As Verside and Isaac struggled for control over the weapon, Verside grinned nervously, "So this is the power of The Phoenix Soul…”

  Isaac’s smile widened as the cracks spread along the length of the stone cross, the sound of splintering rock echoing in the air.

  Verside’s grin wavered, but his confidence remained, "Honestly, I’m impressed. It’s no wonder you gained such a high bounty as just a rouge member… but you’re still just a man. I’ll crush that fire out of you, once and for all!"

  Artist, still on his knees, looked up at Isaac with a mixture of relief and awe. "You really did come back..." he muttered, barely able to believe what he was seeing.

  Isaac locked onto Verside’s gaze, his voice steady but brimming with conviction.

  “We’re both just men, but the difference between us is that you’re nothing but a pawn in the house you serve. I’m much more.”

  Verside’s eyes narrowed as he studied Isaac. “Humor me, then. What house do you serve now?”

  A smile tugged at the corners of Isaac’s mouth. “I’m led by no man. I am the head of the House of the Phoenix.”

  Verside spat on the ground, his contempt evident. “Don’t make me laugh.”

  Without warning, Isaac’s hands ignited into blazing infernos. He lunged forward, aiming to engulf Verside in the searing heat of his Burning Hands ability. The flames surged atop his palm, as it raced toward Verside with deadly intent.

  Verside, eyes widening in alarm, jumped back just in time, barely avoiding flames. The heat singed his clothes and hair, the near miss leaving him shaken.

  Isaac, satisfied with the distance he created, turned toward Artist and offered him a hand. "Get up, there’s no way this is as loud as you can handle."

  Artist, still catching his breath, looked up at Isaac’s extended hand and couldn’t help but laugh. "Not even close!" he said, accepting the help as he pulled himself to his feet.

  As Artist stood, Isaac placed a hand on his shoulder, and a warm, golden light began to emanate from his palm. The healing flames spread across Artist's body, mending wounds and restoring his strength. The pain that had been throbbing in Artist’s muscles faded, replaced by a revitalizing energy.

  Artist took a deep breath, feeling his lost strength coursing through him.

  "That’s more like it," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face as he flexed his now-healed muscles, ready to continue the fight.

  Spunk, ever the cheerleader, jumped from Artist's shoulder and onto Isaac’s head, bouncing with excitement.

  "Yeah, you're back! Now let's show this bitch what we're made of!" the tiny creature squeaked, its enthusiasm infectious.

  The three of them stood together, ready to face Verside, their spirits unbroken despite the glaring threat of the battle ahead of them.

  The final confrontation erupted with Isaac and Artist moving in perfect harmony. Isaac’s reborn phoenix flames flowed around him, creating a blazing inferno that illuminated the battlefield.

  Each of Artist’s strikes was precise, timed to exploit every opening created by Isaac’s relentless onslaught.

  Verside, now reeling from the unexpected resurgence, found himself on the back foot. He fought hard to muster his remaining power to regain control, but the relentless pressure from both opponents left him with no opportunity.

  "Enough!" Verside screamed through clenched teeth, summoning the last vestiges of his dark energy. The dying runes on his body sputtered to life, glowing with a dim light as he attempted to initiate another ritual.

  Shadows gathered around him, condensing into a swirling vortex of dark energy.

  “Not happening,” Swelling with power, Isaac shouted as he prepared his own attack,” This was fun and all, but you’re dead!”

  With a roar, Isaac’s flames surged forward, and a shower of fire missiles ripped through the sheet of dark energy, reducing it to nothing.

  Verside’s ritual crumbled before it could fully form, leaving him defenseless and exposed.

  Artist, seeing the opening, charged forward with a fierce battle cry and struck at Verside’s exposed chest. The force of the blow sent Verside crashing to the ground, his dark energy sputtering out like a dying ember.

  Verside, using his worn weapon to brace himself, looked up at Isaac and Artist, before speaking to himself aloud.

  "No... I must be going crazy…I can’t even begin to think about how I’m going to explain why this fight was this close!" he spat, but his voice lacked the conviction it once held.

  Isaac, containing the blazing flames within him though still having his hair still flickering with the remnants of phoenix flames, stepped forward with a grin of pure excitement. He thrived on the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

  "Well, this is just embarrassing," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "All that talk, and you couldn’t take us down."

  Artist, standing beside Isaac with his sword ready, couldn’t help but smirk at Verside as Spunk jumped onto his shoulder and began taunting Verside in his own weird ways.

  "You really thought you could beat us? Hah! You’re nothing but a big, stinky loser!" Spunk squeaked, puffing out its tiny chest with exaggerated bravado before turning on its heels and smacking its rear end repeatedly.

  Verside, glaring at Spunk’s antics, glanced between Isaac and Artist before gritting his teeth.

  “You know I’m getting real sick and tired of all you little demons whispering underneath the bed of the real monsters thinking some day you will pull them down…

  He paused, his gaze fixated on Isaac, his contempt intensifying.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "House of the Phoenix,” Verside questioned. “What a fucking joke…you’ll never stand tall enough to even aim at the heel of the House of the Kraken. There will be hunters of every rank coming from your head!"

  Isaac’s eyes narrowed, the remnants of phoenix flames still flickering through his hair and pupils, but his expression was one of calm confidence.

  Isaac’s voice was cold and unwavering as he replied, "That’s where you’re wrong. Now let me say this once, and once only—I don’t give a fuck about you or that crumbling house you serve. And whether you like it or not, you’re at war! So stomp your feet, wave your arms, and sharpen your teeth because I’m gonna reshape this world from your ashes.”

  Verside’s face twisted into a sneer as he straightened himself, trying to muster some semblance of authority. "If you’re really so bold!"

  Isaac smiled in return, but this time, it was sharper, more dangerous. "If?"

  Artist, sensing the tension between the two, tightened his grip on his sword. He took a step closer to Isaac, ready to strike if Verside made a move.

  Spunk, still perched on Artist’s shoulder, stuck out its tongue at Verside, completely unfazed by the hostile energy that still crackled around the battlefield.

  "You’re right about one thing, though," Isaac continued, his voice like a sharp edge. "There will be swarms of hunters after me, trying to stop the rise of my house…and I’m planning on it."

  Verside’s sneer faltered, but he quickly recovered, his contemptuous expression returning. "Oh? Well, isn’t that cute! You think you can scare me with your fairy tale of rebirth? You’re deluded, Isaac. That power will consume you, I can already tell how much it’s controlling you now."

  Isaac took a step forward as phoenix feathers and flames sprouted out along his arms. "Maybe it will. But right now, it’s going to burn you to ashes."

  Verside braced himself, his worn weapon trembling in his grasp. "Then come on, Phoenix. Let’s see if you can rise from the ashes a second time."

  With that challenge, the tension between them snapped, and the final battle reignited with explosive force.

  Isaac and Artist launched themselves at Verside.

  Isaac’s phoenix flames roared to life, spiraling around him like a living inferno, their intensity growing with each passing second. The heat radiating from his body distorted the air, creating a haze that blurred the edges of the battlefield.

  Isaac was a force of raw power, his attacks fueled by the raging soul of the phoenix within him.

  As he unleashed a barrage of fiery strikes, his eyes, once sharp and calculating, now blazed with unrestrained fury, driven by the memories of his death at Verside's hands.

  "You're gonna regret those words, you bastard!" Isaac roared, his voice crackling with the power of the phoenix. He launched himself at Verside, fists ablaze, each strike fueled by the burning rage that consumed him. "I'll burn you to ashes, and I won't stop until you're nothing but dust!"

  Verside, with a twisted grin spreading across his face, met Isaac's attacks head-on, his stone weapon trembling but holding firm.

  "That's it! Let that fire consume you!" Verside taunted, his voice tinged with a crazed excitement. "Show me what that Phoenix Soul is really capable of! Show me something worth all your yelling!"

  Artist, fighting alongside Isaac, quickly realized the shift in his demeanor. He could see the effect the phoenix flames were having on him, the way they seemed to feed off his emotions, driving him to the brink of frenzy.

  Each time Isaac struck, the flames would surge forward with overwhelming force, but the direction was starting to falter.

  Recognizing the danger, Artist adjusted his strategy. He positioned himself closer to Isaac, not just to strike at Verside but to shield Isaac from his own volatile power.

  With each reckless swing of Isaac’s burning fists, that would have left him open, Artist would step in, deflecting or absorbing the blow with his sword, redirecting the wild flames away from their intended path, protecting Isaac.

  As Isaac’s attacks became more frenzied, the strain on Artist increased. He was now not only fighting Verside, but also battling to contain the chaos unleashed by Isaac. The flames were fierce, scorching the air around them, and Artist had to use every ounce of his skill and strength to prevent Isaac from being consumed by his own power.

  "Isaac, stop!" Artist shouted, his voice laced with panic as he struggled to keep up with Isaac's escalating attacks. He positioned himself closer to Isaac, his sword flashing as he deflected the wild arcs of flame. "You're going to get yourself killed again if you keep this up! Damn it, I can't keep covering for you like this!"

  Isaac’s rage reached a boiling point, the flames around him surging with such intensity that the air itself seemed to crackle under the pressure. He turned to Artist, his eyes blazing with unbridled fury.

  “Then move! I don’t need you!” Isaac shouted, his voice amplified by the raw power of the phoenix within him. The force of his words sent a shockwave through the battlefield, nearly knocking Artist and Verside off their feet.

  Artist staggered, barely managing to keep his footing as the heat and force of Isaac’s outburst hit him.

  “Isaac, stop!” he yelled, struggling to push back against the overwhelming power. “You’re out of control! I’m not leaving you to face this alone, so get it the fuck together!”

  Spunk, still perched on Artist’s shoulder, watched in growing fear as Isaac's flames spiraled out of control.

  "What’s happening? Why is he going so crazy?" Spunk squeaked, its tiny voice trembling.

  "I won’t stop!" Isaac snarled, his body silhouetted against the blazing wall of fire, his voice a guttural roar. "I won’t stop until he’s dead! I’ll kill him, I’ll—"

  Verside, his own excitement reaching a fever pitch, ripped through the flames as he egged Isaac on, his laughter ringing through the battlefield.

  "Come on! That’s it! Let it take over! Let it burn through everything! You’re nothing special, Isaac! You’re just another monster!"

  With a wild gleam in his eyes, Verside slammed his stone cross into the ground, the impact sending cracks racing through the earth. The weapon began to pulse, its dull surface glowing with a sickly, dark light. Verside’s voice took on a sinister tone as he began to chant, the words archaic and powerful, echoing with dark intent.

  Then, a notification window appeared before their eyes, glowing ominously:

  **********

  [[System Alert: Important Notification]

  [Ritual Barrier Detection]

  **********

  Seeing the notification window, Artist's heart dropped. His mind raced as he processed the information.

  "How…? How the hell did he manage to create a ritual site with his body runes destroyed?" Artist muttered, panic seeping into his voice, until a realization came to him.

  “Isaac! You fucking Idiot…he’s using all the mana your releasing to power his weapon!” Artist shouted.

  However, Isaac was too far gone, and was beyond the point of reason.

  “Signature Weapon: Icon Shift No.4.” Bellowed, Verside.

  As he chanted, the stone cross shifted, its shape warping and expanding as if it were alive.

  Stone masks erupted from its surface, and the dark light illuminated their eyes as they began to sing, casting an eerie glow across the battlefield. The ground beneath it quaked, and tendrils of dark energy began to seep out, wrapping around Verside like protective chains.

  Spunk, sensing the shift in the battlefield, yelled in fear, "What’s he doing? That thing… it’s changing again!"

  "Isaac!" Artist shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos, as he reached Isaac, "We’ll die the second that thing touches us! We gotta get the fuck out of here!"

  But Isaac’s focus was still on Verside, his bloodlust boiling over. "I don’t care what he does!" Isaac snarled, his voice a guttural growl. "I’ll tear him apart before he can use it!"

  Verside, his weapon now fully transformed into a monstrous, spiked hammer of dark energy, sneered at Isaac. "Try it, Phoenix! Let’s see if your flames can stand against this!"

  Despite Isaac’s defiant roar, the situation was escalating rapidly. Verside's chains tightened around him, anchoring him to the ground, as the dark energy of his weapon swirled with sinister power. The ritual was reaching its critical phase, and Artist's panic began to boil over.

  Desperation fueling his actions, Artist snapped. "Fine, you’re the Phoenix, right? Then let’s see how well you heal!"

  With a surge of resolve, he plunged his sword through Isaac’s stomach.