The Forsaken Heir's Ascension
Chapter 84: Little Phoenix

Chapter 84: Little Phoenix

Back at the Tower...

Alex’s screams echoed one last time before fading. His body had been broken—and reforged.

The pool’s liquid had mostly disappeared, absorbed into his skin. The black lightning subsided. The pain dulled.

In the core of his heart, beside the ring of dark elemental energy, a new ring had formed.

The black lightning circled this new ring.

Alex slowly stood. His breath came evenly now. He looked down at himself.

His pale skin clung tightly to lean, refined muscle. He could feel it—his body cultivation had advanced. As told By Professor Theodore remaking your body with element can improve your body cultivation.

He felt faster, stronger. His reflexes sharper.

Testing it, he sprinted around the chamber.

Black lightning crackled at his heels as he moved—faster than he’d ever run before.

But the speed was hard to control.

"Whoa—!"

BOOM!

He slammed straight into a solid obsidian wall. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber.

A moment later, he staggered out of the new crater, groaning in pain.

Hati stared at him, head tilted—his expression somewhere between confusion and disbelief.

Alex gave him a sheepish grin.

Alex glanced around the chamber, shifting the subject. "How should we get out of here, Hati?"

Hati sniffed the air, then turned toward a corner of the room. Purple light swirled, and a circular, door-like structure began forming in the wall.

"Woof! Woof!" Hati barked and tugged at Alex’s clothes.

Alex smiled warmly. "Yes, yes, buddy. What is it?"

He followed Hati’s gaze—and then he saw it too.

"That’s a portal," Alex said, eyes lighting up. "So that’s what you were trying to show me? Let’s go, then."

He stepped toward it, Hati padding close behind. As they vanished through the swirling gateway, the portal shimmered once and disappeared behind them.

Noise crashed into them like a wave—shouting, clamoring, footsteps—but just as quickly, it died down to a hush. As Alex and Hati stepped onto a smooth stone platform, all eyes turned toward them for a heartbeat.

Then, as if this were just another Tuesday, the noise resumed.

It was clear now—this portal wasn’t new to the people here.

Alex overheard snippets of conversation around him:

"The portal showed up a week ago. It’s changed a lot inside."

"Yeah, a friend who came out said it’s like a tower—each floor is completely different."

"Tch... This is Mythical Eagle Clan territory," someone muttered bitterly. "They’ll come claim it soon, just like all the others."

"Exactly," another said. "That’s why we’re cashing in before they make it public."

Alex drifted away from the crowd, his eyes fixed on a distant city surrounded by crackling thunderclouds.

He turned to Hati. "So, that Mythical Eagle Clan... It’s connected to that bastard chicken from the tower?"

Hati growled and barked in agreement.

Alex clenched his fists, his smile fading. A shadow of pain flickered in his eyes. "Yeah... We hate the Eagle."

CRACK!

Thunder slammed down from the sky.

"Arghhh—!" Alex yelped mid-scream, shielding his face. But then, he froze.

Blue lightning danced across his skin like living snakes.

Then—he laughed.

"Ha! Ha! HA! Lightning doesn’t hurt me anymore!"

Hati blinked, wide-eyed.

Alex, now completely ignoring his stunned companion, struck a ridiculous pose, as if daring the sky to hit him again.

CRACK!

Lightning answered with a vengeance.

"OUCH! Okay, it still hurts..." Alex winced and glanced toward the heavens. "Maybe I shouldn’t bite off more than I can chew..."

Turning toward Hati, who had wisely distanced himself, Alex called, "Let’s run before it strikes again!"

They ran until they reached the towering gate of Thunder City. Alex quickly showed the Elemental Excellence Academy badge he had received before. The guards stiffened, then bowed deeply and opened the massive doors without hesitation.

Alex blinked, flustered by the unexpected respect. Not used to such treatment, he hurried inside with awkward steps.

The moment he crossed into the city, the world changed.

He entered the Outer Zone—the poorest district of Thunder City. Shabby houses, cracked walls, dirty alleys, and people with hollow eyes filled the space.

"The commoners," he thought, as his boots crunched over debris and filth.

As he walked through the narrow streets, weaving past worn-out walls and aimless stares, something caught his attention.

A little girl with fiery red hair sat on a ragged mat, bones clearly visible beneath her tattered clothes. Her voice echoed off the alley walls, frail but determined:

"Buy herbs! One copper for three! Just one copper! Please, buy herbs!"

She repeated it like a broken song—over and over.

Some passersby ignored her. Others muttered, "We don’t have money, kid."

A few shoved her away harshly.

Still, she persisted.

Even when no one looked at her.

Even when they laughed or cursed or walked away.

She chased after them briefly, her cracked feet stumbling, but returned again to her spot.

"One copper! Three herbs!"

Her dark brown eyes didn’t waver for a second.

From her sunken cheeks, scarred feet, and relentless voice, Alex could tell—

This wasn’t just survival.

This was resistance.

A daily battle.

Alex walked toward her and knelt a short distance away. She didn’t notice—she was busy running after another uninterested customer.

He reached down and picked up three of her herbs, wilted and half-rotten.

She turned back quickly and rushed toward him, extending her skinny, scarred hand with a bold voice.

"One copper coin, sir!"

Alex smiled faintly, pulled out a copper coin, and placed it gently into her palm.

Then he stood and walked away.

She stared at the coin for a second.

Then she smiled—not like a child who had received charity, but like a warrior who had won a war.

That smile... it didn’t look like she had earned a single copper coin.

It looked like she had conquered the world.

The girl dashed off, her small feet carrying her as fast as they could. She entered a nearby shop and bought a small loaf of fresh bread. Clutching it tightly, she darted down a side alley behind the bakery.

There, alone in the shadow of the crumbling walls, she sat down and began devouring the bread with greedy, starving bites.

Then—she choked.

"Cough! Cough!"

A gourd of water appeared in front of her face, held out by a large adult hand.

Without hesitation, she snatched it and began gulping it down.

When she finally caught her breath, she looked up—and froze.

It was him.

The same man who had given her the copper coin.

He was smiling... a little too kindly. Unused to kindness, the girl panicked and backed away, dragging her feet on the ground.

Alex knelt down slowly and asked in a gentle whisper, trying not to frighten her.

"What’s your name?"

But the soft tone didn’t help. She only trembled more.

Suddenly, Hati stepped forward and barked.

"Woof! Woof!"

The girl flinched, clearly terrified.

But Hati walked closer... and licked her face.

The girl’s fear shattered like glass.

She giggled.

"Stop! It tickles!"

Hati backed away with a proud look on his face, nose in the air like he was saying: "See? That’s how you deal with kids."

Alex rolled his eyes.

Then he looked at the girl again. She was still watching him—curious now, though still a little cautious.

But that was okay.

The wall between them had cracked.

Alex smiled gently and asked in a normal, warm voice,

"What’s your name, little girl?"

She hesitated, then replied softly,

"My name is... Phoenix."

Alex’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Phoenix?"

The girl nodded with a sparkle in her eyes, her voice filled with pride and dreams.

"A kind uncle once told me stories of the Phoenix. Beautiful... powerful... flying in the sky, free from everything. I want to be like that. So I named myself Phoenix."

Alex was quietly taken aback by the depth behind her words.

Then he smiled warmly and said,

"Alright. I’ll call you Little Phoenix. My name is Alexander."

He pointed toward the wolf beside him.

"And this guy here is Hati."

She repeated with wonder,

"Hati..."

Alex then asked softly,

"Do you have a home, Little Phoenix?"

She shook her head.

Alex fell silent, deep in thought.

I only have one gold coin left and 2,000 credits. I can convert those into 2,000 gold at the Hunter Guild... but leaving her with that much money would be dangerous. I can’t take her to the academy... And I have to leave before the tournament starts. What should I do?

He glanced at the girl and asked cautiously,

"If I gave you some gold coins, what would you do with them?"

She answered without a second of hesitation,

"I’ll go to the Hunter Guild School in the Middle Zone! The kind uncle said they teach you how to fight... give you a place to live... and good food!"

At the last words, she even jumped with excitement.

Alex smiled slightly. That might actually work.

"Do you know where the school is, Little Phoenix?"

She shook her head again.

"No, sir. I’ve never been to the Middle Zone. They don’t let us in."

Alex chuckled.

"Don’t call me ’sir.’ Just Alex—or Brother Alex. Come with me."

She nodded, following closely behind. Hati crouched down, and to her delight, he picked her onto his furry back.

Her laughter rang out, bright and unburdened—a sound full of joy and wonder.

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