Reincarnated as a Phoenix

Chapter 242 – The Finale

“…Once things had concluded, both Hestia and Nyx became the first of the dragons. Or technically, I became one. One refuses to use such a name when you see the world through the lenses of an hourglass, guided and tempted by fate”

‘What the actual fuck was that!? Damn… at least give us a warning if we’re looking through a memory’

Actually witnessing in person what just happened, me and Petra return back to the basement after witnessing Zeus’s perception through the oracle.

You understand how gross that felt wearing the skin of someone who rarely bathes and might as well have a tree trunk swinging down below!? At least I know why he’s had so many affairs…

Helping me up because my sorry hide couldn’t help but fall, Petra locks eyes with the oracle before I get the chance, seeming to quiver a little from the sight.

I can understand why just because she hates her mother. The fact she has glowing yellow eyes and a body that could rival Nyx herself is meaningless.

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“Those visions make no sense; how could more dragons develop just from those two? And according to legend, you, Hestia, are supposed to be a virgin?”

I mean, it’s basic biology. When two mummies love each other very much, they either adopt or find some way of becoming inseminated. No male dragons means no little dragons.

“The blood worked as a disease before it could fully fester, all it took was spilling a little and more came after. After an undocumented amount of time, the blood trickled down and the species evolved to what you see now…”

Shit. All that strange phoenix DNA we’ve learnt about ourselves holds nothing to the beginnings of the dragon. I’m not even going to question the fact you could make a case for me and Petra being related. If you believe in the Adam and Eve shit, then all humans on Earth are related!

“…The virginity you question on has always remained intact, even to this day. Such a thing becomes a burden when all it can do is add onto more variable futures”

Well… that makes no fucking sense! My wife may have came to this world through summoning like me, but we both needed that dragon egg to develop. That still requires a mummy and daddy dragon… I’m missing my father again now.

“Do I really have to be blunt? How the hell can you be a virgin if this lovely, albeit pain in the arse is still alongside me?”

Normally, my awkward sense of humour is appreciated but I think the seriousness of this situation has put Petra in a trance. She’s listening in, just not daring to look her mother in the eye anymore and shut her body up like she’s cold or something.

“That is another story in itself, but one I feel less inclined to share. Summarized… Nyx was her birth mother while I nursed the egg. Mine was infertile while hers housed a hatchling. It was an easy enough switch to make while she visited Chaos”

‘Dear God, this is starting to sound like some estranged soap opera now. For real though, Petra’s real mother is Nyx?’

(Petra) “But… why?”

“To ensure the ideal future, you had to grow up in environment suitable for development. The blinding and the pain endured; you wouldn’t have brought all the phoenixes together if it wasn’t for my intervention”

(Ikarus) “Then Mute is the same? Did she have to suffer just because the future demanded it as well!?”

“Yes, switched early on as well. Someday when you both grow older, you’ll understand everything I’ve done is for the greater good. Without me, the likelihood of all of you dying prematurely would’ve increased drastically”

I always knew Petra’s mother, or now non-mother would make me infuriated by the way she’s treated her kids. It’s taking every bit of my willpower not to rip this woman to shreds. Whether it helped us in the long run or not is irrelevant, a parent should always put their kids first! Adopted or not, it makes no freaking difference!

“*Sigh*… don’t bother Ikarus. She’s always been like this… at least she’s not talking in vague riddles for a change”

This brings me back to one of the earlier conversations I had with Petra. That being the first time I met Ariza and Zeki, the reason why Petra was stalking me in the first place. Her mother said that the fourth phoenix would bring about the end of the world.

All of this is making me angry and my head spin, could go for a very long sleep with everything that has gone on today.

“So… just making this sure so I understand. You’re technically Hestia? And Petra’s mother… is Nyx? What about her father then? By the sounds of it, the creators were involved as well? Or… primordial beings?”

“Primordial beings, Outer Gods, Architects, Powers that be, that term is meaningless but their power isn’t. Technically speaking, the child wouldn’t have a father because Chaos is an impossible being. You’ll likely never come across that force, it and Nyx did create her though”

So… my wife is basically the lovechild of two primordial Gods? No wonder why I always felt like she was the protagonist in our adventures travelling the world. She literally is the chosen one.

“Please Ikarus, don’t. You’re looking at me like Charlotte does with Nathan”

“I’m not! There just filled with love like always, there’s nothing new to see here!”

Putting my awestruck eyes aside for one second, this really isn’t a moment for my usual carefreeness. A mystery as big as Chaos and Nyx producing a child for the ages… I swear some myths say he was supposed to be Nyx’s father as well.

…

I’m going to ignore that one and just assume he created Nyx in a test tube or something. Why can’t one story in Greek mythology just be clear and not involve some sort of incest?

“Back onto the prophecy. The stuff you foretold to Asmodeus and Gods know everyone else. Zeus’s paranoia towards us started from that, so couldn’t this all have ended peacefully?”

Even discarding my distaste for this woman lacking compassion, this is something else that pisses me off. Why tell the extremely paranoid Zeus that we’re a threat? We wouldn’t have lost father if that were the case… freaking Charybdis.

“Bit and pieces always get interpreted in different ways; people will always react badly so futures must remain vague. I once told Olympus a world would be destroyed. Nothing more, nothing less. Zeus would’ve found any reason to become paranoid with you four”

“What about the dragon ritual? Why were the two of you needed though?”

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Surprisingly, Petra asks that while still looking like she’s still in her shell. I really want to comfort her and all but I’ve already tried and been turned away. I don’t think she wants to be touched right now.

“Without the blood being shared between two souls, one would’ve ended up in a situation comparable to the creators. Nyx knew this and made the sacrifice to spare Hestia’s soul from ascending”

(Ikarus) “But, this entire thing makes no sense. Asmodeus said dragons come from those giant creatures down south”

Asmodeus once said dragons descended came from the gigantic fossilized creatures down in the south and that stuck with me. This theory completely throws that one in the toilet.

Just me mentioning Asmodeus seems to leave a bad taste in the oracle’s mouth, at least we’re all in agreement of our dislike of him.

“Do you take every rumour or story he hears as gospel? Or have both of you become blind to his showmanship? It’s not entirely untrue though… the blood comes from the same area”

(Petra) “Dermakvar… and Asmodeus. You must know if they’re okay?”

Now knowing the reason why Petra’s so distraught, I guess it just comes down to our fathers really. Or her adopted one which also caused her a load of hassle, that side of her family just needs to fuck off at this point.

“My visons stopped past a certain date… I wouldn’t waste time worrying about those two. I have no reasons to suspect they wouldn’t be ‘okay’. The Underworld is a vast place, look long enough and you’ll find them somewhere”

‘Yeah yeah, just tell me not to care about my grumpy father. I guess he could be having the time of his life, chasing ghostly tail and crashing into other ghostly things. I haven’t a clue what the dead do!’

…

Even though we’ve already had a load to discuss, this feels like we’re finally coming to the end with the fabled oracle. There will always be something we forget to ask; I can’t say if we’d actually want all the answers though.

“Is there anything else you two would like to ask or are we finished?”

“I’m not sure… Petra? Anything you want to say to add?”

“No Ikarus. The sooner we leave… the better”

‘Agreed. The wife’s wisdom was right, we’ll never get an apology out of this woman for what happened. Best just leave her’

But wait, there is still one more thing. What happens now in the present? We lost our chance to enact revenge on Asmodeus for the abuse… we can’t just let her roam free, can we?

“Then just one final question… what now? We walk off into the sunset and let you be? Or is your fate sealed?”

“Correct. What happens now is that I die, and you two live. Destiny was always predetermined up to this point and my fate was already set. I must die in Zeus’s palace, this determined future would always end that way”

“So… do we fight then?”

If we have to do this, I’m not allowing Petra to land the final blow. I’m not allowing her to go through a Greek tragedy… at least the ending I mean. Her life has been filled with enough pain already.

“There is no need for that, I’ll be returning below in less than an hour. The only thing giving me a life was the God you killed, already feel it fading so it’s just a matter of time. Technically speaking, I died long ago and this was just him not being able to let go. He did always try his hardest at breaking universal rules”

‘She’s already dead? This should confirm it… status’

[<Status scans don’t apply to beings that are considered undead Ikarus… as you already knew>]

Asmodeus and Petra were technically right as Zeus himself must’ve brought the oracle back to the world of the living himself. How did she actually die in the first place though?

“You just know I’ve got to ask… how?”

In a split second, what felt like the atmosphere easing now falls off a cliff face when I ask that question. I wouldn’t think your own death would be such a touchy subject.

(Petra) “It might be best if we change the topic, Ikarus”

(Oracle) “Humorous. There’s no need to feel guilty about what was done, fate demined you’d strike down the one you believe to be your mother”

‘Damn… guess I’m too late to prevent the tragedy. Petra already did the task long ago’

…

And of course, the vibe in this place is just plain awkward. I think this has to be it, what else is there really to discuss?

“Is there… anything you want to do or say before you bite the bullet? Maybe a regret or two?”

Maybe I can try being a little more sensitive, but fuck it. I want to hear her apologize for ruining Petra’s childhood even if I know it won’t happen.

“Regrets… no, I have none…”

‘Yep… not surprised at all’

“…I do however have a request. The next few hours of waiting, especially with no view of any futures past this point is pointless. Please, use that blade of yours and finish what should’ve remained permanent”

…

I… both of us are unsure what to say on this request. I’m not opposed to doing it, just didn’t think this would be the way the fabled oracle goes out. Where’s the epic battle like with Charybdis? Already know it’s going to feel bittersweet…

“Wouldn’t you prefer watching the sunset or something? From up here, it’ll be pretty damn peaceful”

“At heart, I’m still of Olympian blood so dying by blade is attractive. Besides, one step outside and I’ll turn to dust. It’s not a difficult decision, just decide. This choice means nothing in the grand scheme of things”

The monotone oracle who was still seated on that crate gets up, turns to face away from us and then kneels, like she wants that Roman style soldier’s death where the blade is pierced downwards into the neck. Don’t ask… know way too many execution style stuff from the Greek and Roman era. Did always say I’m a geek when it comes to things like that.

“The choice is yours, Ikarus. I… I’ll wait outside for you”

Knowing Petra has had enough, she swiftly leaves the cellar so just me and the oracle are now alone. On one hand, I feel inclined to strike her considering what she has done to the wife. On the other, especially if Petra has already got her revenge before, it’s not worth the effort.

‘Eh, choices. All this comes down to is if I want to bloody my blade again…’

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“All done now Petra, you want to know what happ-”

Greeting the wife at the golden door, she immediately stops me with a kiss and stops me saying anything else. I may sometimes be dense and a little moronic, I do know when to shut it though. The kiss is surprisingly nice considering everything that’s just happened.

“G-Gotcha, zip it”

…

Before we head back out, we both take one finale minute to take a breather before we exit. Once we head back outside, it’s over, or the job is officially done. The fighting never stops but to anything other than primordial threats, we should be safe.

With hands locked together, we push the door open and go back outside…

(Zeki) “Erk… couldn’t you two have cut off the grumpy guy’s head or something? We’re not leaving here without some trophy!”

(Ariza) “Uh Zeki… some things never change”

(Kellearzar) <Welcome back! I hope you got vengeance for Demakvar, Ikarus>

(Nathan) “This… doesn’t feel how I expected. It’s nice knowing paranoia won’t be the reason this world falters, it’s just father dying like this feels wrong. Always thought it would be in some spectacular fight like with the titans”

(Charlotte) “Yup Nat, we’re safe for now. My blade will always be ready for any heathens we fall across…”

As soon as we step outside, we’re greeted with the entire party standing around a pile of cut up denizens. Everyone has built up quite the sweat, presume the battle must’ve been harder than first thought. I’ll ask on this another time. For right now though, Nyx cautiously approaches the both of us unsure what to say.

“Heya Nyx… thanks for dealing with the demon guy. Should I leave you two alone?”

She heard everything that was said between Hestia and Petra, that much seems obvious to me. Maybe not her intention to eavesdrop, it doesn’t matter. Her face screams of guilt.

(Petra) “Ikarus, please stay. Did you know, Nyx?”

“I… wasn’t aware, my child. Everything she said, I heard. If I had known the truth then… I’d have killed and revived that bitch for eternity. I… wouldn’t have changed the past, just made she sure suffers for what she’s done to you”

An aura of pure anger yet a face full of sadness, Nyx really seems heartbroken about all this. Think the reason why she wouldn’t change the past just comes down to the butterfly effect, you don’t know if things would’ve ended better or not. I do still wish she had a happier upbringing though…

“Would you mind… if I could just hold for a moment?”

“Heh, it’s fine, Nyx. Hug away”

Leaning in and then squeezing her in only a way a mother can do, I swear my heart skips a beat. My wife finally has a non-abusive mother and Nyx is like famous for mothering! She finally gets a happy ending of sorts…

<Ikarus…>

“Don’t you dare get any ideas, mother! I will start screaming and kicking if you come close!”

<Aww…>

In but a moment, I manage to completely destroy my own mother’s heart, making nearly everyone else chuckle. The only hugging I want is from the wife! Mother’s hugs are just too much, whether in dragon or human. It’s either getting covered in dragon drool, or being suffocated by two gigantic pounds of flesh!

“Nyx… there’s something I’ve got to ask if it’s okay. How is it your other kids aren’t dragons?”

“It… must come down to how she was conceived really. That time I visited Chaos; I must’ve visited in dragon… even if my memory blacks out every time it happens”

Oh right, Nyx still has no memory of when she enters that form and Petra’s father is definitely Chaos. I need to force the wholesomeness back up again and ignore the obvious contradictions that always happen with mythology.

Chaos is NOT Nyx’s father; your wife is NOT another story about Greek mythology ending up in incest. He’s just Nyx’s creator, NOT father. For obvious reasons, I dare not ask if my version of events is true or not…

“Erk, can you morons stop hugging already? The cow is calling for me, know her disturbing scent in the wind. That flat Goddess better not be hiding again because I know I can convince her”

…

And of course, the wholesomeness on this mountain falls off the peak and fades into oblivion. This is why you don’t bring Zeki anywhere.

“Heh, we’ll leave in a minute. Just go wait down in the cave for a while, Zeki, just want just a little time with Ikarus for now…”

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“*Sighhh*. You know something Petra? You really were the protagonist of our adventure all along”

As I stare out over the endless world, leaning against my wife’s shoulder and possessing a smile as dopey as I can muster, things really feel nice. If you exclude the primordial Gods and all their meddling, the world might as well be ours. It’s finally time for this bird to join the dark side and turn pure evil! Muhahahaha…

“That’s just not true Ikarus, your system alone would triumph mine if we ever fought for real. If you’re feeling insecu-”

“No no wifey, just making a joke. I’m getting nostalgic, I guess. There was a time where you really were the protagonist”

Memories flow into my head, especially the ones where we travelled a lot. Every other place we came across, Petra had visited or had some type of history.

The elven city of Aurora, the mountainous kingdom of the dwarves, the vast but somewhat empty deserts of Krieger, the jungles and bone fields of Maladonia, the northern icefields, the dragon enslaving empire of Sierra, even our home back on Lesbos. Can’t say all are happy but they are memories nevertheless.

I miss out more than a few but there’s still a load of good memories… all dungeons suck arse though. That kinky bikini in particular was always a stupid memory that Zeki now has the misery of in his schoolgirl attire. I wonder if there’s anyway I can cause him further discomfort? We’ve got our entire lives to make him suffer! Life really is great…

“Any regrets, Petra?”

“Heh, not learning to love you even quicker, Ikarus. Love at first sight wasn’t quick enough”

…

I can’t help but facepalm and pout from that comment. My life is going to be torture if she continues to keep up these sappy lines that gets my heart in a twist.

“Love you two Petra, but please be serious for a sec”

“Heh, I was Ikarus. For something more serious… wish your father could’ve been saved. Maybe if Asmodeus shared more, we could’ve effectively planned more and found a solution”

I think deep down Petra’s happy she didn’t have to make that choice when it comes to Asmodeus. What I mean by that is even if we had grown to his annoying charm, would it have been safe to leave him alive?

I may have an arsenal suitable for world destruction, he was capable of actually destroying worlds using his own two hands though. It’s probably for the best he’s dead.

“So… what now?”

“Heh… perhaps a long vacation Ikarus? Earth could be a fun visit again”

That’s… an interesting idea but maybe not for the time being.

“Eh, maybe in time… presume there will be a loads of paperwork our corrupt politician needs signing off on. Be honest with me… you just want to return to that love hotel, don’t cha?”

“Heh, you’re imagining things Ikarus. Hop on a plane… see the world. If we end up at a similar hotel, maybe even more restrictive than last time, then so be it…”

Pouting face activated again. Once she starts, she just can’t help herself.

“Oh, make sure you pack Brookyln as well. It’s hard to decide who’s the cutest out of the both of you. You have no idea how much he rocks a skirt”

…

“*Sighhh*… some things never change, do they Petra?”

“Heh, just tell me to stop and I will… we teleporting back?”

“Sure… just one last thing before we round everyone up. Promise it won’t take long”

Hair blowing in the wind, looking straight into Petra’s glowing eyes over the distant horizon, there’s no time better than for a kiss.

“Heh, love you, Ikarus”

“L-Love ya too, Petra…”

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---Extra images/styles, and some old images left over and credits spare. These obviously aren’t handwritten, best I can do is fix a few hands.