Reincarnated as a Phoenix

"You are to lay down your arms and surrender!"

'Stupid beastmen, we haven't even got our weapons out'

From inside of the pyramid, we can see dozens and dozens of beastmen soldiers all wearing leather styled armour and blocking our way outside. The haven't entered just yet so I guess it's like a Mexican standoff. I mean, it's technically not but still.

However, the first of us to respond is Petra and she has a completely unexpected response.

"No"

"What do you mean no? Do you wish to die human?"

Even Ariza and Zeki look a bit surprised by Petra's response. She doesn't respond to the other questions the beastmen soldier asks but I need to know her reason for such a response.

"Erm... Petra, what are you doing?"

"This isn't a rational group of soldiers Ikarus, the punishment the country of Mitte uses for trespassing is either hanging, stoning or impalement"

That's the middle country's name, Mitte. Still can't remember the other two country names, the desert continent is Krieger though. Why am I focusing on that? The threat of an imminent death should be more of a focus.

"Couldn't you have told me that before we entered the pyramid?"

"Wouldn't have made any difference, we still had to go inside anyway"

I guess she's got a point, still needed to go inside it anyway. These beast races don't play around though, is this a fight we can realistically win? It could be a good idea to try out my new giant attack but it can only be used on one enemy, seems a waste to use on a potentially low levelled soldier.

"Can we handle such a large group though?"

Petra smiles, then gives a response to my worried questioning.

"Heh, Ikarus, definitely. We're in their holy temple right now. To capture us, they'd have to come to us, understand what that means?"

We've literally got a choke point that they'll be forced to rush in. If you look at it this way, then they'll struggle to attack us. I didn't realize this is their holy temple though, seems a bit dumb seeing that it's just a drug den.

"If you do not surrender, we will be forced to kill you humans"

Of course, we're all ignoring their threats, Petra is planning ahead for us though. Well, for me specifically.

"Zeki, try not to kill them"

"Why the hell should I do that?"

"Ikarus needs the experience, just focus on doing loads of damage"

"Urr, fine then older sis"

These three don't actually share the same humanoid killing EXP ability I have, I've already explained how it works to Petra so it seems like she's looking out for me again.

"You want me to do anything?"

"Do you fancy killing anybody Ariza?"

"Not really"

"Then you can just stand back and allow Ikarus and Zeki to fight"

Does Petra not want to get involved here? Maybe it might be a bit overkill having three of us.

I'm honestly a little surprised Petra has no care about killing people like this though, they're only soldiers and are following orders. Maybe she's always been a little more carefree when it comes to killing then I thought. I'm not complaining, I couldn't care less about killing anymore either. An idea has come to mind now as well.

"Could we try using that crest conduit thing?"

"Not enough time Ikarus"

She's right, we'd have to carve it out on the ground and we don't even know if it'll work. The beastmen soldiers are coming inside now anyway.

"We're coming inside, prepare for the worst!"

The first of us to attack the oncoming invaders through the entrance is the grinning Zeki, he clearly is going to enjoy this.

"Hahahaha, burn you fluffy eared bastards!"

"Shi-"

"Cra-"

Zeki releases red fire all over the ground under the rushing invaders, this very clearly is having a devastating effect burning any and all who step foot upon it. I haven't got that time to admire his red flame handiwork though, I also start firing my flamethrower using both hands into the small entrance corridor.

"They're mages!"

"Argh!"

The beastmen who have all piled up using this approach very quickly realize they've made a massive mistake and the front attackers try to retreat from the deadly flames but cannot since they have fellow soldiers blocking them behind.

This has very quickly become a deadly choke point; I can see why Petra had no worries over such a situation now. Strange, don't feel sorry for them in the slightest, maybe killing thousands of elves does that. I guess killing soldiers really means nothing to me, is that good?

Me and Zeki keep this up for a little while longer till everyone who just tried to enter is now dead or managed to just about escape, there wasn't many who were able to though. The floor to the entrance is just now a burning pile of corpses.

"Are you going to allow us out or should be burn your temple to the ground?"

Is this the approach Petra wants to take? Faking them out?

"You're bluffing!"

We really are in a standoff right now, our problem is that we're unable to tell if they have archers outside but then again, Petra could probably kill every single person out there in a blink of an eye. Maybe this is why she took this approach, less deaths on their side overall? Their problem is that we could be tearing this place to the ground right now, that wouldn't be good for a holy temple.

"Smell the flames you fluffy eared fucks! You have no idea just how messed up we could make this shithole!"

Petra facepalms from the battle maniac Zeki, it's clear he's just trying to anger them to get more inside. I could definitely use the EXP but we are technically in the wrong here, we are trespassing at the end of the day.

(Petra) "Are you sure you're willing to take that risk?"

"..."

We get no response from one of the soldiers we were just speaking to, I think they might be trying to decide what to do and whispering between the ones still left outside. They could very easily just try and starve us out but that wouldn't work seeing that I'm basically a walking fridge, my storage ring is anyway.

"The longer you leave it, the worst it could end"

They've finally had enough of Petra's statements and now have a reaction.

"Fine, you can come outside and we'll let you leave"

It's so fucking obvious this is a trap they're setting up.

"Good then, we're leaving"

Petra winks towards us four, she hasn't said what to do next but she's started to head out, is this okay?

All four of us led by Petra walk outside back into the endless brightness of the desert and find there's only six soldiers left, how many charged in that temple all at once? I thought it was only a dozen or two but it clearly must've been a hell of a lot more if only six are left, half of those look charred as well, they would've been at the back of the charging group.

"Halt, w-we'll kill y-you if we must"

"S-Surrender"

The two that just spoke are shaking in their boots, the still have their weapons out though.

(Petra) "You seriously still think that's a good idea?"

"Can we just kill these idiots if this is how they're gonna be?"

I have to question Petra on this, I'm starting to get tired of braindead idiots who fight even when it's for a battle they cannot win.

"If they don't drop their weapons, might as well make some more ash. Wonder what flamed beast tastes like as well"

As soon as Petra says that, the few still holding weapons decide to drop them instantly. She even has a wicked smile while saying that, it's clear it was an act but these lot don't know that, I guess she was trying to spare as many as possible then.

"Good, let's make a move on"

As I say that, we all start walking away from the pyramid but very quickly a voice speaks from behind.

"W-Wait!..."

One of few remaining beastmen cannot help himself and has a question.

"... How d-did you just do t-that?"

There's no point giving him an answer, it won't make an inch of difference so we all just ignore him and leave.

It's time to head back to the phoenix cave. I wonder if it's okay to leave witnesses though...

__________

"We're so close, I can almost feel the couch cushions on my butt cheeks"

"You don't have cheeks right now Zeki"

"It still counts brother"

Both those two flying birds have been speaking nonstop on the flight to their cave, only peace and quiet we get is when night falls and they sleep. It is strange to think how they are like this when they're hundreds of years old. I guess some people never grow up, I don't know if that's a good or bad thing for myself but still.

"You two can calm yourselves, we're nearly there"

Petra is once again on my back, Ariza actually offered to take her this time but I told her I'm taking Petra, I might've been a little forceful thinking about it. It's almost as if I don't want Petra sitting on other birds, that's really weird...

We already see the mountain slightly off in the distance, just getting to it might take another half an hour or so.

Oh, there was something else I forgot to mention that happened just after that fight, I really shouldn't call that a fight though.

'Status'

[Name: Ikarus | Species: Phoenix | Level: 66]

[Health 14,821/15,000]

[Stamina 3,291/5,000]

[Magicka 10,000/10,000]

[You currently have 3000 unassigned points]

I still can't help but smile when I gain multiple levels like this, killing people is just so beneficial. Twelve levels from that human bonfire alone and I'm sure Zeki got most of them, I know it makes me sound mad but it really is too good. I invested three thousand in magicka and I'll save the other three for later, really don't need to worry about my health if my curse turns out not to be that difficult to cure.

There was just something else I was thinking about beforehand related to that last dungeon. In the six months inside there, I kinda decided once I was out, I'd try and be a little more forward with Petra once the gender changing shenanigans were done with. I don't really know how to go about it though.

I guess asking more questions about herself might be a way to go, flirting is another thing but that's something I'll struggle with.

"Petra... what's your favourite food?"

Why did I even ask that? It's not like I can cook anything, any answer she gives I can't really do anything with. My mind for some reason went to that bento box she made.

"Don't really have one, sense of taste doesn't work"

"Wait... are you actually serious? All that time inside there and you couldn't taste a single thing?"

This shocks me a little, she drinks that love potion because of the taste, how come she's not able to taste food?

"Can still feel texture of the food, just my tastebuds don't work great, potions are a little different but even those are still weak. Why did you ask me that anyway?

I guess that answers my other question without even having to ask it, it obviously just applies to food, I wonder if that's why she likes those potions so much, she can actually taste them. No idea how it works but I doubt anyone would lie over such a thing, I'll answer her question though.

"It's that lunchbox thing you made for me in the dungeon, wanted to repay the favour"

As soon as I said, I realized I made a mistake.

"Hah, orangey really does like older sis, you two can finally move your relationship forward when we get back"

"Zeki, you really should stop getting involved"

"Older sis needs to know otherwise she might never act"

...

Okay, of course the flying Mr obnoxious has made both of us go quiet now, it's not out of embarrassment like with the priestess and knight, I think it's just me and her really are a bit inexperienced with this. Even though I've had relationships before, they were a hell of lot different than this, they might have mentally scarred me thinking about it.

I'll just forget about it and move on; Petra will start her teasing once again soon so everything will be good. I just need to stop thinking about it, easier said than done.

Let's just get back now, six fake months with this kid is more than enough for a lifetime. He does sometimes come out with things that makes sense though, just filtered out by a crap tonne of shit in between.

__________

"I love this couch more than anything in this entire isekai world, I'm not getting off you for days now!"

(Ariza) "You really are strange Zeki"

"Bite me"

Zeki is actually hugging the sofa, I don't really get it seeing that the furniture in that dungeon was more than nice enough. Maybe he's just happy he's home more than anything else.

We're all back in that cosy living room in the phoenix cave apartment anyway, I actually wouldn't mind bringing some of this stuff back to my parents' place with me but they don't look to have anything spare.

Oh, also decided something else, I'm heading back to home cave on the journey back to the boring two, I have to tell my parents. I can't be having father that closely working with the prince killing wyverns when I know something could go seriously wrong, Petra did tell me it's okay but I still am worried.

I wonder how my parents will react to seeing another phoenix, I'm unsure if they'll have a bad reaction or be like Zeki going on constantly about it.

"Ikarus, you okay?"

Like usual, Petra can sense when I'm not feeling great.

"Just thinking about what to tell my parents, they need to know about what's going on"

She takes a second but then gives me a response.

"Personally, still would try and hold some information back. Depends if you want them to head straight to the capital and burn it down or not though"

I appreciate her advice, was actually going to ask her about it after. She doesn't seem all that concerned if my option was to do that though.

Of course, the other two aren't paying attention to us, Zeki is just laying on that sofa now and Ariza has gone off into another room. These two are weird, I guess all phoenixes have strange tendencies. I'm the dumb one, Zeki is the psychotic bird, Ariza is the quiet and Petra is the logical one maybe? None of us have a clue why we even got reincarnated as phoenixes, maybe there's something in that prophecy that we'll learn in the future but for now, we are all clueless.

That really isn't worth thinking about right now though. Petra is correct, I'll need to be careful as to not get the entire capital burnt to a crisp. I also feel like it would be a little unsatisfying, I'd rather see the prince and bitch mage die by own hands, or wings.

"Yeah yeah, you are right"

"I want a nap, you two go and be chummy elsewhere. Older sis's bedroom is good place for romantic development"

This kid, I'm sure he gets worse. He's literally laying down with his eyes closed trying to sleep while were speaking to each other, I think Petra's parenting may have failed with him. Ariza has turned out alright though, I wonder if it's down to that thing called second child syndrome.

"That's fine Zeki, we might leave now anyway"

She wants to leave already? Thank God, I really don't want to spend any more time around Zeki, let's get a move on.

"Hold the fuck up!? We just got back... brother!"

"What is it?"

Ariza gives a muffled response probably from her bedroom.

"Sis is already leaving; she's clearly chosen orangey over us!"

"What?"

Ariza rushes into the room after Zeki shouts for her, this is getting even stupider now. Even Zeki has gotten off the chair.

"You thought I was staying Zeki? You already know I'm helping Ikarus out"

(Zeki) "Yeah but I thought you'd at least stay for another month or a few, play a small happy family or something like that"

(Ariza) "Zeki may be dumb but he does have a point"

Petra is really getting tired of them as well now.

"*Sigh*... We just spent six months doing that in the dungeon"

"That doesn't really count though, me and orangey spent most of that time killing, I was looking forward to seeing you two become wife and wife"

Even I can't help but facepalm now, there is a thing about being too much of a joker. Clearly, he hasn't figured that out just yet. Unless he is deadly serious about it and if that's the case, I want to leave right now.

"Petra, the sooner we leave, the better"

"Agreed, we'll set off now if you want"

(Zeki) "No, wait a bit longer!"

(Ariza) "You two are horrible"

We both ignore the pleads of the other two and head to the front door, it's time to return home again. My parents should definitely like Petra, right?