The cries of a phoenix echoed for hundreds of miles.
These types of Ancient Ones had been feared in the past—and their cries would still be feared in the New Age.
At this moment, in the skyborn Kingdom of Neon, the figures of King Darrun Flamewake and the other Titan Dwarves turned ashen at the sound of the terrifying phoenix. They looked around at the humans nearby, whose faces had also changed. But the humans didn't seem to fully understand what terror that cry represented.
A heavy Ancient One. A powerful, ancient race that brought with it only calamity.
King Darrun Flamewake closed his eyes as if in silent prayer, hoping this calamity wasn't heading their way.
Warning systems buzzed, audible only to the higher-ups of Neon, as the Andromeda Sentinels of Dr. Shaw had already picked up the outlines of the Phoenix Legion in the distance.
The people of the Magitech Colony Dynasty—left behind, also sensed the cry. Their expressions turned grim as they sent word back to their True Magitech Throne.
Thousands of miles away from the Kingdom of Neon…
Near the Colonies of the Magitech Colony Dynasty…
Achilles' Primordial Avatar moved alongside the Magitech Frames, his expression subtly shifting. Seconds later, the Magitech Frame piloted by the True Magitech Throne came to a halt, buzzing as her voice echoed out somberly.
"The cry of an Ancient One was heard for miles around your Kingdom. Do you know what it is?"
She asked with an overabundance of care, and Achilles replied with a grim expression while glancing back.
"An Astral Core Ascension Phoenix. Bringing with her dozens of Dharma Manifestation Phoenixes, among others."
He could see the glimmer of flames in the skies through his main body as he confirmed it.
Hearing those words, the Magitech Frame fell into heavy silence. The face on it turned cold and furious as she slammed her fist onto her throne and rose.
She said it simply, yet with finality.
But Achilles had no plans to die whatsoever.
"This is why all Colony Dynasties should be near each other… for moments . You cannot die when you have such an important role to play. So… I will send my main body to your aid!"
She made a weighty decision right then as she asked, quickly and urgently.
"I've seen you teleport with those white flames. What's the extent of that teleportation? How close could you get my main body to the Kingdom of Neon?"
She asked one thing after another, and Achilles looked at her with a glimmer of warmth.
This was the first human ruler he had seen with both intelligence and compassion. He sighed and replied.
"I can get you all the way there instantly."
As he said this, he placed a Waypoint marker toward the distant Capital of the Magitech Colony Dynasty so he could teleport back to this region when needed.
But preparations were already underway. A terrifying Astral Core Ascension aura blazed from the distant capital city and began to make its way toward him.
This ruler of an entire Colony Dynasty was sacrificing her time—and herself—to come to his aid. To ensure he didn't fall. Because she believed he might be the one to unite the Colony Dynasties.
Someone with that kind of heart… Achilles didn't want to see her die.
And she wasn't just kind—she was powerful. Because the moment her aura surged, he saw a terrifying figure trailing black brilliance fly toward them, rapidly closing the distance in the skies. In seconds, a tantalizing woman appeared.
She looked to be in her early 30s, adorned in a regal queen's robe that shimmered with black and purple. Her tanned skin pulsed in the air, radiating with what looked like astral brilliance.
This… was a genuine Astral Core Ascension entity, standing before him. She had already begun absorbing starlight into her body.
And the power it granted her was unimaginable. With her addition—and with Achilles about to enter the stages of Dharma Manifestation—they might just survive this ordeal.
"Send me back to Neon. My brother is defending my capital for now. But if you can start raising the Capital behind me to the skies, we can get things moving!"
Her eyes were bright—eager to act.
Achilles nodded, white flames erupting to envelop them both.
Near the Holy Hyacinthus Mountain Flower.
The time between the phoenix's cry and its arrival was laughably short. A few hundred miles meant little to such beings.
Moments later, they were just a dozen miles out, hovering in the skies. The massive green-flaming phoenix gazed across the landscape, her eyes narrowing on the rising Holy Hyacinthus Mountain Flower—then shifting toward Rose.
The word—and that gaze—struck Rose like a thunderclap, turning her expression ashen.
"For a human to awaken the bloodline of the Ancient Millennium Acheron Phoenix within her… is both pathetic and correct. It means you still remember the honor we once graced your kind with. Come here, child."
The phoenix's voice was domineering, her presence wild and clear in its message.
One thing was certain—they were drawn here by Rose's awakened lineage. And the Phoenix was no ally.
But Achilles didn't even need to answer. Rose shook her head.
"I will not be coming with you. My lineage is mine, and if there's no conflict between us...I would prefer to keep it that way."
Her gaze was valiant and firm as she spoke.
The phoenix's eyes flashed coldly as her head swiveled toward the Dharma Manifestation Realm Phoenixes behind her- each exuding horrific auras. She spoke out.
"Liam. Vicra. Did you hear me pose a question or a request just now?"
She asked rhetorically.
And they didn't answer—because they didn't need to. The Ancient Millennium Acheron Phoenix, Ayan, turned her gaze back to Rose and Achilles and spoke coldly.
"Yeah, I don't think I made a request. What I said… was a command, you feeble-minded human. Get the fuck over here before I burn everything you hold dear."