Chapter 23: A Debt of Life 3
The night progressed in complete silence except for the fire's crackling sounds and occasional wind noises. The falcon stayed awake longer than planned despite being tired while it watched the mushroom and the sleeping piglet next to each other.
It still couldn't understand.
The mushroom had what reason to save the falcon?
The creatures of their kind never provided assistance to others unless they had a specific purpose. Every living thing in this world functioned based on survival instincts. The world consumed its weak members by the strong ones. The crafty creatures survived while the naive ones met their end.
And yet...
The tiny unimportant mushroom placed itself at risk.
For what?
To help a dying predator?
To keep its offspring safe?
The falcon briefly glanced at its young ones who remained hidden beneath its wings. A comforting sensation filled its body which had been absent for many days.
The mushroom declared the man to be "a repaying man."
How absurd.
The truth remained undeniable to the mushroom despite its inner denial. The mushroom existed because of its ability to give life to the falcon.
A debt of life cannot be dismissed with ease.
The falcon extended its wings during the early morning light as new power flowed through its body. After consuming the antidote together with a peculiar medicine from the mushroom the treatment proved effective. The falcon's condition was not perfect but its strength had returned enough to continue.
It was time to leave.
The mushroom's eyes opened wide with enthusiasm when it heard the sound while its small body moved slightly. "So, you're really taking us?"
The falcon huffed. "I gave my word."
The sleepy piglet released a deep snort before resting on its side.
The mushroom performed a quick hand clap motion. "Alright! Let's get ready!"
The mushroom started its packing process immediately to verify all its ingredients and supplies were present.
---
📜 SYSTEM MESSAGE 📜
🎁 Loot Obtained:
📜 Recall Scroll x3
💰 Gold Coins x497
❤️ Small Red Potion x18
🔵 Small Blue Potion x13
💛 Small Yellow Potion x11
🧙 Mage Equipment...
🔬 [Decompose] Obtained:
📜 Red Potion Recipe
📜 Blue Potion Recipe
📜 Yellow Potion Recipe
---
The falcon gently touched its chicks to wake them up as their tiny burning bodies moved under its care.
Each little bird looked up at the falcon as they made soft chirping sounds. The falcon paused for a brief moment before starting his words.
"We're flying today."
The chicks produced joyful noises while flapping their small wings with great energy. The mushroom, however, looked nervous.
You are certain about carrying all of us?
The falcon scoffed. "Do not insult me. Your weight is too insignificant for me to experience any difficulty.
The mushroom responded with a quick nod even though a tiny doubt persisted within.
The moment had arrived and there was no way to change the situation.
The falcon launched itself into the air with a forceful wingbeat while holding the mushroom and piglet securely in its grip.
The ground beneath them quickly diminished as the landscape expanded into an endless stretch of greenery. The landscape revealed endless rolling hills which contained grazing animals and scattered rivers. A fresh breeze blew steadily as the wind rushed by their faces.
The mushroom experienced its first sense of freedom in a very long time.
The mushroom spent an extended period on the ground while it navigated forests and battled through various obstacles. From its elevated position the mushroom gained fresh insight into everything below.
The piglet showed minimal interest in the sight.
The creature released a terrified shriek as its short legs kicked wildly through the air.
The falcon rolled its eyes. "Stop squirming, or I will drop you."
The piglet instantly froze into a rigid position.
The mushroom broke into laughter before looking forward. "How far is the Mushroom Kingdom from here?"
The falcon narrowed its eyes. "Not far. We will reach it by midday."
The mushroom's chest experienced a surge of intense excitement.
The Mushroom Kingdom.
The destination which had been its long-time dream.
A place full of its kind.
But beneath that excitement, a whisper of worry lingered.
The falcon had warned them, danger awaited. Even if they reached the kingdom, there was no guarantee they would be welcomed.
Still, it was too late to turn back now.
With that final thought, the mushroom tightened its grip on its satchel, readying itself for whatever lay ahead.
The Mushroom Kingdom awaited.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fire. As the falcon soared through the sky, his massive wings cut through the wind like a blade, carrying his unusual passengers, one tiny mushroom and one plump piglet, toward their fated destination. The mushroom kingdom.
"Don't be afraid," the mushroom said, its tiny voice barely audible over the howling wind. "Just listen to everything I say when we get there."
The piglet snorted in response, its little body trembling from excitement rather than fear. The falcon, however, remained silent. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon, catching sight of the kingdom's towering walls in the distance.
Then, something changed.
The falcon's feathers bristled as a sense of foreboding washed over him. Something was wrong.
A sudden movement on the ground, then a flash of brown hurtling toward them.
"Hold on!" the falcon bellowed.
A jet of mud shot through the sky, aiming directly at them. With a swift tilt of his wings, the falcon veered left, barely avoiding the attack. The mushroom and the piglet clung tightly to his talons as he executed a rapid descent, narrowly dodging another incoming projectile.
"They're attacking us!" the mushroom yelled.
The falcon didn't answer, he didn't have to. His fiery breath built up in his throat, the heat surging outward. With a sharp exhale, he released a torrent of magical flames, colliding with the mud attack mid-air. The resulting explosion sent embers scattering, illuminating the darkening sky.
Then, the smoke cleared, and the enemies revealed themselves.
The walls of the mushroom kingdom were lined with defender, dozens, no, hundreds of mushrooms stood at attention. Some were tiny, their caps wobbling as they prepared for battle, while others were massive, rooted deep into the stone defenses like living turrets. Among them stood one figure that radiated authority.
A mage.
Tall for a mushroom, his stem-like body was draped in a dark, moss-covered robe. His cap was jagged, like a shattered stone, and in his hands, he held a long, gnarled wand pulsing with energy.
---
📜 SYSTEM MESSAGE 📜
🔹 [Mushroom Magician] LV.44
❤️ HP: 2670/2670
🔵 MP: 3444/4215
⚡ SP: 100/100
⚔️ Attack: 188
✨ Magic: 987
🛡️ Defense: 35
🏃 Speed: 18
🎯 Critical Rate: 0%
🛡️ Magic Defense: 744
📖 Description:
A unique existence among mushrooms, the Mushroom Magician possesses a calm and patient demeanor. With its thin and graceful figure, it knows various high-level magic and can help low-ranking mushrooms evolve. It lives only in the Mushroom Kingdom and serves as one of the Mushroom King's most capable helpers.
---
The falcon's eyes narrowed. A high-level opponent.
The mage's voice echoed across the battlefield. He spoke no words, only a deep, guttural chant. The magic in his wand flared to life as he turned to a nearby mushroom soldier.
The tiny mushroom trembled violently, then its body began to change. Spikes erupted from its cap, glowing with a sickly, yellowish hue. A second later, it started hopping uncontrollably, twitching as if barely containing its own energy.
---
💥 [Bomb Shroom] LV.24 💥
❤️ HP: 80/80
🔵 MP: 30/30
⚡ SP: 100/100
⚔️ Attack: 20
✨ Magic: 20
🛡️ Defense: 0
🏃 Speed: 20
🎯 Critical Rate: 20%
🛡️ Magic Defense: 0
📖 Description:
Despite its low stats, the Bomb Shroom possesses the powerful ability [Self-Destruct] 💣. At the epicenter of its explosion, it can eliminate enemies twice its level! Reckless yet courageous, this mushroom is a ticking time bomb!
---
The falcon's pupils shrank.
"That thing!"
The mage flicked his wand, and the mutated mushroom leaped into position, nestling itself into the opening of a massive, cannon-shaped fungus growing from the walls.
Another defender.
---
🎯 [Cannon Shroom] LV.36 🎯
❤️ HP: 3011/3011
🔵 MP: 977/977
⚡ SP: 100/100
⚔️ Attack: 789
✨ Magic: 0
🛡️ Defense: 500
🏃 Speed: 10
🎯 Critical Rate: 50%
🛡️ Magic Defense: 500
📖 Description:
A rare evolution of the common mushroom 🍄! The Cannon Shroom only evolves after suffering from an ailment. With its bulky body, it can no longer hop, moving instead with tiny legs. Its head cannon is connected to its nose, launching powerful snot blasts 🤧! When out of mucus, it can fire other objects as ammo! 🎯
---
The cannon mushroom's elongated body moved in a twitching motion. The mushroom's enlarged cap moved in a trembling motion while its complete body took a deep breath through its entire structure.
It was going to.
BOOM!
The sneeze-like explosion launched the spiked mushroom into the air toward the falcon and his passengers. And it wasn't alone.
One. Two. The deadly projectiles flew through the air in rapid succession as six explosive comets spun toward their targets.
The falcon performed a quick maneuver because his natural instincts warned him to escape. The falcon's wings performed a tight turn which sent his body into a spin while the explosive mushrooms approached.
One missed.
The third projectile managed to touch his tail feathers but did not cause serious damage.
But the third.
It was too close.
It was glowing.
It was about to detonate.
"NO CHOICE!" The falcon roared as his body burst into flames.
A single desperate breath from him released his complete power which created an explosive wall of fire that blocked the incoming explosives.
The initial heatwave wave distorted the surrounding air.
Then, impact.
BOOM!
The battlefield experienced powerful shockwaves after the explosion occurred in mid-air. The falcon clenched his teeth while enduring the explosion as he continued moving forward through the smoke with his body.
But the defenders weren't done.
The spore clouds expanded quickly through the air as they formed thick dense clouds that poisoned the atmosphere.
The falcon's lungs burned.
The mushroom attached itself to his claws.
The mushroom kingdom remained below them as they descended.