CHAPTER 267: CHASING

The sky was clear and bright, the sun shining down over the lush, fertile land. A few clouds drifted by lazily, and exotic birds soared in the air, gliding through the fresh breeze, enjoying the warmth of the midday sun.

Yet, below, the peace was shattered by a figure. Adyr stood, his body encased in a sleek, skin-tight exoskeleton, the material clinging to him like leather, his muscles sharply defined under the sunlight. His black hair fluttered gently in the wind, and his expression remained calm and detached as his eyes locked onto the deep hole before him. He radiated a cold, defiant presence, as if daring the sun itself to challenge him.

"It’s impressive, his control over his bloodlust," Lucen observed, hovering in the air on his large, white bird, his eyes trained on Adyr.

As a swordsman, Lucen had long mastered the art of controlling his emotions, especially bloodlust, using it as a hidden weapon in battle. Seeing Adyr control his own bloodlust was an impressive feat, one that Lucen couldn’t help but admire.

Liora watched closely, nodding slightly, though a flicker of discomfort crossed her face. She could feel the chilling aura around Adyr, even though it wasn’t aimed directly at them. The air felt heavy, almost unnaturally cold, sending a shiver down her spine. Seeing Adyr wield such an aura was unsettling, but not entirely unexpected. As a practitioner, she understood that such power, when controlled, was not out of the ordinary.

For Liora, known for her quick temper and open display of anger, it was a reminder of how emotions could be both a strength and a weapon.

"Whoa, what’s this? He looks... scary," Mirela’s voice broke through the tension, her colorful butterfly wings fluttering as she approached, her rainbow-colored eyes fixated on Adyr’s transformation.

"That’s what a real man looks like," Lucen responded flatly, his voice cold, his gaze unwavering.

Mirela looked at him, then grinned mischievously. "You don’t look scary, though."

Lucen didn’t flinch, but a small twitch in his eye showed that her words had struck a nerve.

Liora turned her attention back to the matter at hand. "Did you find a safe place?" She asked.

"Yes, there’s an open area a little further ahead, a few hundred meters from the kingdom. I don’t think the fight’s effects will reach from there," Mirela replied, moving closer. "I’ve modified the ground to absorb some of Collossith’s vibrations. It should help."

Liora nodded with a satisfied smile, then turned her gaze back to the hole. "Good. We’re ready to move. Looks like we won’t have to wait long."

Adyr’s Presence intensified, and the ground beneath him trembled. It wasn’t just the earth shaking—everyone could feel it, the tension in the air growing heavier. Collossith had reacted. It was stirring, preparing to rise from its lair.

"I can’t believe we’re actually provoking a Rank 4 Spark out of its hiding place," Mirela said, her voice betraying a hint of unease. The creature that had haunted their nightmares for years. The one responsible for countless deaths. And now, they were the ones pulling it out of its den.

"Don’t worry," Liora assured, her voice firm. "If we succeed today, it’ll be more than just a victory over Collossith. It’ll be a victory for every life it’s taken."

She slowly guided her cloud down toward Adyr, her eyes fixed on him. "Ready to board? I’ll carry you to the designated area."

Adyr glanced back at her, calm as ever. He knew that once Collossith emerged, it would see him as the first target. He would need to act as bait, drawing the creature away to the safe zone.

"Just a little more." Adyr could feel it—the creature slowly rising from the depths of the hole. He had to time it perfectly, ensuring that when Collossith emerged, it wouldn’t be distracted by anything but him, that it would follow him without hesitation.

As each passing second intensified, the tremors beneath him grew stronger. Adyr could feel them in his feet, the vibrations traveling up through his body, making his stomach twist in an uncomfortable knot.

It’s not even an attack, yet it feels like I’m about to puke, he thought, furrowing his brow as he continued to fixate on the deep, dark hole.

Finally, when his eyes caught movement beyond the depths of the hole, and the tremors had reached an almost unbearable level, he jumped back, leaping onto Liora’s cloud without a moment’s hesitation.

"It’s not that fast, but we can’t leave anything to chance." Liora spoke quickly, guiding the cloud upward with sharp movements.

From the depths of the hole, Collossith erupted—a massive, dark brown creature, its shape reminiscent of a grotesque platypus. Its sharp black beak thrust forward, tearing through the air with ruthless force, followed by its sleek, dark body, which shimmered under the sun’s harsh light. Despite its size, it moved with terrifying agility, each motion purposeful as it shot upward with a predator’s grace.

Its smooth, lustrous skin absorbed the sunlight, giving off no reflection, while the absence of eyes added to its unsettling aura. It wasn’t just a creature—it felt like an ancient, primal force, as though it existed beyond the constraints of natural law.

"It looks angry," Adyr chuckled, feeling the air stir violently around him as they swiftly moved, not waiting for the creature to catch up.

Collossith had no visible mouth or vocal cords, but the vibrations it emitted created an eerie hum that reverberated through the air. Its smooth, glossy skin reflected no light, just a dark brown hue that seemed to absorb everything. Despite its usual sluggishness, the Spark moved with a shocking, aggressive speed, its every action a testament to the fury it was unleashing.

Its size, once enormous, was now reduced to roughly 10 to 15 meters, but it was growing rapidly. The change was visible to the naked eye as it seemed to expand with each passing moment.

As Liora and Adyr soared away on the cloud, Collossith wasn’t far behind. It surged forward, its six short legs pounding the earth like a relentless predator in pursuit. The ground trembled beneath its heavy steps, dust and debris swirling in its wake as it moved with a speed that defied its size, chasing them with unyielding fury.