Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

He watched her like a lightning bold closing in on him with a rapid slash across his chest. Asura twisted his stance, lowered his hips and spun Lumeris Nova, stepping forward and meeting her Eastern sword—sparks erupted again.

However, this time, Asura stepped forward, making the Saintess smile as he pressed her with a second attack, slicing upwards before twisting his body and following the attack with a spinning slash, each attack sending a burst of flames to attack her.

Her blue violently swayed as she stared happily at his face, watching his eyes shining brightly and swirling in many rotations, each other causing her blade to tremble and feel the pressure and growing power as his fire magic increased.... faster.... larger... until he became a deadly whirlwind of steel with a firestorm following his attacks.

"Good! Good! Excellent! Your strength is growing wonderfully; combine your skills well!"

Her praises meant nothing as Asura concentrated, watching her sword parrying his thrust, attempting to slice the blunt top, only to find a fiery explosion occurring when her blade touched it!

"Hahaha! Magic cast from your blade? Amusing!" Her laughter only pissed Asura off as Nova flashed with lightning and frost, cracking like glass upon impact, the shockwaves blowing sand everywhere, blocking their view...

BOOOOM!!!!

As sand swirled like a storm before blasting away, revealing the two figures, one panting heavily, facing the other with smiles.

"Asura Fenix, what is that weapon and tell me again why you didn't use it earlier?"

The saintess was serious. Her gaze and stance made him feel more pressure than when she drew her sword. Asura straightened his posture before introducing it.

"Saintess, this is Lumeris Nova, and it is a strange weapon that I named a Sword-Lance."

Her blue eyebrows raised, and curiosity replaced her smile. "A sword lance? Hmm, interesting... that can work. It's still a sword, hahaha."

She noticed his heavy breathing and nodded twice.

"I never take males into my care, but after the monthly assessment, I will offer you the position of becoming my student. Let me know once you are back how, and until then, I will teach you how to master this Sword-Lance of yours."

"As for that interesting magic attack you have created... ask that firebird... Lorem. She will probably be excited to see you using such ingenious magic. It's different from my Gale sword art."

"You have made something that might be called phoenix sword art. Now go rest before you train with that woman... I don't allow my students to get sick or mistreat their bodies! Here, take this!"

Sigurd tossed him a small bottle filled with a strange red goo... but the printed label said, "High sugar, delicious strawberry recovery jelly!"

'Eh?'

Asura wondered what this jelly was... "Saintess Sigurd, isn't this jelly expensive... How should I repay..." Before he finished, her icy blue eyes glared at him, causing Asura to bow slightly and walk away, carrying Lumeris Nova as he ate jelly!

It tasted delightful, and after eating it, he felt revitalised, full of stamina and magic, as it felt like a chilled, soothing ocean of pure magic filled his entire body... 'Such exquisite jelly! This must be heaven!'

Walking away and savouring the flavours of strawberry, he heard the saintess words, "Remember Asura Fenix. I am the best woman alive... if you want to protect the Fenix territory and the kingdom from the coming darkness. You must surpass me, an ancient woman. It will be hard, but I will guide you, Lorem, and that crazy, huge-breasted woman..."

Her giggle carried away in the wind as Asura entered the changing rooms; strangely, he ran into Amalia sitting outside on the bench, drinking the same jelly as she blushed at him. "Brother... did you get hurt?"

Amalia seemed awkward as she offered her half-drunk jelly pot; seeing his, she smiled... "It seems we are both twins and twin disciples now, hehe... I'm glad..."

Although Amalia sounded happy, Asura could see her sad expression, "Amalia, you have grown stronger, too. Let's train together tomorrow." Asura smiled kindly, ruffling her hair, noticing how tall she grew and her slender waist curved to shapely hips and that she was now a fully grown woman.

When he realised the mental block stopping him from using Lumeris Nova, it also made him realise that regarding his mother and sister. His intense anger and desire for revenge blocked out many splendid memories.

The one who supported him when Mu Xue couldn't... was this little girl, but because he had never seen her training gear and the silly hood with a cat pattern on it.

'I always thought it was someone else...'

Asura realised there might be many issues with his 'memory' and would try living with his own two eyes instead. He only used those memories as a guideline before making dangerous decisions.

After getting changed, he walked to the training room with Lucretia, and like yesterday, they trained for hours until his body was black and blue. Thankfully, there was a second jelly pot that Amalia put in his pocket before she skipped back to her lessons.

***

In the home of Amalia and the Saintess.

"Did you make up with your brother?" Sigurd asked as she combed the wet hair of Amalia.

They had just bathed together in the enormous tub—the cat-like Amalia was kicking water and splashing because of her cheerful mood.

"Mmm... I thought he would hate me for leaving him alone for so long... When I think back now, maybe I should have brought him here too. So no one would have bullied him when I was gone."

"What about that maid? You said you loved him too much?" Sigurd filled Amalia's hair with a strawberry shampoo. It seemed the saintess was a lover of the red berry.

Kicking her legs and thinking to herself, Amalia answered with a positive answer.

"Mu Xue is an excellent maid and knight—she would never create problems for my brother even if she looked at him a little strange and would hide behind corners to follow him..."

"So if the person who bullied my brother was a noble... She wouldn't act unless sure she could be unnoticed... Brother is almost god in her eyes."

"Amalia... you say she is good, but why do you tremble and seem afraid of her? Did something happen? Fufu." Sigrud probably knew what happened because of how Amalia was when she first came to stay with her.

"Mmmm..... mother, she is so scary... I once said that brother would be my husband when I grew up, and she chased me out of the mansion and made me fall into a heap of... dirt!"

"Stupid Mu Xue... crazy about brother when he's my brother."

"Oho... the brother-loving Amalia hasn't shown in so long! Cute little girl, wear your cat pyjamas and go to bed!"

"Hmph... my brother is the best; he will beat you one day. Hehe."

Sigurd watched as the woman acting like a little girl rushed outside, headed into her room, and stared into the mirror.

She stopped using her mana as countless wounds appeared. Her flesh tore open in several thick wounds... all a little burnt, and she bled once again after she stopped holding back the damage with her mana.

"I know he will... Your brother is an actual monster..."

Her voice sounded both full of praise and contained a hint of worry as she tapped the wounds, letting them heal... but all of them left scars despite their difference in mana density and body strength...

"He will become a Sword Demon soon... and I will complete his foundation before the assessment!"