Atlas was still struggling to steady himself on the rugged terrain, battered by the wild, relentless wind. Each powerful gust threatened to throw him off balance, and one wrong step could send him tumbling into the abyss below.
But now, he faced a new challenge—one with talons, razor-sharp feathers, and wings that carved through the air like blades.
A monster bird!
The Bladewing Ravager.
And it wasn’t just any ordinary beast—this monster was level 75.
The creature circled him, its massive wings cutting through the air, adding to the chaotic winds around him. Atlas remained rooted to one spot, his eyes locked on the bird’s movements, waiting for its next move.
Suddenly, a powerful gust slammed into him from the side, making him stagger.
And then—his instincts screamed.
Behind!
The bird was diving toward him from behind.
[Elite - Tempest Guard (Conditional Passive Skill) Lv. 8 activated.]
Atlas snapped into a defensive stance, gripping his spear tightly as the bird closed in.
[Elite - Thunderpierce Thrust (Active Skill) Lv. 7 activated.]
With precision, he thrust his spear forward, aiming directly for the creature’s neck as it barreled toward him. The spear shot out, its tip crackling with lightning.
But the bird was faster than expected.
It beat its massive wings with a brutal force, sending a shockwave that knocked Atlas backward before his spear could land the hit.
DAMN IT!
Atlas’s body was flung through the air, tumbling backward, weightless in the wind’s grip. If he didn’t hit solid ground soon, he’d be thrown off the mountain entirely.
He had the Mountain Leaper Bands to reduce fall damage, sure—but that wasn’t the issue.
Because the bird was already diving again.
With terrifying speed, it closed the gap, its sharp talons stretched out, aiming straight for him.
Atlas swung his spear to block the incoming attack. The bird’s claws latched onto the spear, locking it in a death grip.
And then it took off, dragging Atlas into the sky.
The sheer force of the bird’s ascent hit Atlas like a battering ram. His grip on the spear tightened as his body jerked violently, flung around in the air like a rag doll.
The wind tore at him from all directions, but he refused to let go.
No way I’m losing this spear!
Atlas clenched his jaw, his arms straining as the bird carried him higher and higher, the mountain shrinking below. His body twisted and flailed with each beat of the bird’s wings, but his hands remained locked on the spear.
At the peak of their ascent, the bird suddenly stopped flapping its massive wings, hovering eerily for a moment before letting out a piercing screech.
COAAAKKK!!!
Without warning, the monster dove straight down.
WOOOO AAA WOOO AAH!
Atlas clenched his teeth as the sudden drop yanked him downward, the brutal wind slamming into his face. His mouth opened wide as if to scream, but the wind practically shoved the air back down his throat. His vision blurred from the speed, and for a moment, he felt like his stomach was going to rip itself out of his body.
Then, just as suddenly as it started, the bird stopped mid-air, jerking to a halt like a roller coaster reaching its peak.
Atlas’s body lurched forward—and that’s when it happened.
The bird released its grip on the spear.
He gritted his teeth harder, realizing the damn bird wasn’t just trying to kill him—it was toying with him.
It’s laughing at me!
[Elite - Thunderpierce Thrust (Active Skill) Lv. 7 activated.]
Atlas’s body shot forward, propelled by the force of his spear. He twisted mid-air, aiming straight for the bird.
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COAAAKKK!!!
The Bladewing Ravager screeched again, this time in surprise, as the spear struck it directly. Atlas didn’t stop there.
He maneuvered himself, flipping through the air until he landed squarely on the bird’s back.
Gripping the spear tightly, he drove it into the base of the monster’s neck, yanking the bird’s head backward with all his strength.
“Let’s see if you like this ride!” he shouted, holding on as the bird thrashed in the air, its wings flailing wildly.
Another freefall!
Atlas felt the rush of wind again as the bird plummeted toward the ground. His stomach twisted, but he held firm, refusing to let go of the spear as the creature struggled beneath him.
This time, I’m not the one being thrown around.
Atlas adjusted his grip on the bird’s neck, tightening the hold of his spear. The massive creature screeched in frustration and began to maneuver wildly through the air, flapping its razor-sharp wings in desperate attempts to throw him off.
It darted up, then plunged down, twisting and turning in rapid dives and climbs.
But Atlas held on.
His hands clenched the bird’s neck with unrelenting strength, and his legs wrapped tightly around its body. The wind howled in his ears, but he refused to be shaken loose.
The bird thrashed even harder, trying to shake him off, but every sudden movement only caused the spear lodged in its neck to press deeper.
You’re only hurting yourself, idiot.
Finally, the creature altered its movement. With a powerful beat of its wings, it steadied itself mid-air, the chaotic thrashing coming to an abrupt halt.
Atlas loosened his grip slightly, pulling the spear free and storing it back in his inventory. Now, he held on only with his hands, leaning into the bird’s back to reduce the wind resistance.
The monster flew on without further resistance, its massive wings cutting through the air with smooth, powerful strokes.
Atlas smirked to himself.
Did I… just tame this thing?
The thought made him chuckle.
A bird tamer? Seriously?
Still, he couldn’t help but marvel at the sight in front of him. The wind rushed past his face as the vast landscape stretched endlessly below. Flying on the back of a monster bird, soaring freely through the skies…
Not bad. Not bad at all.
The bird soared through the skies, picking up speed with each powerful beat of its wings. Several times, they flew past other monster birds circling nearby.
Those creatures turned their glowing eyes toward Atlas, as if silently saying, "Is that food?"
Atlas kept his focus, guiding the creature with subtle tugs on its neck. Each time he adjusted his grip or leaned slightly, the bird responded, veering left or right in smooth arcs.
It was only then that the realization hit him.
I’m… riding a bird. A monster bird.
He glanced around at the breathtaking view of the floating islands beneath him, the endless sky stretching in all directions. For a brief moment, a smirk formed on his lips.
But then a thought crossed his mind.
Wait… where the fuck is Kurogasa?
Before he could dwell on it, another bird appeared from his left, flying smoothly alongside him.
Damn. DAMN IT!
Sitting calmly atop the bird was none other than Kurogasa.
The ninja rat balanced effortlessly, perched on the bird’s back with his legs crossed. His left hand held a chain wrapped around the bird’s neck, while his right hand casually waved toward Atlas before he bowed slightly in respect.
Atlas couldn’t help but grin at the absurd difference between their positions.
While Kurogasa sat gracefully, Atlas clung to his bird with both arms and legs wrapped tightly around it, holding on for dear life as if he might be flung off at any second.
Kurogasa pointed toward the spot where they had begun their training.
Atlas nodded, shifting his weight to turn the bird’s head.
To his surprise, the creature obeyed without resistance, banking gently toward the direction Kurogasa indicated.
"Heh… maybe I really am a bird tamer now," Atlas muttered to himself.
Can I bring this bird home?
The thought lingered in his mind as the bird swooped lower toward the mountain’s peak. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a monocular—a collapsible scouting tool he often used to scan large areas from a distance.
Holding it to his eye, he began surveying the island below.
Off to one side, he spotted small dots moving in formation. As he focused the lens, he realized it was a group of troops, training in martial arts. There were dozens of them.
"That must be one of the Lord’s troops Kurogasa mentioned earlier," he muttered.
Shifting his view, he noticed several figures on small advanced boats, fishing in the middle of the lake. The sight made him pause for a moment.
"I really need to buy a boat for our own use."
The bird flew gracefully toward the mountain’s peak, where Atlas had begun his training. The fierce wind was still present, but strangely, it didn’t feel as punishing as before.
As the bird neared the ground, Atlas prepared to jump off.
He slid from the creature’s back—but the wind caught him mid-air, throwing him sideways.
Reacting quickly, Atlas spun his spear into position and stabbed it into the rocky ground, halting his fall and steadying himself.
Meanwhile, Kurogasa dismounted with ease. He threw his chain blade, which embedded itself in the ground, allowing him to descend smoothly without issue.
The two birds let out deafening screeches as they flapped their wings, rising back into the sky.
Atlas cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted after them, though his voice was quickly swallowed by the wind.
"Hey bird! Come back later!"
Of course, there was no sign the birds heard him.
Atlas smirked as he straightened up, wiping dust off his clothes.
Suddenly, Kurogasa took a step forward, turning his back to Atlas as if shielding him.
“We have company, My Lord,” Kurogasa said calmly.
Atlas followed Kurogasa’s gaze.
From the rocky path ahead, three figures emerged, their heavy armor gleaming under the harsh sunlight. Their weapons clanking softly against their plated armor.
Atlas narrowed his eyes. Even from this distance, he could sense the weight of their presence. These weren’t ordinary combatants.
“They’re Rank-2 Lords,” Kurogasa said.