The air beyond the auction hall was sweet with promise and laced with the ashes of ambition. The afternoon glow bathed the city of Elarion in molten gold, casting long shadows across obsidian towers and the flickering crystal veins that pulsed with arcane life. High above, phoenix-shaped flames soared across the skies—a testament to the kingdom's eternal ruler.
The Sovereign Booth had emptied, but Shin Tempest lingered only briefly with his companions.
"I still have territory matters to attend to," he said, voice steady beneath the shifting wind. "I plan on using the group teleportation scroll for the External Flame Court."
Robin turned to him, brow furrowing. "Why are you leaving already?"
Shin smiled gently and stepped closer to her, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Because empires don't build themselves."
He turned, giving the same warm gesture to Elise, Kaelira, and Leona, each one responding with soft smiles, flushed cheeks, and affection brimming in their eyes.
"I'll see you back at home," he said.
As the last word left his lips, he stepped backward and let his divine seal resonate—touching the harem mark on Shego's lower back with a whisper of will.
The magic ignited with green fire, and Shego appeared beside him in a flicker of chaos-tinged light.
She arched a brow. "Teleporting through my seal again, Daddy?"
"Would you like to go with me to collect one of the materials for your bloodline rebirth?" Shin asked, cocking a brow.
Shego's lips curled. "Sure, Daddy. I'll go with you."
He grinned and, with absolutely no shame, gave her a firm pat on the ass, earning a pleased hiss and a flicker of green fire in her eyes.
[Master, recalibrating portal path to Phantomfox's territory. Coordinating external relay for safe arrival at the External Flame Court.]
"Good. Let's move."
Before they stepped into the spellframe, Shin activated his comm sigil and projected a direct link to his ally.
"Yo, Phantomfox. You free?"
The voice that responded was honeyed silk with a teasing edge. "Oh yes, my dear. Are you coming to my territory, or shall we meet directly at the court?"
"We can meet at your territory," Shin replied. "I've got a group teleportation scroll that'll save us the trip."
A soft laugh purred through the connection. "Very well. I'll be waiting. Try not to bring too many jealous eyes."
[Confirmed. Phoenix Mage Core and Meliodas have been notified. The Sins are already assembling.]
[Warning: Phantomfox exhibits flirtation-level enthusiasm nearing seduction class.]
Shin chuckled. "Sounds like her."
They stepped through the portal.
⸻
The transition was seamless—divine-tier scrolls didn't shimmer or burst. They simply changed the world around you.
Phantomfox's territory emerged like a dream painted by Twilight. Nebula mists kissed the ground in slow, silken streams, and twilight flowers pulsed with bio-luminescence beneath high-arched lunar trees. Floating lanterns drifted overhead like tame stars.
And standing amidst it all, arms elegantly crossed and hips tilted with dangerous grace, was Phantomfox.
Her nine tails flowed like molten night. Her ears twitched once in delight as she saw him.
"There you are, Sovereign," she purred, eyes gleaming with shadowed heat. "I was beginning to wonder if the auction hadn't stolen you from me forever."
Shin smirked. "It would've tried, but I had more valuable things waiting here."
Shego, standing at his side, folded her arms, eyes narrowing.
Merlin appeared a moment later in a ripple of magic, her magic humming with restrained power.
"Oh, lovely," Merlin muttered, adjusting his collar. "It seems your fox friend is about to pounce."
Shego snorted. "If she gets any closer, I'm gonna light her tails on fire."
Phantomfox turned her gaze lazily toward them. "Oh, I do love when the fire comes out. Jealousy, chaos—such intoxicating seasoning."
"She's not wrong," Shin said dryly. "But I didn't come to flirt."
"Shame," Phantomfox teased. "I wore my best silk."
Meliodas appeared next, his usual carefree grin tempered with something sharper as he surveyed the terrain. The rest of the Sins emerged one by one, weapons and relics packed, eyes sharp. Ban cracked his knuckles, Diane adjusted her gauntlets, and King floated lazily with his wings of green light.
"Damn, this place is fancy," Ban muttered, looking around. "Fox chick knows style."
"She's been alive for nine hundred years," Merlin said. "She'd better."
The Phantomfox's territory was thriving—lush, diverse, and incredibly well-defended. Elemental ward stones pulsed beneath the land's veins. Shin noted their positioning instinctively.
"Ready for the jump?" he asked.
Phantomfox stepped forward, her expression shifting from flirtation to serious interest.
"As ready as I'll ever be. You'll like the External Flame Court, you know. Few get invited."
[Portal attuned. Flame Court coordinates verified. Melodic signature locked.]
Shin unfurled the group teleportation scroll. Golden script etched in phoenix-feather ink ignited as soon as his divine energy touched it. A portal opened—oval-shaped and surrounded by spirals of elemental fire, all held at bay by a wreath of phoenix feathers.
He took a step forward—then stopped.
His voice came gently.
"Heart, status of our holdings?"
[Kingdom of Legends is stable. Construction has begun on Sovereign Merchant Hall and Arcane Windmill. Worker-Citizens integrated. Defensive barrier powered by Void Spirit is now functional.]
"Good. I want our economic arm ready within two moons. Put Robin and Kaelira in charge of structuring guild charters."
[Confirmed. Robin has already begun implementing tiered trade licenses.]
With a nod, Shin stepped through.
⸻
The External Flame Court was not a place of marble or stone—it was living fire, frozen in perfect motion.
The court's architecture spiraled like molten glass caught mid-breath. Bridges of flame curled in the air, supported by wings of phoenix magic. Towers of translucent crystal rose from a lake of radiant magma, and the very air shimmered with immortal heat.
At the center of it all, a colossal dais carved from obsidian and seared sunlight hovered over the court—The Phoenix Throne.
The temperature surged but did not burn. The magic here was pure, divine, and ancient.
And upon the highest throne sat her.
Queen Illyria. The Immortal Flame. Ruler of Elarion.
She did not look down at them—she looked through them. Her eyes were rings of fire within the fire, her wings folded behind her like cathedral gates. A crown of solar feathers burned above her brow, never consuming.
One more ascension, Heart had said—and she would become a god.
"Approach," she said, voice neither young nor old, but elemental.
Shin walked forward alone, while the others followed behind in reverent silence.
"You've caused quite the stir," Illyria said. "Acquiring blood relics. Liberating souls. Reshaping the noble balance of Elarion in a single day."
"I did only what needed doing," Shin said.
"That's what all future gods say," she replied. But there was no scorn. Only curiosity. And… approval.
She studied him.
"Do you plan to challenge my rule, Sovereign of Storms?"
"No," Shin said. "I plan to build something worthy beside it. Something eternal."
The court fell silent for a beat too long.
Then Illyria smiled.
"Well spoken."
Her wings flared once behind her. "You've come seeking material for a bloodline rebirth."
"I have," Shin said.
"Then you may claim it—if you can withstand the Trial of Flame."
Shego stepped forward, her body already shifting with green fire and glowing chaos. "We can handle anything."
Illyria's eyes fell on her—and widened ever so slightly. "You… are touched by the Flame of Rebellion."
Shego grinned. "Yeah, that's one way to put it."
The Phoenix Queen rose slowly, divine light shimmering around her like a dawn refusing to end.
"Then let the Trial begin."
————————————————————
A/N
Please leave feedback on what you would like to see added to the story.
Thank you to mubrarak272, jojolu, and everyone else for sending power stones.
Join my discord for we can discuss possible summons and bloodlines at https://discord.gg/vuPByfve
See you in the next chapter