"Fuck… I didn't get an Apprentice-level weapon," Ray sighed, slumping slightly.
His luck was as bad as ever.
Ray scanned the items he had obtained from unboxing the reward chests. He ignored most of the useless stuff meat, clothes, and other miscellaneous items. Right now, only the weapons mattered.
Feather Trident (Novice Grade) ×1
Black Chicken Feather (Special Grade) ×1
Knife (Novice) ×1
Only three items… and only two weapons.
"What's this 'special grade' thing?" Ray muttered.
"System, what does 'special grade' mean, and why?"
As if responding to his thoughts, the system panel flickered, and new text appeared.
---
Black Chicken Feather (Golden Special)
(There is a 0.00000000001% chance of obtaining a special reward from a chest. The quality of this reward will be randomly determined it may be lower than the chest level, or it could be far higher… a jackpot. All depends on luck.)
---
Ray's eyes widened slightly. "So there's something like this too, huh?"
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "So whenever I open a reward chest, there's a chance that I'll get something much better… or worse. Though it's extremely rare."
His curiosity deepened. "Alright, System, what does this special-grade feather do?"
New text materialized before his eyes.
---
Black Chicken Feather (Special Grade Item)
Use: Once consumed, the user will obtain a title with a passive ability.
The title and effect will be completely random.
It could be utterly useless… or heaven-defying.
---
"A title…?" Ray murmured, his imagination running wild.
Could it be something legendary? Something that changes everything?!
Ray's mind raced, picturing grand titles. "The Dragon Slayer!" "The Sovereign of All!" "The Most Handsome Man in the World!"
Just thinking about it made his mouth water. What if it was something incredible?!
He suddenly coughed, shaking his head. "Well… we'll see about that. But still…" He eyed the feather in his storage. "Eating a feather…?"
Ray hesitated, summoning the black feather into his trembling fingers. His exhaustion made his hands shake slightly, but what caught his attention was the feather's appearance it looked like it was burning. A faint black space fire danced across it, yet… it wasn't hot. There was no sensation of heat, no burning pain on his fingers.
"Eww…" Ray grimaced. "It looks disgusting to eat."
He nearly threw up at the thought.
Ssssssssssssss!!!
A loud, enraged hiss snapped Ray back to reality.
His head jerked up, and his eyes locked onto the ongoing battle. The Green Serpent let out another furious hiss, its massive body writhing in frustration.
The ground was littered with sharp weapons knives, swords, spears making it harder for the serpent to move freely. Since it could only slide along the ground, its movements were becoming sluggish.
However, Ray's black-feathered chicken still couldn't break through the serpent's thick defenses. The deep injury Ray had inflicted on the serpent was on its neck, which was far too high for the chicken to reach.
It could jump… but if it was in the air, it wouldn't be able to change its trajectory. If the serpent bit down in that moment… game over.
Ray clenched his fists, his mind racing.
His body was screaming in protest from overexertion. His arms were heavy, his breath ragged he had already thrown hundreds of weapons. Even though he had weapons left, they were useless if he didn't have the strength to throw them with enough force.
Damn it! If I had gotten an Apprentice-level weapon, maybe it would have worked! But his cursed luck had only given him Novice-level weapons.
He cursed under his breath, glaring at the battlefield.
If this goes on, even with the serpent in this injured state, my chicken will lose.
Ray's expression darkened. He had to find a way out.
"System, show me my Black Chicken's status!"
A panel flickered into existence.
Ray's eyes darted across the list of skills, analyzing everything in detail, trying to find a solution.
Then, suddenly
His eyes widened.
Wing Dash… Jet Ambush… Straight Pecking.
His lips curled into a smirk.
"Yes… This might work. No… This WILL work."
Through his mental connection with his fused monster, Ray issued a direct command.
---
The Final Strike
The black-feathered chicken, which had been moving at high speed, suddenly stopped.
The Green Serpent tensed, sensing the shift. It halted its movements as well, its slitted eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Sssssssss…
It let out a slow, warning hiss, its muscles coiling like a loaded spring.
Then, without warning, the black chicken charged straight at the serpent.
Its wings stretched wide, then shot upward and held position.
Its neck straightened its beak pointing forward like an arrow.
Ray smirked.
"That's right, you overgrown worm. Get angry."
The serpent's golden eyes flickered with rage.
How dare this tiny creature this thing that had been running the whole time now charge at it?!
Did it think it was superior?!
Enraged, the serpent reared back, baring its massive fangs.
It would end this pathetic opponent with one final strike.
Ray's smirk widened.
"Go. Make a hole in this idiot."
---
Wing Dash
The black chicken flapped its wings downward with explosive force, launching itself forward like a missile.
Jet Ambush
Its legs kicked off the ground, shooting it forward even faster, its speed doubling in an instant.
Straight Pecking
Its body stiffened mid-air, beak pointed perfectly forward, cutting through the wind like a piercing arrow.
Shhhhhhhhhh!!!
---
The Green Serpent didn't even have time to react.
SHLUCK!
The black-feathered chicken pierced straight through the serpent's neck.
A massive, gaping hole tore through the Green Serpent's throat.
For a moment… time seemed to freeze.
Blood.
Blood splattered across the battlefield.
The chicken burst through the other side, landing behind the serpent in a perfect arc.
The serpent's golden eyes widened in shock.
Its massive body twitched.
It let out one last, weak hiss
Then…
THUD.
The Green Serpent collapsed.
A pool of blood spread beneath its lifeless body.
---
Ray stood frozen for a second, stunned.
Then, slowly, a grin stretched across his face.
He threw his arms into the air, his voice echoing through the battlefield
"VICTORY!!!"