Evolving Infinitely From An E-Class Hero-Chapter 77: Phoenix Monster

"Monster?" I tilted my head with a slight inquisitive expression on my face.

"Yes, but not in the real sense of the word..." Lady Phoenix said. "I mean it figuratively..."

"Ohhh! Gactcha!" I said with glee.

I did understand her point of view, referring to Golden Guardian as a monster was definitely on point.

He possessed freakish attacking abilities which were on par with mine, or even stronger than mine. But, one thing I possessed more than him was my defensive abilities.

With my Destructive Domain skill active, every and all attacks towards me are virtually useless as nothing used on the domain can breach it from the outside.

The Forever Armor is basically indestructible to a degree, as long as it can adapt quickly and swiftly to whatever attack that hits it, and once the Forever Core has adapt to anything, it can no longer arm me in any way shape or form.

My Regenerate skill basically gives me an instant plastic surgery whenever I am harmed by any attack that the core hasn’t adapted to.

I can adapt to any and all things. It was just a matter of time, as the core has no definite adaptation time; be it before l, during or after the attack. It picks at random to adapt and there’s no way to predict.

But one thing was certain, once the Forever Core had adapted to something it couldn’t harm me anymore.

All I needed was one more exchange with the Golden Guardian and I would certainly adapt to his attacks and high intensity golden rays.

He wouldn’t be so much of a monster after that.

Tch!

If it weren’t for War Man, both of our combined attacking force would have destroyed that seaport.

And to think I wasn’t even using my full power. All the Incinerate blast were at a low of 40%, I didn’t use my Supreme Skill and I didn’t even attempt to use my Machine Gun Blows Skill either.

Tch!

What would have done if I had activated my Cloaking Skill and knocked his head clean off his shoulders.

Monster my foot! He is just an egotistical and glorified money boy who has none nothing but admiration all his life.

"Golden Guardian was definitely the most powerful being I have ever faced... Tch! He even lasered my ear off... But, I think I can take... And win!" I said smugly before twitching my nose slightly.

"Hmmm... Big talk for some E-Class, Rank 50 reject who just got blessed with a second enlightenment event and now looks like a walking trophy..." Lady Phoenix replied.

"Hehe... I’m fairly ranked high, close to the Golden Guardian, you think you can take me... I’d love to see you try... " She eyed me evily and took a couple steps backwards.

Scoff.

"You are joking right?..." I asked innocently.

Just then, Lady Phoenix’s fiery wings unraveled out of her back and spread out like a blossoming flower lightning the beach with a golden, fiery light.

"Skill..."

"Woah! You’re serious!!!"

She smirked cunningly and then her eyes burned with the same bright fiery flame as her wings.

"Oi, E-Class... Do you know why Golden Guardian engaged you? ... Alright, let me tell you..."

"We S-Class heroes are so powerful we barely got any opposition worthy enough to take out our full strength on... So over time we loose our fighting spirit!"

"But looking at you... You look strong... You look like you can take a hit from The Fist Of Gold and still stand strong"

"It’s refreshing to find a worthy opponent that finally gets your blood pumping again!"

"When The Apostle briefed all the S-Class Heroes about you, all 29 of them had the same look on their faces— excitement!!!"

"Although I’m a bit tired from chasing that spider Calamity Creature around the Whistling Derrick, I still have enough strength to take you on!"

"Spar with me for a second, you don’t have to hold back... The beach is vast. Because I promise I will Not hold back!"

My expression widened with surprise and horror mixed into a wonderful blend and plastered across my face like punch.

She was being extremely serious! I don’t know if I have the mental fortitude to go head to head with her after that violent meeting with the Calamity Creatures.

Plus this was a great opportunity to get stronger and adapt to the adversity that will face me.

But at what cost?

Tti-ring.

[Compass Needle Activated]

[Target Name: Sonia Pope]

[Alias: Lady Phoenix]

[Class: Estimated S-CLASS]

[Category: Divine Type]

[Enemies Defeated: 0/1]

If what she said is anything close to the truth, then I might just have to go head to head with every S-Class hero there is.

And for me, the more adversity I face, the stronger I get. So, even if I risk blowing my own brains into pieces from mental exhaustion, I am still going to take on every S-Class hero that dares to test their strength against mine.

After all, I am the Worthy Vessel.

Tti-ring.

[Information Received]

[Subject: Sonia Pope]

[Alias: Lady Phoenix]

[S-Class Hero – Rank 6]

[Proceeding with narration...]

[Sonia Pope, an accomplished Air Force pilot, was assigned to oversee the security of Project Dawnflare, a classified operation that aimed to study and harness the energy of a mysterious cosmic artifact known only as the "Phoenix Core."]

[Her life had always been one of discipline, valor, and a hunger for the skies that no ordinary ambition could tame.]

[During a rogue infiltration attempt by unknown hostile forces, the Phoenix Core destabilized, threatening to implode and annihilate everything within a 200-mile radius.]

[Without hesitation, Sonia tried to stabilize the core manually. Fate, however, had other plans.]

[The core detonated.]

[Enlightenment Event Triggered]

[Subject: Sonia Pope | Status: Mutating]

[Cause: Cosmic Core Explosion – Phoenix Energy Baptism]

[Result: Core Cellular Reconstruction]

[Her body didn’t evaporate.]

[It ascended.]

[Her DNA fused with the living energies of the Phoenix Core, branding her soul with the fire of rebirth itself.]

[Core Talents Detected:] – Super Strength – Estimated: sub-planetary level, enhanced further when channeling Phoenix Energy.

– Phoenix Manifestation – Wings of pure cosmic flame that grant high-speed flight and offensive capabilities.

– Energy Infusion – Ability to imbue weapons, especially her personal sword, with Phoenix Energy, enhancing cutting power to extreme levels.

[Popular Ability Registered: Blazing Wings of Ascension]

I exhaled heavily, clenching and unclenching my fists as I prepared myself for the battle ahead.

If Lady Phoenix was serious, then I had to be even more serious.

No cocky remarks. No playful banter.

This was survival now.

But just then, I noticed it—

A cunning, eerie smile curling up on Lady Phoenix’s lips.

"I think I can sense her nearby... My sister..." she said in a haunting voice that made my spine tingle.

Before I could even react, Lady Phoenix extended her hand toward the sky.

"Approach..." she commanded softly, almost reverently.

Voooom!

A distant roar pierced the air.

My senses barely caught it in time—a blur screaming down from an ISA aircraft positioned high above.

It moved so fast, I couldn’t even process it.

Only when a sharp glint flashed by the corner of my eye did I realize—

Too late. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

SLASH!

Her sword zipped past, grazing across my neck with brutal precision.

A spray of blood erupted from the wound, painting the air crimson as I stumbled back, crashing onto the sand.

Pain—sharp, searing, suffocating—ripped through my body.

I gasped, gagging on my own blood, vision spinning.

"Tch...!"

I pressed a trembling hand against my neck, desperately trying to focus.

I wasn’t going to die here.

Not now.

Not ever.

"Skill: Regenerate!" I croaked, blood bubbling in my throat.

Golden light burst from my body as my wound stitched itself closed almost instantly.

The pain ebbed away like a receding tide, leaving nothing but raw fury in its place.

No more games.

I summoned my Forever Daggers, the twin blades gleaming like twin stars in my hands.

Golden energy from the Forever Core surged into them, cloaking them in a brilliant, furious aura.

Across from me, Lady Phoenix gripped her sword, her wings burning brighter than ever.

She whispered something to it—maybe a prayer, maybe a command—before her weapon ignited with Phoenix Energy, wreathed in living fire.

For a heartbeat, we stared each other down.

Then we clashed.

CLANG!

The beach exploded into chaos as our blades collided.

Every swing of her flaming sword sent shockwaves through the ground, turning sand into molten glass where it struck.

Every strike of my golden daggers vibrated with indestructible might, deflecting her fiery onslaught with sheer stubbornness.

She moved like a tempest, elegant and deadly.

I moved like a machine, calculated and relentless.

Our swords sang a violent symphony.

Sparks flew, golden and crimson, lighting up the dusk like fireworks.

Slash! Parry! Dodge! Counter!

Lady Phoenix’s attacks were fluid, unpredictable, like a river of fire twisting and crashing toward me.

But I adapted, my instincts sharpening with every second, my daggers intercepting her blows by a hair’s breadth.

I could feel it—

The Forever Core beginning to study her energy, beginning to whisper to me.

Adapt.

Evolve.

Overcome.

"You’re good, E-Class..." Lady Phoenix said between attacks, her voice filled with a thrilling excitement.

"But I’m better!"

She unleashed a ferocious downward slash, her sword engulfed in a phoenix-shaped flame.

I crossed my daggers above my head and caught the strike, the ground beneath me cracking under the force.

My knees buckled slightly, but I gritted my teeth and pushed back.

Golden energy surged around me like a rising sun.

"You haven’t seen anything yet!" I roared back.

And with a sudden burst of speed, I launched myself forward, my daggers carving golden arcs through the air.

Our weapons clashed again, again, and again, each impact shaking the world around us as if gods themselves were dueling on this lonely, battered beach.