Several hours have passed by and the sun was coming back up. I woke up way earlier than the others just to see the sun appearing beyond the horizon. Usually, I would sit around the roof of my suburban block. But today, I’m proud to say that I’m sitting on top of a tall tree branch.

“I hope I’m not too late for the special event.” I talked to myself as I climbed my way to the highest branch.

As soon as I reached the top branch, I took a few second to remain my thoughts and in another moment later, the sun begins to rise up from the edge of my vision. The sun rising at the horizon never stops ceasing to amaze me every day. It was that one thing that I’m truly happy with living in this world. The beauty of nature itself. Unlike any other day however, today will be a lot different as we might be getting an increase to the temperature. Why? Because today was when the Zhongguo people will begin their prayers to resurrect The Vermillion Bird, Zhuque.

According to the five elements, Wu Xing, Zhuque represents the fire element, the direction south and the season summer. It was described as a red bird that resembles a pheasant with a five-coloured plumage and is perpetually covered in flames. It was often mistaken for a phoenix or in Zhongguo’s term, the Fenghuang due to its similarities in appearance, but the two are entirely different creatures. The phoenix on the other hand is a legendary ruler of birds who is associated with the Zhongguo Empress in the same way the dragon is associated with the Emperor, while the Vermillion Bird is a mythological spirit creature of the Zhongguos constellations.

Zhuque is elegant and noble in both appearance and behaviour, with feathers in many different hues of vermillion. Zhuque is very selective about what it eats and where it perches. And unlike the bird, they aren’t as noisy as these idiots snoring the entire encampment.

Hosuke and Haz were snoring the heck out of the whole area. Can’t they at least have some decency or something? I grabbed some leafs from the tree and pile it up in my hand to make a small ball. I aimed and threw the ball to Hosuke.

“Yowch!” It hit Hosuke.

“Oof!” It then bounces to Haz.

“What’s the big idea here? Who dares to interrupt the slumber of The Sea God?” Hosuke proudly awaken in an annoyed matter.

I threw him another ball of leaves to his head and said, “Is that how you talk to anyone who wakes you up? Even your mother?”

“Oh. It’s you, Blax.” Hosuke bows down to the ground, “I’m sorry, boss.”

“Know your place…”

“Is it time already?” Haz yawned as he finally wakes up.

“They’re going to start the resurrection soon. Hurry up, guys.”

Hosuke picks up a small towel and wipes his face, “What’s the rush?”

Then I told them, “The bird isn’t a very friendly fellow once you resurrect it. We have to make sure that the bird cooperates with us. It’s going to be tough but I hope you can handle this bird, Hosuke.”

Hosuke laughed a little, “I’m the Sea God. That bird is just a mere fire chicken. I’ll turn that chicken into dinner in no time.”

“We are not killing that thing. Even if it may be weaker than all of us combined. It might just be way stronger than us though…” said Haz as he changes his cloth.

“I’m water, that chicken is fire. Water beats fire. It’s simple, Haz.” Hosuke keeps on babbling.

“Looks like they are starting…” I said that as I saw a bunch of hooded Zhongguos began circulating around the altar that they had built last night.

-

The Zhongguos started to do some sort of ritual. Some of them gave an offering to the South Pillar while the others were either praying or chanting some sort of mantra. I couldn’t understand what they were saying. It doesn’t sound like the Zhongguo language at all. My guess was that it may be a magic mantra used in the ancient arts of the Zhongguo.

After several minutes have passed, Mei stood out from the group and closely circling the pillar. After circling around for about seven times, she stopped. Mei raised her left hand into the sky and shoots out her Infinitum energy to the sky. The cloud begins to tear up as we finally hear the screeching noise of The Vermillion Bird.

“Here it comes…” I ordered the other two to get ready.

“This is too long. I’m flying up there now!” Hosuke decided to go up using a water geyser that he conjured.

“Wait, Hosuke! Darn it, that idiot!” I tried to stop him.

As Hosuke was about to reach the raging clouds, flares started to escape out of the sky hole that Mei made. Before he was able to do anything, Hosuke was flung away from where he was headed. Haz’s robot successfully captured him just in time.

“What the heck? I thought that thing only has fire elemental.” Hosuke was confused.

“Are you an idiot? That thing that you just belittled is also a bird. Don’t you think a bird shouldn’t use its wing to throw off its enemy?” Haz smacked his back.

“Okay. Fine, I get it. What do you want me to do, Blax?” Hosuke finally calms down.

The first step that we’re taking was to wait until Zhuque reveals itself from the cloud. We need to have some visuals on the bird first before we could do anything. We need to know how big Zhuque was. After knowing how big it was, we can discern on how much manpower we require to stop the bird.

After finishing the planning phase with the other two, we took our position in the shape of a triangle. And in just a few more seconds, Zhuque finally shows itself at the sky. It was exactly as it was described. Trails of fire can be seen moving around The Vermillion Bird.

“We have to bring it down and land it to the ground. Pin that bird!” I barked my order to everyone as they moved around the field, taking their position.

The Zhongguo used a mix of bows and arrows and ranged magic to inflict some damage to Zhuque. But that won’t be enough as Zhuque doesn’t seem to budge at all. It only retaliated back with a single flap of its wings where after doing so, waves of flares started to spew out towards us. Haz tried to protect everyone using his fellow robots. But unfortunately all of them seems to melt slowly except for Seven who had a different kind of metal properties.

“How come Seven is still alive?” I shouted to Haz.

“I include a heat resistant coat on its body!” answered Haz.

“Everyone, get back! We don’t have enough protection to protect all of you.” I called out the other Zhongguos to fall back to safety.

Hosuke casted water protections spell over us including Mei who was still with us.

“Let’s do a different formation, boys.” Mei steps in and we now formed a square formation.

Currently, I can’t really do much because I’m more of a close ranged wizard. The only thing ranged I have was my fire manipulation spells but that’s just it. I won’t even able to scratch it with just that. I can only distract Zhuque by giving out a spell that I learned just for fighting any Fire-user, Anti-Fire. Anti-Fire is a part of the neutral element meaning that it will deal some damage to Zhuque. It doesn’t do a lot of damage compared to using any other element as its base damage is lower than the average fire spells.

Mei on the other hand brought out a magic ball made out of water and began throwing it toward Zhuque’s wing. Hosuke joined as well by pulling out his Mizusame and slashing up a few ranged water slashes to the bird.

“Eat this, chicken!” Hosuke successfully teared up some of its feather. “Just the feather?!”

“Hosuke…I think now is the good time to use that thing. Is it ready?” I asked Hosuke.

“Definitely. Just give me some time to channel it.”

“Got it. Haz, give me one of your robot!”

Haz stopped and said, “What do you need it for?”

I smirked at him and said, “Bird hunting, of course.”

The almost melted robot, Nine ran to me after being told by Haz.

“Nine, Jump!” I called the shots.

Nine jumped as it was getting near me, I jumped as well. Nine curled up a little and then I kicked Nine at the right spot. Nine was immediately thrown above to Zhuque like the speed of a bullet thanks to my Super Strength ability. Nine exploded into pieces as it hits Zhuque. The bird dazed after receiving that devastating attack by me.

“You destroyed Nine?!”

“I owe you one, Haz.” I saluted to Haz and then turned to Hosuke, “You ready yet, Hosuke?”

“I am now!”

Hosuke was seen channelling a creation magic. Slowly but surely, a trident began to take form in front of him.

“This right here…is The Trident of The Sea God!”

“Throw it now!” I shouted the order to Hosuke.

Hosuke pulled his arm behind and collected all of his energy to throw the trident. The trident flung away and hit directly at Zhuque’s heart. Zhuque started to stumble around. It was flapping its wings out and about frantically. It started flying around the area and in just a few moments later, it landed. It finally landed.

“Fighting this beast reminds me of a raid boss I once had when I played this one MMORPG” said Hosuke as he tries to remain his composure.

I nodded and said, “And we’re just getting started.”

Zhuque screeched in pain as it was slowly trying to get back up. Now that the bird was on the ground, it was time to initiate the next phase.

TO BE CONTINUED