I’m going to kill this bastard.
The noise made him twitch. Something was tapping his forehead—again and again. For someone in deep sleep, it was the ultimate disrespect.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Bianca’s breathtaking face. His head was in her lap. In an instant, his body relaxed, and his anger cooled. Remembering her immense sacrifice for him during the last battle, he had nothing but love for her.
At his affectionate call, the witch smiled. She came closer and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
Damn, I would kill for another.
Bianca blushed. Knowing that she probably spied on his thoughts, Elian could only smile wryly. His lover placed her fingertip on his lips as she spoke tenderly.
"Don’t be too greedy. Maybe when we’re alone, Aunt Sunny wants to talk to you."
Elian grimaced, reluctant; he tried to get up. Getting a lap pillow from Bianca was something he never expected—he was usually too heavy to risk it.
At least I got something out of this birdbrain’s idiotic test.
As he was only in his base form with empty reserves, he had the weight of a normal human. Thus, Bianca’s soul body was not crushed by his mass. As his awareness snapped back, he glared at the giant bird that burned a few meters away.
"It was you, wasn’t it? You’re lucky, Bianca is here; otherwise, I would beat you up."
But rather than get angry, Sunny chuckled and then brought her wing down on Elian’s head.
His head jerked sideways. The wing had weight. It hurt, a lot.
"Fufu, you bark harder than you can bite, hatchling. Didn’t your parents teach you not to pick fights you can’t win?" Sunny chided.
Elian was about to call his weapons when a pair of arms wrapped around his neck. The comforting chill grounded him. "Elian, play nice. For me. Please?"
Hearing Bianca’s heartfelt request, he sighed and nodded. The arms hugging him grew tighter, and a face came closer. "Thank you," she said; a cold pair of lips kissed his cheek.
"Ohh, she has got you under her talons, hatchling," Sunny jeered like a nosy aunt.
"Sunny, for the love of snow, you, of all people, cannot tease people about that! Flare deserved a medal for being able to keep you in check, you know?"
"What? No, he didn’t! Stop slandering me, Silent! Flare was kinder than this fool."
"I am starting to believe that being delusional is a requirement to be a Tyrant. Flare did such a good job; he gained a title, didn’t he?" Bastion asserted.
"Mou! You two are horrible! Did you visit to just insult me? And I thought we were beasties!"
Elian couldn’t help but frown. Sunny might have been a Tyrant, but in front of the Snow Wolves she behaved like a useless no-good aunt. Despite being powerful enough to lord over a planet, she bickered with her lessers as if they were her equals.
"Mom told me earlier. Supposedly, Sunny is so used to people prostrating to her that when she met my parents, she found them stimulating. They wouldn’t bow to her and were willing to die as long as they could bite her."
I see. But Bianca, you are in my thoughts again.
Elian felt his lover’s arms flinch.
"I-I...uhm...I...sorry... please don’t get angry."
Do it in moderation, okay?
Bianca beamed at his lenience; she hugged him more and kissed him for a third time. She was just a little possessive—afraid of losing him. Trust took time. And this? It couldn’t be rushed.
"Can you people just talk already so we can leave? These two lovestruck idiots are annoying. And Aunt Sunny is just a misfit who enjoys bickering with people."
Fluffy wasn’t wrong. But coming from her, no one listened.
She noticed the response and pouted in anger. A Flame Swallow perched on her head and tried to console her as he spread his wings.
"Do not worry, Lady Fluffy, you were correct to try to move things along. I admire your commitment to progress. I also am bewitched by the way your metallic frame glints under the light. You look like a wolf goddess given birth by the earth’s desire for beauty."
At Burny’s over-the-top comment, Fluffy flicked her head and caught him in her mouth. "Not. One. More. Word," she muttered, chewing.
Sigh. Fluffy is right; we need to get things going.
Elian turned to Sunny and tried to mince his words, "Aunt-in-law, what would it take for you to give me your mark?"
The massive flaming bird nodded in approval, "Good. You learn fast. In the face of someone stronger, you negotiate. You..."
Sunny narrowed her eyes. Elian had just cut her off.
"Please let me correct you, Aunt-in-law. If you weren’t family, I’d kill you. Again, and again. Until your heart stopped burning."
"Why do you still think that way? I already showed you the vast difference between us, have I not?" Sunny said, confused.
Elian locked eyes with the Tyrant and spoke without an ounce of fear.
"For all your power, you are still at Iron rank and have been subjugated by the humans. If I bow to someone like you, I will need to bow to those above you in the crucible," Elian glanced at the ones with him. "For my family’s safety, I cannot do that."
All of a sudden, Sunny began flapping her wings in delight, "Ah! Such fiery eyes! Such passion! How wonderful! You remind me of Flare! Good on you, Bianca! You’ve got yourself a good man. I eagerly await what becomes of him!"
"I indeed got lucky, Aunt Sunny," Bianca giggled, "Elian is the best."
The Flame Phoenix bobbed her head, thrilled beyond reason. "Indeed. Now I understand why Silent is so excited for grandchildren. Such disposition normally translates to passionate lovemaking! My loins burn hot from just imagining it!"
"Wha...Aunt Sunny, please stop!"
Elian blinked. One moment Sunny was a tyrant. The next, she was a horny aunt. It seemed that the Sun Everflame Tyrant bonded with his family while he was out.
Noticing his displeasure, Sunny stopped shrieking in glee. And regained her composure.
"Hatchling—no Elian. I admire your grit and passion. You passed. Your will is something that will serve you well. Having an excellent Anchor by your side also guarantees you will not lose your head. As for your question, I will trade my mark for a favor."
"I understand. What would you have me do?"
"I have two requests; one is to kill me and hide my core. Ah, but it’s okay, I won’t die. It’s just that I have already met the fire, so I do not die no matter how much I burn," Sunny explained.
"I see. Who am I hiding you from?"
"The humans. They are using my flames as a means to power their cities. I wouldn’t have even agreed if they had not kept my kin captive."
"Captive? You mean they have your family held hostage?"
She nodded, "Yes, my Anchor, Flare. And my knights, my sons and daughters. That is my second request. Find them, retrieve their cores. And reunite me with those I love."
Bastards. So that is how the humans managed to keep a powerhouse like Sunny .
"I understand. Am I correct to assume that all of you were threatened with each other’s deaths, which is why everyone had no choice but to agree?"
"Yes. Heaven’s Fist serves as the knife against me. Now that he is gone, I can finally cease to be a burden to my kin."
The shame and weakness in Sunny’s voice were palpable. Unlike Burny, who had no other desire but to burn, her matriarch evidently cared for her family.
[Alert: You have received a quest: Save Sunny’s family]
Quest Giver: Sun Everflame Tyrant
Details: Save Averignis’ Anchor (1) and Knights (4).
Time limit: 1000 years.
Reward: Tyrant Mark | Allegiance of Averignis
Failure Penalty: Retribution of Averignis.
I see. So, quests are deals made between Crucible participants.
"I understand. On the life of my Anchor, I vow to succeed."
"Fufu, how romantic. I expect great things from you, Elian. Should you succeed, Averignis will be a weapon you can wield as you see fit."
Sunny then glared at Burny, who looked at the ground awkwardly.
"Maybe it is the will of Fire. The one that accompanies you all is my disgrace of a son. The very same foolish coward who almost brought my bloodline to its demise. Rise of Ashes."
"Y-Yes, Mother. You called?"
The Tyrant of Averignis lost all compassion. Her eyes burned with disappointment. No rage. Just disgust.
"Do this, and I may still forgive you. If you have any pride left in you, ensure you succeed or die trying. The Fire sees all."
Burny bowed to the ground and answered solemnly, "Yes, Mother."
Not even sparing him a second glance, Sunny then placed her wing and tapped Elian on the head.
[Earth Wide Announcement: Elian Reed has received his third Tyrant mark. Get two more to become eligible to join the Crucible for Earth’s Tyrant. Eligible Tyrant Candidates: 4.]
There go my plans to stay hidden. Fine. Let them come.