It’s been an hour since Nyx flew off. The nest felt so much emptier, quieter. Nyxis had finally calmed down after crying her little bird heart out, and now she was curled up next to me, fast asleep.

The poor kid was exhausted, emotionally and physically. I sighed, stroking her soft, downy feathers.

This was my life now—a single dad to a baby apocalypse bird. Great.

"Alright," I muttered to myself, pulling up my status screen. "Let’s see if Nyx’s parting gift made me OP or just another chump."

**Status Magic: Open.**

**Magic Learned:** Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Dark, Chaos, Storm, Lightning.

"Holy shit…" I blinked, rereading the list. "That’s a hell of a glow-up. I went from Mr. ‘Maybe-Can-Light-a-Campfire’ to freaking *Elemental God Deluxe Edition* overnight!"

Each element glimmered in the interface, but my eyes were glued to one in particular.

"Chaos Magic," I whispered, the name practically dripping with forbidden power. "What the hell does that even *do*?"

Images of wild destruction and bending reality to my will danced in my mind. My imagination was on a rampage—ripping the sky apart, shattering dimensions, turning my enemies into ducks. God, I hoped it was that cool.

"Okay, okay," I said, waving a hand to dismiss the screen. "I’ll save the chaos stuff for later. Don’t wanna accidentally nuke the nest or… Nyxis."

The baby Skyrend stirred in her sleep, letting out a soft chirp. I smiled despite myself.

"Yeah, you’re cute now, but you’ve got world-ending potential written all over you," I muttered.

I stretched and cracked my knuckles, my mind buzzing with ideas. "Alright, next on the agenda—test out these shiny new powers and figure out how to *not* die while raising this pint-sized feathered nuke. Fun times ahead."

With that, I sat back, gazing up at the endless sky above the nest. The winds whispered through the peaks, as if the forest itself was holding its breath for what came next.

"Chaos Magic, huh?" I chuckled to myself, a mix of excitement and dread churning in my gut. "Let’s hope I don’t accidentally wipe myself off the map."

After that I stood up, my fat body groaning in protest, and stretched until I heard something pop. “Damn, I really gotta work on this…” I muttered. Just then, a soft chirp caught my attention.

Nyxis was waking up, her tiny form stretching her wings before waddling over to me. She snuggled into my side, her soft, downy feathers brushing against me.

"Hey, kiddo," I said, crouching down to pet her gently. She let out a little coo, rubbing her head against my hand. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on—she missed her mom. The thought made my chest tighten.

“Nyxis,” I said softly, stroking her feathers. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ll take care of you, okay? I’ll make sure your life is full of fun and adventure.”

She tilted her head, looking up at me with those big, curious eyes. It reminded me of my old life, back when I used to spoil my big sister’s kid rotten. Man, that little brat had me wrapped around their finger. I wondered how they were doing now…

“Eh, whatever,” I muttered, shaking the thought away. Dwelling on the past wasn’t going to help me survive this crazy-ass world.

I smiled at Nyxis. “Hey, kid, I don’t think I ever introduced myself, huh?”

She tilted her head again, chirping in response.

“My name’s Alexander Solheart,” I said, tapping my chest. “You can call me Alex.”

Nyxis chirped again, her little beak twitching as if she were trying to repeat it.

"Aa...le...x," she tried, her voice tiny but clear enough to make my heart damn near explode.

"Holy shit, you just said my name!" I gasped, overwhelmed by the moment. I scooped her up, hugging her tightly.

"Nyxis," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I promise, I won’t let anything hurt you. Not a damn thing. No matter what, I’ll protect you."

She chirped happily, snuggling into my arms.

I might have been an overweight, exiled prince with a broken past, but in that moment, holding her close, I felt like I had a purpose. And I wasn’t going to let her down.

Just then "Ow, what the hell, Nyxis!" I yelped as the little feathered troublemaker gave me a playful shove with her tiny claws.

She didn’t even look guilty. Instead, she gave me a mischievous chirp and took off running, her wings flapping clumsily as if daring me to follow.

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I narrowed my eyes, grinning. "Oh, so that’s how it is, huh? You wanna play, you little rascal?"

Nyxis turned to look at me and chirped again, clearly enjoying herself.

"Alright then," I growled in a mock-demonic tone, crouching like a predator. "I’m the big, bad demon prince, and I’m gonna eat you!"

She squealed—well, chirped—and darted off, her little legs pumping as fast as they could go.

I chased her around the nest, stumbling over loose stones and occasionally tripping on my own damn feet. But damn, it was fun. Nyxis was fast, quick enough to make me work for it, and the way she kept turning back to make sure I was still chasing her melted my heart a little.

Before I knew it, the orange glow of the setting sun bathed the horizon. We were both panting, completely worn out. Nyxis sat down, her feathers puffed out, and let out the tiniest yawn.

"Ale...x sleep," she said, her voice soft and sleepy. "Ale...x sleep."

I smiled, shaking my head. "Alright, alright. I get it, Nyxis. Let’s head back to your nest."

She waddled over to her nest, and I carefully tucked her in, gently stroking her head as her eyes began to droop.

I yawned, rubbing the back of my neck. "Guess I’ll just make myself an earth bed over here—"

Before I could finish, Nyxis grabbed my arm with her little claws and tugged.

"Hey, what’s this about? You’re not letting me go, huh?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She chirped, pulling harder. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she wanted.

"Alright, alright, you win," I sighed, giving in. "I’ll sleep with you, spoiled brat."

I crawled into the nest, lying down beside her as she snuggled up against me. Her warmth was oddly comforting, and her soft breathing soon lulled me into relaxation.

As I stared up at the darkening sky, the stars beginning to peek through, I smiled to myself. For once, life didn’t feel so bad.

"Goodnight, Nyxis," I whispered, closing my eyes.

She let out a soft chirp in response, and we both drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the stillness of the cursed forest.

A while later, A cold drip of water splashed on my face, jolting me awake. Blinking in confusion, I looked to see Nyxis trembling, tears streaming silently down her small face.

"Nyxis…?" I whispered, my voice still groggy.

Her little body shuddered as she tried to stifle her sobs, but it broke my heart to see her like this. A pang hit me square in the chest—a kid like her, so young and clueless, had lost everything. Her mom, her dad, her whole damn world. And now? She was stuck with some fat nobody like me.

I clenched my fist, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Nyxis," I murmured softly.

She looked at me, her glowing eyes glistening with tears. Without thinking, I scooped her into my arms and nuzzled her gently. "It’s okay, Nyxis. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you," I whispered.

Her sobbing slowed, and she eventually drifted off again, exhausted from her grief. I stayed awake a little longer, staring up at the night sky.

"I’ll protect you," I muttered to myself. "No matter what it takes."

The next morning, I woke up early, careful not to disturb Nyxis as she slept soundly in the nest. My stomach growled, reminding me of the hunt I needed to go on.

"Alright," I said to myself, stretching. "Let’s see what this cursed forest has to offer today."

I ventured out into the forest, noting something strange as I moved through the underbrush—lower-level monsters didn’t even bother to attack me anymore. It was like they knew I was out of their league and didn’t want to waste their time.

"Great," I muttered sarcastically. "I finally get strong enough to not worry about them, and now they’re too scared to fight back. Figures."

This meant I had to venture deeper, into the darker parts of the forest where the sunlight barely reached and the air grew heavy with menace.

Thankfully, my dark magic let me see through the shadows, illuminating the path with eerie clarity. The monsters here weren’t the typical grunts. They were faster, tougher, and meaner.

Today’s catch? A **Nightmare**.

These things were demonic horses wrapped in flames, their speed unmatched and their fire immunity a pain in the ass. When I first spotted one, it was galloping between trees so fast it left a trail of scorched earth.

"Hell no," I muttered. "You’re not getting away that easily."

I used flame magic to light up the area even more, surrounding it with a blazing circle. The Nightmare snarled, its fiery mane flaring up in defiance as it tried to charge through the flames, but I was ready.

With a smirk, I activated my dark magic, stepping directly onto its shadow. It froze mid-gallop, its body locked in place as I manipulated its very essence.

"Gotcha," I said smugly, raising my hand.

[Lightning Bolt!]

The crackling energy struck true, electrocuting the beast in one devastating shot. The Nightmare let out a guttural cry before collapsing in a heap, its flames sputtering out.

I approached the smoldering carcass, wiping sweat from my brow. "Damn, that was tough. You better taste good after all that trouble," I muttered, dragging the Nightmare’s body back toward Nyxis and the nest.

"One demonic barbecue coming up," I said with a grin. "Hope you’re hungry, Nyxis.

I returned to the nest, the heavy carcass of the Nightmare slung over my shoulder, only to find Nyxis still fast asleep. Her little body curled up in the nest, the soft rise and fall of her breathing almost peaceful in contrast to the chaos outside.

"Good, she’s still asleep," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow. "Now, time for some food making."

I cracked my knuckles and got to work. Using my trusty Air magic, I sliced through the meat with precision. The skin was tougher than orc hide, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

Plus, the damn thing was already partially cooked from my lightning strike earlier—so bonus points for saving me some effort.

Next, I whipped up a quick blend of flavor herbs using Earth and Fire magic, sprinkling them over the meat like I was some top-tier chef. My Fire magic did the rest, roasting it to perfection. The smell was enough to make my stomach growl louder than a damned bear.

I turned back to check on Nyxis... only to find her wide-eyed, staring at the sizzling meat with a look of pure, unadulterated hunger. Drool was practically dripping from her mouth.

"Woah, woah, Nyxis!" I laughed, stepping back in mock surprise. "You trying to eat me instead? It’s all yours, kid. I’ve got plenty for both of us."

Her little wings fluttered with excitement as she rushed over, practically diving into the meat. We dug in like we hadn’t eaten in days, shoveling it into our mouths like starving beasts.

The flavor hit me instantly—smoky, savory, with just the right amount of spice from the herbs. Damn, it was good.

"Alexx! Food tasty!" Nyxis mumbled between bites, her little voice muffled by the meat in her mouth.

I chuckled and wiped my mouth. "You know it, kid. Nothing like a solid meal after a long hunt."

We ate in blissful silence for a bit, the only sound the crunching of meat and the occasional satisfied grunt. Eventually, we finished, both of us stuffed to the brim and utterly content.

Nyxis, looking as full and happy as a bird could be, snuggled up next to me, her head resting on my side. I chuckled, feeling her warmth seep into me.

"Guess I’m not the only one who’s been missing home," I muttered, my hand gently running through her feathers.

Nyxis nuzzled me in response, her little body curling closer. "Alexx... snuggle."

I smiled, feeling a weird sense of comfort I hadn’t expected. "Yeah, alright, kid. I got you."

And just like that, the world outside didn’t seem so bad.

A week passed, and in that time, I’d gone from a guy who barely knew how to keep a baby monster alive to... well, I guess I was still pretty clueless, but I *did* have a cute little dragon-bird thing at my side that had started to trust me completely.

Nyxis had become attached to me, like a shadow I couldn’t shake off. Not that I minded. She was... well, she was a lot, but it was kind of nice.

It helped take my mind off the crap I was dealing with, like the *hell* I was stuck in and how I was supposed to get stronger.

The Cursed Forest had become my second home now. I knew the place like the back of my hand. Turns out, this forest wasn’t just some random collection of creepy trees—no, it was divided into five layers. The deeper you went, the worse it got. The first layer was pretty tame, filled with weak monsters like goblins and those useless wolves. But the real danger started at the second layer, and it only got worse the deeper you went. The middle of the forest? Yeah, that’s where the real chaos was. And my damn mountain was in the third layer, stretching all the way to the fifth. It was *huge*.

I spent most of my time either hunting, training, or trying to figure out how the hell to level up without dying. Chaos and Dark magic were both a massive headache to learn, but damn, when I got the hang of it, it was like I could unleash Skyrend’s attacks at will. *Bam*, Abyssal Shriek. *Wham*, Eclipse Dive. And *whoosh*, Skyshard Barrage.

The more I played with it, the more I realized that this was something I had to master. There was no other way forward. But my damn Strength was still stuck at 9. I was *so* close to hitting 10, and that meant I could maybe, just maybe, challenge the dungeon. The Crucible of the Body

But right now? 9. My Strength was still pathetic, which meant the dungeon of The Crucible of the Body was out of my reach. I had to level up first, but how the hell was I supposed to do that?

“Ugh...” I groaned, sitting on a rock and raking my hands through my hair. The frustration was starting to hit me again, that awful feeling of being stuck. What was I supposed to do? Kill bigger monsters? Sure, but even if I *could* take down something stronger, was that even enough?

Then, out of nowhere, Nyxis poked me with her beak from behind.

*Oww,?!* I jumped up, spinning around. “What the hell, Nyxis?”

She tilted her head, looking at me with big, wide eyes. “Alex, worry no. Everything fine.”

I blinked, completely thrown off by the calmness in her voice.

“...I *was* worried,” I muttered, a sigh escaping me. The frustration melted off me, replaced by a warm feeling of gratitude. “Thanks, kid.”

She gave me a little nudge, then curled up at my feet like nothing was wrong. I was starting to notice how much she’d grown. She wasn’t quite the baby she’d been when I first found her—her wings were stronger, her feathers sleeker, and hell, she was even speaking more clearly now. It wasn’t perfect, but it was damn close.

“Alex... Alex, good!” she chirped happily, beak clicking in excitement.

“Yeah, yeah... You’re a good kid, Nyxis,” I grumbled, rubbing her head. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about the future. What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Life was strange, I’d give it that. But for the first time in a while, maybe, just maybe, things were starting to feel... okay. At least with Nyxis by my side, I didn’t feel so alone.

“Alright, kid,” I said, getting to my feet. “Let’s go see what this next layer of the forest has in store. No use sitting around, right?”

Nyxis chirped in agreement, stretching her wings as we walked deeper into the Cursed Forest.

Let’s see what the future had in store.