MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 236 Death

A figure wordly recognized stepped into view.

Scintilla, the revered mother of Serenelle, the Phoenix Champion.

The crowd's collective gaze shifted to her with magnetic intensity as she made her entrance, her presence both commanding and enigmatic.

'What is she doing here?'

The unspoken question echoed in every mind, brimming with curiosity.

Yet Scintilla remained impervious to their stares, her focus unwavering, fixed entirely on a single individual, Anthony.

Since the end of the Bloodbath, Scintilla had been plagued by a gnawing unease.

Serenelle, her daughter, had not returned.

For over three months, she clung to hope, waiting for a sign, a miracle.

But it never came.

Reality, harsh and unyielding, had forced its way into her heart.

Her daughter was gone.

Serenelle was dead.

But how?

How could Serenelle be gone?

The question tormented Scintilla, refusing to let her rest.

She didn't know the answer, until she forced herself to truly reflect.

Her mind drifted back to the Bloodbath, replaying the events in excruciating detail.

She recalled the ferocity with which Anthony faced Serenelle, how he struck her down repeatedly without hesitation, his guard never faltering.

And then, there was the flame.

A vivid blue fire, unnatural, otherworldly, came into play.

She saw it clearly now.

After Anthony unleashed that flame, everything changed.

He grew uncharacteristically lethargic, retreating to his usual spot beneath his parasol, as though the battle no longer held any importance.

That flame marked the turning point.

It wasn't just a weapon, it was a revelation.

It signaled to Anthony something she herself hadn't yet understood.

Serenelle was already gone.

Even before she had realized it, Anthony had known.

"How did you know?"

Scintilla's voice was sharp and cold, her piercing gaze fixed on Anthony like a blade.

Anthony, unfazed, leaned back slightly.

"How did I know what?"

He replied, his tone casual, almost dismissive.

"Don't play dumb with me, boy"

Scintilla snapped, her voice carrying an edge of restrained fury.

"I don't have time for your shenanigans"

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Anthony's lips.

"It's not my fault your daughter didn't know how to counter"

Gasps rippled through the silent onlookers.

All eyes were on the two, yet none interfered.

Scintilla's frown deepened.

This was not the answer she sought, it only stoked the embers of her rage.

Anthony's expression remained same as he spoke again, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.

"If you miss your daughter that much, why don't you join her?"

The words struck like a thunderclap.

Scintilla's aura flared dangerously, and a suffocating killing intent was about to seep into the air.

Before she could erupt, a commanding voice shattered the tension.

"What are you doing, Scintilla?"

Her blood churned uncontrollably, and a searing heat coursed through her veins like wildfire.

"AAARRRRGGHHH"

Her scream echoed through the castle, raw and piercing, as she collapsed, writhing in agony.

Blood poured from her mouth, staining the pristine floor beneath her.

Her son froze for a moment, fear gripping his heart.

But he acted quickly, reaching for her space ring.

With trembling hands, he retrieved several potions and administered them one by one.

Nothing.

The potions had no effect.

"Mother"

He cried, panic rising as Scintilla's screams grew louder.

Her body convulsed violently, her skin flushed with an unnatural, fiery hue.

"Healers"

His desperate shout brought an immediate response.

With bursts of flames, five healers materialized in the room.

Taking in the scene, they wasted no time, pooling their mana to stabilize her.

For over thirty seconds, they poured their energy into healing Scintilla, their faces etched with strain and desperation.

Yet, despite their combined efforts, her condition showed no improvement.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, Scintilla went silent.

Her body fell limp to the ground, motionless.

A moment of deafening stillness followed.

Then it came, the shrill, haunting cry of a phoenix.

The sound reverberated across the domain, cutting through the air like a blade.

Every being within the Phoenix Domain stopped in their tracks, their gazes snapping toward its source.

They all knew.

A phoenix had died.

And not just any phoenix, a pureblood of immense lineage.

Such a death was marked by the world itself.....the screech.

One by one, powerful presences descended into Scintilla's chambers, their expressions grim as they took in the lifeless body of the Phoenix Champion's mother.

The healers stepped back, their faces pale.

Scintilla's son stood frozen, his mind reeling from the loss.

"Investigate"

He said at last, his voice low but filled with a dangerous resolve.

"I want every resource pulled into finding the cause of my mother's death. I want to know who did this"

He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling.

"I've already lost my sister. Now, my mother is gone too. There's a reason for this. Someone caused this"

Though he didn't know how, he could feel it in his gut, this was no ordinary death.

His mother's killing intent before her demise spoke volumes.

Unbeknownst to him, the cause of her death was already far beyond his reach.

Anthony's All Seeing Eyes had discerned Scintilla's murderous intent before she even stepped foot in the Phoenix Domain.

He had no patience for side characters seeking vengeance.

Using his Poison Body ability, he created a toxin specifically tailored to her.

The poison was undetectable, untraceable, and devastating.

It worked swiftly, ensuring she wouldn't pose a threat in the future.

To Anthony, it was a simple solution.

To Scintilla's son, however, it was the beginning of a storm.

He was ready to unleash hell to find the truth,and exact his revenge.

Only if he knew.

He would never find out the truth.

Even if destiny or fate handed him the answer he sought, he lacked the power to fulfill his revenge.