"What's your plan, Hanz?"
Hanz grinned, eyes bright with excitement.
"The plan is simple. All you have to do is wait for my signal."
One of the beasts leaned its massive head closer, looking at Jin with one side of its face, its large brown eye studying him intently. It then pulled back to the others. The five winged creatures began communicating in low, guttural sounds — deep rumbles and clicking noises that echoed off the canyon walls, as if deciding which of the two travelers would be the first meal.
Hanz then told Jin.
"Put away your weapons. We must not show hostility."
Jin turned to Hanz, a hint of frustration crossing his face.
"Are you serious? These things are ready to tear us apart, and you want me to put my staff and sword away?"
Hanz kept his grin.
"Trust me. Just this once."
Jin sighed, but reluctantly sheathed his blade, though his hand stayed close to the hilt.
One of the beasts kept looking at Jin, tilting its head curiously, its brown eyes studying him with strange intensity. The other beasts continued their low rumbling conversation, then quieted down. They took slow, deliberate steps toward Jin and Hanz, talons scraping against the rock floor.
Hanz chuckled.
"It's now or never."
Jin asked again, voice tense.
"What is the plan?"
Hanz giggled, then looked at Jin with a mischievous, almost reckless expression.
"There's a move I've always wanted to try. And if it doesn't work… then fighting is the only option."
Jin's eyes widened in disbelief, a mix of exasperation and worry on his face. He knew this was a bad idea.
One of the beasts stepped closer, then lunged suddenly, trying to chomp down on Jin. He dodged smoothly at the last second, the massive beak snapping shut just inches from him.
Suddenly, wind spiraled around them.
The beasts began to be pulled inward, their wings flapping wildly as invisible forces dragged them toward Hanz.
Hanz yelled.
"HERE WE GO!"
Jin turned to look at him, his eyes widening in shock as he saw wind gathering and swirling around Hanz's wrists like a black hole, pulling everything toward him.
Hanz unleashed a powerful wave of wind, throwing the beasts off balance. They tumbled and crashed across the canyon floor with loud thuds and screeches of surprise.
He shouted at Jin.
"MOVE NOW!"
Jin stood frozen for a split second, watching as Hanz ran toward one of the fallen beasts, leaped onto its back, and began wrestling with it, trying to sit on it and gain control. The beast forced itself up, flapping its wings violently as it screeched, then took off into the air, carrying Hanz with it.
Jin's expression was one of pure shock and disbelief as he watched Hanz being taken into the sky, finally understanding that this was his plan — to ride the beasts.
He let out a soft laugh of surprise,
This guy is insane. It's ridiculous enough to ride these beasts — who knows what kind of trouble they could attract.
He then turned toward one of the beasts still on the ground. For a brief moment, he hesitated, his hand tightening on his staff as he weighed the risk. The creature was massive, its leathery wings half-spread, talons scraping the rock. Jin's mind raced — one wrong move and those talons could tear him apart. But there was no time to second-guess.
He made up his mind.
He ran forward.
The other beasts all rose into the air with powerful wingbeats, screeching as they circled overhead.
Jin gritted his teeth and lunged at the remaining beast. It turned its head toward him and screeched, wings spreading wide as it leaped into the air, trying to escape.
Then… it stopped mid-air, flapping its wings violently but unable to move forward. The creature's body jerked and twisted, caught by some invisible force. It turned its head downward, eyes wide with confusion and anger.
It saw Jin.
He was holding tightly onto its tail, muscles straining as he pulled the massive beast back toward the ground. The creature screeched in fury, flapping its wings with all its strength, trying desperately to break free and lift off.
Jin shouted, his muscles flexing as his silver eyes glowed with power. He yanked hard, slamming the beast down onto the canyon floor with a thunderous crash. Dust and sand exploded upward in a thick cloud, the impact shaking the ground beneath them.
The beast immediately turned around, swinging its massive wing claw in a vicious arc. Jin dodged it by a hair's breadth, the wind from the strike whipping past his face. He was already spinning his staff in a fluid motion. He thrust it forward — stopping it just inches from the beast's face, the force creating a sharp gust of wind that made the creature flinch.
He pulled the staff back, fist clenched, and slammed it against the beast's face with raw power. The impact sent the creature skidding across the ground, tumbling violently before it crashed into the canyon wall.
Jin stood a few paces from the downed beast, breathing steadily as dust settled around them. The creature shook its head, letting out a low, angry screech before pushing itself up with powerful legs. Its eyes locked onto him with raw fury.
Jin didn't back down. He dropped into a low stance, staff held ready.
The beast lunged.
It charged with surprising speed for its size, talons scraping deep grooves into the rock as it closed the distance. Jin sidestepped at the last second, the creature's beak snapping shut where his head had been. He spun his staff in a wide arc, striking the beast's side with a solid thud. The impact barely staggered it.
The beast whipped around, its wing slamming into Jin like a battering ram. He was thrown back, skidding across the ground before catching himself. Pain flared in his ribs, but he pushed it aside.
He charged back in.
This time, he leaped onto the beast's back, grabbing onto its rough, leathery hide. The creature roared in rage, bucking wildly as it tried to throw him off. Jin held on tight, muscles straining as the beast thrashed beneath him. Its wings beat furiously, sending gusts of wind that whipped sand into the air.
The beast reared up, then slammed its body sideways into the canyon wall. Jin grunted as the impact jarred his bones, but he refused to let go. He wrapped his arms around its neck, trying to stabilize himself.
The beast took off.
It leaped into the air with a powerful flap of its wings, carrying Jin upward at a steep angle. The canyon floor dropped away rapidly. Wind howled past them as they rose higher. Jin's grip tightened, his legs clamping around the beast's body as it twisted and turned in the air, trying desperately to shake him off.
They climbed fast, the wind growing stronger and colder. The beast dove suddenly, plummeting toward the canyon floor. Jin's stomach lurched as the ground rushed up to meet them. At the last second, the creature pulled up sharply, the change in direction nearly throwing Jin off. He slipped slightly, one hand losing its grip as he dangled dangerously from the side. His fingers dug into the tough hide, straining to pull himself back up.
The beast rolled mid-air, trying to dislodge him. Jin spun with it, muscles burning as he fought to stay on. They rose again, higher this time, the canyon walls looking small beneath them. The beast tried one final, violent series of rolls and dives, but Jin held firm, his grip like iron.
Finally, the beast began to tire, its wingbeats growing less frantic. It leveled out, gliding unsteadily as it accepted the unwelcome rider.
Jin breathed hard, still holding on tightly as they soared over the canyon landscape. A wild, adrenaline-fueled grin spread across his face.
I... I did it... I actually did it!
He soared through the canyons with the beast, the wind rushing past them as they glided steadily between the towering rock walls. The creature's wingbeats were now powerful and rhythmic, no longer fighting him. Jin kept a firm grip on its neck, his body low against its back as he scanned the landscape below and around them for any sign of Hanz.
He heard him first.
Hanz's screaming voice echoed from all directions, bouncing off the canyon walls in chaotic, overlapping cries.
Jin's eyes narrowed. He urged the beast to fly faster, guiding it with pressure from his legs and hands. The creature responded, banking sharply as they weaved through the narrow passages, rising and diving between massive rock formations. The canyons felt alive around them — sheer cliffs flashing past in blurs of red and orange stone, the wind howling through gaps and crevices. Every turn sent a rush of adrenaline through Jin as the beast's wings cut through the air with powerful strokes.
They climbed higher, skimming along the edges of towering peaks, the ground far below looking like a maze of cracks and shadows. Jin's heart pounded as he searched desperately, the beast responding to his commands with surprising cooperation now.
The voice grew louder, Hanz's screams echoing more clearly from above.
Jin looked upward ahead, his eyes widening.
He saw Hanz — literally plummeting from above, spinning wildly as he fell like a ragdoll, arms and legs flailing.
Jin didn't waste a second.
He urged the beast into a sharp, dangerous dive, the creature folding its wings partially as they plummeted downward at terrifying speed. The wind screamed in Jin's ears, the canyon walls blurring past as they chased the falling figure. Jin leaned forward, gripping tighter as the beast adjusted its path, weaving between narrow gaps and around jagged outcrops with raw power.
Hanz's fall was chaotic. He tried desperately to use his wind abilities, swirling gusts forming around him in an attempt to slow his descent. The wind pushed upward, but it wasn't enough — he continued tumbling, the ground rushing up to meet him. For the first time, real fear flashed across his face as he realized he wasn't slowing down enough. He gritted his teeth, closing his eyes tightly as the wind whipped around him.
Then… Jin swooped in at the last possible moment.
He reached out, grabbing Hanz's arm with a vice-like grip just as the ground was dangerously close. The beast pulled up sharply, wings beating hard as they climbed back into the air, the sudden change in direction sending a violent jolt through both of them.
Hanz's eyes snapped open in shock, his face pale as he realized he was no longer falling. He looked at Jin, breathing hard.
"How… how did you manage to control this beast?!"
Jin smirked, though tension was clear on his face — he had almost been thrown off during that desperate dive. His muscles still burned from the effort.
"Luck… and a lot of stubbornness."
Hanz laughed shakily, still gripping Jin's arm tightly as they soared through the canyons on the back of the beast.
"HAHA!... WE DID IT...!"
They soared through the canyons on the back of the beast, the wind rushing past them in a steady, almost soothing rhythm now. The creature's wingbeats had settled into a powerful, consistent pace, carrying them smoothly between the towering rock walls. The sunset painted the sky in deep oranges and reds, the light catching on the jagged peaks and casting long, dramatic shadows across the canyon floor far below.
Jin kept a firm but relaxed grip on the beast's neck, his body low against its back as the wind whipped through his hair. The height was dizzying — they were hundreds of feet above the canyon floor, the ground looking like a distant maze of cracks and shadows. He felt the cool evening air against his skin, a welcome contrast to the dry heat they had endured earlier. For the first time in minutes, his muscles began to loosen slightly.
Hanz sat behind him, still gripping tightly but starting to relax as the initial terror faded. He looked around with wide eyes, the fear slowly giving way to awe.
"This… this is insane," Hanz said, voice carrying over the wind. "We're actually flying. On a beast. I never thought I'd see anything like this."
Jin glanced back at him, a small smile on his face.
"Neither did I. Just hold on. We don't know how long this ride will last."
The beast glided smoothly, banking gently as it followed the natural curves of the canyon. Below them, the landscape unfolded in breathtaking scale — deep ravines, towering spires of rock, and narrow passages that looked like veins carved into the earth. The sunset light turned the stone into shades of gold and crimson, making the entire canyon glow as if alive. The air up here felt cleaner, cooler, carrying the faint scent of distant minerals and the dry earth below.
Hanz leaned forward slightly, still wary of the height but unable to hide his fascination.
"It's… beautiful up here. Scary as hell, but beautiful. The way the light hits everything… It's like the whole world is on fire."
Jin nodded, his own eyes scanning the horizon.
"It is.
He looked downward, unable to see the canyon floor.
"Just... stay focused. We're still high up. One wrong move and we're done."
The beast rose higher for a moment, giving them an even wider view. The canyon stretched endlessly in both directions, a vast, ancient labyrinth under the fiery sky. The wind was steady now, almost gentle, brushing against their faces as they glided. For a brief moment, the day's tension eased. The flight felt almost peaceful — the rhythmic beat of the wings, the vast open sky above, the stunning view below.
Hanz let out a long breath, his grip loosening just a little.
"I could get used to this… if it wasn't trying to kill us earlier."
Jin chuckled softly.
"Don't get too comfortable. We still have a long way to go."
They continued soaring, the sunset deepening around them as the canyons stretched out like a living painting beneath the beast's wings.
Hanz looked around as silence settled between them, the only sounds the steady rush of wind and the rhythmic beat of the beast's wings.
Then… he began to hear something else.
Not the wind. Something different. Distant, rhythmic, growing louder.
He turned around, scanning below, then ahead. Nothing.
The sounds increased.
He turned again — and this time he saw it. A single winged beast flying behind them, keeping pace.
Hanz smirked.
Oh, it's just one straggler. Nothing they couldn't handle.
Then his eyes widened.
Another winged beast appeared. Then five more. Then ten. Then dozens.
A massive flock of the creatures was forming behind them, flying in a loose but growing swarm.
Hanz's face paled.
"Jin… You do not want to look behind. Just make this bird fly as fast as it can."
Jin finally turned around. His expression shifted to pure shock as he saw the swarm closing in — dozens of winged beasts, their wings beating in near-perfect sync as they gained on them rapidly.
Hanz panicked, voice rising.
"Do something! They're getting closer! We're not going to make it like this!"
Jin snapped at him.
"I'm trying!"
Hanz turned around again, his face even more shocked.
The swarm was changing. Their wingbeats were slowing, getting perfectly in sync. The flock was forming a tight, organized formation — like a living arrowhead aimed straight at them. The sight sent a chill down Hanz's spine.
"Shit… shit shit shit… we're not going to make it."
Jin kept his eyes forward, frustration clear on his face. He turned his gaze to the beast they were riding on.
The beast was already looking back at him, a wicked, almost intelligent grin spreading across its face. That look sent a cold shiver through Jin.
He realized what was happening.
These aren't just wild animals. They're intelligent. Coordinated. The ones that flew away earlier must have informed the rest. They're working together — all for one of their kind.
Jin gritted his teeth, pressing his fingertips hard against the beast's skin. Heat rose from his fingers, burning into the creature.
The beast screeched in pain, its eyes widening as they met Jin's piercing silver eyes.
Jin spoke in a cold, deadly tone.
"If you dare to slow down, I will roast you before you even begin to think. If you wish to live… flap your wings."
The beast trembled, its eyes bulging with fear as it maintained eye contact. A hint of understanding crept into its mind. It knew that stopping meant sudden death.
The beast made up its mind.
It accelerated violently, wings beating with desperate power. The sudden burst of speed nearly threw both Jin and Hanz off. They gripped tighter, bodies pressed low against the creature.
They shot forward like a missile through the canyons, the wind screaming past them as the beast beneath them flapped its wings with desperate, powerful strokes. The rocky walls blurred by in streaks of red and orange, the narrow passages feeling like a deadly gauntlet. The swarm was closing in fast — dozens of winged beasts screeching behind them, their wingbeats thundering like an approaching storm.
Jin leaned low, gripping the creature's neck tightly.
"FASTER!" he shouted over the wind. "DO NOT STOP!"
The beast they rode let out a panicked screech, pushing itself harder. Its wings beat furiously, carrying them through tight turns and around sharp bends. Hanz held on for dear life, his face pale as he looked back.
"They're gaining! We're not going to outrun them like this!"
Three of the fastest beasts from the swarm caught up, flanking them on both sides. One dove in from the left, talons extended, trying to rip into their mount. Jin twisted, slamming his staff into its wing with a solid crack. The creature screeched and veered off, crashing into the canyon wall with a burst of rock and dust.
Another came from above, diving straight down. Hanz yelled, swinging his axe wildly. The blade caught the beast's leg, drawing blood and forcing it to pull up sharply.
The third attacked from behind, its beak snapping dangerously close to Hanz's back. The beast they rode banked hard to the right, nearly throwing them off as it weaved through a tight gap between two towering rock spires. The pursuing beast wasn't as lucky — it slammed into the narrow space, wings folding awkwardly as it crashed violently, sending debris flying.
They dove lower, skimming dangerously close to the canyon floor. The ground rushed past in a blur of cracked earth and scattered boulders. One of the beasts tried to cut them off from below, but their mount swerved sharply, clipping its wing and sending it tumbling.
The swarm was relentless. More beasts closed in, their screeches filling the air. Jin and Hanz were thrown side to side as their beast made wild, evasive maneuvers — diving, climbing, banking hard around rock formations. Every second felt like it could be their last.
Hanz shouted.
"Left! Left! There's more coming!"
Jin gripped tighter, his muscles burning as the beast responded, shooting through another narrow passage. A beast behind them wasn't fast enough — it slammed into the rock wall with a sickening crunch, wings breaking as it fell.
Hanz looked forward, squinting through the wind.
He noticed something — a thick white cloud hanging low through the canyon ahead. But... it wasn't a cloud. It was foggy.
Jin shouted.
"It's fog!"
Hanz yelled back.
"Get in there quickly!"
Jin shouted in response.
"I know!"
The chasing beasts came from different angles, chomping at the air with snapping beaks and extended talons. Jin and Hanz weaved desperately, the beast beneath them banking hard left and right to avoid the attacks. The canyon walls flashed past in a blur as they pushed forward in a straight, desperate line.
Hanz kept shouting.
"Go faster! Faster!"
He looked behind, his face paling as one of the beasts closed in inch by inch, its beak dangerously close to their tail.
He yelled for Jin.
"Jin! It's right behind us!"
Jin snapped back.
"Shut up and come up with something!"
Hanz looked back again, the beast now terrifyingly close. The wind screamed as they flew past rock formations.
Then… something clicked in his head.
He told Jin.
"Focus ahead! I'm gonna do something!"
Jin shouted.
"WHAT?!"
Hanz told him.
"Hold on! It's going to get rough!"
The beast was close now, an inch from the tail.
Hanz yelled.
"This is the end, big bird!"
Wind coiled around his wrists, spinning faster and faster, cutting into his skin. He brought his hands together, the wind forming a violent vortex.
He yelled.
"HOLD ON!"
Jin leaned down low on the beast, gripping tightly. The beast screeched as it flapped harder.
Hanz grinned wildly, then unleashed the wind in a powerful burst. A massive wave of wind exploded outward, pushing the chasing beast back and causing it to lose momentum. It crashed hard into the ground below. The wave also pushed their own beast forward, creating a sudden, massive gap from the rest of the swarm.
Hanz slipped off the beast's back for a terrifying second, grabbing onto the tail at the last moment as the wind whipped his cheeks. Jin held on, barely able to see forward as the speed increased dramatically.
The fog drew in close.
Then… they entered it.
The world turned white and blinding. They were moving at a terrifying pace through the thick fog, unable to see anything ahead. The sound of screaming wind filled their ears as they tore through the mist, the beast flapping desperately. Both closed their eyes tightly, trusting the creature's instincts.
Then… they burst through the fog in a streak.
Jin opened his eyes barely, seeing a wide river and dense forest ahead. They passed over the river at incredible speed, the water splitting violently behind them in a long, churning trail from the force of their passage.
They reached the grassland.
Jin pulled hard on the beast's neck, trying to slow it down.
They crashed.
The beast hit the ground hard, tumbling violently across the grass. Jin and Hanz were thrown off, rolling and skidding across the field before finally coming to a stop. Dust and grass flew everywhere as they lay there, breathing hard, bodies aching from the impact.
The beast lay a short distance away, wings sprawled out, chest rising and falling as it passed out from exhaustion.
For a long moment, there was only the sound of their heavy breathing and the gentle rustle of the grass in the evening breeze.
Hanz lay on his back, staring up at the sky, still catching his breath.
Then… he let out a single, shaky laugh.
Another followed.
Jin, lying nearby, let out one quiet laugh of his own.
Hanz's laugh grew louder, genuine and relieved, his chest heaving as he clutched his side.
Jin joined in, the laughter bubbling up from deep within him as the adrenaline finally began to fade. Both of them lay there in the grass, laughing together — exhausted, bruised, but alive.
They had survived.