"This phoenix has been corrupted."

The research was a fake front.

Derek was building an army of powerful beasts to attack the academy.

He was doing it slowly to make sure the principal did not catch him.

The phoenix would become one of the most dangerous monsters in the future.

Suddenly, Obitus trembled.

Can I eat it…

It looks tasty….

Neo was about to refuse when Obitus added,

Eating it will complete me…

Phoenix, even if corrupted, was delectable for Darkness wielders.

Neo smiled bitterly.

"Sorry, but I have to focus on mission for now."

'For now, that is.'

He walked up to Mars who crouched next to the Phoenix.

"Can you do the mission? I know you are tired, but we don't have much time."

"Do I just need to circulate my Flame-element Divine Energy into the phoenix?"

"Yes, high purity Divine Energy will give it the energy it needs for the rebirth."

"Then it's no problem."

Neo gave the same excuse as Derek.

In truth, the phoenix, had it not been corrupted, should've been able to go through the rebirth by itself.

Mars sat in the lotus position.

He placed Phoenix on his palms.

Wisps of flames materialized around him.

He closed his eyes and circulated the Divine Energy.

'It shouldn't take more than an hour,' Neo thought.

He was pushing Mars to his limit.

However, there was an important reason he chose this mission.

After confirming everything was going smoothly, Neo left the phoenix's next.

He met with Christian and Jack.

"How is it going?" Jack questioned.

"Good."

While he was speaking, his device rang.

> Felix <

Felix: Transfer me 60 credits.

Me: Why?

Felix: I need it for the task you told me to complete.

Me: Wait a minute.

> Felix <

It was the thing he asked from Felix before he met with Percival.

Neo called out to Christian and Jack.

"I need you guys to send your credits to Felix."

"How much?"

"All twenty."

"…"

Jack pursed his lips.

"Are you sure, Neo? They might have some use for their credits in their mission.

"If we help them, they could complete their mission before us and get the slot."

Neo frowned.

Jack's words were not wrong.

He could not trust Felix to follow his words.

But…

"Yeah, it's for something important."

Christian and Jack nodded.

They agreed to transfer their credits to Felix.

> Felix <

Me: I'll send them now.

Me: But how will you get them? There is a limit to the number of credits you can take from others.

Felix: I spent 200 credits increasing the limit to 1000.

Me: …Where did you get the credits from?

Felix: I told you. I'm famous outside of God Clans.

Felix: I asked for 2 or 3 credits from quite a few people and voilà.

Me: Why would they help after teaming up against us?

Felix: Not everyone did that because they wanted to. They couldn't deny the God Clans.

Felix: Anyway, got to go.

> Felix <

Neo closed the chats.

He spoke to Christian and Jack for a few minutes before he returned to Mars.

…

West Section, Mystica Fauna Preserve Sanctuary

"Did you send the others to that blonde and his team?" Lucas questioned.

"Yes, I've sent Kendrick and Gwen," Harrison said.

"That bitch Zoe really wasted a lot of chances."

Lucas clicked his tongue.

The two stood at the top of a small hill.

They could see the majority of the sanctuary from their location.

"Are we really going to do this?" Harrison asked. "This would be too easy track back to us."

"It doesn't matter.

"The Principal will never interfere and without her testimony they won't have any guaranteed proof."

Lucas grabbed the bow and nocked three arrows at once.

He pulled the string.

Divine Energy rushed into his core.

It transformed into Space-infused Divine Energy before Lucas casted a Spell.

Miniature portals appeared on the tip of the arrows.

"It's time we show them their place."

Lucas fired.

…

Phoenix Biome, Mystica Fauna Preserve Sanctuary

Neo waited for Mars.

In the meantime, he observed the phoenix.

The presence of Death around it was unique.

'Is it like this because the phoenix can revive itself?'

Neo felt as if he was close to enlightenment.

Only a small barrier lay between him and Adept mastery.

Just then, the presence of Death flared.

A wrist-sized hole appeared before Neo's face.

He saw two similar holes materialize around Mars at the same time.

There was only a split second for him to tilt his head and dodge the arrow that flew out of the portal.

It slit his cheek.

"Mars! Are you okay!?"

Neo quickly stood up.

He scanned the area.

There were no further attacks.

But.

"Neo…?"

Mars held the corpse of the phoenix in his hand.

An arrow was shot through its heart.

The phoenix was dead....

They failed the mission.

Neo's face hardened.

"What about you? Are you injured?" He asked.

"No, I was able to dodge the attack but—"

"The attacks aimed at us were a distraction. Their real goal was the phoenix."

Mars, exhausted due to the missions he did during the past day, was not able to react on time

He couldn't protect the phoenix.

Slowly, Mars face morphed into a frown.

"Who! Did! This!"

Giant threatening flames covered his body.

They twisted, transforming into eastern dragons, and roared.

Neo looked at the hill in the distance.

Who did this?

Neo knew the answer.

However, he couldn't do anything.

Things like this happened in every competition.

'I bet they think like this.'

Phoenix, already corrupted, was going to become a huge threat in the future.

It couldn't be saved.

Neo always planned to kill it.

And he used Zeus Clan as the scapegoat.

"Return to the mission hall with Christian and Jack, and take another A-rank mission.

"It might not be too late if we hurry.

"I'll deal with the matters here and inform the sanctuary owner about the mission failure," Neo said.

Mars barely suppressed his anger and nodded.

After he left, Neo stared at the corpse of phoenix.

Who was he to refuse a free gift?

He called out to Obitus.

"Devour the corpse."

The Darkness slithered.

It pulled the phoenix into its embrace.

Voices returned.

Neo could sense the presence of Obitus swelling.

[Strength +1]

[Divine Energy +2]

Obitus pulsed.

It grew stronger and stronger.

Neo supressed it.

"Sleep. There is no need to hurry up your awakening. That will only harm you."

Thank you… Give me a few hours…

I'll meet… you soon….

Neo smiled.

He could sense its emotions.

It was feeling guilty because it couldn't sense the attack on time.

Shaking his head, Neo left the nest.

'I've failed the mission as I planned. Now, it's Felix's turn.'