Thanos followed Shino out of the armory, noticing how the rest of the team was nearly out of sight. Quickly catching up, they joined the group as they scouted the area, eventually deciding to set up camp in what appeared to be the remnants of an ancient temple. The stone walls, weathered and covered with ivy, were adorned with faint carvings that hinted at old rituals and long-forgotten deities. An eerie silence hung over the place, disturbed only by the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.
The next morning, after a quick meal, they packed up and ventured further into the estate, eager to explore untouched areas. Their path led to a stone bridge, shrouded in vines and age-worn, stretching across a deep ravine. It looked treacherous, as though one misstep might send the whole structure crumbling. A gust of wind whipped through the ravine, filling the air with the faint smell of damp moss and stone.
One of the Qi soldiers from the Obarisiagbon Clan stepped forward, cautiously testing the bridge's stability. He took a few deliberate steps, then stomped down with enough force to cause a slight tremor. From below, a flurry of wild bats erupted from the depths, their screeching echoing around the ravine. Several team members flinched, hands instinctively moving toward their weapons.
The soldier returned, giving a nod of reassurance. "The bridge is stable."
Relieved, they started crossing the bridge. But just as they reached the midpoint, a powerful gust of wind surged up from the depths. A dark shape emerged from below—a massive bird with inky black feathers, its wingspan casting a long shadow over the bridge.
"Is that… a black cave raven?" one of the explorers whispered, voice filled with awe and fear.
The raven let out an ear-splitting screech, forcing everyone to cover their ears. In that instant, it dived, talons aimed at one of the female explorers. Before it could strike, an Obarisiagbon soldier darted forward, grabbing the raven by the neck and hurling it aside. Another soldier raised his weapon and fired, a beam of energy obliterating the creature's head.
The group barely had a moment to recover before another raven appeared, then another—and soon the sky was thick with them, their dark forms blotting out the weak morning light. Fear settled over the group as the soldiers braced themselves.
"Qi soldiers, form a wall around the princess and the civilians!" barked the leader of the Obarisiagbon guards. "Merge your energies to create a Qi shield. All other soldiers, take defensive positions and fire at will."
In seconds, the disorganized group moved with practiced efficiency. The Qi soldiers generated a shimmering barrier, surrounding Princess Imani and the non-combatants, while the soldiers took aim, firing blasts of energy at the oncoming ravens. The air filled with the smell of singed feathers and the cacophony of squawks and explosions. A few ravens breached the defense, only to be swiftly struck down.
Just as it seemed the threat was under control, a massive shadow fell over them. Looking up, they saw the Mother raven—a creature far larger than the rest. Its eyes gleamed like molten lava, and its talons, a menacing gold, looked sharp enough to rend stone. Ancient runes glowed along its beak, pulsing with a sinister energy. With every beat of its wings, a gale-force wind whipped through the ravine, kicking up dust and debris.
The Mother raven opened its beak and let out a thunderous screech. Even behind the Qi barrier, the sound felt like nails scraping down their bones. Thanos gritted his teeth, shielding his ears, but he could feel the ground shudder beneath him.
Several soldiers fired on the beast, but their attacks fizzled uselessly against the raven's aura. Then, the creature released a second screech, this time with an explosive force that shattered the Qi shield into fragments of dissipating energy.
"W-what are we going to do?" one of the explorers stammered, voice trembling.
Acting quickly, the Qi soldiers reformed the barrier, though they knew it wouldn't hold for long.
The captain of the Obarisiagbon guards turned to Princess Imani, grim determination in his eyes. "We'll need to find an escape route, Princess. My men can hold the beast for a while, but with the civilians in our care—"
Thanos stepped forward, voice calm but resolute. "My team will handle it. Captain, protect the princess and the others. Get them out if you find an opening." He met Imani's eyes and spoke firmly, "When we get out of this, please convince your father to send higher-ranked soldiers. A place like this isn't worth your life."
She nodded, expression tense, but her trust in him was clear.
Thanos called his team to him. "Shino, Shadrach, Rotimi, Tega—let's bring this beast down."
The Mother raven let out another screech, and a fresh wave of smaller ravens swarmed toward them, casting a dark shadow over the temple ruins. Thanos clenched his fists, feeling the fiery Qi surging through his veins, and ignited his body in a blazing aura, positioning himself at the front to shield the civilians from the onslaught.
The Obarisiagbon soldiers handled the ravens with precision, striking down those that broke through the formation. This gave Thanos and his team the space they needed. Shino unsheathed his sword, his Qi radiating with a sharp, cutting aura that kept the smaller ravens at bay. Noticing the dangerous aura emanating from the group below, the Mother raven fixed its glowing red eyes on Shino and prepared to dive, intending to silence the bold human.
But as it made its move, Shino struck first. With a swift, almost effortless swing of his katana, a broad arc of sword Qi slashed through the air toward the raven. The raven attempted to dodge, but the attack caught the edge of its wing, sending a spray of blood cascading into the air as the raven shrieked in pain.
The Mother raven hovered unsteadily, clearly injured but no less furious. With an enraged screech, it summoned another wave of ravens to its side. Thanos glanced at his teammates, resolve hardening.
"Now's our chance. Shino, keep its focus. The rest of us—get ready to finish this."
The Mother raven's wings flared, preparing to attack again. But Thanos and his team stood their ground, ready to bring down the beast.