Harmony stood before the mysterious entity that had offered her a choice—a choice that would shape the future of her abilities. She looked at the options presented to her, each one promising a different path for her powers:
Sight of the Past: Harmony's visions of the past would become even more vivid and detailed. She could unravel long-forgotten mysteries and learn from the events that had come before.
Present Mastery: Her power over the present would reach new heights. Harmony would gain the ability to manipulate the immediate moment, altering reality as she saw fit.
Futuristic Insight: The future would become an open book to Harmony. She would foresee events with unprecedented clarity, enabling her to make choices that would shape her destiny.
Temporal Manipulation: Harmony could manipulate time itself to a limited extent, slowing it down or speeding it up in critical moments.
Goddess of the Past, Present, and Future: By choosing this option, Harmony would gain unparalleled mastery over time. She would become a temporal deity, capable of shifting between past, present, and future with ease, granting her unimaginable power.
Harmony's decision weighed heavily on her, but she knew what she must choose. The allure of becoming a goddess of time, with the ability to traverse the past, present, and future, was too tempting to resist. She reached out and touched the fifth option, sealing her fate.
As she made her choice, Harmony was filled with an overwhelming sense of purpose and anticipation. The entity nodded approvingly, acknowledging her decision.
And so, Harmony embarked on her test of rebirth, a grueling ordeal that would push her abilities to their limits. The strikes of lightning came one after another, each more brutal than the last. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain and suffering in silence, just as her teammates had before her.
As Harmony endured the strikes of lightning during her test of rebirth, the survivors watched with bated breath. They couldn't help but voice their thoughts and hopes, their words reflecting a mix of awe, concern, and even a touch of humor.
One survivor whispered to another, "I hope we don't have to go through that lightning ordeal. I mean, look at her. It's like a rite of passage or something."
Another survivor chimed in, "Yeah, I heard the other team members went through it too. It's gotta be tough."
A more optimistic survivor added, "But think about it. These guys are getting seriously powerful. Maybe we won't have to worry about those nasty zombies and beasts as much."
A wry smile crept across one survivor's face as they muttered, "I'd rather fight a hundred zombies than take a single lightning strike. At least you can see zombies coming."
Harmony's test continued, and as each strike of lightning illuminated the sky, the survivors couldn't help but appreciate the sacrifices and trials their leaders endured to protect them. And so, they watched, hopeful that they wouldn't have to face the same trials but grateful for the newfound strength and resilience their leaders were gaining.
The final day had arrived, and with just ten minutes left on the countdown, the survivors watched as Aaron faced off against an unexpected adversary - a parrot. Not just any parrot, though; this feathered foe was a 3rd path creature, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. The survivors held their breath, anticipating a fierce battle.
The parrot, however, had different plans. It landed before Aaron with a swagger, its vibrant plumage shining like a neon disco ball. Instead of attacking, it cocked its head and gave Aaron an insolent look, as if sizing him up.
The parrot fluttered down before Aaron, its vibrant plumage resembling a vivid rainbow. It chirped a series of curious and often nonsensical phrases, reflecting its limited exposure to the world beyond the woods:
"Squawk! Pretty hair on tall human!"
"Chirp! What's a fighting? Does it taste like nuts?"
"Peep! Feathers are fashion, right?"
"Tweet! Where did shiny things go?"
"Caw! Humans talk funny, teach parrot words!"
"Squawk! Who's the boss of this tree?"
"Chirp! Parrot forgot the way back to nest."
"Peep! Are tall humans good at flying too?"
"Tweet! Does that thing in your hand taste yummy?"
"Caw! Squawking is fun, right?"
Aaron couldn't help but chuckle as the parrot's bewildering and harmless ramblings continued. He glanced at the onlookers, who were trying to stifle their laughter at the amusing sight.
With a smile, Aaron decided to join in the whimsy of the moment. Instead of launching into an all-out battle, he playfully mimicked the parrot's chirps and squawks, engaging in a comical "conversation" with the feathered newcomer. It was a bizarre sight, as a powerful Leader exchanged words, or rather, bird sounds, with a parrot that had likely never seen a human before.
The survivors watched in amazement and amusement, their worries momentarily forgotten. The parrot flapped its wings in apparent delight, its vibrant feathers glowing brighter with every interaction.
As the playful exchange between Aaron and the parrot continued, the Aaron couldn't help but feel a fondness for the colorful creature. With a grin, he turned to the survivors and declared, "I think I want to keep this little guy as a pet. What do you say?"
The parrot's demeanor shifted in an instant. Its beady eyes narrowed, and it flapped its wings indignantly. Suddenly, the bird's innocent chirps and squawks transformed into a string of remarkably creative and amusing curses:
"Squawk! Pet? You must be bird-brained!"
"Chirp! I'd rather be stuck in the woods!"
"Peep! You humans and your bizarre hobbies!"
"Tweet! Keep me? How about you get a dictionary?"
"Caw! You've got feathers for brains, I swear!"
"Squawk! I'd rather be plucked!"
"Chirp! I'm not your wingman, you nutty human!"
"Peep! You've got more issues than a bird's nest!"
"Tweet! You couldn't handle this fabulous plumage!"
"Caw! Find another pet, I'm outta here!"
Aaron burst into laughter, thoroughly entertained by the parrot's sudden change in attitude. The survivors joined in, their laughter echoing across the battlefield.
Aaron, with a mischievous glint in his eye, decided to keep the bird no matter what. With lightning speed, he unleashed a flurry of blows that left the parrot squawking in dismay. It tried to peck, swoop, and flap its way out of the situation, but Aaron was relentless.
The spectators watched in disbelief, their laughter mingling with the parrot's curses. "You feathery little punk!" it screeched, as Aaron countered with a well-aimed kick.
"I've met tougher pigeons in my time," Aaron remarked, evading a particularly vicious beak attack.
The parrot's curses grew increasingly creative and hilarious with each passing moment:
"You'll never beat me, you overgrown ape with hair issues!"
"Is that all you've got, limp noodle legs?"
"I've fought garden gnomes more intimidating than you!"
"You're about as tough as a marshmallow on a summer day!"
"Your punches are like a kitten's love bites!"
"Do you practice your moves in your sleep? Because that's where they belong!"
"You hit like a toddler with a toy hammer!"
"I've seen more menacing adversaries in a kiddie pool!"
"You must have skipped every 'How to Fight' class in school!"
"Your mom told me she's disappointed in you!"
With each of Aaron's blows, the parrot's insults grew wilder, adding to the absurdity of the situation. The survivors were in stitches, cheering Aaron on as he continued to outmaneuver and outfight the increasingly exasperated parrot.
The parrot's final, desperate screech was met with Aaron's decisive blow, sending it squawking into a temporary retreat. Its defeat, while amusing, didn't dampen its spirit, and it retreated with one final, cryptic insult: "You haven't seen the last of me, human! I'll haunt your dreams with terrible knock-knock jokes!"
Finally, Aaron relented, allowing the parrot to flutter away, victorious but slightly ruffled. However, Isabella had other plans. She conjured a chain of ice, capturing the parrot mid-flight.
"Nice catch, Isabella," Aaron quipped, his laughter infectious.
"It was too cute to let go" She said nodding as though it were the established fact of how the universe was created
"F*ck your cute!, Oh mama why didn't I listen when you said I shouldn't leave the nest"
The parrot, now unable to escape its icy prison, squawked indignantly. But the survivors had already declared it the "Battlefield Mascot," and the laughs kept coming.