Pretending to be a noob in a world scaled by power level

[139] The ice phoenix

"Damn it!" I swore, my voice a harsh echo in the cold emptiness. In the next breath, I unsheathed my sword, the polished steel gleaming even in the dim light. With a deft twist of my wrist, I flung it over the precipice, its form disappearing into the abyss.

Without a moment's hesitation, I launched myself over the edge, my body cutting through the freezing wind as I hurtled down into the gaping chasm. The icy gusts threatened to tear at my skin and sting my eyes, but I remained unfazed, my sights locked onto the dwindling flame that was Aurelia.

As I fell, I summoned my sword beneath me, using my will to guide it. With a swift, practiced maneuver, I managed to land on it, my feet finding purchase on the flat of the blade. As if obeying my silent command, the sword stabilized, and in the next moment, I was soaring downwards, like a falcon in a steep dive, chasing after the fading ember of Aurelia.

The wind whistled past me as I rode my sword, carving a path through the cold, biting air. My eyes never wavered from Aurelia, the dwindling speck of warmth in the heart of the icy abyss. There was no room for hesitation, no room for fear. There was only the chase, and the need to reach her before it was too late.

Drawing on my internal energy, I began to manipulate the Sword Art, Yu-Jian-Shu. It was as if the sword beneath me and I were connected, as though it was an extension of my will and thoughts. I commanded it to alter its trajectory, swooping down in a swift arc to intercept Aurelia's descending figure.

Her fiery body grew larger and larger in my view until I was close enough to reach out and snatch her from the open air. Her form was limp, the glow of her fire flickering, dangerously close to going out. In the split second as I neared her, I stretched out my arms, bracing for the impact.

With a swift and accurate motion, I managed to grasp Aurelia's unconscious form against my chest. The impact jostled me, but my grip on her remained steadfast. Her body was a cold weight against me, the usually vibrant flame that surrounded her now reduced to feeble embers.

Without missing a beat, I commanded the sword to change direction once again. Like a bullet fired from a gun, we shot back up towards the gaping chasm. The wind screamed in my ears and whipped at my clothes, but I pressed on, holding Aurelia tight in my arms as we burst back into the freezing expanse of the arena, ready to confront the Ice Phoenix once more.

As we touched down on the icy platform, I quickly carried Aurelia over to Sera and Kuroko, who had watched the entire scene with wide eyes. Lila rushed over from the sidelines, her eyes filled with worry as she took in Aurelia's unconscious form.

Carefully, I handed Aurelia to them, her body shivering in the cold. "Protect her for me," I instructed, my gaze locked onto each of them in turn.

Sera, despite her tsundere personality, nodded immediately, a serious expression on her face as she said, "Don't worry about her. We've got her covered."

Kuroko, always the daring one, grinned at me. "Just make sure you take care of that giant bird. We'll handle things here."

Lila, quiet and soft-spoken as always, merely nodded, her gaze focused on the unconscious Aurelia. Her hands, though small, held onto Aurelia firmly, a determined look in her eyes. "We won't let anything happen to her, Master," she assured me, her voice almost a whisper.

Their responses gave me the confidence I needed, and I turned my gaze back towards the Ice Phoenix. I was ready to fight.

As the Ice Phoenix dove towards us, the world seemed to slow down. Its massive wings, glittering with ice shards, flapped rhythmically, each flap sending down a wave of icy wind that whipped against my face and brought a biting chill to the air. Its piercing cry echoed across the icy biome, a haunting sound that echoed in my ears.

I tightened my grip on my sword and closed my eyes, focusing solely on the sounds of the world around me. I could hear the phoenix's wings flapping, the wind rushing past my ears, the muted sounds of my companions behind me, and the pounding of my own heartbeat.

Despite the chaos around me, in this moment, there was a strange sort of peace. I felt a connection to my sword, a feeling of unity that made me feel as if my sword was an extension of my own body. I took a deep breath, feeling the cold air fill my lungs, and steeled myself for the coming clash.

"Hundred steps sword!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the icy expanse. The moment those words left my lips, I felt a surge of energy, a sharpness, a focus like I had never known before.

With a mighty leap, I shot up into the air, my body at a 45-degree angle to the ground. My sword, now an extension of my will, hovered ahead of my palm, its silvery blade gleaming in the stark light reflected off the icy surroundings.

As I closed in, the Ice Phoenix let out another deafening shriek, its cold, cruel eyes locked onto me. But it was too late for the creature. With an incredible burst of speed, I flew right through the body of the Ice Phoenix. My sword, glowing with an intense light, cut through the giant creature like a hot knife through butter.

Before the Ice Phoenix could reach the stone platform, its body split in half, the searing heat of my sword contrasting starkly with the icy cold of its being. The creature let out a final, piercing cry as it crashed into the platform, shattering like ice upon impact. Its fragments, sparkling like diamonds, were scattered across the cold, hard ground.

And then, all was silent. The Ice Phoenix, once a symbol of fear and death, lay defeated, its icy shards twinkling under the bleak light. I landed back onto the platform, the heat of the battle still coursing through my veins, the satisfaction of victory etched onto my face.

Q: What is your favorite ice type move for Pokemon?