Slowly from up in the sky, another creature descended towards the rooftop. It did so in such a slow and measured manner that Luke could only imagine the creature thought that it was doing some sort of ringwalk.
From a distance, the creature appeared to be fairly similar to the predator pigeons that Luke had just fought. However, as it came closer Luke could tell this thing was in a different league. It was much larger than a normal predator pigeon, such that it was bigger than Luke. The edges of its wings glimmered and looked rigid and pointed enough to be sharp.
In all his time in Azure London Luke had never seen or heard of anything like it. As Luke looked into the creature's eyes he could tell that the differences went beyond its physical features. Behind its eyes, there was clear intelligence. Unfortunately, for Luke when the creature looked at the 6 dead Predator pigeons he also saw emotion.
"That thing looks pissed," Luke said to himself.
*Completion System Boss Battle Entered*
"Once a Completion System Boss battle is started there is no escape until you have incapacitated or killed your opposition," Ava said. Their voice calm yet serious much like it had been during the Tutorial when Luke had first heard it.
"Wait what's going on Ava what do you mean I can't escape?" Luke asked and as if to answer his question the world around him shifted.
As Luke looked around him he was no longer on the top of a large building, he wasn't even in Azure London anymore. The new sky looked similar to the one he remembered from before the Dark Dawn. The sun's rays poured down onto Luke and for a moment he thought he was going to cry as he felt the warm comfort that everyone had once taken for granted. He wanted to just enjoy the brief nirvana, but he knew it was not the time.
Searching around Luke found that he was standing on a giant brown pillar of rock with a grassy top. The pillar stood alone with nothing else in sight. As he looked down from the edge, he found that the pillar was tall enough that all he could see below was a layer of white cloud.
"Completion system boss battles must be won alone, assistance is not permitted. However, to counterbalance the risk they carry, they also offer noteworthy rewards."
"Since this is my first one, is there any chance I will be unkillable like before?"
"You will have your normal status, you will not have any additional benefits."
In the time that the whole world had changed around Luke and he had been busy regaining his bearings, the giant predator pigeon had continued its slow descent and now finally touched down on the pillar.
Luke's instincts told him that he was in for a far tougher fight than the last one. Unlike before there would be no door that he could quickly dart into to escape either.
"Well, we better get this started then, you overgrown chicken," Luke shouted at the terrifying creature that stood in front of him. However, to Luke's surprise this time, unlike every time before, the creature did react to what he had said. To Luke's dismay, it clearly did not like being compared to a chicken.
The creature which truly lived up to its name of predator, stretched out its giant wings in a sort of intimidatory flex and tilted its head back. It let out a piercing call that made Luke instinctively clasp his hands over his ears.
The moment it stopped it took off, flying directly at Luke. It closed the distance far faster than Luke expected and before he knew it the Predator Pigeon was upon him. With its large talons, it managed to grab Luke's arm and started to pick him up and drag him forward. It didn't take a genius to figure out what the creature planned to do. It was going to try to drop him off the edge.
Luke knew if it managed to do so there was no doubt that it would result in his end. His one saving grace was that the creature wasn't so strong that it could move at great speed while carrying Luke. This meant that he had a few moments to try and shake the creature off him. He swung his free arm at the bird, but despite his hits evidently hurting it, the creature resolutely held on and kept moving him towards the edge. Getting desperate Luke tried to headbutt it, but no matter what he tried he couldn't get the leverage while being held onto to get in a decent enough blow.
Running out of time and options, he gave his last possible approach a try. Reaching towards the wing of the bird, Luke produced fire from his finger. The flame was still small but with his status improvements, it had grown in intensity, such that he could now feel the heat that it gave off.
With only a metre or two left of grass before the edge, his plan worked. The feathers on the bird set alight. The bird noticed immediately and released Luke. In response to the fire, it started to roll along the ground to try and put it out and Luke was impressed it knew what to do.
However, the fire had spread quickly and by the time the Predator Pigeon had put out the fire, its wing was badly singed. It tried to take flight again but gave up immediately, it was clear to Luke that he had done enough damage to keep the creature grounded.
"I think things might have shifted in my favour now," Luke said with a smirk and he could have sworn the bird responded with a scoff.
With his opponent injured, Luke had no interest in allowing it to recover. He moved as quickly as he could to get within striking range. As he did, the creature swung its unharmed wing in a wide arc at him. Just avoiding the attack at the last second, Luke felt the air next to his face move as the wing whooshed past. However, with only the one good wing, this had been Luke's foe's last throw of the dice. It was now unguarded.
Throwing all his weight behind the strike and aiming for the centre of the creature's body Luke found his target with his fist. It was clear that the giant Predator pigeon, while good on the attack, was more of a glass cannon. It rocked back hard from the hit and it was slow to recover. Luke kept coming forward throwing punch after punch. Each a heavy blow that caused the bird to stumble back. Soon the roles had reversed and it was the bird that was getting closer and closer to the edge. With its wing in such a sorry state Luke didn't fancy its chances of surviving if it were to fall.
With only a metre left to the edge and just before Luke delivered the finishing blow to send his adversary over it, something strange happened and Luke stopped himself.
The bird had dropped to the floor and seemed to bow as if in supplication. It was a strange sight and more than enough to stop Luke in his tracks.
*Completion System Boss Battle: Victory*
"The Guardian of the Eastern Skies has Yielded to your superior strength."
"The Guardian of what now?" Before Ava could answer Luke heard the familiar notification bell in his ear and as if he had never left Luke found himself back on the rooftop. Immediately, Luke felt the chilling lack of the sun and looked up to see the blue light was back. Though brief it had been nice to have been back to normality, even if that normality included fighting a large carnivorous pigeon.
In front of him the giant Predator Pigeon, which was supposedly the elaborately named Guardian of the Eastern Skies, still had its head bowed down in front of Luke, so he wasn't quite sure what he was meant to do or say.
"What do I do now then?"
"I would recommend that you check your achievements. I suspect that will help you understand, although it will probably also leave you with even more questions."
Following Ava's advice Luke looked at his achievements and just as Ava had said he was given several answers but also even more questions. However, more importantly, Ava hadn't been exaggerating when they described Completion System Boss Battle rewards as "noteworthy". In fact, it was probably an understatement.