After her friendly greeting was ignored, it became clear that the host wasn't one for small talk. To intimidate the intruder, the creature went as far as destroying its own nest—a shocking display. Seraphina was covered in the remnants of a shattered egg; had she taken just one more step, she might have lost half her body.
Isn't this your egg? What kind of terrifying power is this? she thought, cursing under her breath.
She realized she'd underestimated this monstrous bird. None of her previous world's standards applied here. Understanding the thoughts of a bird—especially a giant one from another world—was beyond her.
Maternal instincts wouldn't help her now; she needed another plan. Observing was her strength, and she noticed the creature watching her every move. In her next action, she had to take the initiative and find something to turn the tide.
Another chance to escape, from nowhere? she mocked herself.
The giant bird gently dropped its prey—a black-scaled snake. Its thick, overlapping scales formed a sturdy armor, impervious to bullets. But more horrifying was that only the snake's body remained; its head had been cleanly severed. The thick skin was jaggedly cut, and its spine was sliced with unbelievable precision.
Facing this beast directly would be unwise. It would be a gruesome death, being torn apart and digested.
The creature had destroyed the nest's shell with a single, invisible slash—or rather, a compressed gust of wind. It was clear: this was an opponent she couldn't defeat.
Seraphina stood still, locking eyes with the bird. Both seemed to await a signal to act. Seraphina was at a disadvantage; she lacked superhuman strength or any skills to confront such a massive creature.
She realized that her survival might be due to the creature's caution. The pressure emanating from her ancient bloodline was oppressive to other beings.
She squinted, secretly observing her surroundings. The once-intact egg was now shattered. Not far away, a deep groove had formed, collecting the egg's remnants.
Damn it, think! How do I escape this damned thing?
A gentle whisper passed her ears, easing her tension slightly.
[Jump down]
Huh!? If it were that easy, why didn't you say so earlier? I would've done it before this bastard returned! Her mind was filled with expletives.
She felt insulted by her own intelligence. It seemed both the smartest and dumbest option, but it was her only choice. In life-threatening situations, the human brain often opts for the quickest escape, which can lead to fatal mistakes.
The issue wasn't whether to jump, but what lay ahead. Once she moved, it wouldn't just be her legs separating from her body—it would be her entire being.
The bird sensed her hesitation and prepared to strike. But its predatory instincts, honed over time, made it pause. Perhaps it was better to avoid this creature.
No creature could surpass the tree's immense height. If one could, it would've noticed something climbing during its hunt. Such a being would need incredible speed and stealth to evade detection.
Before returning to its nest, it noticed a hole in the roof, concluding that the intruder came from above. Beings of this form usually lived in groups and rarely appeared in this land. But this one was different.
From this small creature, it felt a pressure that clouded its mind. It felt "small" compared to its usual self—a king of the skies. It had never experienced such pressure, not even from its strongest foes.
It had tested its opponent with two attacks. The first identified the intruder. It didn't want to fight in the confined nest; its wing-generated winds could obliterate the sturdy nest.
The second attack sacrificed the egg. The most dangerous threats are those unseen. It couldn't predict the opponent's actions, especially since the monkey-like creature hadn't moved after the second attack.
After a long time, with no movement from the tiny creature, it realized that the egg wasn't the target. It had waited for its return. The only possibility: the nest's owner was the true target.
Suddenly, the small creature lowered its body, placing its hands on the ground and pulling one leg back, facing forward. The pressure it felt had lessened, but it remained vigilant—perhaps even more so.
The earlier whispers had some use, but they weren't meaningless. If jumping down were simple, she would've done it already. But that wasn't the point.
The suggestion was about "timing," similar to when she faced a boss. She awaited a moment; too early or too late would lead to failure.
The [Flamebound] attribute wasn't as useless as she thought. Besides igniting fires, it heightened her sensitivity to nearby flames, especially those she created.
Seraphina didn't care what was happening; she wanted to escape quickly. In an instant, like an arrow, she lunged forward. This surprised the bird, which instinctively attacked. It leaped into the air, using its sharp claws as weapons—perfect for aerial combat against a flightless prey. But as it prepared to strike...
At that moment, through the canopy, a fireball—or rather, a part of an ancient structure engulfed in flames—plummeted at terrifying speed.
The bird quickly used its wings to change direction, trying to distance itself from the fiery mass. But the proximity and its weight made immediate evasion impossible.
Debris from the impact pushed her away. Smoke billowed from the canopy above, and flames began consuming the tree. From afar, it resembled a nuclear disaster.
Fragments from the structure fell like meteors in all directions.
Seraphina's ears rang, and the air seemed sucked from her lungs. She lost consciousness briefly and fell into the void below.
A whisper announced a victory she likely missed.
[You have slain the Skywarden, a Gigantic beast.]
[You have obtained a Chronicle: Skytear.]
[All rules bow before one: cause leads to effect.]
[The elements forming the result lie beyond rules. Threads stray from the loom, the tapestry of fate.]
In a grand human capital, protected by unshakable walls, one ancient fortress gleamed under the sun. Inside a magnificent castle, on an intricately carved bed, lay a testament to eternal time.
"When the Lilacrest tree is engulfed in crimson flames, rising into the night sky, it heralds pure destruction. Drifting in deep waters, an existence beyond all worldly rules—"
An old man, his face rugged with deep wrinkles, eyes dimmed yet exuding royal aura, spoke with utmost fear. Each word carried historical weight as he slowly recited ancestral prophecies before silent witnesses.
With his final breath, he whispered:
"Awaken..."
⸻
Awakening from unconsciousness, she sighed wearily. Her body felt like a crumpled rag tossed into water. Indeed, her attire was made of such materials.
Falling while unconscious, unaware of her landing, she left it all to fate. Regaining consciousness, she was slightly relieved to be alive.
Warmth surrounded her, similar to before, but with a difference. She lay face down, warm water enveloping her. Propping herself on the riverbank's pebbles, she realized she'd reached the ground. But the joy was short-lived.
"How long was I out? It's still daylight—"
Turning her head, she saw a fiery pillar piercing the clouds, illuminating the night sky in a terrifying red. The image burned into her eyes, freezing everything around her. A sense of dread overwhelmed her; her heart tightened as if she'd pressed a self-destruct button.
No one understood better than she did. No one could feel the roaring storm inside her body now—like it was about to explode because of the [Flamebound] attribute pulsing in her veins.
"I won't underestimate you again, you damned hellish lighter" she muttered.