The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

[Phoenix's Feather]

In the game, it's a Legend-grade item! It can't be bought even using real money—getting it is all about luck.

The reason for that is because there are only three known phoenixes that exist in this world.

But now, in front of me—there are two feathers raging with mana!

"..."

I was speechless, my mouth hung open in surprise.

I pinched myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming... and it stings.

"Haha..."

I unconsciously laughed. I've been unbelievably lucky today.

First, I encountered the timed shop earlier and bought myself some nice items... then these!

Also, I was on a date with Jerusha for a whole day.

"Did I just use all of my luck today?"

I frowned at that thought, but I just shrugged it off not long after.

Anyway, [Phoenix's Feather] is a rare item because of one thing—in it is residue mana of a mythical creature.

And absorbing that will automatically make you rank up two times no matter what!

Not only that, your fire attribute will increase, along with your regeneration abilities!

"This is exactly what I need."

I mumbled, my eyes locked on the feathers.

Upon hitting [A] Rank in the rift dungeon... I had already reached my limit. I can't get any more stronger even with the help of herbs and enhancement pills.

I was done.

"But with these... I can rank up two more times..."

I wonder how Lucian got these... He even gave me two of them like they were nothing special.

'But to be fair... the Alvah Family has existed for more than a thousand years now, and they're super rich and strong. They probably have more of these.'

They might even have a friend phoenix. Like, they take one of its feathers every decade or so.

Which is highly likely the case, to be honest. You might think that if that's true, why can't Lucian just be overpowered and absorb all of the feathers' essence?

Well, there's a simple explanation to that—one can only consume a single feather in their whole lifetime.

Exceed that limit and you'll burn up and die.

'At least that's what it says in the game.'

Even when I was playing and got a feather one time, it said that I can only use it once per gameplay.

'Not like I got more after that.'

So in short, that's the reason why the Alvah Family can't really abuse this.

"They probably just use the feathers for family members, and in negotiations."

Anyway... enough of that.

"..."

I stared at the two feathers in the box. I'm going to absorb one of them, that's for sure.

And for the other... I'll see if Pyro can take it.

But for now—

"It's time to rank up."

I declared with a sly smile on my face.

I stood up from being seated on the bed, and after that—I silently left the room and went to Old Man Rey's.

I cast a magic to trap myself inside—no noise can come out or anything else, but everything can come in. This spell is used for isolating enemies, but it's also best in this situation.

This way, the two wouldn't be woken up.

So there, I sat on the wooden floor in a lotus position.

I put the extra feather back in my spatial storage, then without further ado, staring at the one I had in my hand—

"Fuck it."

Gulp!

I swallowed it. Literally!

This is how you consume it. This is how I saw it in the game!

"..."

I cringed as it felt uncomfortable eating a feather, like... really uncomfortable.

But soon—

S W O O O S H—!!!

A crazy amount of mana burst out from my body! The barrier I set up actually cracked!

If I didn't contain the raging mana immediately, it would've burst!

"GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

I screamed without care. Pain attacked me all over my body.

It felt like I was in hell because of how hot my body was, and just a few seconds later—

S W A A A A A H—!!!

I literally caught on fire!

My whole body started burning, starting from my skin!

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGAAAAHHH!!!!!"

I was also regenerating as that was happening because of the Phoenix's mana. I can't die, but the pain makes me want to.

It was literal torture!

"GURGH...!!! GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!!"

But thinking of Zephyrus, Pyro, Old Man Rey... the others... and Jerusha...

"FUUUUUUUCKKK!!!"

I threw aside the thought of dying as I squinted my eyes to focus.

'COME ON, SELF!! YOU ALREADY DID THIS A LOT OF TIMES!!! FOCUS, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!'

This is actually nothing like what I had experienced before, it's way, way worse—but whatever!

'I'LL GET PAST THIS TOO!!!'

...

...

*****

The next day...

(Zephyrus' POV)

-Ugh...?

I woke up and opened my eyes. It was already bright outside, looking at the window.

-'Hmm? Why didn't Raye wake us up?'

I asked in my head, seeing Pyro still sleeping right next to me and Raye nowhere to be seen.

-Hey, wake up.

-meeep...?

Pyro sat up on the bed and looked at me, all sleepy.

-Good morning... meep...

He weakly muttered.

-Yeah, good morning too, kid.

I replied to him, then I opened my mouth again.

-Did Raye come back last night? You told me you'd wait for him and stay up late.

-I don't know, meep...

He responded, rubbing his eyes.

-I fell asleep not long after you too, meep... I can't stay up late, meep... I get sleepy really fast, meep...

Then he added, yawning in between.

-Nevermind that then, let's go out.

-Okay... meep...

I flew toward the door and Pyro lazily followed behind me.

Creak—

I opened it and we went out.

-Huh?

Just then, I felt something weird coming from Old Man Rey's room. I looked at it curiously.

But not long after, I shook my head.

-'That can wait... I need to find Raye first.'

I can't feel his presence anywhere, just where is he?

FWOOOSH—

I flew outside the cabin with Pyro tailing me.

-...

He was not around. I frowned in frustration.

Rustle- rustle-

Though after that, I heard a noise coming from the back of the cabin—from the forest.

-Hmm?

FWOOSH—

I immediately flew in that direction to check it.

And there...

-There you are.

-Papa...! meep!

We saw Raye. He was carrying a whole deer.

"Oh."

He noticed us too.

Pyro and I approached him... Though, suddenly—

-Huh?

-...?!

We froze while in the air. Our eyes widened as we stared at Raye.

And seeing us like that...

"Heh."

He just laughed.

"I'll make us breakfast. Sorry it's late. I did something last night."

Then he said that before leaving!

-...

-...

Pyro and I were left speechless there, not moving.

Raye...

-'He had just gotten unbelievably strong again.'

I thought.

What happened to him?

-Papa got more handsome! Meep!

Then Pyro beside me exclaimed that.

-...

Yeah, whatever, Pyro.