Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Asura leaned on the edge of the stone walls of Utgard. He left Westrin the day before after learning the orcs secured victory through a message orb. This spurred him to return to Utgard to prepare for their next move.

'I cannot linger here forever, and there are too many enemies and things I have to consider.'

[Asura...]

While he stood enjoying the cool air, his gaze watching the more organised knights and warriors fighting with Lucia, Ignis and Lorem. He knew he couldn't afford to be idle or let time slip by, but there was a feeling of stagnation.

However, while lost in the strange quagmire inside his mind. Asura heard a voice he had missed because of how busy he had become over the past few weeks; he hadn't contacted Celine once...

[What's the matter, Celine? You sound different. Are you okay?]

Her voice sounded without energy, a sense of sorrow, but Asura couldn't quite grasp it because of them speaking through their minds.

'Though I don't intend to be held down by the shards. I still owe Azoth to at least let that woman forgive herself at least...'

[Monsters started appearing on our shores to the north; they brought axes and stones and burned the beautiful forest to create more tools of war... So many of my people have already died, and my brother seeks to make peace with them. The same monsters that almost killed Spica!]

The mood became heavy for Asura, who felt a little overconfident after their victory in the east. He suddenly felt another unknown enemy appearing and the fact he could do nothing to help made Asura feel frustrated.

[Is Spica alright? Those monsters, what are they?]

He knew it might be unfair and impolite to ask so bluntly, but Asura needed information. However, he could easily teleport to her room. That thought flowed through his mind before he shook his head.

'No, I cannot do that.'

What about the knights and warriors waiting for him here, his women and the plans they laid out already?

[The monsters are just goblins... but they are different, deformed, mutated. Their strength and abilities are not what the goblins we know should have, and their blood is black! They broke Spica's arm when she tried to protect me from an ambush... Somehow they know where we go to train or practise... It feels strange, like there might be a traitor in the palace.]

[I've never seen my mother cry before...]

Asura listened to her long words.

He felt if he interrupted for more information, it might break her thoughts and cause her to lose any information she might have kept.

[Why did your mother cry?] This felt like the most caring thing to ask and just popped into his mind.

Celine seemed to struggle for a moment as if unsure whether to answer him.

After a long moment, her voice appeared again, and she finally explained why with her voice trembling as she seemed to relive the moment in her mind as she contacted him.

[Spica told me to stay with her in the palace and not to go out, but I wanted to visit the library. After a while, I saw the library was destroyed, the guards dead, and my mother was covered in blood. I think that one spy was mother's friend... a friend she knew from being a young girl.]

His body leaned over the wall; Asura focused on Lorem and Lucia, who were duelling each other. He felt a sense of bitterness when hearing of betrayal, especially when they must have been friends for thousands of years.

However, the frustration he couldn't help Celine in any significant way made him feel torn.

[I see... I can understand her pain.]

[Asura... can you really not come here and be with me? I don't know what to do. The people who support my brother have been arguing and fighting against my mother since losing her friend. Mother has changed; her eyes no longer shine like they did before... I don't know what to do!]

There was a pain inside his chest. This felt like a moment. He must make a choice. To help Celine and delay his conquering of the capital or to ignore Celine's cry for help and head to the capital and maybe lose the girl's trust forever.

"What the hell do I do..." He muttered in a low voice filled with frustration and anger.

Ignis, who returned to her position as his guard, noticed his expression and looked worried as she approached him while wiping her sweat away.

"What's wrong, My Prince?"

Asura looked down at her and frowned, unsure what to do or even what to say.

"My Prince?" She asked again while noticing the hesitation.

"It is nothing, Ignis. We can talk about it later."

He couldn't explain why but Asura felt a little uncomfortable telling her, but the girl was always so open to him. However, she didn't let him leave; her hand grasped his tunic and pulled him back before slamming him against the wall with a bang.

"My Prince, I cannot allow you to leave with that face. What kind of effect do you think the troops and others will feel upon seeing your defeated look!?"

"W-What... No, I don't feel..."

Asura felt his voice stop upon seeing her stern, worried expression. He smiled bitterly and reached up, rubbing his head with a feeling of loss. To lose to Ignis made him feel strange.

"Ignis..." He began with a sigh.

"So, what has made you feel this defeated and low?" Ignis whispered, her silver eyes shimmering in the night.

He then told her in simple terms about how he could either lead the attack on the capital and lose an important friend's trust or even her life, or help her and then delay their chance to crush the cult and Alistair because he helped her.

"You should go..."

She suddenly whispered while leaning closer and leaning against the wall beside him. Her fingers reached up and stroked his head, a strange feeling filling Asura's chest to be comforted by Ignis, but then he realised she was over forty years old.

"What did you say?"

"Go and help her. If it was me, and my sister or friend needed help, I would drop everything to be at her side. The way you look when speaking about this Celine isn't like you're speaking of a random friend, but someone with a significant bond."

"But the attack--"

"Idiot! Who said you must be present for the initial attack? The capital will not go like Westrin. The battle will last days, maybe weeks! Can you not solve or aid her in that amount of time while trusting us to at least hold off the enemy?"

'Ignis called me an idiot!?'

He looked at the beautiful young girl, her silver hair blowing in the wind, a faint smile on her face, her eyes gleaming, and her skin shimmering under the moonlight.

"Why do you not answer, Prince Asura?"

"You are right..."

"That is good."

"I will need your help..."

"Of course, Prince Asura. Just let me know what you need from me and the others. We are here to serve and support you. No other reason."

Asura felt strange. He looked at Ignis, who nodded after seeing his eyes once. "You look better. I will return to training, don't forget what I said and keep your spirits up, Master."

It was the first time Ignis called him a master in such a way. It made him realise he tried to take everything alone, despite becoming a prince and having countless people willing to aid him.

He watched Ignis climb onto the wall and jump off the edge, her beautiful wings fluttering in the night as she returned to the training field, leaving Asura on the cold ramparts alone once again.

"I'm so stupid... and arrogant. It doesn't always have to be me. I am not the centre of the world."

'I'm not the hero or the saviour that can save the entire world from danger. I'm just one person. There is more than one way to reach a goal.'

He laughed bitterly before looking up at the stars above, his mind working over the possibilities and what could be done.

[Celine, can you give me a day to organise things here? Then I will come to you. I promise.]

Her response took a long time, and Asura thought she might have hung up.

Then he heard her voice, which sounded a little happier and lighter than before. Celine's voice came softly and made Asura smile a little, knowing she was doing better now.

[Yes, I will see you tomorrow then, Asura. Thank you... I didn't want to bother you, but I have no one else to turn to.]

His hand clenched tightly into a fist as a fierce expression formed.

"I cannot solve her entire trouble, but I will at least try to help her endure. Until the day comes that I can work with my many allies to meet her officially."

[You must take care of Spica and rest well. I will help you, no matter what.]

With that, Asura felt a sense of confidence and preparation. He looked at the stars once more before he turned around and headed to where his beloved women were waiting.

***

A day passed, and the morning sun rose over the City, but a strange sight filled the fields outside the walls of Utgard.

Thousands of men and women gathered, their armour polished and weapons shining. Many wore black armour, while some wore purple armour, but all stood together as a united force.

"Asura, I will lead them well. You just come back when you can and chase after us." Lorem would be the one in charge of the army, while Helliana and Mu Xue would be her generals controlling most of the soldiers while she focused on the general tide of battle.

"I will, Lorem. Take care of my army and yourself. We are about to fight an actual battle against unknown forces. Do not underestimate our enemies, and do not let your guard down."

"You can trust me, My Love!"

Ignis stood beside Lorem as they both saluted, their expressions showing they understood his words.

"Thank you, once again, all of you." Asura turned to his beloved women, each of them accepting his choice to go chasing another woman across the world and help her while they fought an arduous battle.

"What can I do? I fell for you and can't abandon you now." Lucia joked while Xavida sat quietly and nodded.

"That's right~ darling promised us rewards after he comes back too!"

Listening to Lucia and Xavida, the other women just giggled and placed their hands on Asura's body, gently stroking him with concerned eyes.

"Be safe, Asura..." Helliana whispered.

"Husband, I will fight for you. Please return safely." Mu Xue squeezed his shoulder while Lorem blushed and turned away, showing her shy nature.

"Stupid, it's only a temporary goodbye, just come back soon, you hear?"

Verana and Valerie remained quiet because they bid farewell last night, enjoying his blood while making him swear to take care of himself and not do something stupid.

Vela rushed through the woman, her body leaping into his chest, as she cried softly, wrapping both arms around his neck. "My love... don't get hurt... I couldn't bear for you to come back injured. I don't want to separate again... please don't be gone too long.

I love you."

"I promise I will be back soon."

His hand gently stroked the soft silver hair of Vela, who clung to him like a koala. However, thanks to Xavida peeling her off, he could take out the token he needed. With that, Asura vanished.... Finally using the item to send him to the Elven princess's bedroom.

While the army of Silvara began to march towards the west... Asura found himself staring at the naked body of Celine... her body and face frozen after seeing him appear.

It seemed he picked the perfect time to teleport.