Saquin stared at the being shooting down from the clouds.
A dragonkin.
A humanoid being with the features of a winged reptilian. That is the simple description of their appearance.
It was a popular enough description that even Saquin knew about it.
---
To go into more details about the current Dragonkin. It had to be noted that it looked more of a cross between a human and a dragon than a humanoid, winged reptilian.
Shooting down in a cloud of purple flames, its two horns, peeking through its air-flattened golden hair, pointed dead at Saquin. Its blazing purple-gold eyes shared the same action.
Its scaled filled human face had a stern focus.
[ Candidate Saquin (The Abomination)
Tattoo: -
Rank: Grade Zero.
]
The Abomination.
Its sure way ticket into advancement. As long as he killed it, he would soar into the skies, and break through into the second level.
A low growl escaped its lips as it pushed its poured more Senar into its featherless black wings and purple flames for a faster descent.
---
The blue glint in Saquin's eyes grew brighter as various calculations and thoughts spiraled in his head.
A Supreme Bloodline Underbeast at the Pinnacle of the Grade One... What are my odds of winning?
None in the air.
Especially if it is backed by those three flying pests...
Most optimal option is get down and fight there... First take out the trio if they decide to aid the Boss. Then duck it out with the Boss, if victory is uncertain, escape.
Or.
Get down and use... No.
Why should I be passive? Fight head on... Wait, that's dumb. Why would an assassin fight head on? But, I am not just an assassin though...
This is stupid... Too much thinking is wrong.
Just go!
The series of thoughts took place in the same second as the blue glint brightened. In other words, the thoughts took place in the span of a second.
Saquin moved.
Not downwards.
He shot right at the trio.
Skrrr!
The Lightning Grolly Bird screeched at the approaching Saquin in defiance. Its body lit up with multiple lightning bolts as it pushed its Senar usage to its max.
Boom!
Like a bolt of a lightning, it shot down at Saquin.
The other two followed in its footsteps. Senar brimed in their body, pushing their elemental affinity to its maximum power.
Saquin noted the trio's change in behavior, but his eyes were trained on Raythra coming in hot from above.
The upcoming fight with the Boss was not the only thing bugging his mind.
[ Population: 2,399. ]
The Candidate population was dropping fast.
For some strange reason, he had a nagging suspicion that the Golden Prince had something to do with the rapidly decreasing population.
But what does he gain from...
Just as his thoughts were spiralling up, he and the trio finally met.
Zzzzzz.
Buzzing sounded in the air as the Lightning Grolly Bird closed in on Saquin, a spear of lightning in hands.
Is this lightning or electricity?
Saquin questioned himself as his flight speed sharply increased. In a single motion, he dodged the attack and also slipped past the Lightning Grolly Bird's descending form.
Weak links first.
The single thought directed his motion. He maneuvered right past the swift golden claw attack of the other Grolly, leaving him with his target.
The ice feathered Grolly Bird was in a sense stronger than the golden pattern Grolly, he knew this from their earlier attack and escaped speed.
But, it was unfortunate for the Grolly as it had the wrong affinity, Ice. Saquin could feel it from his ability, he could exert a tremendous level of suppression on it. And he did just that.
He reached out for the ice held by the Grolly and exerted his own influence on them.
As the Ice Grolly Bird felt his control over its element falter, its eyes widened in fear.
Saquin happened to close in at that exact moment.
And just briefly, he saw his reflection in the eyes of the Underbeast.
As he left two Grolly Bird of two varying bright colours behind, it highlighted his figure.
He noticed, even though his expression was free and there was even a hint of a smile on his lips, his eyes were completely devoid of it all.
"My eyes are dead cold..."
At that moment, Saquin could not help but comment.
"Funny... So am I."
A chuckle escaped his mouth as his left hand extended out and touched the head of the Ice Grolly Bird frozen in fear.
Afterwards, he curved downwards.
His new target, the golden pattern Grolly.
But.
The Lightning Grolly Bird had made a sharp turn after having it's attack dodged, and had reached him again.
He could also feel that Raythra had already entered his [Spatial Awareness] range. That distance would take less than ten seconds for it to cover.
Kill the three birds in ten seconds and still manage to get to the ground before it reaches me...
Saquin calculated.
Easy.
His sword met with the lightning spear.
To Saquin's surprise, the Lightning Grolly Bird actually knew how to use a spear.
Using the spear range and form, it curled round the sword like a snake, going past the sowrd's blade and hilt. The spear's head went straight at Saquin's head.
Saquin, however, was not bothered much.
Instead, his indistinct smile grew more distinct as he soon pulled off a move that can only be achieved in the Empowered world.
Ha, refreshing.
His smile bloomed as he thought this.
Just as the spear passed his sword, and headed for his head, his wrist muscles flexed as he switched his swords grip style.
He used the sword hilt to hook the spear, diverted its direction by a bit.
And next came a set of movement, heavily aided by the fact they were mid air. With his wings folded, Saquin moved the same way the spear had, twisted round it and swept past the Underbeast.
As his smile grew, so did his speed.
He closed in on the golden pattern Grolly Bird who was freaking out.
Rawr!!!
The Underbeast roared out in defiance. It clawed out at the incoming Saquin.
Saquin dodged the blow in a swift motion, he caught the outstretched arm. A crack sounded out, as he bent the elbow in the opposite way.
He did not let the Underbeast process the pain before using the arm as leverage to throw it upwards, past him. His kick hit the back of the Underbeast, increasing it's speed of ascent and his own speed of descent.
As he fell.
He timed it all in his mind.
Six seconds.
He turned to face towards the sky and a bolt shot out.
A highbolt.
The timing was impeccable.
Just as the golden pattern Grolly Bird tried to recover itself, turning its head downwards to give Saquin a last roar of defiance.
It bolt hit true.
Straight through its golden right eye.
At that exact moment.
Ten seconds were up.
Raythra reached the trio's side.
Also.
[ You have Killed a Pinnacle-Class Grade One Underbeast -- Grolly Bird (Ice-feather Bloodline {Hyper}) ]
[ Underessence extracted.]
[ Skill gained. ]
[ Core gained.]
[ You have Killed a Mid-Class Grade One Underbeast -- Grolly Bird (Pattern of Gold Bloodline {World-Class}) ]
[ Underessence extracted.]
[ Skill gained.]
[ Core gained. ]
[ You have Killed a Low-Class Grade One Underbeast -- Grolly Bird (Heavenly Lightning Bloodline {Supreme}) ]
[ Underessence extracted.]
[ Bloodline extracted.]
[ Unique-Core gained. ]
The Ice Grolly Bird breathed its last as its ice turned against it, freezing it from inside out.
After a few seconds, the Lightning Grolly Bird could no longer hold on. A cut that ran through over half of the neck was too much of a grievous wound for even it to survive.
"Fighting head on is fun and freeing..."
Saquin fell gracefully.
"Assassination is satisfying..."
His wings were not even aiding his descent anymore, they were just spread out. So were his hands, as he basked in the feeling.
"But somehow, flying feels better than both..."