From pitch darkness came incomprehensible light, like looking directly into the sun and seeing nothing but the glares. The bright light, a blend of yellow, brown, orange, and red, crawled across his vision. It was a moving painting that slowly fell into place. The yellow was the sun, the brown was the bronze metal, the orange was the flaming Phoenix, and the red were the Ranger’s blood spurting from both ends as she got stomped.

The Phoenix shifted its head towards the Shield-man as he crawled away, chugging down a health potion. A torrent of flames fired from the Phoenix with such force it smashed him against the ground.

Nico was glad he didn’t see how his face contorted, or how his screams sounded. The flames covering him were too bright, too dense, and far too hot to cause pain. His flesh melted on top of his shield with no resistance or struggle. It didn’t feel real. It wasn’t. Without sound things seemed to weigh less.

Nico looked around for the Kinetic Rifle user. He couldn’t spot him or the twins. The only person that was standing was Kara, wobbling from left to right towards the Phoenix.

Those few steps didn’t make sense to Nico. He can still feel the health shell moving in her veins. Her breath was taken and her ears were still busted. Her sense of balance was broken. She should not have been able to stand, much less walk, but she did, and Nico couldn’t understand why. The extra pain she put herself through was meaningless. The distance she struggled to take was insignificant.

Nico got to his feet too, and before he knew it, he ran past her. He tried to figure out why he, the team’s healer, is engaging the fight against a Boss that could reduce him to a puddle with a single breath, but he couldn’t come up with a reason. He tried to figure out what he was planning in the first place, but he couldn’t come up with an explanation either. He felt distant and dreamlike, as if he wasn’t in his own body. It reminded him of his duel a few years back.

He looked at his pumping arms. One was Kara’s Locust, the other had the axe of a dead man. What was he going to do—tackle the flaming metal Phoenix to the ground? Jump two meters to whack it on the head? Make fun of its stupid face?

Nico made a Kinetic Shell. He dropped the axe and took the shell from the Locust, then pointed the Locust at the Phoenix.

He realized that dropped him to 0 Energy only after the fact. He’d made two health shells and used a heal on himself after Kara’s attack, plus a Kinetic Shell just then. Using both Energy stored inside the Locust, though, gave him two Heat. He could use the Bone Skewer now. He charged it up. Instead of counting the seconds it needed, Nico thanked his sub-conscious mind for all the work he hoped it was doing, because his conscious one was tired and had gone to sleep.

(Boss) Phoenix Of the Bronze Fields ★★★

Energy: 7/12

Heat: 5/18

Shields: **

Boss Trait: Thermal Powered (Epic III)

Per each 2 Heat you have generate 1 Shield and increase your Physique by 10%. Each Shield lost reduces Heat by 2. Increase your Heat and Energy storage by 6.

1st Skill: Thermal Cloak (Uncommon III)

Consumes 1 Energy to sprout flames from your scales. Grants you 1 Heat every 2 seconds for 30 seconds. Moderately increases your thermal Resistance. Increase your Heat storage by 6.

2nd Skill: Hyper Booster (Epic III)

Consumes 1 Energy to increase Physique by 20%. Creates 3 Heat.

Duration: 4 seconds

Cooldown: 4 seconds

3rd Skill: Flame Horizon (Rare III)

Consumes 1 Energy to move all the flames you have created towards your target. You may consume your Heat for additional effects.

Cooldown: 7 seconds

A bright green metal streaked through the hot air. It was split into four quadrants, each connected by a knee like joint. It pierced the right-wing, spurting flames on the other end. He felt its blood sizzle against the Locust’s metal, and he felt the Bone Skewer burst into a grappling claw.

He Retracted, causing the Skewer to drag himself towards it so fast his feet almost slipped off the ground. His legs struggled to keep up with the pace.

The Phoenix turned around, swinging its wing out. A wave of fire slid on the ground towards Nico, leaving the ground behind it into a melted puddle of metal. He threw the shell below him, now Extending the Skewer. The shell burst, sending him higher than he’d ever gone on this world, and for a moment he dared to look around him at the coming Deep.

He Retracted as he went above the Phoenix. The Skewer bent alongside the joint as Nico landed behind the Phoenix. He rolled with the fall, but he didn’t get far before the Locust pulled him into a run towards it.

The Phoenix was sprinting towards Kara and Luna, spreading both of its wings wide. It looked like it was going to take off into the air. Luna ran off to the side closest to Nico while Kara bent low mid-run to fetch his axe. She charged towards the Phoenix with it. He didn’t know what she wanted to do, but he knew he had to do something.

Nico yanked on the Locust, hoping the Skewer would hold—It did. He didn’t. His feet got yanked off from the ground. He fell on his chin and got dragged forward faster than his brain could track. He haphazardly got his feet under him but he could not stay on them. The skin and meat got warn off until the bone ignited sparks without slowing the Phoenix. It leaped into the air before Kara reached it.

There was a slight delay in the take-off of large airborne creatures, and especially with the heavier ones. They had to jump into the air with enough distance from them and the ground to beat their wings far enough to gain altitude. That opening was barely longer than a second. With a straight back and firmly planted feet, Luna caught Nico during that timeframe.

She slid back with him, almost tripping. He bellowed in her face and smashed his feet against the ground. His skeleton shifted beneath his skin.

The Phoenix’s wing bent back towards them. It flew sideways with its other wing pointing towards the sky. With its right bent backwards, it came crashing down in a large heap of its own flaming metal and boiling blood. The Skewer was crushed during the fall. Nico and Luna fell back. She got off of him quickly and he sprinted towards the Ranger.

The bottom of his feet, now more bone than flesh, slid as he came to a stop over her corpse. He held his hand over her body and Siphoned her.

Something small but interesting happened. Instead of filling his Energy storage to full then using a heal, he was able to use the Heal before he put the Energy into storage. That meant if a skill required more Energy than he had storage for, then he could just Siphon something to use it.

Not the time for theory crafting, Nico thought, walking back towards the Phoenix as the yellow fog seeped into his skin. He froze after a step. He turned around, panting. He walked around the tree, his hand sliding against its smooth balk.

Balled against the tree was the Kinetic Rifle user, the bowl-cut Ranker, and one of the young masters of the Iron House. He held his face, whimpering quietly as blood slipped through his fingers. His ears were bleeding. A spilled red bottle was boiling in the sun a few feet away from him.

Nico stared for a few precious moments. He tapped his fingers against the tree, the sound substituting for any thought he should have been doing. He walked forward, picking up the potion. He placed it on the other side of the tree and returned to the battle.

The Phoenix charged Kara, its broken wing dragging behind it still fully aflame. Kara dodged into the injured side. The Phoenix turned its head with her, its beaks full of flames. It opened it a few inches before Kara’s axe struck it from the bottom, closing it just as the flame torrent shot forward. The Phoenix’s mouth blew open, sending teeth out like flaming arrows.

Kara was flung to the side by the explosion half aflame. She struck the ground with her shoulder and rolled. The flames were smothered as she rose to her feet.

Nico struck her with a health shell as he ran by. He made a Kinetic Shell, placing it into his hand, then aimed the Locust at the Phoenix. It was running away towards the edge.

He couldn’t let it escape, not after all the work the Rankers did for them. Nico fired the Bone Skewer. It pierced through the left wing. Nico Retracted, pulling himself towards it.

The Phoenix turned around, whipping its flaming wing at Nico. A wave fire came towards him. He gritted his teeth and Transmuted away the Bone Skewer. He stumbled but held his balance. He pressed his chin against his collarbone and protected himself as best as he could with the Locust. His hand was firmly behind his back.

Third time’s the charm.

He jumped through the fire, coming out of the other end with his entire front side covered in bone melting flames. He peeped open his eyes to see the Phoenix diving forward, its mouth broken open like a burst pipe. With a yell, Nico stuck the Locust inside it.

The next thing Nico saw was the vast blue sky, the ground, then the sky again. His body rolled backwards like a ragdoll. On habit he used a Heal. His feet went up, almost flipping back again, but fell to the ground sending a small cloud of dust up. He rested on his back, panting for no reason. His Heal should have recovered his fatigue but his brain was confused. He swallowed and consciously calmed his breath until it came nice and easy.

He sat up. The phoenix fell to the ground, its head burst open. Nico watched it with suspicious eyes. He didn’t trust it would stay dead.

That was so easy and quick it felt wrong.

Kara walked away from the Phoenix towards the edge. Luna walked with her. “Talk to them,” she said. “Cutting them won’t benefit you.”

“Where are you going?” Nico said, getting up.

“Give the Rank up to Luna,” Kara said.

“What?” Nico and Luna said. They glanced at each other. Nico quickly made his way towards Kara. He walked on the other side. “Can you explain why we’re not making the strongest person even stronger? She’s not even trained—are you trained?” Nico said, leaning forward past Kara.

“I once kicked a mean boy when I was 13,” she answered, meeting Nico’s eyes. “But I believe he was attempting to flirt, so that one might not count.” She turned to Kara. “Show them that there is a chance for victory against the Syndicate.”

“Stay here,” Kara said, stopping at the edge. She turned towards Nico and tilted her head slightly down to him. She stood still for a few moments, staring at him as she sometimes does—quietly, incomprehensibly. The silence was pliable and discomforting.

She turned away and ran down the mountain, her Deviation making her bounce across its surface as if she was a ball. The twins were halfway down heading towards the City, or maybe the Iron House. They probably won’t expect for a human to fall out of the sky. He couldn’t predict how they’ll react, much less what Kara would do.

He turned away from her and walked towards the Phoenix’s corpse. Its mouth was blown wide. The back of its head was burst outward. He bent to it, placing the Locust over its head. Its body turned yellow. The process took longer.

The flames burning its corpse singed his skin. Luna stepped behind him. She placed a hand over his shoulder, taking away his heat and shinning brighter for it.

“That is very convenient,” Nico said.

“Portable air-conditioner,” Luna said. “And a light bulb, whenever you need it.”

“You’re like a moving appliance. What do you reckon you need from this thing?”

“A way to cook food evenly would be nice,” she said.

“Killing wise.”

“Like I said,” Luna said. “A way to cook food evenly.”

Nico raised his eyebrows. “I thought you would be a bit more…somber after that.”

Luna shook her head. “I’ve tried my hand at peace,” she said, looking at the Ranker’s corpses. “And so have you.”

Nico flinched. There was a terrible taste in his mouth.

The yellow light covering the Phoenix became so dense it covered it like a thick blanket. It gathered on the Locust as a large tear drop now shinning orange.

Boss Soul Of A Phoenix

Harvest

Siphon

Boss Reprocessing

Nico picked Boss Reprocessing. In a flash of light the blob turned into a white card with 3 golden stars on it.

Rank III Blank Card

Ranks up the wielder. Can only be used on those that Rank less than III. Will show 3 epic skills to pick from.

Nico handed Luna the card.

“Do you know why am getting it?”

“I do,” Nico said, though it’s not a good enough reason to not give it to Kara. “You have the highest potential out of any of us for growth for your second Rank up. You have a legendary skill that gives you unlimited access to heat, but no skill to put that heat too—which is where the Phoenix comes in. It should give you something to spend your heat with.”

“But you don’t know whether you can trust me or not,” she said. “I could have orchestrated all of this, so I would get the Rank up. That’s the worry, isn’t it?”

“You might not turn out to be buddies, or even on the same side, but you do need each other. I guess that’s enough for now.” The perfect synergy was there. If Luna can get to a point where she can bring night to day, then Kara will just be all that powerful for it.

“It would be nice if we became friends,” Luna said, looking at the card. It burst into yellow fog that went into her. It came right out, forming into three yellow cards in front of her. “Do you think it’ll happen? For us to be more than partners in crime?”

“You would know more about that,” Nico said, standing beside her.

Thermal Lance (Epic II)

Consumes 1 Energy or 3 Heat to fire an accurate and thin line of thermal energy that will deal its damage over 2 seconds.

Charge for 2-6 seconds, gaining 1 Shield damage and 5-meter range for every two seconds charged.

Cooldown: 6 seconds

Thermal Spirit (Epic II)

Consumes 1 Energy to transmute your body into flames for up to 2 seconds. You may move during this time at a speed proportional to the heat you have. Creates 2 Heat upon cast.

Cooldown: 6 seconds.

Thermal Orbit (Epic II)

Consumes 1 Energy or 2 Heat to create a ball of fire that hovers from your palms. Each Fireball has the potential to deal 2 Shield damage. Until you shoot the Fireball, it will not explode.

On command, the Fireballs may hover in the air. As long as you stay within 5 meters, you may command them to fire in the direction your palm is pointing at.

Cooldown: 4 seconds

“Thoughts?” they said.

“You first,” they said again.

Nico opened his mouth as Luna did. “Are you doing that on purpose?” she said.

Nico closed it. He narrowed his eyes at her.

“Only the last two,” she said, smiling wide. “And only because you think I understand Kara more than you do.”

If you can’t understand her, then what hope do I have? Nico studied monsters, and as much as cynics out there would have everyone believe, humans were not monsters. They were soft-fleshed weaklings whose lives revolved around sex and how to get more of it. The murdery, torturey part was a minority that did not deserve to be the face of the entire specie.

Nico clicked his tongue. There it happens again, thinking about useless things. It’s like alongside his arm he’d lost his ability to focus. It was infuriating. It’s like not even his brain was his. “You might have become invulnerable if you got something like a Thermal Shiel skill.. So which skill are you thinking of going with?”

“Thermal Orbiter,” Luna said.

“Why?”

“Because I have an infinite fuel source. Thermal Orbit will allow me to expend more heat, and thus absorb more light.”

“Go with it.”

Luna picked it. The card changed, leaving only Thermal Orbit.

Thermal Orbit (Epic II)

Consumes 1 Energy or 2 Heat to create a ball of fire that hovers from your palms. Each Fireball has the potential to deal 2 Shield damage. Until you shoot the Fireballs, they will not explode.

On command, the Fireballs may hover in the air. As long as you stay within 5 meters, you may command them to fire in the direction your palm is pointing at.

Cooldown: 4 seconds

Transmuter Perk: Allows you to create a Fireball from each palm.

Emitter Perk: Increases speed of the projectile.

“Pretty darn good I would say,” Nico said.

“It is,” she said, inserting the card into her chest. “It’ll says it’ll take 10 minutes to finish.”

“Experiment with it, but for now only use one fireball until you get the hang of it,” Nico said, turning around. He walked over to the Ranker’s bodies. “By the way, ‘in the direction you’re pointing at’ does not mean at the target. If you’re pointing north, it will fire towards the north, regardless of what you’re pointing at.”

“What are you going to do?” Luna asked.

“Put on pants,” he said. “And a shirt, maybe.”

“Nil,” Luna said, following him. “Can I ask you a question?”

“No one ever asks whether they can ask you a question, then asks a non-leading question.”

“Did their deaths bring you joy?” she said, motioning to the Ranker’s corpses.

Unfortunately, alongside their bodies, all their weapons were smashed to bits. The shield that absorbed the flames and spat them out from the hose got hit by a flame torrent from the inside, causing it to melt into the Shield-man’s corpse. The familiar smell repulsed him.

The only suit that was left belonged to the Ranger, and good thing too, since it was the only one that was remotely Nico’s size. He wore the pants and began buttoning up the shirt, fully aware that the only function this ingenious human creation was going to do was going to be to cover his small butt cheeks, and he very much enjoyed that fact.