Sealed Phoenix

Sealed Phoenix
Nicole walked along the narrow mountain path with a small bag over her shoulder.

The cold wind brushed against her cheeks as she climbed higher, but she barely noticed it. The journey wasn’t difficult, even though she had already traveled far above the safer parts of the mountain.

Most people avoided this place.

The paths were steep, wild creatures roamed freely, and no one knew exactly what waited deeper in the mountains.

That was exactly why Nicole had chosen it.

She needed somewhere no one would follow her.

The higher she climbed, the quieter the mountain became. Eventually, Nicole stopped when she reached a wide gap between two ridges.

Even a skilled warrior would think twice before attempting the jump.

Are you really going to jump across that? Zirah asked inside her mind. Nicole, that gap is huge. You could die.

Nicole smiled and stretched her arms and legs.

“You keep forgetting who I am.”

I remember exactly who you are. You were a general in your past life, but this body is still young. You probably have one percent of your former strength. Let me transform if you...

Nicole ran before Zirah could finish.

She pushed off the edge.

Wind roared past her ears as the ground disappeared beneath her. For one thrilling moment, she seemed to fly across the gap.

Her cap slipped from her head, allowing her black-and-white hair to whip freely behind her.

Then her feet hit the other side.

Nicole bent her knees to absorb the impact before straightening with a satisfied grin.

Zirah went quiet.

Then she admitted, I’m impressed.

Nicole laughed and pulled another cap from her bag.

“It doesn’t matter if I only have one percent of my old strength. My body still remembers what I’ve been through.”

Zirah answered with an approving growl.

Nicole adjusted her disguise and continued walking.

She wore simple men’s clothing, a loose white shirt tucked into dark pants with sturdy boots. It wasn’t a perfect disguise, but from a distance, anyone who saw her would probably assume she was a young man traveling through the mountains.

Besides, Nicole had worn men’s clothing many times during her life as a general.

She still preferred it to the uncomfortable dresses she was expected to wear now.

After walking for another few hours, she finally reached a secluded clearing surrounded by thick trees.

“This should be far enough.”

Nicole sat on the ground and removed the bag from her shoulder.

Inside was the mysterious box she had bought from the auction house, the same box everyone else had mocked as worthless.

She carefully pulled it out.

This was what she had been waiting to open.

Nicole brushed the dust from the lid before lifting it.

A faint metallic smell immediately filled the air.

Inside were three objects that looked like nothing more than forgotten junk.

An old red amulet.

A small blood-red stone.

And a broken fragment of a Dawn Moon sword.

Nicole carefully placed all three objects on the ground around her.

Anyone else would have thrown them away.

Nicole knew better.

She had discovered their true nature in her previous life.

There was no spiritual energy inside the box itself. What Nicole had sensed back then was the spirit sealed within these three objects, calling to her because of the powerful spiritual energy she possessed at the time.

These relics weren’t worthless.

They were a prison.

And something incredibly powerful was trapped inside them.

Zirah’s voice became serious.

Nicole, you don’t have enough energy to release it. If you force the seal open, it could kill you.

Nicole looked at the three relics.

“Then what do you suggest?”

Use my energy.

Nicole frowned.

It should be enough to weaken the seal, Zirah continued.

Nicole understood the problem immediately.

If she used too much of Zirah’s energy, Zirah would probably fall asleep again to recover. Neither of them had regained their full strength yet. Zirah’s power was connected to Nicole’s, which meant that as Nicole became stronger, so would she.

Right now, both of them were still weak.

Before Nicole could argue, Zirah spoke again.

What was it you just said? It doesn’t matter if I only have one percent of my strength because my body still remembers everything I’ve been through?

Nicole laughed.

“Now you’re using my own words against me?”

Someone has to.

“Fine.”

Nicole looked down at the relics.

“Let’s do it.”

She placed both palms against the ground and closed her eyes.

“Zirah, lend me your power.”

Warm energy immediately spread through Nicole’s body.

It traveled from her chest down her arms until a faint glow surrounded her hands.

Nicole directed the energy toward the three relics.

Nothing happened at first.

She continued.

Minutes passed.

Her breathing became heavier as more energy left her body, but the relics remained still.

Nicole refused to stop.

She pushed harder.

Pain spread through her chest.

Blood suddenly rose into her throat, and she coughed, staining the ground red.

Nicole...

“Keep going.”

You’re getting weaker.

“So are you.”

Exactly.

Nicole almost smiled.

“Then we better make this work.”

She poured more energy into the relics.

The red stone suddenly trembled.

Then the amulet moved.

The broken sword fragment followed.

Nicole opened her eyes.

The three objects were shaking violently.

Something was waking up.

The air around her became heavy, filled with an ancient power so overwhelming that Nicole struggled to breathe.

Her vision blurred.

The ground beneath her began to shake.

Then a brilliant red light exploded from the three relics and shot into the sky.

Nicole lifted her head.

Her eyes widened.

A massive phoenix hovered above the mountain.

Its enormous body burned with crimson flames, while its eyes glowed like molten gold. When its wings spread, red light covered the entire clearing.

Even Nicole stopped breathing for a moment.

The creature was beautiful.

But she also knew exactly how dangerous it was.

Centuries ago, this red phoenix had been feared across the land.

Although it lived alone and avoided others, powerful people feared what it might someday become. They gathered together and attacked it.

The battle was brutal.

Eventually, the phoenix was defeated.

But they couldn’t kill it.

So they imprisoned its spirit instead.

Its soul was divided and sealed inside three ordinary-looking objects: the red amulet, the blood-red stone, and the broken piece of the Dawn Moon sword.

Those objects were hidden inside a box.

Over the centuries, the box changed hands countless times. Its true history was forgotten until eventually, everyone believed it contained nothing but worthless junk.

Then it reached the auction house.

And finally, Nicole.

She slowly pushed herself up.

Above her, the phoenix stared down.

Its golden eyes narrowed.

Nicole immediately sensed something was wrong.

The creature tilted its head as it studied her.

Then recognition flashed across its face.

Before Nicole could react, the phoenix moved.

Its enormous burning talon slammed her against the ground.

Nicole gasped as pressure closed around her neck.

Zirah growled furiously inside her.

The phoenix lowered its head until its burning golden eyes were directly above Nicole.

“We meet again, Moonborn.”

Its voice carried enough hatred to make the air tremble.

“This time, I will have your neck.”

Nicole stared up at it.

Then she understood.

Of course.

The phoenix wasn’t angry with her.

It was angry with her blood.

Centuries ago, one of Nicole’s Moonborn ancestors had helped seal this creature away.

Now Nicole had freed it.

And the first thing the phoenix wanted after centuries of imprisonment was revenge against the bloodline responsible.

Unfortunately for Nicole, she was the Moonborn standing beneath its claws.