Chapter 18: Dangerous Skies (2/2)
The creature's beak was large enough to snap off my hand if I left it exposed to its attacks. I tightened my grip around my scimitar as the creature eyed me, surely measuring me up as a potential meal. Whatever gave birth to this thing was surely large enough to be considered an Apex predator, so even its offspring found itself entitled to prey larger even than itself. Its eyes bobbed uncontrollably and out of sync. Finally it screeched once more and lunged forward impatiently!
I hopped to the side and jabbed its head with my left hand. The chick barely flinched and, without losing momentum, tackled me again, pushing the air out of my lungs.
[ ??? Chick Lv.6 tackles you! 9 points of Bludgeoning damage sustained. 86/95 HP remaining! ]
This creature or whatever spawned it, must have come here to settle from far away as my innate knowledge of these lands provided me with zero info on what it was or what it was called. It looked like the chick of a raptor, a bird of prey, but I was no animal expert. The chick's jaw snapped next to my bobbing head, I ducked to avoid another bite and answered with a powerful uppercut! This time the beast recoiled, taking a step back to shake its head. It squaked angrily, surely frustrated that I didn't just sit there to be eaten, and came at me with a series of furious bites and talon strikes. Some of its attacks managed to knick me as the baby fought with no discernable pattern. A few blows I managed to parry with my scimitar and the moment I was able to dodge out of the way, I thrust my weapon forward and dealt a decent blow!
[ Scimitar stab successful! 16 piercing damage dealt to ??? Chick Lv.6 ]
The blade sank in the bird's leathery hide by 15 cm, drawing blood and a screech of pain. The chick tried kicking me away but my sword kept it at bay. After that, the baby monster started fighting even more recklessly and uncoordinated. It was strong, probably stronger than me but it was still a baby.. I dodged its attacks and kept getting small hits in. Slash after slash the creature soon became covered in blood and open wounds. It attempted to run back to the safety of its nest but I didn't allow it. Slaying a baby didn't sit well with me but I couldn't face this creature at the same time as whatever lay its egg. A strong sweeping kick, knocked the bird over and its head smashed against the ground. Without delay, I brought my blade down on its neck with everything I had. Its head rolled off the side of the cliff and the young emaciated beast died as painlessly as possible.
[ You have defeated ??? Chick Lv.6! 98 XP gained, 52 Aether and 82 Gold awarded. ]
[ Level Up! You have reached Level 6! 1 Attribute Point awarded. Your increase in level will occur once you rest in a safe zone. ]
I was relieved to see that even outside my Dungeon, Trishda still provided me with awards for defeating an enemy. I was happy for my progress as well! The Chick appeared to be of higher level and Rank than the Raider commander and yet I won the fight with less effort. Seems like combat experience and martial knowledge were equally or even more important than attribute scores, at least in these early levels. I now had some basic idea of how to move during combat and had learned how to better make use of my exceptional strength, speed and stamina, making me much more dangerous in a fight.
Seeing that the nest had no more giant chicks inside, I decided to collect the coins before going down to investigate. Luckily I had been smart enough to purchase some large backpacks for me and the girls. I couldn't wait to use my pack when traveling in this new world, seeing every magical creature, race and whatever wondrous places or mysteries it held. Picking up the last few coins I noticed that the temperature dropped ever so slightly and the glint of the coins under the sunlight was smothered. "Wait.. where did this shadow come fr.." was all my brain managed to process when a huge foot slammed me into the ground and dragged me a few meters before taking me into the air! Grasping me was a set of large talons, big enough to engulf my back and reach around my shoulders! I was being carried by a bird the size of a car! It looked like a cross between a condor and a raven, with black feathers and a dark beak, bare head and grayish skin! The huge raptor however looked sickly and starved just like its offspring. It puffed out its chest and let out an echoing caw, similar to that of a crow or raven but drawn out and high pitched. I could see its ribcage pushing against tight skin.
It must have starved itself while hunting for its chicks. The beast possibly came here to nest without knowing it was unfit for this climate. [ Talons dig into you for 14 slashing damage! 53/95 HP remaining! ]. The notification reminded me of my situation and the pain which the adrenaline had been masking. I could see the Plateau quickly being left behind and in desperation, I slid me blade across the beast's foot, causing it to drop me! I must have fell from at least 4 meters height. If it wasn't for my investment in Physical I would have probably splatted against hard rock. Instead, I rolled once my feet met the rocky surface, receiving only 6 points of damage. I ran for my backpack and then for the trail I followed to get here, as the giant predator circled around to come at me again!
I ran, ducked, bobbed and weaved out of the way of beak and talon! Its feet left gouging scratch marks in the rocky walls and the snaps of its beak were so loud I feared that they could sever my head if they managed to score a hit! At one point the creature delivered a flying kick with its extended talons, slamming me against the Plateau! I tried fending it off with my scimitar but the flying creature kept its distance until the time was right. Once my defences were down it would swoop in for another strike, keeping me fearful and disoriented. I could have stood my ground but I knew the creature would try to maintain its aerial advantage and I had no means of forcing it down to ground level. If I tried to mount it in order to land some strikes, even if I were to win, I would fall and surely die. I didn't want to find out what would happen if my Avatar was destroyed.. Not yet and definitely not like this..
[ Talons hit you for 14 Slashing damage! 14/95 HP remaining!! ]
The notification flared in front of my eyes with a vibrant red hue, indicating the danger I was in! It was all or nothing! I jumped off the closest edge and landed on the jagged rocks below. I hopped from platform to platform in a random pattern as fast as I could, a free run up against the knife's edge. Even the flying predator had a hard time keeping up with my pace as it missed its following 3 dive attacks! I landed on a bed of smaller pellets, running down the side of the Plateau at an angle and started sliding down, almost as if I was snowboarding! I spotted a platform coming up and realized that because of my momentum, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from launching off of it! I frantically started sending the same mental image again and again through the Aether, hoping I wasn't far off from my domain!
The bird of prey swooped in, this time trying to cut me off at the platform ahead. I tucked my knees and centered myself. The large beast landed in front of me with a crashing thump! Putting everything I had into my powerful legs I launched myself into the air and above its head as it bent forward, snapping at the position I was before my jump! Spinning in the air, I slashed at its back, leaving a shallow gash that traced the path of my scimitar. However, even with my awesome body, their was no way I could maneuver myself into a landing position, not after my little aerial stunt.
[ Scimitar strike successful! 13 Slashing damage reduced by "Iron Feathers". 6 Slashing damage dealt. ]
My mass accelerated as the fall reached its peak. There was no way I could have won this bout.. I overreached and it was time to pay the price. "Damn it.." I cursed as I felt the ground rushing towards me and waited to hear the disgusting crunch of my bones. *SPLUURP* Was the sound I heard instead, just before I was submerged in a honey colored jelly! I still hit ground and at a speed great enough to seriously hurt my back! But I was still alive!! My Great Amber Ooze had heard my call! It positioned itself right below me, absorbing about 60% of my fall damage. [ 23 points fall damage taken! Reduced by Great Amber Ooze's Physical Damage resistance. 9 points of damage received! 5/95 HP remaining. ]
I got up and sprinted towards the cave opening, shouting to my monster to do the same. The great beast howled in anger rather than in pain, after my annoying attack and flapped its wings enough to get it airborne. It dove down the cliff side, locked on me, talons extended. At the last moment, my Ooze sprang up like a rubber projectile, tackling the giant bird, causing it to miss me! I shouted at my Ooze to come to me but it ignored my command! This had never happened before.. Was it sensing the danger I was in and trying to save me no matter the cost? The giant predator raked the slow moving Ooze with huge talons again and again. It snapped off entire chunks of it with its immensely powerful beak. Even with its amazing resistance and regeneration, my Ooze was simply under-leveled and lower ranked than the flying monstrosity of a bird.
My Ooze did exactly what I designed it to do. Tank as much damage as possible in order to give the rest of us a fighting chance. "I'm sorry buddy.. Thank you!" I whispered under my breath and ran inside the cave. I received a mental image of a small slime running around me joyfully, fighting by my side and growing into the Ooze that was now sacrificing itself to save me. My monsters weren't mindless drones! They were living creatures.. Creatures who were happy simply because I gave them a chance to live.. This sacrifice would not be in vain. I would find a way to win and make our home safe!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone