Lisa kept her watch over Itrosh with a similar focus as Murai. It was his first time looking at her spell at this level of detail because he was always busy whenever she used it before. It was either behind his back, or when he wasn't all that much present with his Will. His time on top of Bagus was chill and good, and his training kept him more than busy.
Although not that busy to not appreciate something like eying his Helpers, or dealing or complaining about Lisa.
The screeching sounds and waves were excellent in scouting capabilities, giving Itrosh a deep foundation and clarity over the enemies and feeling of life. Like a wider Murai's Sonar, each wave wavered into her mana like droplets of water onto a calm pond. Depending on the strength, she could notice the strength of each life and know where they were heading, and in what numbers. Demons had unique sounds to them also, offering Itrosh a feeling as if they were resounding within this spell. It was her most prized spell because it was fairly secretive and precious to her. She knew how to distinguish foes very easily.
“Looks good, doesn't it?” Lisa said to Murai out loud. “I was surprised to see her have this sort of thing. Though not unbearably strong, if even that big of a deal, this is a surprising scouting spell that doesn't happen overnight like some gifts sent from up or down.”
“It's passable. How are its workings? I can't sense or feel it that well from so far away. My Sonar isn't that big.. and... Can't you fly upwards?” Murai tried and Lisa scoffed at him.
“Don't wanna.” She said, lazily tossing him to the ground.
Murai quacked an annoyed sound, and midway through his fall, he stabilized his body by moving his wings. He landed on his feet with grace and hunched neck, eying that intense ghost above him. “That was rude!”
“Want more carries?” Lisa taunted him with a smile, clutching her loose tries for arms that shattered behind her back. “How rare of you, but maybe it isn't that bad. I could try and mix my Extracts on you, but you...” She hesitated, knowing that perceiving and experiencing the Abyss wasn't that great of a feeling.
Murai caught her hesitation and straightened his neck. “You want what? Have I heard it wrong?” he mocked her as he eyed her like a fool.
“Nothing but some cooperation.”
“You wish.”
Lisa didn't continue with this nonsense and turned her sight up.
Above, Itrosh kept sending the waves ahead, scouting the surroundings in all directions apart from her back. This was quite a precious ability for any mercenary, while the military would kill for such things. Any adventure parties and squads had needs for some scouting spells because Dungeons and potential issues around the Surface or Hells were various, and knowledge was one part of getting around better.
Lisa was glad Itrosh had something like this, and she hadn't even played with something like this in mind. It was far more useful than scouting in physical bodies. Lisa was a great physical scout thanks to her flying. Then, her near invisibility caused by her lack of physicality made her less approachable.
Unfortunately, there was a shortcoming. Itrosh's spell wasn't as precise as Murai's Sonar. It had its uses like anything that involved general direction-less or specific surveying spells. There were a lot of them in magic. Some of them worked with specific Bloodlines, techniques, and so on.
Hers involved a mash of many things put together like her own body. It worked, even if it wasn't as flexible or squeezable as Murai's powers thanks to his soul and ridiculous Shaping.
Itrosh didn't need any of that. She just needed direction and time, and discovering foes from kilometers away was as easy as looking at the sky.
Well, not here, but there was sky in some sense around the ceiling, and it was true that one wasn't as certain about the sky or clouds. It looked different than the Surface.
Called Wind Sound Wave, this spell could notice any living thing in each passing wave. Within the first hundred meters, it was precise within a meter. By the first kilometer, it was accurate by around ten meters. The closer, the better. In further kilometers, the inaccuracy was around thirty meters or more depending on the location and how mountainous the region was.
It worked with sound and wind mainly, which were powers of great compatibility. When things were in the way, it had diminished results like distance. It was natural.
Still, with many kilometers ahead, and since she was high above the ground, even dozens of meters of reduced clarity weren't a lot, as long as one knew where enemies were, and what the location looked like. For armies, this specific part was a difference between life and death and the success of wars.
The further it went, the worse it was, which wasn't anything strange. All mana was losing its touch in that distance, even if sound and wind took the majority of this spell. A little smudge of Lifeforce, a reforged Vitality, changed this spell a little to increase the accuracy and detection of living targets. Because of them, this spell was better than many high-distance echolocations, and other similar abilities or spells.
For another example, Murai's Mana Sonar was excessive in details and quite heavy on mana, mind, and overall reading of much-decreased distance. It wasn't a big shortcoming, since one truly felt the surroundings immediately, so in a sense, it was both an advantage and a disadvantage.
A wind focused on sound and mana? Sounds like Sonar but broadened to lessen its efficiency. Interesting. Murai thought, curious about what Itrosh found out through her senses.
Dozen or so waves later, Wind Sound Waves stopped when waves diminished in quality and were no longer able to sense anything. It lasted for about fifteen seconds so about a dozen waves in total escaped from her lungs.
Itrosh took a deep breath and jumped from the cliff. With grace and rough thud, she fell, crouching similar to Carmilla, and felt much prouder.
It was either out of spite, but her landing was filled with grace and pride, leaving the wind calm.
“Hmph!” She sneered and straightened her back, lightly tapping her feet on the ground. Lisa was already there, expecting her report. “As you've said. There are groups of fools around some locations, but behind us, I didn't catch anything even if I wanted.”
“Ultium is taking care of it,” Lisa said coldly and urged her to get to the point with an annoyed look.
“Fine. Demonic armies are around, and gangs eying us much more. It is hard to tell which is what. They are all ahead and beyond the cliff, so the ones behind us must be the first trial of the Hunters,” Itrosh pointed her finger in the direction of the massive wall. It added less clarity because she pointed to seven directions in total. “That and this one, or those. Each is already in position, coming closer or waiting. The closest is three kilometers, with others further away. It is either a pincer attack, or they work independently to not mess with each other.”
She couldn't guess much, but the mere validation of how many or where they were coming from was worth a lot.
Lisa expected nothing less from her. This ability was one of many ways Itrosh proved herself to her, so she went from a mere tool to a useful tool.
Itrosh was proud for a good reason. Out of spite, she wanted to observe the situation behind them, but speaking of a wolf, and a wolf around a corner, Ultium crawled out of the opposite side, coming back from his job well done.
He was pristine and patted his suit when he walked to the rest of the team, though some blood was notable around his hands, and his aura was more than deviously alarming. His eyes especially hid some spark and his horns were much bigger than usual, glowing a little at their end. David nodded at him, and Lisa approached him to hear what he had to say.
“I am back,” he said simply as if he was back from a hike.
Lisa sighed, looking at him. “What was down?”
“Nothing, really,” Ultium said the truth that was no longer wrong. If there were some incoming enemies, they long fled or died.
“So, what's next?” Ultium asked, cracking his shoulders in a quick stretch and doing the same for his fingers.
Itrosh chuckled, obviously glad to see Ultium like this. Some fun was about to start. “I found some toys ahead. Many. Many ones.”
“At least sixty fools, I presume?” Ultium expectedly asked as he was done. He also wiped his bloodied hand with his tie. The blood didn't seem to stick to his clothes but got absorbed instead throughout minutes or seconds depending on the quality or quantity of blood.
“In the slightest, there might be hundreds,” Itrosh said just in case. “Wind Sound Wave had its limits and accuracy. I sensed a lot of living things, hiding things. Who knows if there are others around, hiding under some spells like the ones around here? if Carmilla meddled with it once, why someone else couldn't do the same? I bet they could be hiding around, or further away. We have more than a hundred kilometers ahead. I can't reach that far, can I?”
Ultium opened his mouth as if wondering about something, but Lisa spoke first, leaving him flabbergasted and silent.
David was reluctantly looking at the clothes in the ground after storing the leftover treasure in his ring.
It was Ultium's loot, so he took it, leaving nothing to others. Bagus wasn't interested in those, even if he should get his share. The major reason Ultium killed her in one swoop was because Bagus stopped Carmilla from moving or leaving them in the dust.
She was quick on her feet and her Wind was her priority. Perhaps if she moved away the moment Lisa grasped her hand, she would've gotten away if she had gone all out and pulled some sacrifices and used all of her cards.
“If that's everyone's mind, let's get out of here. We got less time to waste.” Lisa argued, gesturing to Murai to get on top of Bagus.
Grifhart laughed as he offered his tail, flicking Murai to the top of his back without further ado. It was up to Murai to decide where he wanted to be. Bagus didn't. Back or head, it was the same thing for him.
Murai clumsily went to his back, where he sat like a rider he felt he wasn't. It wasn't looking majestic because a duck wearing a hoodie sitting on top of Grifhart wasn't a sentence he wanted to repeat in his mind. However, Bagus felt much prouder by the fact that Anatidae was riding his back, so Murai couldn't possibly judge himself or others.
Again, Murai wasn't questioning it even if pride seeped out of this honest beast. He gave up on finding any sense in his present life. A duck rode a beast that looked like a panther and griffin, followed by a devil in suit, ghost, and abomination in the rough appearance of a humanoid feminine beastfolk woman who was way horny for a duck.
David was out of place for sure, as he was the lone human out of this team, so perhaps he was more than suitable.
“Fuck me backward” Murai scowled after getting comfortable. “I wished I hated this.”
Deeply, he somewhat didn't mind this team. He almost enjoyed it but he would never accept it for something greater.
Lisa found the map aside and went back to the group. Floating behind Murai, it was time to give her plans a renewed direction.
“Murai Hisagi, I will explain things in a hurry, as the targets are all of us. You or me, or them, it doesn't matter. David, Ultium?”
David finally turned his attention to Bagus and the rest of the group. Ultium shifted his head and put his hands into his pockets.
“Right. Right. Intercepting the targets is the first step you want to solve, right?” David asked.
“No. Obliterating those fuckers is what I want. Give them a lesson.” Lisa smiled, giving Ultium a simple nod filled with even simpler solutions and words.
And for once in days, Ultium smiled widely, looking even more handsome as if he found the Surface. His arms twitched like his horns and his pointed or clutched fist would become nothing but crimson again. Not only in blood, he feared or hoped at the same time.
“Are you sure about it?” David asked just in case.
“Why asking?” Ultium asked. “Hunt is Hunt. It all started when we pledged our lives.”
“Not so far,” David argued.
Lisa floated closer to them, eyes squinted and arms crossed. “You heard me. Let's give them a wake-up call. Isn't that just right? Reputation works as a reminder and rumor, but also a weapon. You said it yourself, David. Ultium has a certain... reputation and weight on him. It is time to give some things a new turn and change it like a new dusk that falls when you leave this place successfully.” She suggested the already per-determined choice they made. She knew about it for some time and decided to take full advantage of it.
This plan, however, wasn't part of that strategy. She decided on it right now, after going over Carmilla's brief glimpses of memories and other things. It needed a bit more time to sort things out, so first came the easiest thing. A simple decision for splits.
Sending a slayer squad consisting of Ultium and Itrosh was her best solution to give those Hunters a taste of her plan, while David could come with them as well, but it was up to him. Lisa wanted to rely on and use everyone, and splitting was an important choice.
If many groups were lurking around, waiting or hunting them gradually, she had no qualms about obliterating them before they would blink or come behind her or Murai's back.
“I fear there is some truth in that. Those Crows disappeared without a fight, eh?” David reminded her, looking at the darkening ceiling in a try to calm down. The night wasn't coming yet, but it wasn't that far off.
“They went back to their master, I suppose,” Bagus suggested.
“Shame,” Ultium eased his fingers and turned to David, reminding himself how well they would taste. “All is right, boss? Can't I go? Sounds like fun is ahead and plans are subjective. They could change.”
David shrugged his arms, sighing and figuring that Lisa had negative effects on him without even trying all that hard.
It was inevitable, he believed.“Do as you think is right. We are splitting up for a couple of reasons. Speed, fight, and opportunity are that. Come back in a fitting time or... direction? How do you plan to work with that, Lisa? He isn't exactly fine in that regard.”
“Plan C. Sector 35. Right before Scorching Light should be enough if things go south, but we should be close. Time isn't important. He can wait there for us if he is faster in his task, while others could do the same. Hours or a single day, it doesn't matter as long as he knows his Hunts and words of this splitting. Gasping Chasm is a fine target as well. Do you know where it is?” Lisa asked Ultium who glanced at her, unblinking and unsure what Gasping Chasm was.
Lisa grunted and pulled her much clearer and clean arm up before gesturing with it in a wild motion like a brush. “A wide thing looking like a smiling face.”
Ultium widened his eyes and pulled his arms from his pocket, slapping palms and humming in approval. “Oh! Got that. Wasn't I there a few times?”
She could order him better, but she was still unsure if her plan was good enough. Ultium was the biggest variable as he was the strongest ceiling they had. Others weren't as big, though Murai was a curious little oversight on its own. Sending Ultium around to wipe the gangs or groups was the first thing she had on her mind. David wasn't fine with it because he heard of this full split for the first time. Days ago, she suggested a single team.
Either two or three. The others would protect Murai. David and Ultium. Itrosh and Bagus. Sending Ultium alone wasn't fine for David, who wouldn't be around him, so that wasn't ideal in his book of rules.
But considering the situation around the Provinces and many Sectors, this sort of move was the correct choice.
David accepted that fact, but not the plan. Sector 35 was a long distance from Sector 39, and it was about a hundred kilometers away, closing on the Scorching Light. That was a long stretch of time and distance for Ultium to be left alone. Who knew who he would kill or fight?
Lisa wasn't hesitant to send her troops ahead, which was within David's expectations, but the way he felt was odd. His heart was pounding like never. He felt young, yet his mind wasn't.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
He was worried about Ultium, which Lisa knew, but didn't care about. Right now, her needs were evident and kind of self-centered like her plans. She stated the start of their Hunt, sounding like everyone's boss.
Hunt was a Hunt. It didn't matter to her if teams were left or ahead, protecting the main group of their interest. That was her and Murai. Nothing else mattered.
Her best plan consisted of Bagus, her, and Murai traveling forward, with others protecting them behind. Their speed should be better in that case, while David, Itrosh, and Ultium would work around their proximity, protecting and slaughtering potential troubles. They could also work as a team, helping one another when too many foes went against one of them.
This idea had a much smaller potential for reminding Hunters they could become Hunted.
And David clearly wanted this plan much more than the other.
David had more devices for long or even short-distance communication, but in the middle of the fight, they weren't fine and easy to use.
Enemies could come from any direction. That wasn't something Lisa could easily perceive, so Itrosh should be crucial with her Wind Sound Waves. That or Lisa could fly high in the air, observe the surroundings, and gesture and command all her chess pieces like a God.
It was her wishful thinking. Their way onward was still more important than killing every foe, so Lisa and David looked at each other in a last attempt at a discussion.
“Three-part split,” he argued.
“I don't like it.”
Scaring and hunting Hunters were born in her head, overlooked by her previous plan, but David saw through her long ago. He knew that Lisa wanted something like this from the start of this plan days ago, yet he never talked back against it. Back then, it was different. Her priorities changed, while her team was her soldiers, and he had a small change of mind.
He didn't find any of that surprising.
Murai agreed with her plans as well, even if she held some disdain and confidence about something that was hard to perceive. Carmilla wasn't too specific about the strength of the surrounding foes, while Lisa made excuses that it would take a while to sort it out. Murai believed her and didn't really care to go away like this.
David did. He bet those with Laws should most definitely lurk around, while gangs filled with fodder could make their moves as well in large numbers, so splitting up too much was plain stupid.
The surprising parts so far were things Lisa found from Carmilla. From what was in her most recent memory, the enemies and her backup were numerous but unclear in strength. She glossed over them as she talked without clarifying strength, and most of it was true even when Lisa glimpsed at her memory, so what exactly was she planning when she intercepted them? Was it just to waste time? Well, not like it mattered, for she was no longer around.
There were enemies all around, with or without Carmilla in sight, which meant infighting, competition, and neither good nor bad news for Lisa and her team.
Most Hunters came from the later Provinces, with few coming from Scorching Light. Everyone was coming for blood and points, directed or seeped with greed, but that could change any time under a simple beating or a change of pace. From the looks of it, Ultium already did his first justice, though its worth was yet to shine.
Itrosh was only able to solve one direction at a time, and it wasn't as if she could do it every hour. Carmilla didn't hold much about the later parts either, even when Ozeki and Razmund were behind their back. As feared, their locations, plans, and moves were unknown, and a lot of gangs wanted to seize Murai's whole group in pincer attacks and slowly get to know them.
Being surrounded was the worst-case scenario that Lisa wanted to prevent. She didn't have time to worry if David was worried about Ultium.
Enemies were already close, so she decided on her plan without further arguments and everyone would either follow along or drop to her knees before her sight if they didn't like it
“Then get him what he ought to do better or think of something else,” Lisa said to David since he wore a bothered face aimed at her stressed eyes. Lisa was getting annoyed at this part of David, who was worried about Ultium more than anyone else. Maybe it was her hidden jealousy or a surprise that he would be like that, or it was an issue stemming from something that went behind her hands, which Lisa hated with a passion.
David frowned, easing his beating heart by playing with the rings on his fingers. “Fine...”
Speaking to Ultium, he figured no loss came from new tries and challenges. Ultium was already looking at him with fervent light in his eyes, hoping for more clarity or rules of his game. There was no going back.
“Ultium, Gasping Chasm is your lone target and we shall split into three. You know how you can go alone, but beware of targets out of your reach, and you will get it. Some Extremes may move. Can you tell me what you will do then?”
“Leave them aside?”
“That's my boy,” David nodded. “Wait. No. Flee if it is dangerous. You are Hunted as well. You can Hunt the Hunters, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I want you to follow Murai closely. Within a kilometer at least, but that depends on them and your circumstances. The distance that is workable for your nose is best, as long as blood is in the picture, so...” David took some bottle out of his ring and tossed it to Murai.
Murai caught it with his beak, eyeing the red liquid inside.
“It is some blood. No worries. Have it open and Ultium will find you even from a dozen kilometers.”
“Is it required?” Ultium asked, frowning similar to David. “That blood smells too strong. I don't like it.”
“Whose is it?” Lisa asked curiously.
“Blood of some Named Devil. It stinks a lot for others.” David replied.
Lisa nodded, wondering where he got that, and was almost impressed by this idea. She hadn't thought of that. Devils were definitely sensitive to blood, so how about Anatidae blood? As she looked at Murai, the mere glint in his eyes stopped her from speaking. It was for the best.
“How about the rest of us?” Itrosh asked. “State business better with your plans. You can't have Ultium hover over all of us. Locations is large enough for dozens of us. Enemies could be... around too. So?”
Lisa thought of the right answer and figured what David said might work as well. “I want Bagus to go to the sky, zipping with us, and travel onwards. Itrosh, you will follow Bagus from the ground and Hunt where you can or need. David will do as well while taking care of the back. He can be behind us for hundreds of meters or more, or follow Ultium if he is so worried. Itrosh should be closer, but again, if it is required, flexibility is important. I plan to have Bagus far in the sky to help you and other gangs and groups to seek us out.”
“OH! So, it is a bait? Everyone is a bait, eh?” Bagus huffed a laugh. “I like it.”
“I am a bait as well,” David mumbled and went with that plan.
Itrosh gathered following this idea wasn't bad. It was relatively vague and free. David gave them each a little communication device, but he doubted Ultium would have time to even activate it. He will turn to his Hunt instead.
“If there are enemies that Ultium can't solve,” Lisa added just in case, “Itrosh and David can intercept them if they can. I hope for this closer split to communicate better, but Ultium is the slayer of this group. Is that alright with everyone?” She asked, eyeing every one of them with her unwavering eyes.
Ultium liked the word slayer. He smiled and pounced away in no time, ascending that big cliff in less than a dozen seconds. “See ya.” he waved at them from the top, unaware no one heard him. He stored that small device in his pocket. David bet he will forget he stored it there within an hour or less.
With plans ready, everyone had decisions and even answers if plans changed.
On Bagus's back, Murai had not much say in the matters of this plan. He didn't trust Lisa as a whole because this plan was quick and ruthless to the whole team. His trust went around the whole group, thinly hovering over some figures while being strong around others.
It seemed Bagus would stay with him, so that was good. He shall be his bodyguard.
Even if there were some different choices, if everyone had a bounty over their heads, everyone had the right to protect themselves or do what they desired. That was the motto of most groups. Murai followed this principle with basic ego or his distinct living, so he wasn't one big upset, unlike Lisa who wanted to clutch this team a little better.
When life was on the line, some rules or plans didn't matter, and freedom and flexibility of compatible teamwork and communication were reasonable.
Lisa didn't need to voice her dissatisfaction in this simple accepted fact. She had to trust her chess pieces. David was the same. He knew he didn't need to worry about Ultium. He was worried about something else.
Itrosh would hunt those that would pass her path while scouting from time to time wasn't a problem to her whatsoever. Murai had his device for communications. It looked like a little crystal with wires and metal plates. It was similar to the one with wide reach, but this one was smaller, fitted for a wrist, pockets, or even put onto some necklace, or behind an ear.
Murai wasn't that petty to stop anyone; everyone had certain freedom in their actions apart from Bagus. He had to follow the route that Lisa decided, and right above the Hellscape, they would be a perfect target. He would be.
It was serving more than a target, a way to get ahead quicker and serve Bagus nothing good.
Murai had no power to change the situation at all. He watched as a gust of wind propelled Bagus's body into the air. Lisa followed behind as well, flying not fast like Bagus, but she could try and figure out how her body adjusted like her palms. Plan C had some dividing parts and variants, but at the core, it was a plan to go onward with reduced attention to the surroundings and focus on a savage plan consisting of bait, switches, and groundwork.
It was also a plan that was slower because of potential dangers and enemies capable of intercepting Bagus.
Direct air travel with three Helpers around and below them shouldn't be that quick. Lisa had to ensure that Bagus wouldn't get too far from David and others because his flight was much faster than their run, and if they fought, things might get difficult very quickly.
Clearer targets in the sky could travel the fastest. That was the key point that Lisa wanted, and she doubted some would ignore them like that, while most would doubt it back. Some masters would notice them from dozens of kilometers away for sure, so how feasible was it?
Well, one thing was forgettable. Bagus was a freaking Grifhart and also a great protector one tier lower than Ultium. It wasn't as if he was someone weak. Quite the contrary, he might be even more savage than Ultium under some circumstances.
And his flight and Bloodline were respectable, and air was part of his species's domain. Lisa at least hoped it wouldn't turn into a complete disadvantage, and the ground team would do adequate work around any changes.
Since everyone's face was all over the Hellscape, information about every Helper should be either a public, or popular item in every broker, or company with any kind of information business. Carmilla proved that point, but she didn't know everything about everyone. For once, she had confidence that backfired, and there was almost nothing about Murai and absolutely nothing about Lisa whatsoever. Lost Brothers were relatively cleared up after days of research and various scouts that managed to catch some interest, giving rumors some truth.
Whatever was known or not didn't depend on companies or people, but one certain thing: clarity, truth, and Mindarch. Outside forces were rough in that regard, and Murai as a whole was an enigma. His Helpers weren't, but they weren't as important unless one was Hunter aiming for them.
Going against the Hellscape was harder than it seemed. It was sure to be the case.
Minutes passed to more minutes. Murai quickly found out he didn't prefer flying, even on top of Bagus, and even if it wasn't that quick. Ground was more stable. The air had friction, and the wind was strong. Strong mana wasn't helping either.
Murai had to clutch those thick and sturdy feathers with his beak. He looked pathetic, but it was worth the effort.
Their travel wouldn't be that quick, so Lisa had time and sharp eyes to work with other things.
Out of respect for battles and plans, Lisa planned to rest every three hours unless there were major dangers around. It was for Bagus, whose flying capabilities couldn't go on forever.
Communication was essential. The only one free to do whatever he wanted was Ultium, who wouldn't return to them every third hour because David suggested it wouldn't be fine. Lisa snorted in approval if that's what he wanted. That devil shall Hunt their enemies long before reaching their camp, either going further, while smelling blood and hunting for joy or fun.
His points were one of the reasons Lisa settled and calmed, and David knew this was worth the effort.
He was nice bait for most dangerous foes. Second was Lisa and Murai. Their points were significant.
If Ultium were defeated, there was a clear possibility that problems would arrive. It would be the best time to flee without any regard, leave others behind, and run.
Bagus cleaved the air with his robust wings, protruding and gently working with the wind.
For once, Murai observed his flight, ways how his feathers moved and angled, and the general monstrosity of his kin. It was sort of melancholic since he had seen immense and crazy beasts and beings far into the Skies, coming in different variants, sizes, and efforts. Either caused by the unhindered aspects of the Endless Skies, or Bloodlines lost in the Epochs, it made some crazy beings.
Bagus was part of the Griffin species, which were Divine Beasts with massive following on some continents. From little bits of talking, Murai discovered that Bagus was brought to this temple as a prize from Blitalia, one of the five continents of this world. He was a slave. An utter one, unworthy of a try for home, let alone some pride. He got his freedom by merits and strength, or when he changed his development by interfering with another Divine Beast and its Influence Item.
It changed his overall species to those known as Grifharts. It was neither Griffin, nor some form of Canideamon, or something else.
Bagus was an excellent piece of reference that Murai lacked. His evolutions provided clarity, and his wings, and flight gave him further ideas. Sure, he had no tail, but it was a secondary issue. Wings, or neck, Murai noticed many things that Bagus and he had in common. Some things like weight, speed, and sheer size were then the transfixed rough facts that he couldn't forget, for they mattered. A lot.
So what made Anatidaes that crazy? Why did Bagus's species though of them as special?
For once, there was one answer Bagus expressed a day ago, surrounded by flames and lunch.
Why worship some ducks, eh? Interesting, isn't it? I think it is correct. We shouldn't worship them. It's true and bad for some, but what is the point of distant worries of idiots? Nay. They are insane, yet filled with a history that shan't be forgotten or forgiven. It is worth seeing it as a legendary effort that makes beasts like this into sevants. What is impressive will stay impressive. Even some humans worship the craziness of devils, or various Lords, or demons. No matter the flesh, limits, or wraths of rules of this shitty universe, there is something good in believing in fairness, even if it might not be there at all, or looking silly like a duck, bird, or squirrel. There is one good name for it. Breachers. Limit Breakers. Enders! I deem these stories close to my heart because they are what one might call sensual.