Saquin took a deep breath in.
Tired.
A feeling he had never felt before, swept through his muscles.
Oh, the woes of a normal humans has befallen me...
Saquin chuckled to himself.
He shook off his distraction and paid his surroundings his attention.
He had already noticed through his [Spatial Awareness], but seeing it with his naked eyes gave it a different feel.
He was completely surrounded.
"Grolly Birds everywhere."
Just as he spoke, he caught sight of the lightning Grolly Bird coming forth.
Rawrrr!!!
It flew into the encampment, roared at Saquin, then left.
Saquin looked around in confusion. "Is it trying to gloat?"
"I am still alive, idiot." Saquin shouted at it.
Rawrrr!
It returned the shout with its own roar. It then screeched at the horde of Underbeasts, giving the attack command.
Swoon! Voom! Voom!
Multiple figures cut through the air as about ten Grolly Birds advanced at Saquin simultaneously.
A pincer attack.
Saquin noted.
This might have worked... If I wasn't way faster than the lot of you.
Saquin looked down at the [Frost Feather Sword] in his right hand.
"Let's see what you can do."
He swirled the sword, his wings flaped once and pushed him forward. His target was none other than the biggest looking Grolly Bird in the attacking bunch.
The Golly Bird screeched at him, its claws had a metallic sheen to them. While the remaining attacking Grollys maintained their pursuit on him.
Just as Saquin was about to collide with the big Grolly Bird, his wings suddenly retracted.
"Sike."
Saquin spun mid air.
Over twenty crossbolt shot into the air. Their targets, the attacking ten Underbeasts.
These crossbolts, unlike before, had a layer of fog around them while the bolts themselves were frozen.
Bullseye!
All twenty bolts hit their mark.
Five weaker Grolly Birds met their demise immediately. They were not fast enough to dodge the bolts which targeted their head and heart.
Three more Grolly Birds followed in their footsteps a few seconds later. They had reacted to the bolts, they could not dodge them but managed to block them with either their wings or arm.
Unfortunately, the bolts completely pierced through them and deposited the cold fog into them. They died shortly after. Srangely, they did not died from being frozen, they just shivered for a while then dropped dead.
Saquin's eyes glinted. Dead Cold.
[ You have killed a Mid-Class Grade One Underbeast(8) -- Grolly Bird (No Bloodline). ]
[ Underessence extracted(8). ]
Voom!
Saquin's wings spread out back in a swift motion. He glided below the big Grolly Bird which had used its wings to receive the crossbolts.
Saquin noted the dead Underbeasts with his [Spatial Awareness], he also saw the surviving Underbeast. It had also taken the bolts with its wings, unlike the big guy though, its wings were glowing, golden.
The golden color was fading away though, as the white fog infested the Underbeast.
Saquin glided to a hover, just below the big guy.
The big Grolly Bird spread open its wings. Then it looked down at Saquin.
Skrrr!
It let out a loud screech.
Just then, out of its opened mouth came white fog. The Underbeast spasmed a couple times, it went still and fell.
Saquin looked at the scene in amusement.
The Underbeast beast was frozen. Not ice solid, but it was easy for anyone to tell it died due to very low temperature.
Saquin looked down at the Underbeast that had died earlier. They now also showed signs of being frozen.
Hmm, this ability of mine is weird.
[ You have killed a High-Class Grade One Underbeast -- Grolly Bird (No Bloodline). ]
[ Underessence extracted. ]
Not long after.
[ You have Killed a Mid-Class Grade One Underbeast -- Grolly Bird (Goldspark Bloodline {Unique}) ]
[Underessence extracted.]
[Affinity-Fragment gained.]
Saquin did not pay much attention to the last message. Instead his eyes was on the lightning Grolly Bird, who now seemed very angry.
Skrrr!!!
It let out its loudest screech yet.
Skrrr!
All the Grolly Birds present responded and let out a screech of their own. Then they seem to go insane and almost immediately, all shot at Saquin.
As soon as he saw all the Underbeast shoot at him, Saquin scoffed. "You can't kill me with numbers... I think."
He switched his focus inside quick.
"I have more than enough."
[ Consume ten(10) Mid-Class Grade One Underessence to upgrade {Wing of the wingless}? {Yes} - {No} ]
"Yes."
[ Mid-Class Grade One {Wing of the wingless} upgraded to High-Class Grade One. ]
[ Wing of the wingless -- High-Class Grade One(0/100).
Description: A Core item that grants the user flight ability. Of course, the wings are harder than steel, with edges that are very sharp, and blade feathers that can be used to shoot down foes. ]
At the same time.
[ Consume one High-Class Grade One Underessence to upgrade Mid-Class Grade One {Grolly Crossbow}?
{Yes} - {No} ]
"Yes."
[ Mid-Class Grade One {Grolly Crossbow} upgraded to High-Class Grade One. ]
[ Grolly Crossbow -- High-Class Grade One(0/100).
Description: Down goes all foes.
Bolts: (10/10 Highbolts) (100/100 Midbolts) ]
[ System Hint: Underessence can be converted into bolts. Created bolts corresponds to Underessence Class.Ten per essence. ]
Saquin took a deep breath in.
He could feel the tiredness reaching for him, but he pushed it down.
"I will use the Underessence of that lightning Grolly Bird to rejuvenate."
Just as he said this, the horde of Grolly Birds closed in.
In a swift motion, Saquin retracted and called out his wings and crossbow.
Each wing span had now reached three meter in length. While the crossbow was even more beautiful, with the gauntlet part looking much more sturdier even though it became more flexible.
Voom!
The first Grolly Bird reached Saquin.
Its death notification buzzed gently in Saquin's head shortly after.
Saquin form zipped through the air. Blood and ice everywhere he went.
Through the horde, he weaved in and out. His wings retracted and spaned out, furled and unfurled, blocked and cut.
Crossbolts shot through the air with eerie precision. Shivering Grolly Birds filled the air as frozen corpses dropped down.
Saquin's sword did not go to a waste either, in fact it was the most lethal.
Closely controlled by Saquin, with his insane speed and strength, close range fights was his greatest aspect. Especially with more conventional weapons.
The sword was used to cut down the stronger ones of the Underbeasts.
[ You have killed a Low-Class Grade One Underbeast... ]
[ You have killed a High-Class Grade One Underbeast...]
[ You have killed a Mid-Class...]
[ You have killed a... ]
[ You have... ]
[ You have... ]
As he weaved through the horde, the alerts resounded in his head. It slowly merged in with the symphony of battle, fading into the background.
Slowly, Saquin felt a pleased smile appear on his face.
He felt restrictions in his muscles loosen.
His breathing even out.
The shackles in his mind cleared out.
The weight on his shoulder gradually disappeared.
The coldness in his bones gradually dissolved.
He felt...
So, this is freedom...
Free.