Chapter 43: Claws in the Wind
Alarcus trudged up the rocky mountain path, his boots crunching against loose gravel. The wind grew fiercer the higher he climbed, carrying with it an unnatural sharpness. He had been warned about the wind monsters, and now he could feel them watching him, hidden within the swirling gusts.
Suddenly, a shrill cry pierced the air. Alarcus glanced up to see three massive bird-like creatures circling above, their feathers shimmering with an eerie green glow. Their eyes gleamed with intelligence as they dove toward him, flapping their enormous wings to create razor-sharp wind blades that sliced through the air.
"Zetsuei, now!" Alarcus commanded, narrowly dodging a wind blade that carved a deep gouge into the rock beside him.
Zetsuei moved with mechanical precision, its steel whips lashing out to intercept the wind monsters mid-dive. One whip coiled tightly around a bird's talon, yanking it out of the air and slamming it into the ground with a metallic thud. The bird screeched in pain, thrashing violently, but Zetsuei's grip held firm.
As another bird circled around to attack from behind, Alarcus fired off a barrage of fire spells. The monster dodged most of them, but one seared its wing, forcing it to land. Zetsuei's other whip lashed out, wrapping around the creature's neck and crushing it with a brutal twist.
The final bird hovered above, hesitating as it watched its comrades fall. Alarcus took the opportunity to cast a spell, creating a bolt of lightning that streaked upward and struck the monster with a deafening crack. The creature fell, its charred body tumbling lifelessly to the ground.
"Not bad," Alarcus muttered, brushing dirt off his coat as Zetsuei retracted its whips. He surveyed the battlefield, noticing the faint trails of wind left behind by the defeated creatures. "But these were just scouts. The mother will be much worse."
As he ventured deeper into the mountains, Alarcus noticed an odd pattern: several bird monsters lying dead on the ground, their corpses marred by massive fist-shaped imprints. The sight unsettled him. What kind of fighter could take down creatures like these with their bare hands?
When night fell, Alarcus found a secluded spot to set up camp. His spatial tent was modest, containing just a bed and a small shower. Outside, he kindled a fire, expertly roasting strips of meat with a mix of fragrant seasonings he had brought from the town below. The savory aroma filled the air, a rare moment of comfort amidst the dangerous wilderness.
Suddenly, Zetsuei's whips shot out, coiling tightly around a shadow that had crept up to the campfire. The figure let out a startled yelp as it was hoisted into the air.
"Put me down, you overgrown tin can!" a voice snarled.
Alarcus stood, squinting at the figure struggling in Zetsuei's grasp. It was a young lion beastman, his golden hair wild and his sharp teeth bared. Despite being caught, his amber eyes burned with defiance. A simple, worn gauntlet covered his right arm, though it seemed like it had seen many battles.
"Who are you?" Alarcus asked, crossing his arms. "And why were you sneaking around my camp?"
"I wasn't sneaking! I just smelled food and thought I'd grab a bite," the beastman snapped, crossing his arms even as he dangled midair. "Not my fault you're cooking something that smells this good."
Alarcus raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "You're bold for a thief."
"Name's Kael," the lion beastman said, ignoring the accusation. "And I'm not a thief. I was just... borrowing."
Alarcus sighed and gestured for Zetsuei to release him. Kael landed on his feet with a cat-like grace, brushing himself off and glaring at the construct.
"You've got quite the toy there," Kael said, eyeing Zetsuei with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. "That thing's no ordinary golem."
"And you're no ordinary traveler," Alarcus replied. "What's a beastman doing in the heart of the human empire?"
Kael grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "Exploring and training, mostly. There's no fun staying cooped up in one place. Besides, I heard the monsters out here are worth fighting." He flexed his claws, a playful but dangerous glint in his eyes.
Alarcus studied Kael, noting the confidence in his voice and the fierce determination in his eyes. "You're insane if you think you can take down the mother of these wind monsters alone."
Kael smirked, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "Who said I was alone? I've got these," he said, holding up his fists, "and now I've got you. You can throw your fancy spells while I handle the close-range work."
Alarcus couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine. But if we're going to work together, you'd better pull your weight. That monster isn't going to go down easily."
Kael leaned back against a rock, snatching another piece of meat from the fire. "Don't worry about me, mage. I've already scouted the area. The mother's nest is in a cave system just over the next ridge."
Alarcus perked up at the information. "You've seen it?"
"Yeah," Kael said, chewing nonchalantly. "She's huge, and the place is crawling with her brats. Every time she sends a few down to attack the towns, more hatch to replace them. It's like an endless cycle."
Alarcus frowned. "Why haven't you gone after her yet if you already know where she is?"
Kael smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Training. Gotta make sure I'm ready. Taking her down will be my ultimate test. But now that you're here, we might as well speed things up."
The mage nodded, his expression turning serious. "Fine. Lead the way tomorrow. But don't expect me to do all the work."
Kael laughed, clapping Alarcus on the back. "Relax, mage. Just keep up, and I'll show you what real strength looks like."
As the fire crackled between them, the unlikely duo prepared for the dangerous hunt ahead.
Kael stretched lazily as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the rugged mountainside. "Not a bad night, eh, mage?" he said, flashing a toothy grin as he tore into a piece of roasted meat from their breakfast.
Alarcus rolled his eyes as he finished his preparations, adjusting his cloak and ensuring his spell components were in order. "Let's just hope your appetite doesn't slow you down today. We're getting closer to the nest, and things are only going to get worse from here."
Kael smirked, flexing his gauntleted right arm. "Good. I was starting to get bored with those little birds."
The duo set off, Zetsuei following silently behind them. The terrain became steeper and more treacherous, jagged rocks jutting out like teeth. The wind carried an ominous cry, a forewarning of the creatures they were about to face.
It wasn't long before the first wave of bird monsters descended upon them.
Three of the massive creatures swooped down from above, their wings stirring up violent gusts that carried deadly wind blades. Kael didn't hesitate, launching himself into the air with a powerful leap. His fist connected with one bird's chest, sending it plummeting to the ground with a resounding thud.
Alarcus stood his ground, weaving intricate spell patterns in the air. Bolts of fire and shards of ice shot out, striking two of the creatures in quick succession. One dropped immediately, but the other, slightly scorched, dodged and retaliated with a barrage of wind blades.
"Zetsuei!" Alarcus shouted, bracing himself.
The mechanical construct sprang into action, its steel whips lashing out to deflect the incoming attack. One whip wrapped around Alarcus's waist, pulling him aside just as another wind blade tore through the spot where he had been standing.
"Keep your head in the game, mage!" Kael called out, landing beside him after smashing another bird into the ground. He rolled his shoulders, grinning. "I can't be the only one doing the heavy lifting here."
"I'm trying to focus on not getting sliced in half," Alarcus shot back, firing another spell that turned an approaching bird into a fireball mid-air.
The attacks grew more frequent the closer they got to the nest. Waves of the wind monsters descended upon them, their numbers seemingly endless. Kael darted between them, his fists turning every blow into a fatal strike. At one point, he leaped off a cliffside to meet a bird mid-dive, his gauntleted fist colliding with its beak and driving it into the rocky ground below.
Alarcus, meanwhile, picked off as many as he could from a distance, alternating between elemental attacks to keep the creatures off balance. But their sheer numbers made it impossible to avoid every attack. Whenever he faltered, Zetsuei was there, either swatting away a bird with its whips or physically moving Alarcus out of harm's way.
After hours of relentless fighting, they finally reached a plateau overlooking the nest. The mother bird loomed in the center, a towering beast that dwarfed the others. Her feathers shimmered with an emerald hue, and her piercing cry sent shivers down Alarcus's spine.
"That's her," Kael said, his voice low but brimming with excitement. His tail swished back and forth, betraying his eagerness to fight.
Alarcus nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "She's massive. If she's anything like the others, her speed will be an issue. And those claws look like they could tear Zetsuei in half."
Kael grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the light. "Good. I like a challenge."
"Let's not be reckless," Alarcus said, glancing at Kael with a raised eyebrow. "We need a plan. I'll distract her with my magic and try to immobilize her. You focus on landing a clean hit."
Kael punched his palm, a spark of lightning crackling from his gauntlet. "Sounds simple enough. You keep her busy, and I'll send her flying."
Alarcus rolled his eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Just don't get carried away."
The two sat for a moment longer, catching their breath and finalizing their strategy. Alarcus adjusted his spatial tent, ensuring it was secured, while Kael stretched and rolled his shoulders in anticipation.
Zetsuei stood silently behind them, its steel whips coiled and ready to strike.
"Ready, mage?" Kael asked, cracking his knuckles as he stared down at the monstrous bird in the distance.
Alarcus nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Let's finish this."