Reincarnated as a Phoenix

Chapter 136 – Hell

---I'd rather ask this a better time but an idea has come up for an 18+ chapter which I'm 50/50 on whether you readers would want it. Poll is at bottom of page.

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"Sounds like a plan…"

Petra being the absolute crazy protagonist she is, jumps down mid conversation into the cavern filled with demons. It looked reckless as hell and she even did a freaking superhero landing as well!

As I'm jumping down to join her, another idea comes to mind about what I can actually do. Trying to avoid using fire really is something I'm not accustomed to after all.

'Aesa, should I activate my new protection ability just to be safe?'

I'm still yet to give some new abilities a try out but two of which are fire based so may not work right now.

[<Aesa advises -Ikarus- wait until ability -plot protection- may be needed. Target -Petra- does seem pretty confident in being able to handle species demons alongside -Ikarus->]

'Okay then… just make sure you get it ready as well as aspect, just in case'

[<Affirmative, Aesa will always try to assist -Ikarus- to the best of Aesa's ability>]

Almost immediately being down here, we gain the attention of two demon kind looking like they were on a break, think one was having a piss but they very quickly go to grab their blades when discovering we're right in front of them.

"Wha-…"

"Attackers! Sound the alar-, argh!"

Petra ruthlessly cuts off the first demon's head while I rush to give her a hand with the second by swinging Excalibur in his direction cutting him down with a magical beam.

I must have a face of pure shock right now, always thought that beam was weak as fuck but it's basically cut right through him like a knife through butter. I seriously underestimate how strong and able Petra is when it barely holds any effect on her. Never thought I'd be able to use a sword as a ranged weapon

It looks like we've definitely tipped the hornet's nest already down here, it takes less than a minute before we're completely surrounded by demons in every direction all looking to kill us like the trespassing vermin we are. Feeling this confident really shouldn't be allowed given the situation we're in but for some reason, I feel like these demons are going to be crap...

Almost in sync, me and Petra seem to instinctively grin even when the situation we're in should look completely bleak to anyone else and yet… all I can think of is how fun this might be! Forget the danger of the impending attack that could happen at any moment the settlement, I'm finally going to be fighting using blades alongside Petra. This really needs to happen more.

'Let's see just how much I've improved then…'

And so, the first of the group surrounding us decides to attack…

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(Temporary Perspective Change)

"What in blazes is going on over there!? What's causing all this ruckus?"

Almost without warning, demonic screams can be heard on one side of the cavern and soldier upon solider have all pilled around trying to find the source of the problem, the alarm has even been announced! What in hell is going on!?

"True majin, we appear to be under attack. Oddly enough, there's only two humans right now"

One of my brothers standing on a rock answers my question clearly having a view of the attackers, I should really try and get to grips with this situation.

Why would two humans randomly come into our forward camp though? Could they be scouts? If so, then there's no reason to worry, they won't be getting away from this army that easily!

Still hearing the roaring on my brethren, I can't help but be curious when those two humans are somehow still fighting. They obviously must be pretty strong to survive this long being surrounded by loads and loads of hulking majin, but it is still pretty confusing how they've been able to hold up so well.

"These two humans just won't die!"

"My arm!"

"You dirty humanoid scum!"

I'm even more curious now so I get a couple under my command to give me a lift up. Now, I can finally see the two culprits fending of wave after wave of majin. The sight of them fighting together causing so much blood is a real valuable sight but that's not what I'm focusing on.

Seeing them block, duck, counter, slice and lord knows what severing limbs and heads from my brothers is truly inspiring! Every movement they make is of pure grace and beauty, every single cut is precise and they only go for vital attack every time! They really should saviour the oppositions suffering more but I may be slightly biased in my viewing towards them knowing that they both appear to be female looking.

Knowing that they two beautiful human women and now, I really just cannot contain my excitement! To think they've just so happened to walk willingly into the spider's nest like this, it must be a sign! We have to capture them, for Asmodeus's sake, of course.

"Keep them alive! We can use them to gain favour with the lords!"

Imagine the rewards for bringing back two absolute stunning beauties. Sure, they may need slight taming first since they've already killed dozens of my brothers but I'm sure that'll be easy if we toss them around a little after they've been caught. Hear a scream or two of agony as well, that would be grand…

"They're killing too many of us true majin! Argh!"

"You fucking whores! Why won't you just die alrea-…"

Two more of my brothers find the impact of the spicy females attacks and now their souls will be reborn anew. The society has always been run on strength so if they can't survive especially with our superior numbers, then they were never worthy of being called a brother.

"True majin! We seriously need some help right now!"

I probably should join in to help, can't let them have all the fun. I can already taste the enjoyment of how later on is going to be… those screams are going to be blissful!

"Looks like I'll have to show you lot how a true majin fights then"

Just as I'm about to join the front and help my brothers out barging through the crowd, a strange phenomenon looks to be coming my way after witnessing the collapse of several more majins… that can't be what I think it is, right?

Almost as if I'm witnessing a miracle, a bright beam of magical energy soars in my direction. I've only ever heard rumours on such a weapon doing this and it's considered the bane of all majin existence… why is it down here of all places!?

"Is that… Excalib-…"

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"Ha! That's guy's head went flying!"

"Heh, we're getting surrounded again Ikarus, let me try something…"

Just as I've sent that big demon's head flying, Petra begins to activate her magic and all around us, black flame burns all who aren't resistant so, pretty much the entire group closest to us. 

Huh? Watching her burn that entire crowd was hot and all but don't they have at least some resistance to fire? What kinda bullshit is this?

"What the fuck Petra!? You told me they would be resistant?"

"It was just a theory Ikarus, not sure why you assumed it was fact. Thought you were enjoying fighting like this with me as well"

"I am, it's just... forget it. Looks like we're crowded again"

Knowing that I could've been using magic has annoyed me slightly, less complaining since I can very easily bring this fight to a close any time I desire now... should probably stop dragging this out as well now. We'll end up spending hours fighting like this if only sticking to melee combat, this fight isn't even worth trying over but being careless is something I refuse to do now.

The fight has been overwhelming easily especially having a ranged sword and my backup dagger. I can't believe I never thought to dual wield before this but now that I have, it's absurdly good... I guess the training we do helps a little as well.

You'll be surprised how easy it is to cut through hordes of demons with two blades though. The main is obviously going to be Excalibur, just having that ranged magic beam basically fucks up any demon before they get close and if they do manage that impossible task, I can easily manage the other with my less stronger hand giving my vampiric blade a taste of demon blood.

I've just cut down another who got extremely close as well, it's almost as if these lot are fighting in slow motion or something. I'm exaggerating obviously but it's really not difficult to get a hit or two in before they even have the chance to react regardless of the weapons they use. It's mostly been clubs, warhammers and swords but there really is some variety to what the swing though.

Despite that last group being cleared by Petra, another rapidly takes its place so it's time to use something with a little more kick... that couldn't be more of an understatement if I tried. It is supposed to be similar size to the nuke after all. Almost feel like I'm wasting something on these lot as children could probably put up more of a fight. I'm not saying I'd attack children but the comparison is legit though.

'Aesa, activate burning hellfire'

[<Confirmed, ability -burning hellfire- has been activated>]

Almost forgetting how this works, an orb starts to form causing me to have to sheath one of my weapons to grab it. Once the reddish-yellow thing has formed, I toss it directly at my feet...

"Ikarus! Give me some warning beforehand if you're going to do that"

Similar looking to a heated furnace or my star blaze ability, everything around us goes into an foggy, orangey shade of fire causing visibility to turn to shit. It's pretty hard to tell its even fire but the demonic screams beckoning all around us definitely proves that it's seems to be cooking demon flesh right now. This entire cave must be flooded with fiery goodness right now, that has just effectively ended this battle.

"Sorry Petra... are you blind as well right now?"

"Heh, obviously Ikarus, I know that's not what you meant though, can't sense anything other than you inside this right now"

 It doesn't take long for the screams to fade yet the fire consuming the cavern remains leaving just us two wobbling around trying to get any sense of direction in this furnace of my own creation. Maybe I could've given this some more thought before activating it but hey, we really shouldn't be toying with our prey that much when we don't know what's going on up there... hang on...

'Aesa, how's things up on the surface? Please don't tell me everything's gone to shit just yet'

[<Things are fine, however, -Ikarus- is being impatient. Aesa and target -Jaxon- haven't even made it back to the settlement yet>]

'Huh? What the hell is taking so long? It's just a quick flight over the channel'

[<-Ikarus- is asking for impossible task... Aesa doesn't know how to fly>]

Ohhh... it's an AI in humanoid body thing that's causing problems, gotcha.

'Okay... just keep me updated if something's going down or going wrong then'

[<Aesa will inform -Ikarus-, but surface seems perfectly calm as of right now. If situation changes, Aesa will provide update>]

'Good...'

Once visibility finally returns, all that's left down here under the surface is us two phoenixes, a charred blackened ground and that obelisk still standing proud in the centre of it all. Burning hellfire definitely is good for wiping an area clean, if you obviously exclude the fact all those demons just perished in a horrible way to go. I really should have more smypathy for burning someone alive but hey, that's my focus so nothing I can do about it. Blame Aesa since she's my system after all.

However, there's something else that's caught my eyes... and lips apparently.

"Petr-..."

It's every freaking time at this point! Why the hell does she need to keep doing this so unexpectedly? She's even put her hands on smothering my cheeks while stuffing that brilliant tongue down my throat, shouldn't we be focusing elsewhere right now?

"Heh, sorry about that Ikarus. Watching you fight like that has made me go a little crazy... didn't you say you have a fantasy of passionately kissing after a fight?"

Oh... I completely forget I told her about that thing where we fight side by side defeating the immortal hoards, and then having a brilliant kiss to celebrate the fight. It's more of a movie cliché I've seen once or twice but I think Petra's ruined it since I couldn't see it coming

"Y-Yeah... you don't have to a-apologize for it though..."

Post kiss stutter like usual, pointing it out makes no difference so let's just continue on otherwise... we'll end up moving this kiss further on if you understand what I mean.

"...Anyways... you have any idea what that tower looking thing does?"

"You know Ikarus, this reminds me of those pods they use in the Spire for getting up the floors. You remember them?"

Erm... oh! I nearly forget the Magi guild have access to teleporters that get used for moving up the tower, really sums up just how much magic can do in this world

"So that's how they got down here then, using that thing as a teleporter? Is it still working at the moment though?"

Considering I'm now standing right in the middle of it and nothing's happening, it's safe to assume it's turned off or broken, right?

"Heh, it just requires a little bit of power if you know what you're doing. Stand back one second Ikarus... just in case something explodes or goes wrong. Know the magic but not if the majin side of it is the same"

Doing as Petra says, she starts to pump black fire into the obelisk and almost instantly, the ground cracks causing a gigantic mirror to form in the centre of it.

"That... wasn't supposed to happen. Say Ikarus, how curious are you today?"

...

"Are you really asking me that Petra? Don't you know anything about me?"

"Heh, stupid question. Fancy seeing what's the other side then?"

This sounds absolutely stupid, let's just enter the place demons came from to see what it looks like and hopefully not get stuck... I'm not really sure why I'm complaining. It's obvious my curiosity is going to get me in serious trouble one day.

"If we end up stuck in that mirror, the blame is fully on your shoulders Petra"

"Heh, duly noted Ikarus"

Both of us approach the gigantic portal mirror and slowly I put my hand inside. This almost feels like I'm about to enter a metallic liquid or something but forget worrying. The demons came from this so it should be safe, right?

Anyways, no point dragging this out so I hold my breath also holding Petra's hand conveniently enough and enter the demonic obelisk...

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"Wow... this place is intense..."

"..."

There's only one world that can describe best what this place is... hell. All around us is a hellish red landscape stretching far as the eye can see, no life in sight with the only colour adorning the darkened sky is fire burning in patches across the crimson ground.

It really is that dead except from only two real things of note. Alongside this obelisk, there appears to be hundreds of others lined up all going to different places in the world and really far off in the distance appears to be a manor or mansion looking house.

This place is really unsettling, almost as if this isn't something we're supposed to know about or even experience till way later. Petra can probably tell how I'm feeling just from the hand holding alone, it matters little how weak the demons seem especially when they seem to come from an entirely different world like this. They may be weak but the people who control them could be completely different, you'd think something like a demon lord in particular would be strong.

"I feel like we really shouldn't be Petra"

"Agreed Ikarus, let's see if going back is just as easy..."

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Thankfully enough, passing back through was just as easy and now we are back in the caves. I've never felt this happy to be underground more than I feel right now, that place has a real scary feel to it.

"Before we head back Ikarus, let me switch this off quickly"

Petra absorbs the magic she just put into the obelisk, the glass we just entered from shatters in a million pieces right in front of us. There seems to be a different problem now...

[<Why isn't -Ikarus- answering!? Answer Aesa!>]

'Aesa, what's up?'

[<Both -Ikarus- and target -Petra- must return to surface as soon as possible! Unless -Ikarus- wishes settlement to be turned into dust>]

Shit... this has to be the demons again, right? We were only gone for like a minute...

"Petra, we need to get to the surface now! I think the full invasion has arrived..."

To be continued...

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---Would you be okay seeing Aesa in a threesome alongside the lovebirds? I could see it as a way of making Aesa more human and Petra would be alright with it since the system is literally part of Ikarus. I really think the dynamic could work perfectly, especially having Aesa knowing everything hidden about Ikarus...

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