Killian's feet buckled and he leaned on the tree, staring at the large bird looking down at him like he was a worm.
His heartbeat became erratic as his eyes moved from the big bird to the first one, losing strength because of the dagger on its chest.
My throat is dry. I'm tired. I need to run.
With eyes still on the bird, he pulled back the first dagger from the first. It cried but flew away, the two birds staying behind the bigger one.
The big one slowly raised his wings.
I need to run.
His legs felt stronger, or it might've been survival instincts and he dashed past the forest.
The sounds of trees behind him being crushed boosted his speed. The bird closed in and then—
"Argh!"
He barely reacted in time, raising the bat as it slammed into him, both of them hitting each other to the ground. The bird barely had a reaction.
Just as he expected. The tendrils on his arms shit into it's body and sure enough pieces through, but it pulled back immediately and screeched.
"No, wai—"
Screech!
Without an order, the tendrils wrapped Killian's head, covering his ears, and absorbing the wave.
The tendrils from his leg stabbed at the big bird's throat, cutting it short.
"Move, Killian. Move!"
He clenched his bat and forced himself up. He touched the tendrils wrapped around his head protectively. "Th-Thank you."
He fell into a tree, and stayed there, catching his breath. He looked at the Void-Bat a little disappointed.
"I shouldn't have stacked up the realms." He hugged the Void-Bat around his chest. "You are right. It was being reckless. Foolish, even."
"You finally understand what I told you."
The big bird screeched loudly, enough to dismantle the trees on Killian's left and clear the path to finding him. He eased his tensed shoulders.
"Still I have no intention of using the reset. I will practice with all the estimated four hours left."
"..."
"I will be fine." He struggled to leave the ground, and mentally noted to not rest or it would be harder to leave. "I can't stop since I'm almost dying again."
How could he leave with himself like this? For most trainees, that chance was lowered by their assigned leader.
But he wanted to stay away from George during the mission so he had to reduce those chances himself.
"You found me." His eyes shifted to the bird standing seven feet away, staring at him.
Its red eyes mirrored his, as it looked quite boredly at its new plaything. Killian exhaled deeply, and turned to face it completely.
"Let's finish this, yeah?"
He was near his limit and drawing out further would put him in more disadvantage. The other two were recovering so he had to hurry.
'Imagination is the only limit to magic. So, young Wardens, imagine.'
It was a random quote an S-Rank Warden said during an interview. She clearly prepared nothing yet somehow her random lines broke the internet.
Imagination. He knew now how far the tendrils could stretch, and how high they could go.
Domain skill; Totality Art - RealmCraft.
The tendrils around his head remained while the ones on his feet extended on the ground, around where he stood.
He felt the draw of mana since his active use of the tendrils, but he made sure the tendrils covered at least three feet from where he stood.
The Void-Bat rose in the air, connected by tendrils encircled on his neck. He held the daggers in hands.
The shadows crawled to his elbow. "Come."
The bird charged at him with its clawed feet. Its throat's movement started, but Killian trusted the tendrils to take the hit.
The grass also hid the reach of the tendrils so the bird likely didn't see it. Or underestimated it.
He took one inhale and exhaled softly.
He raised a hand and the tendrils on the ground shot up, wrapping around the bird the moment a leg stepped on their reach.
It flew to the air but he tightened his grip, and the tendrils stayed on it. He stepped forward to reduce the strain, as the tendrils were connected to him, even if on the ground.
The bird released a screech again.
He groaned, and tightened his hold on the dagger. He threw it in the air, and grabbed the bat.
"Home-run." He whispered before slamming the bat at the dagger's hilt. The dagger shit through the air, straight through the opened beak of the bird.
Squelch!
It sank into its throat and back of the throat. He releases his hold on the bird and it drops, no longer concentrating on itself.
Killian walked towards it, the shadow on the ground moving with him. The tendrils rose from the ground like worms in salt.
They shot at the bird immediately, piercing its body when it tried to move. He forced it to the ground and kept his Void-Bat on his shoulders.
"I'd have it back." He made the tendrils tear its beak open. It cried in pain but he had no reaction, and he retrieved the dagger from its throat.
He looked at it and grimaced. "You already messed it up." With the wave already in its throat, and the effect of the show tendrils, the dagger broke apart.
He let the particles fall on its eyes. The tendrils started eating it out, slowly, letting it writhe in pain.
Screech!!
The others dove down at him from a distance. He narrowed his eyes at the slimmer one that closed in quickly. The edge of his lips curved up.
"Welcome."
The tendrils covered his frame when his throat moved. He moved towards them, to increase the tendrils' reach.
"Now." The tendrils shot out of the ground, strapping at the two birds in multiple attacks.
Using a flat boulder, he jumped from it in the air. The Void-Bat on his arms pulses as he raised it, and slammed it on the exposed head on the second one.
Scream!
He bashed it again, just before he dropped. He grabbed a tree branch, but winced when his arm ached at the force he landed with.
He let go and rolled to the ground.
I forgot that my body is trying not to numb.
He forced his head up slightly, his eyes locking with the first one who landed with the second on its back.
"It's just us again." The last dagger tightened in his grip. His body lifted off the ground as he forced himself forward. "I saved it for you. Are you happy?"
It made a displeased sound. It was careful not to close the distance as it could see the reach of the shadow. The second one raised its torn head.
Another combo attack.
But their movements changed, as if they knew he was at his weak point as well.
He could tell they weren't scared yet. Not fully.
But desperation. They rushed him faster.
And that's exactly what he needed for the last move.
[Capacity: 12% —> 16%]
[C-tier Realm - Urjin Complete.]
[Finish Realm Guards For Extra Benefit.]
Even better.