves you a lot; otherwise, he would have attacked you. Deep down, he's still your friend."

"Really?" A note of hope pierced Sphinx's voice.

"Really."

Sphinx sprang to her feet, shaking the ground. Her vitality had already healed her wounds. "Then I'll find him to reassure him. After that, he'll have to apologize by preparing me a meal and giving me lots of cuddles!"

"That will be wonderful," the stranger smiled, turning towards the sea of ashes. "I saw his corpse fall into a chasm, in the center of the rabhorn territory. You should hurry before he resurrects..."

Without waiting, Sphinx dashed forward. Before disappearing, she threw an invisible karmic harpoon at the unknown woman. Priam had told her to be wary of liars.

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)

Consciousness partially shattered. Log downloaded by the Assistant.