Grand Game 324: A Heated Conversation (Patreon)

You have successfully stored the cold sphere spell in the ring, mage’s surprise. You have fully restored your health, mana, and psi.

Hours later, Ghost and I were still traveling north across the plateau. I took the most direct route feasible, teleporting across yawning chasms when I could or skirting around the cracks in the plateau when I couldn’t.

It was only for the fog banks that I made allowances. Whenever Ghost and I encountered one, we cut a wide circle around it, no matter how far off course it left us. Much to my relief, we encountered no more stygians. It implied that the nether creatures were not as numerous as I feared, forcing them to confine their presence to the immediate vicinity of the seeds.

While I hiked across the plateau, Ghost dipped in and out of the chasms, searching for an elite for me to fight. She found more than a few, but none that I considered suitable.

My appetite for risk had waned somewhat.

While I remained uncertain about the veracity of the harbinger’s outbursts, I could not rule out the possibility that the stygians controlled the safe zone. It made dying an even more unappealing proposition.

I stifled a yawn. The day was growing late, and it had been many hours since I’d left the swarm viper’s tunnel. Was it still only my third day in the dungeon? Raising my head, I measured the remaining distance to the northern gorge housing the campfires.

I won’t reach it today. Perhaps it’s time to break for the night.

Ghost floated out of a chasm. “Found something!” she sang smugly.

I turned disinterestedly towards her. This was not the first time the spirit wolf had returned, thinking she’d found the perfect foe for me. “What is it this time?” I asked, covering another yawn with my hand.

“A dragon!”

Mouth stretched wide, I tried speaking, but only ended up sputtering. “A dragon,” I gasped finally when I’d recovered. “Are you certain?”

“As sure as I can be without that analyze ability of yours,” Ghost said, dancing around excitedly. “It’s big. Has wings and is on fire.”

“Breathes fire you mean,” I amended.

Ghost nodded. “That too.”

I frowned. “How far away is it?”

“Not far,” Ghost replied. “Maybe a mile east.”

My frown deepened. I had maybe two hours left before I lost the cold sphere spell. It should be enough time, but... a dragon? Could I face such a foe?

“We better hurry, Prime,” Ghost urged. “Before it leaves.”

I sighed. “After you.” At the very least, it was worth a look. After all, it was not every day that one got to see a dragon.

✵ ✵ ✵

It was not a dragon.

But admittedly, I could understand how Ghost had mistaken the creature for one. The elite in the canyon below was half as large as the stone golems, possessed two colossal wings, clawed feet, a snaking tail, and an elongated face.

But its wings and tail were feathered, not scaled. It had two feet instead of four, a beak in place of a snout—and, as Ghost had said, it was on fire.

“A phoenix,” I whispered in awe.

Ghost swung around to face me, her expression comically crestfallen. “Not a dragon?”

“Not a dragon,” I confirmed, “but something just as spectacular.”

From Ghost’s disgruntled growl, I gathered she didn’t agree. Ignoring the spirit wolf, I studied the elite. I was still on the plateau, stretched out flat on its smooth tabletop and looking down on Ghost’s find.

The phoenix was curled around tight, resting its hooked beak on its tail feathers. With its eyes closed, the elite appeared to be sleeping. Tearing my gaze away from the reddish-gold creature, I studied the rest of the canyon. The stones and boulders in the vicinity bore scorch marks. Some glistened, too, as if they had been melted down and cooled again. All the phoenix’s handiwork, I guessed.

It had been here a long time, I gathered.

“Are we going to kill it?” Ghost asked.

I eyed the colossal creature doubtfully. As large as the phoenix was, there was no way the entirety of its body would fit within the cold sphere, but that should not be necessary. The harbinger had come under the sphere’s effect the moment a tiny portion of its body had crossed the spell’s rim, and the same should hold true for the phoenix.

If I teleported onto the phoenix’s back, I could stab at it while it was slowed and unable to reach me with either it’s curved beak or clawed feet. The creature was clearly magical though, and likely had more than a few fire spells at its beck.

Not to mention it was wreathed in fire.

Would the cold sphere protect me against the flames?

I didn’t know, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. Ghost had been right. The phoenix was about as perfect a foe I would find against which to employ my cold sphere.

“Yes,” I said at last. “I’ll teleport onto its back, then attack with—”

“I rather you didn’t.”

I broke off.

“Who was that?” Ghost whispered.

I didn’t answer. Except for me and Ghost, there was only one other mindglow in sight. Of their own accord, my eyes drifted to the phoenix and locked gazes with a single glistening orb of gold.

The open eye of the phoenix.

My foe was awake and aware. I’d lost the element of surprise.

✵ ✵ ✵

I swallowed unhappily, caught for a moment between flight or fight.

“It’s too late to run,” the elite said, studying me from beneath a hooded gaze. “Far too late.”

“Oww, it’s the phoenix,” Ghost exclaimed, seemingly ignorant of the menacing threat in the burning bird’s words. “It can talk!”

“Of course, I can talk, dog. And it’s ‘he,’ not it.”

The spirit wolf drew up in affront. “I’m a dire wolf, and no dog,” she snarled.

“Whatever,” the phoenix yawned. “Now shush and let the adults talk.” The huge creature popped open the other eye. “Although, I’m not sure if your master can truly be described as one. How old are you, scion? Surely too young to be out from under your mother’s skirts?”

Ghost bristled at the insult, but I waved her to silence. In the wake of the phoenix’s chatter, my nerves had quietened. The beast showed no sign of stirring from his rest, and despite his condescending tone, he seemed little inclined to violence—yet. Was there an opportunity here?

“You know what I am?” I asked carefully.

“Of course,” the phoenix replied. “Your beast Marks cannot be hidden from one such as I.”

“Then we are kin of sorts,” I said. “Maybe we can help each—”

“We are no kin, wolf, and I don’t need help from you,” the phoenix replied, sounding amused.

I paused. “Then perhaps you can assist me. If you know who I am, you know my purpose. There are stygians in—”

“I am well aware,” the phoenix interrupted again. “The stygians don’t concern me, however. Nor do I have any interest in resurrecting long-dead gods. I will not help you.”

I stared at the creature. “Then what do you want?” I asked bluntly.

The phoenix chuckled. “So sure that I want something?”

“You do,” I said confidently. “Else why bother speaking to me in the first place.”

“Why indeed,” the phoenix murmured. Tilting his head to the side, he seemed to consider this. “Perhaps I am bored,” he mused. “Perhaps I wish only to find out if you are a worthy foe.” Rising to his feet, the phoenix flared his wings, causing the air to spark with newly lit flames. “Now enough talking. To battle.”

I scrambled upright, caught off-guard by the sudden shift in the elite’s demeanor. Was he joking? “We’re not enemies,” I protested, backing away from the cliff’s edge. “There’s no need for us to fight.”

“Oh, but there is,” the phoenix replied. “There are no greater pleasures to be had in life than experiencing the touch of a battle’s fiery flames.” He swayed dreamily, as if lost in the rapture of a memory. “Believe me, I’ve lived long enough to know.”

I stared at the phoenix disbelievingly. Was he mad? It certainly sounded like it.

Ghost’s eyes jumped from the elite to me, then back again. Upright and with his wings outstretched, the phoenix was a damn sight more intimidating. “Perhaps this was a mistake, Prime. Maybe we should retreat.”

“I’d love to,” I muttered, even while I began drawing energy to cast my buffs, “but I don’t think he is going to let us.”

The phoenix laughed, not missing the byplay. “Definitely not. I haven’t fought a scion in…” He cocked his head to the side, thinking. “You know, it’s been so long, I can’t even remember. This should be entertaining!”

I had to keep the phoenix talking, if only until my buffs were in place. “You want to fight for... the fun of it?”

“Yes!”

You have cast load controller.

“But you could die,” I said, pointing out the obvious. Although it was more likely that I would.

“You don’t know much about phoenixes, do you?”

“I don’t,” I admitted and cast the next buff.

You have cast heightened reflexes.

“You are more ignorant than I expected, wolf,” the avian scoffed. “My kind are immortal. Kill me, and I will only be reborn in the ashes of my aviary.”

“And where is that?” I asked automatically.

You have trigger-cast quick-mend.

“In a sector far away from here,” the phoenix replied smugly. “So you see, win or lose, I still win. Kill me, and I escape this wretched dungeon. If you die, on the other hand—a far more probable outcome, I may add—well then, at least I would have gained a brief moment of enjoyment in what has otherwise been a dreadfully boring incarnation.”

You have cast fade.

“And what about me?” I asked. “What if I die? Will you kill an innocent without qualms—just for the fun of it?”

“What about you?” the phoenix repeated. “You may not be immortal, but you are a player, are you not? You have lives aplenty.”

I had no answer to that. “I see,” I murmured as my final buff fell into place.

You have cast piercing strike.

“Then I have only one more question for you. Before we begin, will you allow me to analyze you?”

“Go ahead,” the phoenix said magnanimously. “Where is the fun in fighting a foe whose power you do not comprehend? Inspect me and behold the true might of what you face.”

Having secured his consent, I wasted no time in reaching out to the elite with my will.

The target is Sunfury, a level 231 mature phoenix.

Phoenixes are undying creatures. Eternal and ever reborn. No phoenix is truly dead until their aviary has been destroyed and their sacred ashes scattered.

Like many elder species, phoenixes have few vulnerabilities. Their minds are strong, their bodies more so, and their command of fire is unrivaled. It is not unheard of for the firebirds to pit themselves against dragons and emerge victorious. They do, however, have one glaring weakness: cold. Most will do their utmost to avoid its touch.

My gaze narrowed.

The elite was more dangerous than anything else I’d faced thus far in the dungeon, but Sunfury was not so powerful that I didn’t think I could slay him—especially given my secret weapon. Thankfully, during my conversation with Ghost, which it was clear the phoenix had overheard entirely, I had not made mention of the cold sphere spell.

Should I mention the spell? I wondered.

Would the phoenix be as eager to fight if I did? Would it cause Sunfury to back down?

I doubted it. As arrogant as the elite seemed, I suspected he would only consider the challenge all the greater and still believe himself able to overcome me. Why warn him needlessly? I thought, smiling tightly.

There was one final preparation I needed to make. Unsheathing my stygian shortsword, I dropped it onto the ground and replaced it with faithful.

You have equipped the sword, faithful blade, increasing the damage you deal with your offhand by +40%.

“I’m done,” I said, addressing Sunfury again. “Thank you.”

“Good. Then shall we?”

“As you wish,” I replied. I glanced sideways at Ghost. “Keep an eye out for the stygians.” Drawing ebonheart, I blinked into the canyon.