I slowly moved away from the group, my steps firm and calculated. Styg’s words still echoed in my mind, but my attention was focused on sothing else.
"Laboratory! Check my body stats!" My ntal voice was enough to activate the laboratory. In a second, the data appeared before , precise as always.
["Beep!"]
["Status"]
["Na: Tyler Rustel."]
["Sex: Male."]
["Age: 15 Years."]
["Strength: 1.6"]
["Agility: 1.7"]
["Vitality: 1.5"]
The Laboratory transmitted the information without hesitation. The numbers for my physical abilities had increased, but barely. Only about 0.1 points in each attribute.
Not much improvent, just around 0.1!
I frowned, dissatisfied. The effects of the homade dicines I made with herbs, which had once given so progress, were becoming weaker. I knew this would happen, but the frustration didn’t fade.
According to the calculations, the optimized breathing technique should allow to increase my basic physical stats to 1.9 before hitting the limit. After that... I can only improve by stimulating my inner life energy and becoming a Warrior...
I moved further away, keeping a watchful eye on the Alliance group while scanning for any subtle signs. A few minutes passed as I observed not just the deck but also looked down, watching the untouched forest that stretched in all directions.
Suddenly, I heard Styg’s shout from a distance. "Hey! Tyler! Ti to co back!"
I glanced back, a little reluctant, but I knew staying further away would not only attract attention but could also be fatal. I took a deep breath, temporarily abandoning the search and heading back to the safety of the group.
But then, a new chanical voice sounded in the back of my mind.
["Attention!"]
["Attention!"]
["Dangerous creatures are approaching!"]
The red alert made my heart race. The Laboratory had detected a threat. I stopped imdiately, my eyes scanning the space around , alert.
"Hurry! Show the map now!"
In a flash, the virtual map was projected before , showing the red points moving toward us. It was a large group, and the points were closing in quickly.
["Beep!"]
["According to the databases, these dangerous life forms are 97.8% similar to a pack of Wild Hawks!"]
Giant Hawks!
I imdiately rembered the data I had collected earlier about them. Giant Hawks... wild, cunning, and predatory creatures.
["Giant Hawk"]
["A species of Hawk that inhabits the Blood Mountains. They are wild and cruel, most hunt in packs. Their strength is estimated at around 2-3, agility at 3-4, and vitality around 3-4."]
My breath quickened. These were enemies far beyond my current capabilities. I couldn’t face them alone.
That strength... they are definitely creatures I, a re Warrior in training, cannot resist!
I quickened my pace, heading toward Styg without hesitation. The situation was becoming critical. Reaching him, I spoke quietly: "We have company!"
Styg quickly turned, his eyes scanning the area around. He noticed that most of the students were still busy with their own tasks, unaware of the impending danger. He quickly grabbed his water bottle, disguising his movent, but his gaze was already sharp.
"What’s the situation?" he asked, as if everything were normal.
"A pack of Giant Hawks! I saw their wings! They’re coming this way, flying alongside the airship!" I responded urgently, the weight of the threat crushing my words.
Styg didn’t hesitate. He took a few sips of water and then made a simple hand gesture to alert so of the mbers of our alliance.
The situation unfolded with impressive speed, and, upon noticing the sudden movent of the escort team, a chill ran down my spine. The signal was clear: danger was approaching. With the experience of soone who had dealt with various threats, our reflexes kicked in almost simultaneously. The younger girls were pushed forward, protected, while all of us, the escorts, scattered with agility, taking defensive and alert positions.
The whispered voices, the alert eyes... everything was happening so quickly that, for a mont, ti seed to stretch, as if the universe were waiting for our reaction. So of the other apprentice mages began to notice the movent, but most were still indifferent, lacking the necessary urgency. To so, the danger seed distant, but for , the only thing that mattered was mine. And if necessary, I would push even Styg toward death just to save myself.
Sotis, when danger arises, the only thing you need to do is make sure you run faster than your companions!
I turned to Styg with a serious look. He, in turn, seed to be handling the situation well, and I didn’t hesitate to follow his lead. The mbers of the Alliance were retreating in an orderly manner, but without drawing attention. It was a silent dance of survival. I, personally, kept my ntal radar active, recording any out-of-place movent. It was my job, after all.
"Let’s go!" Styg said in a low voice, already preparing for a quicker retreat.
I followed him, already starting to ntally prepare for what would co next.
"Tyler, you really are good at patrolling and reconnaissance!" Styg comnted, still with a hint of surprise in his voice. He had always been soone direct, but there was a certain admiration in his tone. I didn’t need to respond; he knew what I was capable of, and, deep down, it pleased .
While most of the Alliance continued their retreat ticulously, I could see that so acolytes were starting to realize the gravity of the situation. The calm was broken, and panic set in overwhelming everyone.
Then, the shrill gong sounded, causing a wave of fear to spread over everyone present.
"All acolytes must retreat to their rooms!" The servant’s voice echoed through the loudspeakers, reverberating in every corner of the airship.
It was enough to trigger a frantic reaction. Acolytes and students rushed to their rooms, visible fear on their faces. I knew that, in the end, our safety was temporary. The real fight was yet to co.
"No need to hide anymore! Let’s run!" Styg shouted, drawing his sword with a swift movent.
I followed his example, knowing our ti was running out. The first figures of the Alliance were already in their rooms, far enough to protect themselves. But my attention was focused on what was coming. The sound of the giant Hawks, with their hunting cries, was getting closer.
"Croak~~" The piercing cry of the Hawks reverberated through the area, and my fight instinct kicked in. The flock was almost upon us.
They were monsters, imposing, with wide wings and powerful bodies. When one of them passed near, its fierce eyes locked onto mine for a second, as if challenging to run or fight. Its beak, large and sharp, glead in the light of the setting sun.
And then, everything happened quickly. The flock of Hawks attacked with ferocity. They weren’t interested in anything but our flesh. A young acolyte, further back in the line, was the first victim. Before I could react, a giant shadow attacked her. Her terrified scream was muffled by the violent impact of one of the Hawks, which grabbed her midair with terrifying speed.
"Shit... Hhaha, you’re screwed," I thought ntally. The Hawk dragged her upward, tearing her throat out with its powerful beak. Blood sprayed through the air as the monster swallowed the young girl whole with a quick movent.
It was the kind of scene that marked the soul. A brutal, rciless death.
I watched, still breathing heavily, as the acolytes fled in panic. So couldn’t understand what was happening, as if they were trapped in a nightmare. Screams of terror spread through the environnt, while so looked back, as if unable to believe the horror unfolding before them.
"What fools!" I thought, irritated. "They’re already starting to lose it!"
My gaze fixed on a young acolyte, running desperately, screaming as tears stread down his face. "Mom! Mom! I want my mom!" he scread, desperation written in his eyes.
Adrenaline pulsed through my veins as I ran toward the rooms. As I got closer, the chaos intensified. The scene before was a whirlwind of movent, with the doors to the rooms being attacked by the giant Hawks.
I knew that if we kept this up, the giant Hawks would end up taking over the place. But then, in the midst of the chaos, a peculiar sound cut through the air.
Buzz~~
Seven shadows erged from the rooms, as if they had co out of a fog of war. Each wielded an enormous sword, the size of a man, and they charged at the flock of giant Hawks with unrelenting precision.
"They’re the Servants of the academy! They’re attacking!" I thought, imdiately analyzing the situation.
I looked at the map in my Laboratory, observing the red dots multiplying around. The stats of the giant Hawks were impressive, but there was sothing that humans, especially Warriors, had that the creatures didn’t: the ability to wield weapons and their intelligence. That gave us a significant advantage.
Suddenly, the blade of a Servant cut through the air with a loud Psh!, the silver light shining as he split a giant Hawk in half. Blood exploded everywhere, and the Hawk’s feathers and internal organs fell like a dark rain.
I saw the Warrior, bloodied, raising his blade, and a fierce laugh escaped his lips as he licked the blood from his mouth. "Hahaha… Filthy birds, that’s why I prefer eagles," he boasted, imrsed in the fight.
This is what I need to see! I thought, smiling inwardly. These Servants are handling the combat well. Finally, a real fight!
At that mont, a young acolyte, who had been saved from the attack, ran to the Servant and, with tears in her eyes, thanked him repeatedly.
"Thanks to... Thank you, sir!" She said, her voice trembling.
...
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