The mortal realm is protected by a group of 12 divine class mages who are known as the Heavenly Virtues. They each have the innate divine soul of the 12 archangels which are the primary source of their power, making them the mortal realm’s most fierce mages. Even after the virtues meet their death, their divine innate soul will choose the next person, hence prolonging the order of the Heavenly Virtues.

The Heavenly Virtues are typically revered as gods by the people here. Their glory and tales are passed down to even kids in school and in the history textbooks. They are a big deal in almost every kingdom here. Even kings have to bow their heads down in front of the virtues, that's exactly how powerful and feared they are.

Right now in front of us stood Lux Sentinel, one of the current Virtues, The Virtue of Ambition.

Lux looked like a young man in his 20s. He had blonde curly hair and long eyelashes along with a girly face. Thanks to the shiny silver armor I could tell he was a man.

For a powerful individual as himself, he sure was armed to the teeth with all that armor. He did say he went and defeated a horde of wyverns to save the city.

Still, if he was even a minute late, we had all been slain by that lunatic phoenix familiar.

From the time Lux descended on the platform he looked shocked with his wide eyes open as he looked around our situation.

More than half of the candidates were completely still out cold. Everyone had red flushed skin because of how hot the room was, some even sustained burn marks. Not to mention the candidates who came directly into contact with the flames from that wide crack met to end up dead.

The only people that were well and dandy were the upper floor candidates as they were wearing adventure class gear.

Lux closed his eyes and placed his hand on his chest as if had heartburn,

“I am truly sorry my children to see you in such a state. If only had I arrived a little early you wouldn’t be in such a condition. Seeing you, children in such miserable state and injuries brings forth a great sense of sadness and pain to me.”

A tiny tear rolled through his eye, like just one single tear.

What a drama queen, like we will buy it.

But to my surprise-

“You don’t apologize, Lord Lux.” shouted one of the candidates.

“My lord you are our savior!”

“If it weren’t for you we might be as good as dead.”

“Please stop blaming yourself!”

“It’s not your fault!”

And such more cheerful cries were thrown by the candidates in harmony.

This should be the only time the lower class candidate and the inner district candidate unified.

Lux raised his head and a condescending smile appeared,

“You, children are quite brave.” he then waved his hands, “You guys are the real heroes. Standing up against a divine phoenix familiar despite being so young. I am sure the world will be in good hands if such young mages like yourself are there to protect it. I am truly proud.”

As soon as such kind words were spoken, the candidates became crazy.

They were all fangirling and shouting like crazy.

The candidates were smitten by the words as they smiled ear to ear.

“We will protect this world like the virtues.”

“I will be a renowned mage just like you, I promise.”

“Thank you, Lord Lux!”

“We love you, Lord Lux!”

“I will not disappoint you”

And many more such phrases were said by the truly moved candidates.

Even Tracker was waving both his arms in full strength as if he might take flight any second now.

“My lord, over here! I am really a big fan. Please look here.” shouted an excited Tracker.

“You moron, as if he would listen,” I said, trying to knock some senses in Tracker.

To be honest, Lux was quite the talker who instantly garnered the love and loyalty of everyone present here in a mere minute. He looked so perfect of a guy that it was rather nauseating for one to imagine such a person could ever exist.

I still find the phoenix incident that just occurred now a well-elaborated hoax.

Even the phoenix familiar who looked at it was crazy, it didn’t deliberately go all out when attacking the barrier.

As per records, the phoenix has a strong mana attack that could literally turn a city into an ashtray. But here the phoenix familiar only just raised the temperature of its body flames while standing still. If it really wanted to tear the barrier open it could have gone bonkers and attacked it with flame breath or its powerful claws to damage the barrier but it didn’t. This must only mean that the phoenix was either being controlled or restricted from using all its attacks.

The phoenix familiar’s behavior doesn’t make sense but if this were an elaborate ruse to just show off the Heavenly Virtue’s power and to get the candidates to like him, then it might make some sense.

It seems only I was able to see through their deceits. The rest of them were too busy fangirling over Lux to question these all incidents.

Lux suddenly raised his hand.

Seeing that everyone quickly fell silent.

“I am really moved by your words, but this is no time for such words here. Ready your injured fellow candidates and take your places. We have to begin-”

Suddenly the phoenix that was lying dormant stood up on its legs with its missing head. The severed neck had long stopped bleeding and there was a small lump of meat in its place. The lump of meat looked like the head of a small shriveled head of a tiny bird that was growing unusually by passing seconds.

The phoenix familiar was still alive as it tried to regrow its head.

Lux had a smile,

“It's about time. We shall begin the blessing ritual.”

The blessing ritual was about to begin in such a state?

I have no fucking hide what is even going on here.

The phoenix familiar looked quite odd with a majestic beast body of a big bird with a tiny shriveled head that was growing at a visible speed.

“What will it take to kill that chicken,” shouted Tracker.

“I really don’t like staying here,” I said.

“Hey, the Heavenly Virtue, Lord Lux is here. So no need to worry.” Tracker consoled me.

“Exactly why I worry even more.”

“Huh?”

*Tweet*

Suddenly the phoenix tweeted like a small bird-like some newborn chic.

But as the head started growing the sound got hoarse and even louder.

I did read texts saying that the phoenix is said to be an immortal beast from legends. I revered it as mere myth and blind talk by people as I believed that nothing was unkillable during my life as the demon Overlord who had defeated a lot of demons and monsters alike. But seeing how this beast grew its entire head back is a downright miracle.

Sigurd, the old head mage, brought along the tray with the mysterious potion and offered it to the virtue.

Lux took the jar,

“Thank you, now go stand back and let me handle this.”

Lux carrying the liquid jar in one hand walked towards the beast-like normal.

The Phoenix familiar had almost managed to regenerate its head fully and opened its eyes. The first thing the beast noticed was the approaching Lux walking toward it while holding a green potion jar in its hand.

The phoenix became erratic as it screamed and howled, fanning its wings and spreading flames.

Seeing the beast so hostile, Lux waved his other free hand. Following his hand movement suddenly the light spear placed in the crater shook and went flying towards his hand. As soon as Lux grabbed the light spear it shrunk into a glowing light orb. He then flung that light orb up which went flying up high and transformed into a translucent barrier covering the entire stage while caging Lux and the beast within it.

That light spear was truly a divine weapon but at this moment Lux was unarmed facing the beast. But I highly doubt he would do so without a plan.

“All right, please be a good little bird now,” said Lux as he approached casually.

*Screech*

The beast was agitated as it suddenly opened its beak wide.

In the next instant, a bright raging fireball appeared from the beast’s mouth aiming right at where Lux was. This fireball was made of dense bright inferno flames almost the size of a horse.

Instead of dodging, the unarmed Lux suddenly sprinted forward towards the fireball. But before impact, he kicked the ground, launching a big chunk of the concrete slab from the staging ground, hurling it at the fireball.

*boom*

The concrete slab and the fireball intercepted, creating smoke and rubbles scattering around. On the center of the stage, there was a mini smoke screen as Lux was to be seen nowhere as he hid within.

The phoenix beast was puzzled as it tried to frantically find his foe.

“Holy shit! Lord Lux canceled that fireball like it was nothing! Did you see that!” Shouted an excited Tracker as he pulled my sleeves.

“I can see that, alright!” I replied.

Despite being unarmed Lux was quite strong to hurl that stone like it was nothing. I wonder how strong he will be when going all out when armed with his weapon.

The puzzled beast looked around carefully but Lux was nowhere to be seen.

Out of the blind smoke rushed Lux from the smoke screen running at a crazy speed like he was literally skating through the stage. The distance between the phoenix and Lux was closed in an instant without even the beast knowing what happened. With the speed of his momentum, Lux delivered a strong kick right in the gut of the beast.

There was a loud sound of its organs being crushed by the powerful kick.

Meanwhile, Lux had this crazy smile with his eyes wide open like some lunatic. I had good eyesight but I just caught a glimpse of the sadistic side of Lux Sentinel.

*ScraaaK*

Howled the phoenix in agony as it threw blood from its mouth.

Lux then jumped up high and grabbed the lower beak with his bare hand and yanked it wide open. With his other hand containing the mystic green potion jar, he shoved it deep down in the beast’s mouth before kicking the lower beak and closing its mouth with brute force.

The bird was in utter shock and pain.

Lux then gently descended back to the stage, gently floating back to the stage.

He had a gentle smile this time.

The phoenix was standing still after eating that jar as if it was frozen in time.

Whatever that thing the phoenix was forced to eat was nothing good.

“What was that all about?” asked a puzzled Tracker as he scratched his chin.

“Killing the phoenix with poison, maybe,” I replied.

“Nah, that's not his style at all.”

“Well, I will take your word as a fanboy.”

“Huh?”

All of sudden the mages frantically started running across the seats.

“You boys don’t gather at the same place. Quickly go back to your seats and stay about one arm’s length if you want to harness the full potential of the holy divine flame. You hear me?”

There was commotion all over again.

The mages in red capes were now scattering the candidates to go back to their original places. They even carried the unconscious candidates and placed them on the ground in a similar manner almost one arm away. Even Tracker and I had to go back to the places where we were first assigned while carrying some of the candidates back to our place.

Nothing was happening as the phoenix stood still almost lifeless eating that green potion jar and dying. Meanwhile, Lux stood at a distance carefully observing the phoenix with his watchful gaze.

After a few minutes, everyone was back in place, the unconscious candidates and the conscious ones too. Even the mages stood in the corner at one arm’s length.

Suddenly the phoenix beast once again came back to life as it opened its eyes. But this time it looked kinda different. The flames on the wings from red-yellow flames had turned into pale green flames. His appearance also changed drastically, overshadowed by green flames.

*Screech*

Howled the phoenix angrily.

Lux once again waved his hand and in the next instant, the barrier protecting the stage disappeared and the small orb of light went back to where Lux was. He grabbed the light which again turned into a spear.

What’s the meaning of this?

Lux had a bright smile,

“The ritual blessing will now begin.”

The next second the phoenix spread his arms and opened his break wide.

Bright green flames erupt from his mouth and blast right at the candidates in front of it.

“Waaah”

The screams of the candidates lasted for a second before coming to a halting end as they perished.

“What the hell, I knew we shouldn’t trust him!” I shouted in dismay.

The flames started engulfing everything and everyone in the amphitheater, not even the upper floor candidates were spared. The beast continued to throw out flames as Lux did nothing but watch.

Our end was certain as the beast would turn his head over here next.

We have been betrayed… or so I thought.

The next instant the very same scream of the individual turned into awe and laughter for some reason.

As I turned my head towards the sound of the laughs I see the very same candidates who were screaming a while ago were doing just fine. At this moment the candidates were still engulfed in green flames from top to bottom. Instead of screaming in agony, they were smiling and admiring the green flames caught on their body.

There were no burn marks and their clothes were just fine from the flames.

“Are those illusions or real fire?” I asked in disbelief.

“We’ll know for sure,” said Tracker as spread his arms.

The next second the phoenix turned his head towards us and we were bombarded with green flames as well.

The scene changed as I saw myself bathed in the green flames from head to toe.

To my surprise, nothing happened.

As I came in contact with the flames I was just surrounded by harmless green flames that were just almost warm like the sun on a mid-noon. There were no burn marks or pain and my clothes were also just fine.

But as I came into contact with the flames, the first thing I noticed was that all my fatigue had disappeared. I stretched my hands in surprise to see that the visible scars that I retained during the ceremony train were all gone as well.

Although the old scars I got when I was a kid were still there.

As the flames burned bright on top of me as if they had entered my body through my mouth, ears, nostrils, and through every pore of my skin.

It is weird but a magical experience.

“I can stay in this flames forever if I can,” muttered Tracker.

“These flames are quite unnatural. I wonder what that green potion of jar fed to that phoenix beast was?”

“They called it the holy dye or something. It must be the catalyst that transformed the flames of the phoenix, turning them into divine flames. Something like the super potion crafted by a very high-class witchcraft mage.” said Tracker.

“Witchcraft? Well whatever it is, this feels great”

“You boys! Sit down and meditate before the flames wear out.” shouted a nearby mage instructor.

The two of us quickly got down on the floor and started meditating.

It is said that the divine flames help potential mages to unlock new abilities.

I wonder what is in stock for me.