Revenge: A Path of Destruction
Chapter 154: The Home of Embers

Chapter 154: The Home of Embers

As Alex and Nyxara stood at the lofty summit, their gazes wandered across the enchanting sight of an unanticipated sanctuary nestled atop the majestic Mount Blanc. It was not merely the structure that captivated them; the very peak appeared to have been meticulously sculpted, its apex flattened with an eerily exact precision, as if the mountain itself had been tenderly shaped and molded like soft clay to give birth to this extraordinary place. The edges of the summit were smoothed to perfection, their contours devoid of any jaggedness, while the surface boasted an unparalleled levelness that defied the explanations of natural erosion. In the center, dramatically framed by cascading flowering vines that danced with the gentle mountain breeze, stood the building—a testament to ingenuity and artistry. Beneath its glass-like obsidian façade lay the pulsating veins of molten rock, glowing softly, adding an ethereal illumination that breathed life into the extraordinary landscape around them. It was beautiful, and the cloud covering the peak gave it a majestic view. Quietly regal, it felt less like a fortress or beast’s lair and more like a palace for something older, wiser, and infinitely more dangerous. The Firebird hadn’t stopped walking, and so, with a final glance exchanged between them, Alex and Nyxara followed her across the stone path toward the structure.

Then, just a few meters from the building, they passed through something invisible but unmistakable.

Alex felt it first. Like walking through a ripple in space, a tingling static crawled across his skin. Nyxara’s fur bristled faintly on his shoulder.

And then, as they fully stepped through the unseen wall, the heat vanished.

Not just lessened—vanished.

The air inside the boundary was cool, temperate. A calm breeze stirred the petals of the vines, and Alex blinked in confusion, glancing around. For the last hour since they got here, the very air had felt alive with burning intensity—like breathing in the exhalation of a volcano—but now it was... serene.

Which made no sense.

Alex had assumed the oppressive heat had radiated from the Firebird herself, her sheer power igniting the very atmosphere. But it seemed like another theory was in place here...

But Alex was sure that her presence was also why.

Alex gazed ahead at the building while carrying Nyxara on his shoulders. As they approached, both of them were taken aback by an unexpected sight: the presence of human mana emanating from the buildings, and there were far more than just a few.

But what alarmed Alex even more was that they hadn’t detected these individuals until they were just a few meters from the door. This was particularly surprising, considering their detection range extended over a hundred meters.

They didn’t speak, but continued forward.

The two of them moved in silence across the cool black path, approaching the intricately carved double doors of the volcanic glass structure.

The doors opened before they reached them.

From the threshold, a tall man stepped forward, dressed in a crisp black suit reminiscent of a butler from another era. Every motion he made was smooth, practiced—eerily perfect. He bowed low, not to Alex or Nyxara, but to the woman in red.

"Welcome back, Your Highness," the man said with reverence, his voice deep and controlled.

Only after that did he glance toward the two figures behind her. "Are these the ones you were expecting, ma’am?"

"Yes, they are," the Firebird replied calmly, sparing them a glance before returning her gaze to the interior.

"Go and ask Bis to prepare something for them," she added, her tone light but with the undercurrent of a command that brooked no delay.

"Right away, my lady," the butler—Stephen—replied, giving a nod before vanishing down one of the many branching corridors.

Alex barely noticed him leave. His attention was locked on the inside of the home.

No... not a home.

A mansion.

The interior defied expectation yet again. He had expected fire. Ash. Lava. Maybe blackened stone walls with searing runes of flame. But what he saw was something else entirely.

Vaulted ceilings soared high above them, their surfaces polished to a dark mirror-shine that reflected golden light from ethereal sconces.

Columns of obsidian and redstone lined the walls like the ribs of a sleeping beast, curving upward and ending in flowering arches shaped like phoenix wings.

The floor beneath their feet was warm, not hot, and woven rugs of intricate design softened their footsteps.

Each piece of furniture they passed as they made their way deeper into the building was crafted from rich, dark wood inlaid with scarlet patterns—furniture fit for royalty.

And the parlor—if such a word could be used for what they walked into—was vast.

It opened into a circular chamber lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the molten clouds far below. A faint glow suffused the space, making the room feel suspended between flame and sky.

But what truly drew the eye was the throne at its center.

Not made of stone.

Not made of gold.

But of feathers.

Red, brilliant feathers—some small and delicate, others enormous and shimmering like living embers. They twisted and wove together into a massive chair that pulsed with gentle power. It was not a throne of command, but of presence.

The Firebird Empress sat with casual grace, her gown trailing like living fire across the floor as she eased into the seat.

She didn’t need to command attention. The entire room bent around her.

Without speaking, she gestured to the seats opposite her—elegant, if smaller, feather-backed chairs. Nyxara hopped lightly off Alex’s shoulder, landing beside him with a whisper of movement, while he took his seat, his posture calm but ready.

For a long moment, nothing was said.

Then she spoke.

"So..." The word curled in the air, soft but heavy. Her eyes, those sharp avian slits, focused first on Nyxara, then on Alex.

Her smile returned, faint and edged with curiosity.

"What I’d like to know is... why another Legend-rank beast is in Europe."

Her gaze narrowed slightly. The air seemed to be still.

"And why, exactly, is she in the company of a human?"