Chapter 101: Phoenix Awakening

Evan asked Delian for permission to take a look around the Magic Tower for a bit.

Since they arrived at the capital of the kingdom earlier than expected, he decided to use the spare time.

Without going inside, Evan walked in circles around the massive Magic Tower, inspecting it closely.

“Hyung?”

“Just a moment, I’ll be looking around for a bit. Take your time.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Delian didn’t find Evan’s actions incomprehensible, but he did think it was a bit much.

‘To think he likes the Magic Tower that much. Was everyone like that when they first saw it?’

When he first saw the Magic Tower, he just gasped in admiration once and that was it.

The massive, majestic tower was impressive, but only for a moment.

‘Well, people are all different. I guess he really likes the Magic Tower.’

While Evan was admiring the Magic Tower, Delian leaned against a nearby tree and decided to recall the events that had passed.

Evan’s new sides.

And even the process where they competed for the position of successor.

Delian had a lot to sort out in his mind.

Evan continued to inspect the Magic Tower, pressing his hand against its walls.

‘There’s a Hidden Piece concealed somewhere in the Magic Tower.’

A Hidden Piece hidden within the Magic Tower.

It seemed that something had been sealed here when the Tower was constructed.

‘If I trace back the origins of this Magic Tower, it’s not even the current king’s. Didn’t they say it was built long, long ago?’

This Magic Tower was built long before the Lupes Royal Family ever came to power.

So long ago that its history is unknown.

When the kingdom was established, only this Magic Tower was managed as the kingdom’s property.

‘So, in the end, even they aren’t the true owners. Which means I can claim the Hidden Piece sleeping in the Tower without hesitation. If it were the king’s, it would be nice to spite him. I don’t know what kind of person the king is, but to me, he’s as good as an enemy.’

There’s never been anyone connected to the Main Quest who wasn’t dangerous.

Evan checked the message window again.

[Ascalon’s seal has been released.]

[The Warden of the Magic Tower reacts to Ascalon.]

‘Does the Warden of the Magic Tower have some connection to Ascalon?’

Evan glanced around to make sure no one was watching and summoned Ascalon.

[Level: 3]

[Type: Two-handed sword]

…….

[Ascalon’s Unleashing: Able to collect Divine Beasts, and awaken the hidden power of Ascalon.]

[Other: A sacred sword existing since ancient times. Its origins and creator are unknown.]

‘Ascalon’s Unleashing?’

The newly unlocked ability of Ascalon allowed it to contain Divine Beasts.

Evan couldn’t hide his amazement.

‘So Divine Beasts exist in this world too?’

In his previous world, Evan had rescued Divine Beasts while completing various quests.

‘Divine Beasts are mysterious animals with unfathomable power. Their strength rivals even that of dragons.’

Of course, despite possessing such strength, Divine Beasts rarely used their powers.

They only showed their power when a Main Quest or some evil being appeared.

‘According to the Mediator, they were born to maintain the world’s balance since the beginning, so they never use their destructive power.’

Even so, Evan, having experienced the power of Divine Beasts firsthand, was certain.

With that strength, he could face any force.

‘But to think I can collect such a Divine Beast with this sword? I heard it was a sword left behind by Illudan’s ancestor, but this is on another level entirely.’

Judging by Ascalon’s newly revealed power, this sword could easily be rated SSS-rank.

Unlocking Ascalon was an incredible harvest.

‘If the Warden of the Magic Tower is reacting to this sword……’

This was exactly what Evan was aiming for.

He could now make some guesses about the Hidden Piece.

A Divine Beast must be sleeping here.

Ascalon glowed with a red light in response.

‘They definitely said this world has all sorts of mechanisms to protect the Magic Tower.’

He recalled what Alan had said.

‘Bone Dragons or Undead legions, and all sorts of insane things guard the Magic Tower. They prepare in various other ways too.’

Of course, with the tower blatantly located in the capital and managed by the kingdom, there didn’t seem to be much need for extra defenses.

An attack on the Magic Tower would mean preparing for all-out war with the kingdom, after all.

‘Sorry to the Tower Master here, but I’m taking the Hidden Piece for myself.’

Evan followed the guidance of Ascalon’s red light as he walked around the tower.

Before he knew it, part of the tower wall was connected to that red light.

“Is it here?”

Evan approached the spot.

It seemed like the red dot was indicating where he should insert his sword.

‘Let’s see what’s hidden here.’

Swish!

Evan thrust Ascalon into the wall of the Magic Tower.

The instant he did, red light exploded and wrapped around Evan’s entire body.

The dazzling brilliance made him squint his eyes.

After a moment, the light faded and a door in the Magic Tower opened.

‘Is this another entrance?’

Evan quickly looked around before hurrying inside.

***

[You have reached the center of Mars’ Magic Tower.]

As Evan entered, he could see the inside of the Magic Tower.

There were mages inside, along with all kinds of facilities.

But they were all semi-transparent, and it seemed they couldn’t see Evan from their side.

‘It’s the same location, but the space itself is different?’

Thinking that, Evan looked around the interior of the Magic Tower.

Then, Ascalon’s red glow began guiding him again.

‘It feels like the sword is being pulled somewhere.’

Evan followed the guidance of the red light and descended to the basement of the Magic Tower.

At some point, a dead-end wall appeared, but Evan could see more.

There was a path beyond the semi-transparent wall.

It was a structure that no one could enter unless they came through this door.

Evan placed his hand on the wall.

His hand passed through, and he realized the wall offered no resistance.

‘So there’s a Divine Beast beyond here?’

Evan continued down into the depths.

[Warning! You have entered the domain of the Flame Wave.]

Blistering heat enveloped Evan’s entire body.

Every breath he took felt like it was burning his insides as scorching air rushed down his throat.

The suffocating, deadly heat tormented him.

But Evan endured with patience.

[The effect of the Ring of Flame has been activated.]

[Fire resistance increased by 50%.]

He also used the Elemental Sword as he slowly moved forward.

But the farther he advanced, the more hellish the heat became.

It felt as though the fire was searing him to his bones.

It was different from being burned—this heat seemed to pierce right through his body.

And this sensation was familiar to Evan.

He recalled the Primordial Fire he’d experienced in a previous Archive trap.

‘Two forces within the flame. Mana and the power of the soul.’

It wasn’t ordinary fire.

It was a soul-burning flame that scorched right down to the bones.

Evan did not resist the sensation, enduring the pain and moving forward.

[Your Path of Mana level has increased.]

[You have experienced Primordial Fire.]

[Affinity with Flame has increased.]

He could feel himself growing accustomed to this intense heat.

As he approached the final dead end—

The pain that had been agonizing became something familiar and comforting.

On an altar reminiscent of a bird’s nest, there was an enormous mass of fire, easily over ten meters tall.

It looked like a blazing sun.

At first glance, it was reminiscent of the Mana Core that powered the Magic Tower, but Evan could tell.

That cute one who’d always followed him so well.

“Phoenix?”

At first, the heat felt extremely unfamiliar.

This body had never felt the heat of a Phoenix before.

But the body follows the soul.

Through the memories of his soul, his body became used to, even familiar with, this once-foreign sensation.

At that moment—

[Assimilation rate greatly increased.]

A message window appeared, and his body became even more attuned to his soul.

And Evan obtained another Mythic Power.

[The Myth achieved by Ihan has been synchronized.]

You have inherited the Friend of Divine Beasts Myth.

[Added to Mythic Power.]

‘Mythic Power.’

This too was an incredible gain.

Mythic Power varied by rank, but any of them would be a great help.

Evan checked the information on his newly acquired Mythic Power, Friend of Divine Beasts.

[Rank: Legendary]

[Description: Ihan saved Divine Beasts in danger. The Divine Beasts will never forget your kindness. Across worlds, your good deeds are recognized here as well. All Divine Beasts will remember the deeds you performed with Ihan. Affinity with Divine Beasts becomes 100%.]

The Myth grade was Legendary.

A rank higher than expected.

Legendary is one step below Divine, but it too had incredible effects.

To be able to maintain relationships with Divine Beasts.

That fact alone was of tremendous value to Evan.

Usually, Divine Beasts were said to be impossible to befriend, according to the Mediator.

Even if you found a Divine Beast, it was always a huge risk, with unpredictable events bound to happen.

But if the same rules applied in this world, he had nothing to worry about.

‘Especially if it’s the Phoenix……’

Evan examined the Phoenix egg before him.

‘A Divine Beast symbolizing Immortality and Resurrection.’

The Phoenix typically used its own life force as fuel for its skills.

When all its life force was used up, it would die, but then return to an egg state and, with time, be reborn even stronger.

A being that dies and resurrects—possessing infinite life.

With each resurrection, as time passed, it would grow endlessly more powerful.

Evan slowly approached the Phoenix egg.

At that moment, a message window appeared before his eyes.

[The Phoenix is under the Curse of Eternal Seal.]

“Curse of Eternal Seal?”

Evan inspected the Phoenix egg closely.

Runes covered the egg’s surface.

‘This is……’

There were clear signs of someone’s tampering.

The Phoenix, as an immortal Divine Beast, cannot die.

But there is a moment of weakness.

When it returns to an egg, it becomes defenseless.

‘If you can’t kill it, leaving it forever as an egg is no different from being dead.’

Whoever did this was clever.

Evan also discovered a chain connected to the Phoenix egg.

A semi-transparent blue chain with no solid form.

Following the chain with his eyes, Evan looked upward.

“Mana Core……?”

There was a massive Mana Core there.

The Mana Core that maintained and powered the Magic Tower.

Judging by the circumstances, it seemed that Mana Core was a restraint device meant to control the Divine Beast.

It felt like an artificial Mana Core made to keep the Divine Beast in check.

Evan sensed an ominous clue.

‘Just how advanced were the humans of this world’s past?’

To even think of controlling a Divine Beast.

To make it possible, or even conceive the idea—madness.

Clicking his tongue, Evan searched for a way to break the Phoenix’s curse.

Then, glancing at Ascalon in his hand, he chuckled.

‘Do I really need to overthink this?’

Without hesitation, Evan swung Ascalon at the chain linking the Mana Core.

Slash!

But at that moment, he felt a powerful backlash, and Evan was flung far away.

“Guh!”

Evan, sprawled on the ground, forced himself back up.

‘Quite a bit of resistance. If I break this curse, Ascalon’s level might rise as well.’

Fueled by determination, Evan tried again.

Swish!

Crash!

Again, backlash surged, but Evan didn’t stop.

He gathered all the aura he could, focusing on strengthening his body.

He kept pushing with all his might.

Thunk!

Clang!

A clear metallic sound rang in his ears.

Finally, the chain connecting to the Mana Core snapped.

As the curse upon the Phoenix was lifted, the Phoenix egg began to tremble.