"The white-feathered eagle is truly majestic, Miss Alice. See, it's just as we described!" Li Minmin exclaimed, delighted to have successfully delivered Alice to the intended location, even if the method was unconventional.
Ran Xiaoyue chimed in, equally thrilled, "It looks even more powerful up close! And look, it seems to be waiting for us."
Ye Yang, the white-feathered eagle, watched the peculiar procession—the colossal panda carrying three girls—come to a halt just below his perch on the mountain peak. His golden eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't waiting for them; he was assessing the situation.
A D-level beast? Ye Yang mused inwardly, catching Alice's astonished whisper. The girl was clearly an expert. He knew his current strength was indeed far beyond what the nascent "evolution factor" should allow. His power derived from his unique circumstances: his transmigration and the subsequent spiritual nourishment from the white bamboo, not just the general evolutionary changes sweeping Blue Star.
He let out a powerful, echoing cry, a sound that seemed to shake the very air.
"Aoooooouu!"
The giant panda, accustomed to his "employer's" commanding tone, immediately set down his passengers. It then lowered its massive head, rubbing it gently against the cliff face, an obvious gesture of submission and perhaps, an offering of the three small, strange creatures it had ferried up the mountain.
"He's not angry, is he?" Li Minmin whispered nervously, suddenly remembering the sheer danger of their current location.
"He... he seems to be waiting for us to speak," Alice said, her green eyes never leaving the magnificent bird. Despite her scientific mind racing to categorize and understand the beast, a profound sense of awe and urgency washed over her.
She stepped forward, clutching the small black box. Her Daxia language was flawless, her voice carrying a tone of deep respect and determination.
"Great White-Feathered Eagle, I am Alice, from Owl Country. I have travelled a great distance to speak with you about a matter of critical importance—your survival, and the safety of this region."
Ye Yang cocked his head slightly, a human-like gesture of interest. Survival? Safety? He was one of the most powerful beings in the region; his survival was not in question.
"Speak," Ye Yang's voice boomed, though he didn't physically move his beak. The sound seemed to emanate directly into their minds, clear and sharp.
Li Minmin and Ran Xiaoyue gasped, clutching each other. They had known the eagle was intelligent, but a telepathic voice that sounded like thunder? This was a whole new level of terror and wonder. The giant panda, meanwhile, simply sat back on its haunches, looking bored and glancing pointedly at the girls' empty hands, clearly awaiting more bread.
Alice, however, remained outwardly calm. She took a deep breath.
"Great Eagle, you are an extraordinary beast, the first of your kind to evolve to such a degree. But this very strength makes you a target. The world is changing rapidly. Already, specialized teams from several major nations—including my own, Owl Country, and your own Daxia—are forming to study, capture, and, if necessary, eliminate high-level evolved beasts."
"Capture or eliminate?" Ye Yang repeated, his golden eyes glowing dangerously. The air around him suddenly grew cold.
"Yes," Alice confirmed, her voice shaking slightly but holding firm. "Your power signature is unique, too bright to ignore. The initial wave of evolution was chaotic, but now, the world powers are seeking to impose order, to secure assets, and to eliminate threats they cannot control. Daxia's official policy has been slow to react, but my contacts in Owl Country have confirmed: a global merger is being prepared. They call it the 'Human federation.' All humans will sooner or later unite against monsters and the time is near. Once humans truly unite even C rank beasts will fall and B rank beasts will no longer be an unkillable existence.
She stepped closer, holding up the black box. "I have brought a device to measure the energy fluctuations around you. My initial, long-distance readings suggest you are close to, or have already reached, what they term 'D-Tier.' A being of that power will not be tolerated in a wild, unmanaged state. A strike force, specialized and equipped, will arrive soon. They will use advanced sonic disruptors and energy cages. They will not take chances."
Ye Yang processed this information rapidly. A consortium? Containment? He had known the humans would react, but a multinational effort was faster than he had anticipated. He had been so focused on cultivating his techniques and enjoying his new life that he had neglected the outside world's geopolitical shifts. He glanced down at the girl. She seemed genuine, and her assessment of his power—D-Tier—was remarkably accurate.
"Why warn me?" Ye Yang demanded. "You are from Owl Country and a human. Why betray your nation's and race's interests and travel across the ocean to tell me this?"
A sad, passionate look crossed Alice's face. "My family line is dedicated to the study of life, to understanding nature's true potential. Not to caging it. The White-Feathered Eagle... you are not just an animal; you are a miracle of life, a key to understanding the future of evolution on Blue Star. My ancestors believed in the power of symbiosis, not subjugation. If they capture you, they will dissect you, study you, and try to replicate your power without understanding your soul. I want you to escape, survive and repay this debt of Karma."
Li Minmin and Ran Xiaoyue were listening in stunned silence. Their rescue mission had turned into a world-shaking geopolitical thriller.
"You said you must make me leave here," Ye Yang said, his voice calmer now, the threat in the air receding. "Where can I go that they cannot find me?"
Alice opened the black box. Inside, resting on a bed of velvet, was not a weapon, but a sleek, silver bracelet and a small, complex data card.
"This is a custom-made Evolutionary Signature Suppressor," Alice explained, her voice dropping to a serious, almost conspiratorial tone. "It's based on my family's fringe theories about energy-form manipulation. It won't affect your internal power or cultivation, but it will suppress the external energy signature—the distinct 'evolutionary fingerprint' that their high-altitude satellites and ground arrays use to track you."