In the silent forest, the occasional chirping of insects could be heard. The tall trees were thick with foliage, completely blocking out the sun overhead, with only the odd beam filtering through like a column of light.
"Caw caw!!!" A somewhat familiar cry rang out from up ahead.
Kreweir, walking at the front, frowned. "Why are there so many Red-Eye Crows lately! These creatures are extremely aggressive toward humans! If we don't deal with them in time, they'll attract a whole flock of their kind — big trouble!"
"What do we do? Should we go around?" Lannuo asked.
"I'm afraid that won't work — it's already spotted us!" Leilin said without turning his head, eyes fixed on the Chip's image display.
The sound of flapping wings drew closer and closer. Kreweir laughed heartily. "Since it's practically delivering itself to us, let's not be polite — we'll take it!"
Everyone looked relaxed. After all this time working together, they had developed a well-honed strategy specifically for dealing with Red-Eye Crows.
"No good! There are two of them!" Leilin stared at the light screen, his expression suddenly changing.
Kreweir was startled. Following Leilin's warning, he too spotted a second dark shadow trailing behind the incoming Red-Eye Crow — and it was noticeably larger than its kind.
"This is trouble!" Kreweir frowned. "Leilin, Ni Lan — take the one in front! The other one is on us three!"
"Get ready!" Leilin said to Ni Lan behind him, and unslung the Crossbow from his back.
"Calculating wind speed and humidity! Adjusting trajectory..."
"Whoosh!!!" A black streak tore through the sky, punching clean through the Red-Eye Crow in front and sending up a few feathers.
"Caw!" The lead Red-Eye Crow let out an angry cry and charged straight toward Leilin.
It didn't seem the slightest bit injured.
"We'll lure it away!" Leilin's expression remained unchanged as he lowered the Crossbow in his hands.
Thanks to the Chip, he knew the bolt had struck the Red-Eye Crow squarely. But the creature's constitution was far too high — virtually on par with a human Knight — and its plumage was extraordinarily tough, which was why it had taken virtually no damage.
For creatures in the
Seeing Leilin and Ni Lan luring one Red-Eye Crow away, Kreweir felt reassured. He shouted loudly: "Lannuo, Lilis — cut off that Red-Eye Crow in the back and buy me time to cast!"
Lannuo and Lilis exchanged a glance, then charged toward the Red-Eye Crow at the rear.
As he ran, Lannuo pulled the bow and arrows from his back and loosed them skyward. Accompanying the arrows were several throwing knives.
"Caw caw!" The enormous Red-Eye Crow beat its black wings, swatting down the arrows and knives alike.
"It swatted aside the arrows with just its wings?!" Lannuo's face went pale and his feet faltered for a moment.
But the Red-Eye Crow, a full size larger than its kin, was already swooping down from above, its massive talons raking across Lannuo's shoulder and leaving a bloody gash.
Lannuo was pinned flat to the ground by the Red-Eye Crow.
"Help… help me!" Lannuo cried out desperately.
Bang!! Just as the Red-Eye Crow was about to peck down, a brilliant flash of white light erupted. Lilith swung a massive greatsword — even larger than she was — and knocked the crow aside.
Thud!! A net of iron wire landed in front of Lannuo.
"I'll hold its attention — you throw the net!" Lilith said. The girl who was normally so gentle, even a little shy, looked like an entirely different person now.
"Got it!" Lannuo glanced over at Kreweir, who was still preparing his spell a short distance away, then grabbed the iron wire net.
Lilith had clearly trained in swordsmanship. The enormous steel sword whirled in her hands, weaving a curtain of silver light that kept the Red-Eye Crow at bay.
"Hah!" With a clean, powerful parry, Lilith smacked the Red-Eye Crow to the ground, sending up a shower of dust and dirt.
"Now!" Lannuo's eyes lit up. The searing pain from his shoulder made his gaze turn red as he flung the iron wire net open, casting it over the Red-Eye Crow and trapping it inside.
"Caw! Caw!" The Red-Eye Crow thrashed and rolled wildly, on the verge of slipping free from the net.
"Kreweir, hurry!!! Its feathers are too dense — my attacks aren't doing much damage!"
Lilith shouted urgently.
"Thanks for your hard work!" Kreweir had finally completed his spell. Hovering above his palm was a dark crimson fireball, burning in midair.
"Get clear!" Kreweir bellowed. Lilith and Lannuo scrambled away as fast as they could.
"Go! Negative Energy Fireball!" With a flick of his wrist, Kreweir sent the dark crimson fireball streaking across the sky, trailing waves of searing heat, straight down onto the Red-Eye Crow trapped within the net.
BOOM!!! A deafening explosion erupted along with a fierce blast of heat, unleashing tremendous power in every direction.
The blast tore a blackened crater into the ground, and even the surrounding shrubbery was not spared.
"Nice one!" Lannuo had been a step too slow and got knocked off his feet by the shockwave, his clothes caked in dirt. But as he looked toward the Red-Eye Crow, his eyes burned with unmistakable delight.