“W-What is that?” Jia asked, her eyes widening as the tiny ghostly bird inside the Fireball tilted its head at her, sharp eyes bright with an odd curiosity far too human for a re fla spirit.
Daemon shrugged, stepping closer to peer at the swirling inferno cupped in her palm. What the hell is this thing? A pet? A Spirit Beast? Or just a fragnt of Fire Elent that decided to play nice?
He squinted, shielding his eyes from the intense glow. “No idea. But I get the feeling it’s more interested in you than . Am I right?” He flicked his eyes at the flickering shape.
Jia inhaled slowly, and the connection struck her. Deep beneath the swirl of Fire Qi and her own Lightning Qi, sothing recognized her. It wasn’t just a pet — it felt like a bond knitting together from stray threads of Spirit and Soul.
Kirin is gonna hate this.
Sure enough, the colossal Harpy-Eagle — standing over fourteen ters tall — lowered its massive feathered head over Jia’s shoulder like a storm cloud ready to crackle. It lood close, its hooked beak clacking once in disapproval.
“Caw…” Kirin’s massive cry, muted this ti, still made the ground shudder beneath Jia’s feet. She giggled and stroked the bird’s scaled brow with her free hand. So jealous… Big baby.
She smirked. “Heh… Soone’s getting possessive.”
Daemon just stared at the scene, mories flickering behind his eyes.
A sudden squawk thundered and the tiny Firebird puffed its chest. Daemon’s eyes flicked from the tiny Firebird in Jia’s palm to her other hand feathers dark as pitch but crowned with three gleaming plus — one Silver, one Purple, one Red.
That damn bird from before… The one that laughed at the world’s strongest and pranked them like it was invincible. Is this the sa spirit? Is it really sothing spawned from my mory?
“Huh!” Jia jerked back as the ghostly creature solidified, one glowing bright its tiny form exuding heat like a miniature sun. The other black and its voice booming, far too deep for its size.
“Quiet down, you little punk.” Daemon flicked its beak with a finger. Instead of pecking him, the bird fluffed its feathers and wiggled its plu then leaned in for more. He smirked. “Tsk. Little masochist.”
“Crow…” It made the sound almost proudly, flaunting the tallic crown on its head.
Daemon stepped back, hands raised in surrender. “You two have fun. I’m grabbing so grub before I pass out.” He jerked his thumb at the Firebird. “Don’t let this one burn your hair off.”
Jia just rolled her eyes and sat cross-legged under Kirin’s massive wing. The Harpy-Eagle folded one enormous pinion over her like a protective canopy, its talons pressing into the earth and crushing small stones like brittle bread. It eyed the tiny Firebird with predatory interest, feathers bristling with fighting spirit when the black bird chirped at Jia’s palm.
Daemon watched them from the other side of the campfire, his mind racing in too many directions to follow. What’s the science here? Plasma? Mana? Spirit energy? Rules? Stop, idiot. This isn’t Earth.
He squeezed his temples, brow furrowed. Forget the old frawork. This is a world where Trees walk, tal walks, and Fire spawns Spirit Birds.
A strange sense of relief spread through his chest. For the first ti since waking in this world, he didn’t feel like dragging old shackles behind him.
“Hahahahaha…” He threw his head back and let the laugh echo through the trees. His actions startled Kirin and Jia on his side. Daemon’s eyes glowed in the flicker of fla. Yeah… I see it now.
[15:17:22]
Daemon checked the tir of his Asura’s Buff, a sliver of ti left dancing like an hourglass stuck on its last grains. He let out a long sigh, dipping his hands into the barrel of cool water beside the tent.
I won’t be able to breathe freely once this runs out. Not yet. But I can’t waste it either.
He washed his face and let the icy splash wake him up. Breakfast was quick, routine — roasted rabbit thigh from the stockpile and a handful of nuts Xia packed.
Monts later, Kirin lowered its colossal body beside him. It tilted its gigantic head, the gleam of its talons reflecting the morning sun as it offered its feathered back. Daemon clambered up the feather-armored shoulders, grabbing hold of one thick quill like a riding poml.
“Up.” Kirin responded with a deep, rumbling caw and launched skyward with a gust that flattened the campsite grass for dozens of ters around.
From high above the forest, Daemon’s mind drifted as they glided past the treetops. Hunting for old man Lou used to feel like survival. Now it feels like routine. Even a damn Rhinoceros doesn’t get my blood racing anymore. It’s too easy with Kirin’s speed.
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Kirin’s massive feathers. I’m grateful… But when did this beco so boring?
His Dice-Roll in Asura’s World earlier that dawn was equally uninspiring.
[Mission: Orc Camp]
Increase Orc Residents: 2/200
Daemon groaned when he saw the flickering ssage hovering over the crude Chief’s Tent Grunt and Runa were hamring together from massive logs and stretched hides. Two out of two hundred? At this rate, I’ll be an old man before I get that mission done.
He checked the edges of the forest for anything worth killing but found only docile deer and a half-blind warthog. Not worth the effort.
His awareness shifted back to the present just in ti for Kirin to circle the village. Down below, the main street was jamd like a clogged artery — carts, crates, loud rchants bartering over dried herbs, chunks of at, and everything possible to sell in this territory. The tiny open space by old man Lou’s shop was clear though, a neat patch like a shrine just for him.
Kirin folded its wings and dropped lower, the wind of its descent blowing hats off the heads of gawking villagers. The massive Harpy-Eagle didn’t even flap hard — it just drifted, talons extended, and released the Jade-Rhinoceros it had carried in its claws. The creature’s heavy carcass hit the ground with a dull thud, making a few n yelp and scramble back.
“Is that him?” soone whispered near the street edge.
“Has to be. Who else rides a Ferocious Creature like that?”
“I heard he bagged an Aquatic-Boa and a potbellied-Hippo in the sa week.”
A group of rchants bickered, their eyes darting greedily at the fresh kill’s glossy white hide.
“Old fart, I grabbed the Boa’s skull and skin, the boar tusks and elk antlers as well as their hides too.”
“Hah, I got the Hippo’s hide and fangs for a song.”
“You can pry this Rhinoceros's Ivory and hide from my cold dead hands — I’m paying whatever old Lou asks!”
"I was content with the at and gallbladder from the Aquatic-Boa, at and bones of the potbellied-Hippo, but I'm definitely getting the at, bones, heart, and liver of this Jade-Rhinoceros."
A woman rolled her eyes at their squabble and stepped forward, blocking Daemon’s path before he could greet the shop owner. She knelt with practiced grace, skirts lifted slightly to keep the hem clean from the dusty street.
“Greetings, young master Da Niu. I’m Han Hongyu — it’s an honor.”
Daemon blinked, then offered a polite nod while slipping around her. Not now, lady.
“Good morning. Pardon — kind of in a rush.” He gave her a casual grin that barely reached his eyes and pushed into old man Lou’s shop, ignoring her small frown.
Inside, the air slled of dried pelts, fresh cuts of wild ga, and faint spices sprinkled in burlap sacks on the back shelves. Old man Lou’s eyes twinkled under thick brows as he puffed on his short-stemd pipe, the faint scent of bitter smoke swirling around his bushy beard. The old rchant straightened his spine, folding his rough hands behind his back, pride swelling his chest as if Daemon’s arrival crowned him chief of the street.
Han Hongyu followed, voice silk-soft but her tone firm. “If this isn’t the right mont, young master, perhaps we might speak later? My Caravan doesn’t depart until tomorrow.”
Daemon turned, his palm raised to stop her words cold. “If it’s just talk over tea, fine — Qiu’s stall, maybe a little while from now. Or my campsite later. But for now — my deal with old man Lou cos first.”
Han Hongyu’s lips twitched as if to protest, but Daemon shot her an amused grin that showed no room for negotiation. He turned to the other rchants who had pushed in behind her.
“If any of you want that Jade-Rhinoceros out there, talk to Lou. We have an agreent — and I value loyalty more than mountains of Gold and Silver.”
The statent cut through the tiny crowd like a blade. Greedy smiles soured into tight nods as they glanced at old man Lou, who stood there stroking his short beard like a feudal king anointing a loyal vassal.
Daemon winked at him. “It’s all yours, old man. Cut it, sell it, get rich — just keep my share clean.”
Lou pulled the pipe from his mouth, knocked the embers into an iron tin by his boot, and chuckled through yellowed teeth. “Understood, young master. Loyalty’s my best product — besides fresh at.”
Outside, Kirin’s massive wings rustled — a silent reminder to the gathered scavengers that so prey cos with claws too big to steal from.
Here's a link to my discord server if you want to talk - .gg/HwHHR6Hds
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