Anu, the White Lion, swept his gaze across the battlefield, his sharp eyes locking onto the ever-watchful woodpecker gliding through the air. Then, he turned his glare to the silver wolf striding toward him and the ape standing firm beside him.
Both were on high alert, ready to intercept any surprise attacks from above.
Only after confirming his safety did Anu finally relax. Lifting his head, he began invoking his wind-elental skill once more.
As the spell took effect, a powerful suction force stirred the air, drawing in a massive amount of wind-elental energy. Above his maw, a concentrated, bluish sphere of swirling wind took shape, its size steadily increasing with every passing second.
Just like before, Blackie observed, waiting for the perfect mont to strike. Then, with a swift beat of his wings, he dived.
But this ti, the ape was ready. With a guttural growl, he clapped his massive palms together. A surge of energy erupted from his body, condensing into a towering earth-based shield.
Blackie’s talons raked across the shield, leaving four long claw marks etched into its surface. Yet, unlike before, his attack failed to disrupt the lion’s growing spell.
Undeterred, he launched another assault, striking from every angle. But no matter how many tis he attacked, the magically reinforced earth-elental shield remained firm, his strikes leaving only superficial scars.
Mario, the ape, let out a booming, mocking roar. "Co on, attack ! You cowardly little pest who only knows how to sneak around and run! What now?"
Blackie didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. He had already realized that his talons alone were no longer enough.
anwhile, perched high above, Woodie, the woodpecker, shifted uneasily. Her sharp eyes darted between the battlefield and her master.
"Master," Woodie hesitated before speaking, her gaze flickering between Blackie and the battlefield. "Blackie is struggling against that ugly ape’s skill. Can he really handle all three of them at once? And... why do I have this nagging feeling that the real danger isn’t the ape or the lion, but that silent, elusive wolf? He’s up to sothing—I just know it. Shouldn’t we step in?"
John didn’t even glance at her. His tone was cold, unwavering. "Why would I? I’ve already given him enough—the mark, the path to lead. Now it’s on him to prove himself. If he can’t push past his limits, he doesn’t deserve to stand at the top."
Woodie’s wings twitched. "So... he’s completely on his own?" she murmured, disappointnt creeping into her voice.
"Pretty much." John finally turned to her, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. "And you? You’re the weakest of the flock. You don’t even know how to fully control your own ability, yet here you are worrying about Blackie?" He scoffed. "Maybe focus on yourself first, or you’ll end up stuck as the clan’s gatekeeper for the rest of your life."
That shut her up.
Perched nearby, the psycho sparrow shot an irritated glance at Woodie and chirped, "Next ti, ask sothing important. Stop wasting Master’s ti and energy with stupid questions. Or I’ll make sure you regret it—with my bubbles."
Woodie almost snapped back but bit her tongue at the last second. Instead, she snorted, as if to say, There’s no point arguing with a psycho like you, Bubble.
As if you could. She huffed internally. I have my magical tree to protect . Don’t give that look. Once I master my skill, you’ll be the first to fall under my claws.
Bubble turned, locking eyes with her. The mont their gazes t, Woodie’s fleeting, defiant thoughts froze in place.
John, watching the silent exchange between them, simply shook his head. With a dry chirp, he muttered, "Birds, ha..." Then, without another word, they all refocused on the battlefield.
Blackie persisted with his relentless strikes against the earth-style shield, but his attacks barely left a scratch anymore.
Emboldened by this, the ape grew more arrogant, hurling insults and curses at him. "What’s wrong, coward? Running out of tricks already?" he jeered.
Blackie ignored the taunts. Words ant nothing. Instead, he had spent all this ti analyzing the shield, searching for its weakest point. And he found it—a spot just a few feet off-center.
But he didn’t strike yet.
anwhile, the white lion had finished brewing his spell. With a thunderous roar, he unleashed the mass of concentrated wind energy, hurling it straight at the fourth ring of the bonfire.
Boom!
The impact detonated in a deafening explosion, temporarily blasting open a safe passage.
The wolf was the first to react. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, dashing across the gap and barking, "What are you all waiting for? Move!"
The white lion’s eyes glinted as he sprang toward the opening.
Blackie’s sharp gaze locked onto him—this was the perfect mont. The lion was wide open.
Without wasting a second, Blackie fluttered his wings and dived, aiming straight for his target. But this ti, the lion reacted. Letting out a deafening roar, he unleashed a sonic wave from his mouth.
The force shoved Blackie back, but the recoil sent the lion stumbling backward as well, widening the gap even more than expected.
Blackie didn’t stop there. He pressed on, launching a relentless chain of attacks.
The ape, watching the unfolding chaos, hesitated for a mont. He eyed the safe path, considering his next move.
"Mario! Why are you standing there like a dumb statue? Block the damn strikes for !" the lion roared in frustration.
The ape hesitated. Blackie was focused entirely on the lion, leaving the safe path wide open—he could make a break for it himself. But if he did, Anu would never let him hear the end of it. Worse, the lion would undoubtedly mark him as a traitor and bully him later.
He was stuck in a dilemma.
In the brief mont of his indecision, the gap sealed shut once more.
Mario sighed internally. His chance was gone, and now, like it or not, he was once again at the rcy of this insufferable lion.
"Mario, you dumb bastard!" Anu roared.
"Coming, Young Master Anu!" the ape cried, rushing forward.
With a heavy stomp, he planted himself before the lion, raising his earth-style shield just in ti to intercept Blackie’s relentless talon strikes from above.
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