novelraw Chapter 273: Origin Of Phoenix and Beast Gods In Aetherion
Chapter 273: Origin Of Phoenix and Beast Gods In Aetherion
While the seven Ether Council members stepped into the shifting veil of Veyrith, far away in the crystalline skies of Aerithal, the headquarters of the Etherbon Council pulsed with quiet tension.
Inside the Council’s central chamber, Taren Vos, known to the world as the Tornado King, stood silently before a glowing holographic display. It projected a live image of Veyrith’s edge—the dark, shifting borders where his fellow Council members had just crossed.
"So, they’ve finally gone," Taren murmured, his sharp eyes narrowed. "I just hope they find Marcus before Veyrith becomes more unstable. That place... it’s giving off a dangerous vibe."
Beside him stood a broad-shouldered man with bark-like armor growing naturally across his body—Terran Oakvake, the Earth King.
"If even you are worried, Tornado King, then Veyrith must truly be something terrifying," Terran said. "Perhaps we should go as well."
Before Taren could respond, a soft, feminine voice interrupted them.
"No. You two are too important to risk. Someone has to stay behind... in case the worst happens."
The two men turned as Layla Altunay stepped forward.
She was radiant in her quiet elegance. Her long, wavy auburn hair flowed like molten bronze down her back, contrasting with the pure white of her fitted lab coat.
Beneath the coat, delicate crystal patterns shimmered faintly across her silver-toned dress, reacting to her mood and alchemic energy. Her eyes were a mixed color of golden and amethyst.
She was Layla Altunay, the Alchemy Queen of Tharayan, was rarely seen outside her research lab deep within the Floating Crystal Gardens of Tharayan.
Today, however, was no ordinary day, because of this she stood in the Council’s inner sanctum, with Taren and Terran.
"We can’t take any risk, we need to be prepared for any worst situation."
Taren nodded reluctantly. "You’re right. But if they don’t return within one day..."
"Then we act," Terran finished, slamming a fist gently into his palm.
Layla looked at the glowing sigils projected from the center console, all linked to the Council’s life signals. "Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that."
Outside the chamber, the skies of Aerithal remained calm.
But in Veyrith... storms were just beginning to form.
---
When the members of Etherbon Council entered Veyrith, a strange energy rippled through the air.
The moment they stepped across the barrier, the world around them shifted—and everything changed.
Before they understand anything, their surroundings have brightened suddenly.
And soon they disappeared from there.
Their communication links were severed, their connection with one another completely broken. Each found themselves alone... in a different part of this strange, ancient land.
---
Makazi appeared inside a massive temple. The grand doorway was shaped like the wings of a phoenix, its flames carved into the stone in swirling patterns.
---
Seorin Han, awoke inside a mysterious temple—but hers was colder, dimly lit by flickering stormlight.
At its center stood a tall statue of a girl, calm and proud, and behind her were wide, stone-carved phoenix wings.
---
Elira found herself in a structure that resembled a cathedral, grand and broken. Stained glass lay shattered across the floor, and the walls whispered with cold wind. In the far corner, she saw something—a flicker, a blurred silhouette in the Marcus.
Or at least... something that looked like him.
---
Vodyan awoke inside a temple submerged in blue light, glowing from the walls like underwater reflections. At its center stood a blue-hued humanoid statue, tall and otherworldly.
---
Saba Parveen arrived in another temple, filled with a soft, blue glow.
In the middle stood two statues: one, a humanoid figure, calm and expressionless; beside it, a smaller statue of a phoenix-winged girl, elegant and detailed. Unlike Vodyan’s, this one was human-sized—and somehow familiar.
---
Alaric found himself in what appeared to be an ancient research facility. Cracked consoles, floating glyphs, and old memory orbs hovered around.
---
Kaito Nakamura awoke in a hangar-like chamber, metallic walls covered in unknown tech. As he moved deeper, his eyes widened.
A flying spaceship, sleek and silver, hovered silently at the center, suspended by unknown energy. Its design was unlike anything on Aetherion.
It was not made by him.
And that meant something... or someone... had come before.
---
Each member stood in silence, trying to piece together what had happened. None of them could speak to each other.
---
Makazi stepped carefully into the ruins, his loyal Stormfire Lion by his side. Its glowing wings were folded in, but its golden eyes were sharp and watchful.
In front of them stood a tall, broken temple made of old stone and glowing red crystal. The entrance was shaped like wide phoenix wings, blackened with age but still giving off a faint warmth.
Above the doorway, glowing letters were carved into the stone.
Makazi read them aloud:
"Temple of the Phoenix Echo."
He narrowed his eyes. "Phoenix? What there is related to Phoenix?"
Because as he knows, Phoenix was the legend of Savroth, other continents not known about.
---
After entering inside the temple, he noticed the cracked stone pillars lined the halls, each one carved with swirling flames and winged shapes.
Part of the ceiling had fallen in, letting soft purple light from Veyrith’s strange sky shine through.
The floor was rough with broken black tiles, some still glowing softly. On one wall, Makazi noticed a faded carving of beasts kneeling under a burning star.
He followed the hallway deeper until he reached a large doorway blocked by fallen stone. With one strong push, he moved the debris aside and stepped through.
---
Inside the next room, everything grew quiet.
The walls were covered in huge glowing murals, drawn in red-gold light. They seemed alive—like they pulsed gently with fire from long ago.
Makazi stopped in front of the first mural.
It showed a giant Phoenix flying down from the sky, its wings wide and glowing, fire trailing behind like rivers of light. It shone like a second sun.
Below, humans, Etherbon, and beasts were gathered, all looking up at it in awe. Some bowed, others raised weapons in respect, and a few simply watched in silence.
Makazi took a slow step forward, eyes focused. He placed his hand on the warm wall.
"So Phoenix didn’t belong to Aetherion. It came from somewhere else... far beyond," He murmured.
Beside him, the Stormfire Lion slowly lowered its head and closed its eyes.
Makazi noticed it.
Beside him, his Stormfire Lion slowly lowered its head and closed its glowing eyes, showing a stillness Makazi rarely saw.
Even this fierce, untamed beast—born from thunder and fire—was showing respect.
Makazi gently placed a hand on its mane, then turned his eyes to the next glowing mural.
This mural showed the great Phoenix soaring over a massive, forest-covered land. The trees stretched endlessly, broken only by winding rivers, jagged mountains, and glowing valleys.
The Phoenix no longer burned like a sun—instead, its light was calm and steady, trailing from its wings like golden mist.
It drifted downward, and as it passed, beams of fire-like energy poured from its feathers into the land below.
The forests lit up—not in flames, but with life.
Trees shimmered. Flowers bloomed instantly. Animals stood taller. The land itself seemed to pulse with power.
Then, the Phoenix folded its wings and dove into the heart of the forest.
And vanished.
Its power had melted into the earth, disappearing completely, as though it had become part of the land itself.
Makazi stared at the image, a slow realization blooming inside him.
That land... those forests...
He knew them.
"Savroth..." he whispered. "It was Savroth all along."
And suddenly, everything made sense.
The old stories. The ancient trials. The reason the legend of the Phoenix survived only in Savroth—and not in Velmora, Dravaris, or any other continent of Aetherion.
It was never just a legend.
The Phoenix had truly come to Savroth.
Makazi took a deep breath, his heart pounding with a new purpose. He had grown up surrounded by the beasts of Savroth, even his Stormfire Lion was from Savroth.
Now he understood why those beasts had always felt different.
---
Makazi turned to the next mural, the soft red-gold glow casting dancing light across his face.
As he stepped closer, the images changed once more.
The new mural showed a female figure standing alone beneath a sky filled with falling embers. Her posture was proud—head raised, a crown resting on her brow, and a long cloak flowing behind her. In the center of her chest, she held a swirling spiral of flame, bright and beautiful, glowing like a star trapped in glass.
Makazi tilted his head. She didn’t look afraid.
She looked chosen.
But as his eyes moved to the next part of the mural, everything changed.
The woman’s body was torn apart—an explosion of fire and energy erupted from her chest. Her arms were flung back, her crown shattered, and her cloak turned to ash in the blast.
The flames tore through the land—mountains crumbled, beasts fled in panic, and the sky itself dimmed, as if light had been swallowed by the fire.
Makazi took a slow step back, eyes wide.
"She... couldn’t contain it," he whispered.
The truth was clear now.
This woman had somehow received the Phoenix’s power—but it was too much. She wasn’t strong enough to control it.
And in trying to hold it... she was destroyed.
---
Makazi stared at the broken, fiery image.
What kind of power was this Phoenix force...
He didn’t have the answers yet.
But the temple did.
He stepped closer as more glowing murals appeared on the stone walls.
After the woman in the previous mural exploded from the power, the Phoenix force didn’t end.
It began to search again... for new hosts.
The mural showed new figures—strong men and women, each one proud and prepared.
These new hosts were powerful warriors, mages, and rulers. They welcomed the Phoenix’s energy.
And at first, it gave them incredible powers.
They could control the weather, summon storms, heal with a touch, and burn darkness with their light. They walked among people like living gods.
But the Phoenix force still wasn’t stable.
Soon, the fire inside them began to change their forms.
One host grew the head of a lioness with burning golden eyes and a sun-shaped crown.
She became Sekhmet — goddess of war and healing. Her power was in battle rage and protection.
Another’s head became that of a black jackal, wrapped in shadows.
He became Anubis — guardian of the dead. He read the truth of anyone’s heart.
Another grew the sharp head of a falcon, his eyes glowing with sky-fire.
He became Horus — the sky protector. He could fly faster than lightning, command wind currents, and see across oceans.
Then came a woman with a soft cat’s head, graceful and calm.
She became Bastet — protector of families and joy. She controlled luck and could shield entire villages from harm with golden light.
One host turned into a crocodile-headed man, with green-blue scales and thick arms. He became Sobek — the river guardian. His power lay in water and strength.
Another took the form of a scarab-headed figure, glowing with inner fire. He became Khepri — god of rebirth and the rising sun.
---
Makazi stared in shock.
These were the very beast-gods of Savroth, worshipped by the forest tribes for hundreds of years.
He had seen their statues—animal heads on human bodies—and heard stories of how they helped the people in times of need.
But the mural revealed something no one knew.
They were not gods from the beginning.
They were hosts of the Phoenix, who had received its power—but weren’t able to contain it.
---
In the final part of the mural, the Phoenix’s energy left them searching for a new host.
The people of Savroth, unaware of the truth, began worshipping them as gods.
And when the worship became loud and demanding, the Phoenix’s hosts chose to vanish.
They faded from the eyes of the world—never seen again, as if they had returned to the forest, or become one with it.
---
Makazi stepped forward slowly, deeply moved and disturbed.
And then, finally, he understood.
The animal-headed gods were not gods at all.
They were chosen by the Phoenix—but even they couldn’t hold the full power. Their strange shapes, their sudden disappearances... all of it made sense now.
They were the result of a power too great for even the strongest souls.
Makazi lowered his head, breathing slowly.
For the first time, he saw the truth behind the legends of Savroth.
And it changed everything.