Orson swallowed hard. Even if his God-Emperor Earrings weren't damaged, he wasn't confident that a mere spatial accessory could save him from a divine being.
The Crimson Lizard King circled Phoenix Forest once, its cries gradually fading. The suffocating divine pressure didn't reappear.
Orson thought carefully, glancing at his resurrection buff before looking at the thick-skinned Crimson Lizard King.
Hmm, a revival buff and a meat shield.
The escape plan was flawless.
With that thought, Orson braced himself and flew toward the designated coordinates.
About a thousand meters away from Xyla, he temporarily stashed the Crimson Lizard King back into his Battle Space. He didn't want the reckless beast to suddenly charge at the legendary divine entity, causing unnecessary trouble.
Taking a deep breath, Orson feigned the composure of a regular adventurer on a simple quest. Carefully parting the thick underbrush, he arrived at a riverbank recently disturbed by an avalanche—and there, he found his target.
A woman with fiery red hair, as dazzling as flames, stood quietly by the river. She wore a plain red linen dress, but it couldn't hide her breathtaking beauty.
She turned to look at Orson, tear stains visible at the corners of her jewel-like eyes. Those eyes were like whirlpools, instantly swallowing every bit of Orson's attention.
Her skin was even paler than the snow on the ground, her figure impossibly alluring.
And that divine, heaven-defying Fountain of Life—truly one of Infinite Dimensions' greatest wonders!
"Jenkins... he calls this goddess 'Mom'?"
Orson, upon seeing her face, had an almost uncontrollable urge to return to the village, drag Jenkins over, and compare their features side by side.
Still wary, Orson checked her status panel, trying to confirm whether she was truly the Divine Blood Phoenix.
[Master Brewer · Tarkiviel · Xyla]
A simple and straightforward title.
But the simpler it was, the more suspicious it seemed.
Orson's gaze landed on her health bar—and his eyes widened in shock.
It was black.
There was only one reason for this—her HP had exceeded the maximum amount that players could perceive!
"Adventurer, what have you done? You destroyed Barrel Town's Sacred Spring!"
Xyla's voice was filled with sorrow as she looked at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Her devastating beauty carried no trace of anger, only profound sadness and grief.
"Wait… Does this mean… I failed my quest?"
Orson froze, panic rising within him. But after a few seconds, he realized the quest was still active.
"If I'm not mistaken… the one who triggered the avalanche… was you."
His voice grew weaker as he spoke.
A creature with black HP—no matter how tanky he was with over 500,000 HP, she could probably obliterate him in seconds.
"Oh, I suppose you're right."
Xyla chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes, leaving Orson completely dumbfounded.
Her carefree demeanor made it impossible to tell if she had just caused a natural disaster. Then, tilting her head curiously, she asked:
"But, adventurer, why did you set fire to my forest?"
Her large crimson eyes blinked innocently at him. There was no hostility in her tone, but the question made Orson's scalp tingle.
"Uh… well… That was an accident. Your forest is just… really flammable."
Orson let out an awkward, dry laugh.
Xyla nodded slightly, her lips curving into a gentle smile.
"Adventurer, I need your help. Recently, dark creatures have overrun Phoenix Forest, polluting the mountain springs. Would you clear the upstream river for me? I need clean water to brew my finest wine!"
WTF.
That's it? She's this easy to convince?!
A system notification rang in his ears.
[Quest Updated: Assist the Master Brewer in clearing upstream monsters.]
Orson frowned, unconvinced, and decided to probe further.
"Pardon my rudeness, but… is Jenkins really your child?"
"He's my adopted son, and my most outstanding disciple," Xyla replied with a proud smile.
"Ohhh~~~"
Orson dragged out his response, feeling slightly relieved.
If that brawny man he had accidentally turned into charcoal had been her biological son, he would've been in serious trouble.
"Then… may I ask your age, Miss?"
Orson's eyes sharpened. This NPC seemed incredibly naïve—perhaps he could uncover the truth about the Divine Blood Phoenix.
"Me? Let me think..."
"100?"
"1000?"
Xyla murmured to herself before flashing a dazzling smile at Orson.
"I only remember that I have existed since the dawn of this era."
Cold sweat dripped down Orson's back.
Holy sht. This woman is an ancient monster!
According to Infinite Dimensions' lore, the current era began ten thousand years ago.
This meant she was at least ten thousand years old—an existence from the same period as the Primordial Titans.
She was the Divine Blood Phoenix.
Orson's expression grew serious.
"Then… should I address you as Master Brewer… or Divine Entity Tarkiviel?"
Xyla blinked in mild surprise before shaking her head with a soft smile.
"I don't know, and I don't care. I only wish to brew the wine he loved."
She crouched gracefully, picking up a clay jar filled with spring water.
At that moment, she looked like an ordinary yet mesmerizing village woman—lost in her own world.
[You have uncovered the true identity of the Divine Blood Phoenix through exceptional intelligence!]
Hearing the system notification, Orson's expression darkened.
"Exceptional intelligence my ass! She literally exposed herself!"
Now able to recheck her status panel, he saw:
[Divine Blood Phoenix · Master Brewer · Tarkiviel Xyla]
- Level: 120
- Divine Entity · Divine-Winged Blood Phoenix`s Companion
- HP: ???
- Attack: ???
- Skills: ???
Orson suddenly understood.
"You were crying for your companion, weren't you?"
Xyla's smile faltered slightly. A trace of sorrow clouded her bright eyes.
"He was always cheerful, never harming anyone. I loved his smile."
"But he chose to honor his promise to that person… and he perished with it. I… miss him so much."
Tears fell from her fiery eyes.
The moment they hit the ground, they evaporated instantly, creating scorching red mist.
Within a kilometer radius, the snow melted instantly.
Fire Damage -50,000!
Fire Damage -50,000!
Fire Damage -50,000!
Her tears alone deal this much damage?!
Orson sucked in a sharp breath.
The surrounding fire element surged, reacting to Xyla's emotions. In just a single breath, half of Orson's HP was gone.
Realizing her lapse, Xyla gently waved a hand, enveloping Orson in a soft red glow.
Blood Healing +200,000!
Blood Healing +200,000!
His HP rapidly recovered.
Damn, she's one hell of a healer too.
"He loved drinking with that person… but I was too foolish… too foolish to ever become a Divine Brewmaster like him."
"Adventurer, will you help me find the perfect spring water?"
[Hidden Quest Updated!]
[Hidden Quest Unlocked!]
Orson's expression shifted.
His quest log had two simultaneous hidden quest changes.
One of them was for [Heavenly Spirit's Heart].
No way. Did I just stumble upon a Soul Seal questline by accident?!
[Hidden Quest: The Master Brewer's Regret]
Quest Updated → Help the Divine Blood Phoenix brew the legendary wine 'Phoenix's Lament'.
Difficulty: Hell-Tier.
Requirement: Locate a sacred water source.
You currently possess Rootless Water. Submit it?