Blackie, the woodpecker, chirped shrilly, his frustration evident as he failed to take off after multiple attempts. The woodpecker beside it also fared no better, their sodden feathers rendering them useless in a battle where aerial prowess was paramount.
They chirped anxiously, a sound that seemed almost like a plea.
John leaned forward, watching the unfolding chaos with rapt attention. His eyes narrowed. What? It's getting bolder now that the two strongest woodpeckers are grounded.
The sparrow with the water bubble ability darted through the air, bouncing mid-flight before spitting another glistening bubble toward a woodpecker that had been harassing a parrot.
This time, the parrot and the woodpecker were both acutely aware of the incoming attack. Wings flapped in unison as they dodged the shimmering bubble with practiced agility, narrowly avoiding entrapment.
"Oh, nice battle awareness," John remarked, taking a bite from a mango, his tone laced with amusement.
But the sparrow with the water bubble ability wasn't ready to relent. It darted forward, launching another bubble toward the woodpeckers and parrots.
A sharp chirp from another sparrow interrupted it, an insistent plea to stop interfering with others' fights. Several other sparrows chimed in agreement.
Unfazed, the water-bubble sparrow spat two bubbles in rapid succession, targeting its own kind. The ambush was swift and unexpected, trapping two sparrows inside the watery orbs, including the one who had first voiced dissent.
It chirped disdainfully, a sound that carried an air of smug superiority.
"Hah, what a character for a sparrow!" John said, laughing. "It's looking down on its kind as if to say, 'If you won't support me, then you're in my way.'" He shook his head, intrigued. "Perhaps that ability of its has gone to its head. Definitely adds to its flair."
The two remaining sparrows chirped weakly, too intimidated to protest further.
Meanwhile, the two trapped sparrows struggled within their bubbles, their chirps growing fainter. It was clear the water was suffocating them, and if left unchecked, they might not survive.
Realizing the danger, the other sparrows launched toward the bubbles, pecking desperately in an attempt to free their comrades.
The sparrow with the water-bubble ability chirped again, almost mocking their efforts, as if explaining its skill with a smug snort.
John's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Oh, this is fascinating. So the bubbles can only be destroyed from the inside, not the outside. That's a clever mechanism." He grinned, leaning back. "Since your ability revolves around bubbles, I think I'll call you Bubble. It's fitting, isn't it? I doubt the others will develop something similar; they haven't shown any signs so far."
The sparrow—Bubble—chirped again, seemingly accepting the name, as the battle raged on.
Ignoring the sparrows it had just subdued, Bubble bounced in mid-air, its sharp gaze locking onto the five parrots and three woodpeckers still engaged in the fight.
Sensing the new threat, the woodpeckers paused their assault on the parrots, their attention shifting to the sparrow with the water bubble ability. A silent understanding passed between them: once touched by those bubbles, the fight would be over.
Bubble chirped, its tone smug, reveling in the attention and fear it commanded. Its ego swelled as the other birds regarded it as a powerful adversary.
John couldn't suppress a laugh. "Oh, look at you, Bubble. Enjoying your newfound power, aren't you?" He leaned back, amused. "Alright, isn't it about time for the others to awaken their hidden abilities? Bubble, whether you win this or not, I've got to acknowledge your brilliance this time."
As if understanding John's words, Bubble chirped again, its tone dripping with disdain and confidence. Puffing out its chest, it hovered mid-air, a bold and defiant gleam in its eyes.
The other birds, still airborne, spread out instinctively, their wary gazes fixed on Bubble as it flapped, holding its ground in the center of the cave.
"They're maintaining a certain distance from each other," John observed with an amused smirk. "Not trusting anyone enough to avoid betrayal. Smart, but cooperation against Bubble would be the key to surviving this battle—or maybe not. Surprise me."
Bubble let out a triumphant chirp, as though declaring itself the ruler of the skies. Without warning, it began spitting water bubbles at random intervals, turning the aerial battlefield into a chaotic dodgeball match.
The birds darted and veered, their swift maneuvers keeping them safe from the predictable bubbles.
Bubble's attacks were straightforward and easy to avoid, given the birds' agility and the unrestricted freedom of flight in every direction.
"Looks like Bubble relies on surprise to make its skill effective," John mused, analyzing the unfolding battle. "It's got plenty of energy—or Ki, I'd guess. The ability seems to consume only a small amount. The downside? It's a long-range, linear attack that lacks versatility. Bubble might be powerful, but it's still a bird with relatively low intelligence."
Bubble chirped in frustration, its irritation mounting as its efforts continued to fail. Halting its onslaught, it glared at the birds, which chirped taunts back at it, emboldened by their successful dodging.
Instead of retaliating, Bubble abruptly shifted its focus. With a determined dive, it aimed for the two bubbles trapping the suffocating sparrows. The target was clear.
With pinpoint precision, Bubble spat two more water bubbles. This time, the long-range attack worked flawlessly, trapping the two remaining sparrows who had been desperately pecking at the bubbles from outside.
The newly formed bubbles collided mid-air, creating a cluster of four bouncing, translucent prisons.
Bubble chirped proudly, its ego inflating as it savored the moment of victory.
John chuckled, leaning forward on his throne. "So, you like trapping others to suffocate—even your own kind. What a ruthless little garden bird." His tone carried a hint of amusement, but his sharp eyes gleamed with hidden intent.
While Bubble reveled in its triumph, two woodpeckers surged toward it from behind. One aimed its talons at Bubble's head, while the other targeted its back with a precise, deadly peck.
Bubble reacted instantly, bouncing mid-air and spitting water bubbles in rapid succession. The first bubble missed as the woodpeckers deftly dodged, but the second moved too fast, enveloping them both in its shimmering trap.
Yet, before being fully captured, one woodpecker managed to graze Bubble's head with its claw. A thin scar stretched dangerously close to Bubble's left eye, and a crimson streak of blood trickled down, staining its feathers. Blood drops dripped entering its left eye.
Bubble screeched in irritation, shutting its eyes tightly. Inside their watery prisons, the trapped woodpeckers began pecking furiously, but their efforts lacked the strength of Blackie and the other grounded woodpecker still struggling to regain flight.
John, observing the chaos, popped the last bite of mango into his mouth and casually tossed the seed at Bubble. "Don't dodge. Don't use your spell. Stop it, however, you can." His words were more command than suggestion as the seed spun in a curving trajectory toward the sparrow.
"Everyone, attack Bubble—now!" he ordered.
His voice seemed to carry an unspoken authority, compelling the other birds to move. They launched themselves like rockets, converging on Bubble in a dizzying aerial assault.
The attack was coordinated despite its chaotic appearance. From Bubble's blind left side, the mango seed hurtled toward it, while parrots descended from above, and the remaining woodpecker attacked from behind.
Bubble's shrill chirp pierced the air, so intense and unnatural it sounded nothing like a sparrow. It was a sound born of panic and desperation.
"What will you do, little sparrow?" John muttered with a smirk, leaning back as though relishing the moment. His gaze stayed locked on the beleaguered Bubble.
The grin faded as a thought struck him. "Shit! What's wrong with me? Do I seriously get excited by this? Am I becoming a sadist?"
He took a deep breath, collecting himself. "No, it's just... being a boss," he said, rationalizing his actions. "I better get used to it."
The scene unfolding before him caught John off guard.
Under the mounting pressure, Bubble let out a sharp chirp. In the next instant, two of the bubbles exploded, releasing the sparrows trapped within. They darted out, intercepting the incoming mango seed with precise coordination. The move was startlingly calm and calculated.
John's eyebrows rose in surprise. "That's impressive, Bubble. You're shaping up to be a true villain. If only your intelligence were a bit more evolved, I believe no one at your level could face you in battle. Your battle awareness is remarkably high for a little sparrow," he said, genuinely amazed. "Perhaps your ability awakening has something to do with it."
Though the other birds didn't seem to understand Bubble's chirps, John caught their meaning clearly. Bubble had made an underhanded offer to its fellow sparrows. It promised two things: a way to unlock their latent abilities and the release of the two sparrows still trapped, in exchange for blocking the mango seed.
"A shrewd deal," John mused, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I'd probably take it too if I were one of those sparrows. Too bad I put a little extra force into that throw."
The fate of the two sparrows was uncertain; they lay knocked out, flat on the ground.
Bubble spat a flurry of water bubbles in quick succession, bouncing mid-air as it skillfully dodged the coordinated attacks from five parrots and one woodpecker. It moved with sharp, evasive maneuvers, changing positions with ease.
Then, pausing for a moment, it turned its gaze toward John and chirped in a manner that seemed oddly intimate.
John raised an eyebrow, his expression tinged with mockery. "You think this isn't fair? Fine, tell that to the two woodpeckers and sparrows still trapped in your bubbles—or better yet, to the two sparrows lying unconscious on the ground. Now, keep your promise, or you'll learn the real meaning of unfair."
Bubble chirped twice, and with an audible pop, two of the bubbles exploded, freeing the trapped sparrows. It chirped again, this time as if to inform John it would teach the sparrows once they regained consciousness.
"Good. Now, a change of plans," John announced, his voice echoing with authority. "The last species to unlock their latent abilities will be this week's worm and fruit collectors. The second-last group will form the scouting team. As for the first... Since Bubble gained its ability first, the Sparrow Group will accompany me wherever I go as a reward. From now on, Bubble will lead the Sparrow Clan."
He paused, his tone sharpening. "Now, fight for second place. Bubble, keep them busy—harass them, outmaneuver them, and try to annihilate their chances without killing anyone."
Five parrots and one woodpecker remained in the air, their wings poised for battle. On the ground, two woodpeckers and four sparrows were either recovering or strategizing. Meanwhile, two woodpeckers floated helplessly inside water bubbles, levitating like trophies of Bubble's dominance.
Among the gathered birds, tension crackled in the air. Even with their slightly evolved brains, they could sense the significance of John's declaration: being the leader of the Sparrow Clan was no small feat. The burning jealousy in their sharp, predatory eyes was undeniable.
The Mark of Deception had granted all of them improved agility, strength, and intelligence, but Bubble stood apart. Somehow, it had been the first to awaken its latent ability, elevating its status in their ranks. The recent skirmishes had only emphasized its superiority—sharp instincts, precise movements, and a keen understanding of combat tactics.
A spark of ambition flared within the group. Every bird present, despite their current position, had the same burning desire: evoke their latent talent, crush Bubble, and prove their worth before their master's eyes.
John leaned back on his makeshift throne, observing the simmering emotions with a glimmer of satisfaction. His voice broke the silence, carrying an edge of amusement and genuine admiration.
"A true natural talent," he muttered, his gaze fixed on Bubble.
Bubble, aware of both its newfound power and the growing animosity directed at it, puffed out its chest proudly and chirped defiantly as if daring anyone to challenge its dominance.
John chuckled. "Well, Bubble, let's see if you can keep that lead or if someone else manages to snatch it away. This is your moment—don't disappoint me."
Well, I like it. Now the stage was set for a fierce, chaotic battle. He grinned.