Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

'In my past life, she was always like a proud knight. I don't think I ever saw her like this...'

"Hey, Asura... it's strange how you don't treat me like a princess~ should I have you beaten for treason? Hehe."

Her gaze differed from before. He didn't understand what had changed in her from the moment they first cultivated her, but she was now just an aloof and pretty girl to him; he no longer held the awe and respect he would in the past.

[Of course, you don't! You are a proud Phoenix with so many superior bloodlines. How could you feel inferior to someone who cannot awaken her thin Asura bloodline?]

'There's no need for elitism; remember, I once was a mortal with no core and no bloodlines.'

'Never will I judge someone for such silly things. Instead, look at her achievements without it!'

[You...]

Helia's voice vanished, but the sound wasn't one of anger or displeasure—delight filled her voice before it faded, sounding like the beautiful woman's genuine laughter.

Asura forgot his irritation at her words and looked at the princess who was skipping around, nothing like what he expected as she turned around with the most brilliant smile and asked, "Hey, would you not become my knight and protect me?"

Her request was sudden, as she scrunched her lips and twirled around, running towards the training room. Her metal boots tapped on the stone floor, echoing, while Asura watched her go, feeling slightly stunned.

"The women I thought I knew so well are nothing like I had ever imagined..."

[You don't even know the half of it...] Helia teased him before her humming continued, and she faded from his mind.

"I guess... Let's learn more about the real woman then." He whispered before heading after her with quick steps, a speed more than double hers.

****

Several students were waiting when Asura arrived, but the prince seemed to have skipped, and only his knight stood in silence. She seemed fine, so that was a weight off Asura's mind...

If only he knew she was the one who enjoyed playing with the prince when he was unconscious.

The door opened loudly, followed by the tapping of high heels. The tutor that came was the charming Lucretia as always, but she seemed different...

Many boys were disappointed as she wore a full-body training suit with gloves, boots and greaves made of what seemed like a soft material—even her makeup wasn't done, and she looked rather pretty, but it was all-natural, lacking the flashy and superstar look, she showed at the arena.

'I think she looks more beautiful without the makeup and charm magic...' Asura thought, standing beside Vela while Xavida looked at him gently beside Mu Xue.

With each step, a shadow of her form followed a minor spell of the darkness attribute, which allowed her to create physical or shadow clones. Not everyone could make clones like Verena and Verana. Theirs was a sort of bloodline ability.

Lucretia lacked that and could only make shadow clones for battle and to make herself look more mysterious.

"Greetings, my lovely class; some of you were not supposed to be here today... But alas, it's fine. Since you all want to improve, I can let you stay."

Some of them flinched, hearing her words before stepping back, leaving only Asura and Vela, who stayed still with Asura being clueless.

"Some of you might think I would teach you survival or how to escape while Lorem focused on combat... but did you know that if it comes to pure martial combat ability? I am above Lorem by two stages?"

'What!?'

"What!?" The princess gasped with an unsightly voice before looking at Asura with pink cheeks and fixing her posture. It seemed she compared herself to him and competed with him in the strangest ways.

Some students nodded, not shocked, but the princess, busy because of royal duties in the absence of her brother and Asura, who injured them, was stunned; even the princess thought Lucretia was a bit of an unclean woman...

"Hahaha, I love new students who look so cute when shocked. Even the princess doesn't believe me?"

Her gaze turned to Asura. "Let's practise for five minutes; I will show you."

Asura nodded, stepping forward as Lucretia smiled, "You won't use magic, and I will only use a single clone."

"Okay." Asura nodded, understanding her strength was far above his... but he felt like the whole thing might be a bluff, as he took a stance and watched her body.

Lucretia shot forward, her shadow clone following as her fist struck Asura's palm, causing him to slide back slightly before she appeared behind him, kicking his back, but he spun and blocked her kick, only to find her clone striking his face.

Woosh!

An intense pain filled his cheek, yet her clone had yet to touch him. Lucretia always stopped her blows before they hit... even the blow to his palm caused him to feel numb for a moment...

'She's not lying... this woman is a genius!' He felt it because even using his parallel thought, he predicted the attack from behind, yet she had already performed it before he adapted!

"See... I told you," Lucretia giggled as she flicked Asura's forehead, causing him to slide back five metres. His skin stinging as he rubbed his forehead, he felt swollen.

'She's dangerous... but just what I need!'

Lucretia was the one to be shocked here; most men would become angry or filled with insecurity when easily beaten by a woman joking with them.

Yet she felt his body become serious. Those eyes were like a dragon watching its prey. She felt a moment of danger and summoned a second clone as if by instinct.

A moment later, his fist collided with the new clone's neck, breaking the shadow before his momentum allowed him to kick towards her face, stopped by the first clone. But Lucretia stared at the boy; those eyes didn't look at her like something dirty or inferior from the start... that's why she wanted to tease Lorem at the assessment.

Awe, respect, admiration, and the desire to surpass her were all she felt from him.

"Please use two clones, instructor! I want to become stronger." His earnest voice... clutching at her heartstrings as she remembered her past... unable to deny it, she took a deep breath.

"Asura Fenix, please tell me immediately if your body hurts, aches or bleeds. I cannot hold back as much with two clones out..."

She took a more serious stance as her clones no longer lingered behind her but fanned out on either side of him.

They enjoyed this: "Remember, Asura, my training isn't about brute strength, but flexibility, response and vision!"

Neither of the pair seemed to realise the two women were watching this with a conflicted look.

First, the princess felt she stole her training partner as she watched intently, trying to steal all she could from their tutor.

The other... sitting on the top of the arena holding a steel flask and drinking a sweet-scented whiskey. "You never change, do you..." Lorem whispered with a bitter yet warm smile.

Meanwhile, Asura was stuck on the defensive as he focused on analysing her strengths and weaknesses, her blows causing his body to stagger and slide along the stone ground with intense aching pains despite not touching his body.

Asura decided his parallel thought wouldn't fight or get involved in the battle—instead, it would watch Lucretia try to learn, absorb, and steal all she had!

Her key skills are fast kicks and rapid-flowing movement, and it turns out that her combat power was truly greater than Lorem's. Maybe even higher if they don't use magic because of sheer skill and speed at throwing attacks faster than one can blink.

Asura was struggling with his life... yet he also felt his body and mind were learning even more!