The sky was high, clouds thin, and the autumn air thick with intent!
Atop the cliffs of Gaoman Mountain.
A eaglefolk envoy with gray-black wings hovered in midair, clutching a two-meter bone spear, gazing down with haughty disdain.
He scanned the sparse population of the Gaoman Mountain tribe, his eyes flickering with contempt for these feeble kin. Then, with a booming voice, he declared.
"Gaoman Mountain Tribe, by order of the Royal Court! Fifty eaglefolk warriors are to be conscripted! You have three days to report to the Vast Sea Forest and heed the command of the Thunder God!"
The familiar conscription edict echoed across the cliff. The Royal Court clearly held little regard for a small tribe like Gaoman Mountain. Decades had passed, and they hadn't even bothered to alter a single word of the summons.
Perhaps this was the standard decree for all the eaglefolk tribes scattered across the vast mountains, beyond the Royal Court's direct control!
But fifty warriors? That was too many.
The tribe, including newborn infants, barely numbered 200. Jarius' generation of adult male eaglefolks amounted to just over thirty.
In that moment, Jarius finally understood the sorrowful helplessness his eaglefather had felt years ago.
Those words, "My son, grow up strong and healthy," must have been uttered in such desolate despair.
On the cliff, the eaglefolks lowered their heads in submission.
Jarius stood at the forefront, claws clenched, barely restraining the fury in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he mimicked his father's past pleas and begged.
"Lord Envoy, as you can see, our tribe struggles to muster fifty warriors. Might you show leniency? I am willing to lead all our adult males to fight for the Thunder God and the Royal Court!"
"Hmph! The Royal Court's decree is not open to negotiation!"
The gray-winged envoy sneered coldly.
"A lowly tribe like yours, surviving only under the Royal Court's protection, should consider that mercy enough."
His gaze fell on Jarius's clenched claws and the defiant eyes meeting his own. A spark of killing intent flared within him.
Tribes like Gaoman Mountain were like weeds on the plains—one wave dies, another sprouts. Eradicating them would cause no ripple.
It was only a matter of time!
The Royal Court cared nothing for their survival.
With a surge of killing intent, the envoy's eyes narrowed, and the faint breeze around them stirred unnaturally.
This was no ordinary wind—it was the supernatural power of the wind itself!
Jarius, standing at the cliff's edge, felt a chill grip his heart. His body tensed, and he quickly lowered his head, shouting.
"Lord Envoy, Gaoman Mountain will comply with the conscription order!"
For a few breaths, the world fell silent, save for the rising wind.
Jarius remained vigilant, ready to spring into action.
After a long pause.
The cold-faced envoy refrained from striking. With a final icy command, he spread his wings and departed.
"Fifty warriors, within three days. Remember: one short or one day late, and your tribe will be annihilated!"
Jarius's heart blazed with rage at the envoy's words.
"Damn it, one day I'll overthrow your rotten Eaglefolk Royal Court!"
As the envoy's figure faded into the distance, the tribe erupted in lamentations.
"When will this war ever end? When will our lives truly get better?"
"We're too weak."
"Our fathers never returned. Now it seems we'll follow in their footsteps."
Jarius, seeing the despair on his people's faces, stepped forward and shouted.
"Trust in me, my kin! This time, I swear to bring every one of you back!"
"And if we cannot return, I will fall before any of you!"
"Furthermore, for the fifty, I ask the adult women of our tribe to join us in this campaign. The young boys, not yet of age, will stay to guard the tribe."
"Yes, Chief!"
At once, over a dozen adult female eaglefolks stepped forward—the women of their generation.
With this, Gaoman Mountain was left with only the elderly and the weak.
Jarius sighed inwardly, his gaze settling on the strongest young eaglefolk boy in the crowd. He smiled and said.
"Cha, after we leave, you'll be the strongest male eaglefolk in the tribe. Lead the boys and protect everyone!"
Tears welled in Cha's eyes as he nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Brother Jarius!"
Jarius nodded, comforted his mother briefly, then addressed the eaglefolks preparing to march.
"Alright, no time to waste. Return home, don your bronze armor, and take up your weapons. We depart for the Vast Sea Forest in a quarter-hour!"
One eaglefolk, puzzled, asked.
"Jarius, isn't it three days we have? Why the rush?"
Jarius shook his head.
"Our ancestors who marched to war never returned. This time, we must scout the Vast Sea Forest first and prepare thoroughly!"
The truth about bathing in Titan's blood was too shocking to reveal just yet, so he used a prepared excuse.
And it wasn't entirely a lie—it made sense to proceed cautiously.
"Understood. We'll grab our weapons and gear now and be ready in a quarter-hour!"
The eaglefolks nodded in agreement.
They trusted Jarius implicitly. Having grown up alongside him, their bond was stronger than most.
And so.
A quarter-hour later…
Fifty eaglefolks, armed with bronze swords and spears, stood ready. With Jarius's command, they took flight westward toward the Vast Sea Forest, leaving behind the reluctant gazes of the elderly and weak who remained.