Chapter 184: Sad ending for both sides

Derik couldn't help but ponder on the Rakuzen's words as he watched him leave. He couldn't help but imagine if Cyrus were by his side now, many things would have been easier. What would have happened if everyone from his childhood team were still with him, Kira, Daemon, Cyrus, Karl, and Donald. Back then they did amazing things even though there were only kids and lacked power. A smile appeared on his face as he refused to feel regret now! Things happen, people drift apart, and what determines a man's worth is if he can get his shit together and move forward.

He may have lost many friends on the way but he kept moving forward and that's all that matters.

At least that's what he believes!

BOOM!

A massive explosion occurred somewhere not too far away and a mushroom cloud of blue flames appeared causing Derik to frown. He looked to the side and realized, Rakuzen didn't leave, he just distanced himself from the battlefield but he didn't leave. Derik didn't know why they stood there but he didn't bother with them anymore, he simply watched the blue flames in anticipation of the rebirth of the Phoenix emperor.

Bam!

A beam of blue flame shot past Derik and moved towards Rakuzen.

Whoosh!

In an instant Emperor was standing right in front of Rakuzen and gazing at the unconscious Lucien in his arms. He shot Lucien a sweet smile and touched his face gently with a sigh.

"I don't think the heavens can forgive me for putting a fourteen-year-old through all of this… I watched his battle from afar, when he wakes up, tell him I said he did well" Emperor Fei said to the mysterious blue man.

Since the man had the same blue serpent dragon design on his clothes and gave off an ethereal feeling, Emperor Fei suspected this man may be the physical representation of Rakuzen but he couldn't think too deep into it now since he had more important things to do.

"Ready for one last dance?" Derik asked with a smile

"Let's go!" Emperor Fei growled as the blue flames exploded while he shot towards Derik.

Seeing this Derik frowned once again. While he could tell these blue phoenix flames were inferior to Lucien's dragon flame, it felt more dangerous than that of Lucien.

Brrrr!

A stream of phoenix blue flames was sent shooting towards him and Derik chose not to run, instead, he threw only his hand forward as his eyes let out a bright flash as his body lit up with green flames!

"Hell flames!" Derik growled as he released a wave of chilling green hell flames!

The two flames collided but didn't cause an explosion, instead, they were stunned to see each flame trying to consume the other. Derik tried not to think too much of it since he had already considered his strength from the previous world to be flawed, all he can think of now is the new strength that this world will bring to his death magic!

CAWWWWWWW!

Whoosh!

From the left a massive fiery blue Phoenix shot out from the side, shooting towards the death god but been then Derik did not panic! He tried to focus on sensing the emperor's life force to pinpoint his location but due to the blue flames scattered everywhere, Derik could neither tell where the emperor is.

"Phoenix pathway... Gives the power of the user life while allowing them to reincarnate each time they die… As long as they are not destroyed in the reincarnation process they can be considered immortal" Derik said with a frown.

From all, he has seen he already deduced the true nature of the emperor's ability but that doesn't mean he had an answer for it. His hell flames consume all things, yet these flames are something he cannot consume but Derik didn't take this to heart since he has been experiencing these setbacks since he came to this world.

Pa!

Slapping his face, Derik regained focus and gazed at the incoming Phoenix with mixed feelings His battle instincts honed for thousands of years told him that this blue Phoenix is only a decoy causing him to frown.

"In that case! Secret technique: Brilliant claw!" Derik growled as he charged towards the Phoenix with a darkish green aura exploding from his claws.

"Roar!" Derik growled as he released the powerful claw energy attack yet the Phoenix dodged almost effortlessly!

'What?' Derik gasped in his mind as he retreated while brandishing his claw at the enemy, releasing countless claw energy attacks yet the Phoenix kept maneuvering through the attacks making him frown!

"Charge!" Derik's eyes lit up as his aura exploded and the image of the massive fiery green werewolf appeared behind him but this time it wasn't just half but the whole thing! His body drifted back entering the werewolf avatar.

"Secret combat technique: Lycan Roar!" Derik let out an inhuman roar as his werewolf avatar shot forward, charging towards the Phoenix!

After Seeing the way the Phoenix had dodged his attacks repeatedly he was led to believe that the enemy was hiding within this Phoenix construct!

Bang!

Just before the two constructs collided, Derik slipped out of the werewolf construct from behind. Derik retreated repeatedly as his eyes hint at doubts while gazing at the green and blue flames struggling against each other. For the first time in his life, he was witnessing something that could stand against his death aura in this new world!

"Phoenix flames!" Derik said with an indifferent look on his face but at that moment he felt the cold hands of death on his shoulder, making his expression turn fierce!

"You!" Derik turned around but it was already too late!

Puff!

Derik felt the fiery talons of the partially transformed emperor piercing deep into his chest! At that moment he felt the blue Phoenix flames surging into his body burning rapidly and spreading no matter how much he tried containing it with his aura.

"Die!" Derik growled as he rammed his claws into the Emperor's body and his death aura surged in rapidly, attacking the soul directly!

"This time you won't be able to reincarnate!" Derik said with a vicious smile on his face as he watched the Emperor's face turn pale while his body was already cracking like an eggshell.

"Hehehehe!" The emperor laughed causally as Derik's entire body was quickly engulfed in Phoenix flames.

"You may not have organs or feel pain but how will you be able to live when your body is burnt to ashes? You were right about my pathway… The Phoenix pathway allows me to reincarnate after death and also grants me the ability to give life to my magic easily but you missed one more thing… It grants me unquenchable Phoenix flames… They say once it starts burning, it never stops until the target is reduced to nothing… it has never failed" Emperor Fei spat out a mouthful of black blood as his body swayed weakly while he gazed at the burning death god with satisfaction.

Even though this stunt lead to his death, he was able to save the empire from this monster and his death will stop the senseless war going on around them. Right now his only regret is that he would not be here to see how strong Lucien will become in the future and this made him sigh. At his time of death, he wasn't even thinking of his clan or his family, he thought of a stranger who came in at a later part of his life. In the end, Lucien and Instructor Han can be considered the closest thing to family he has ever had.

"You did good… As a sign of respect, I will not consume your soul" Derik said casually, ignoring the blue flames surging around his body. His gaze shifted towards Lucien who was just regaining consciousness and he frowned. He could have killed Lucien, he could have taken Rakuzen away but his curiosity got the best of him.

Lucien reminded him too much of himself when he was a lot younger. He wanted to see the path Lucien will take and since he planned on staying in this world for a long time he can easily kill Lucien off if he goes down the wrong path.

"Have I grown soft?... Maybe this has to do with my old age!" Derik laughed lightly as he slowly descended to the ground and sat in a cross-legged position. He took in a deep breath and guided his god soul out of his body, shooting into the sky and heading in an unknown direction.

No one could see this except Rakuzen but he didn't speak up either. He knew Lucien would have seen it if only he wasn't too focused on the dying emperor!

Gazing at Lucien who jumped out of his hands and charged towards the dying emperor, Rakuzen sighed. He could have left with Lucien but he just stayed back to make sure the emperor's death doesn't go to waste.

"His power will be his parting gift to you" Rakuzen muttered sadly.

something...