Ace and Stellis stood crouching within the vast canopy of the forest. Volcan flew high overhead, occasionally squawking down at them.
Ace looked down at the trial timer.
---
[Current Trial - Combat Testing]
[Trial Length - 360 Days]
[Time Remaining - 330 Days]
[GQC-1 Parameters for Success - Slay a Grade 3 Sever Beast]
[Waves Completed - 1/13]
[Next Wave Start - 1 Day]
---
This was it. Two days had passed since their battle with the alligator and the second wave was nearly upon them. Their entire plan hinged on only his hunch. Even if he was right, nothing was guaranteed to go well.
Both of them had made their own preparations.
Ace continued to work on manipulating his balance point, familiarizing himself with all the different spots he could place it in his body and the kinds of effects they produced. In some cases, if his timing was perfect, he could whip around his body at incredible speeds and from unnatural angles.
Going a step further, he also began to sense the balance points of inanimate objects, although they acted distinctly different. Their balance points were much more stalwart than those of living organisms. They stood fast like mountains, taking great amounts of stamina, focus, and Sever Energy to move. However, unlike with living organisms, the balance points of inanimate objects became easier to manipulate with each successive attempt.
Out of curiosity, he tried to move the balance point of the tree he was sleeping on.
Not only was it massive, but just one touch was all it took for him to know he wasn't even close to being able to move it. It was like pushing against the world itself. He honestly doubted if he would ever have the strength to accomplish such a feat.
During his training, he could see Stellis watching intently from a distance. To her, things must have looked strange. She only saw him fiddling with his crowbar and rock. He could get the objects to behave strangely, balancing them on his finger at impossible ratios.
Unable to make sense of his ability, she made her own preparations.
Ace watched as she used a whetstone to sharpen both of her swords. He saw her practice her swordsmanship against an imaginary opponent but stop quickly after noticing his gaze.
Bringing himself back to the present, Ace could see Stellis staring at him through the corner of his eye. Her gaze combined with the uncertainty of his plan was only increased his anxiety.
Taking deep breaths, he continued to focus on the sky. His plan had to work.
After another hour, Volcan suddenly dropped down out of the sky with intense speed. Landing next to the pair, he squawked loudly and jumped around frantically.
"What's wrong with him?!" Stellis yelled, trying to avoid having her voice drowned out by Volcan's cries.
As he patted the bird to calm him down, Ace yelled back.
"It's his way of letting us know it's time! The Beasts are gathering!"
Almost as if on queue, the forest erupted into a cacophony of unnatural noise. Howls, roars, squawks, and all other manner of animal vocalizations exploded from beneath the canopy. At the same time, the trees began to shake vigorously, constantly bombarded by unknown assailants below.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
What made the display even more bizarre was that it was all happening during the middle of the day. When the Sun was up, the forest was quiet, almost eerily so. It was as if all the vicious creatures that prowled the forest floor at night simply disappeared into thin air. This was the first time that every creature was out and about all at once.
It wasn't just the forest that came alive however. In nearly every direction, large black specks were beginning to take to the skies, forming large blobs of different colors and size.
With the frenzies of both the sky and forest in full effect, Ace looked over at Volcan. He was... big. Bigger than any of the ravens that he had ever seen. Even if he was small compared to the eagle that almost ate him, there was still plenty of room on his back for a passenger... likely two.
Ace would have liked to test his hypothesis but Volcan was hard to get a hold of. He was constantly on the hunt or flying high overhead, waiting for a chance to feast on one of Ace's kills. All the high quality meat likely played a vital role in his growth.
After a few minutes, he finally managed to calm Volcan down.
"Get on!" He shouted to Stellis.
*** 5 Minutes Later ***
Ace found that his worries were completely unfounded. Both him, Stellis, and Volcan soared through the air without strain. Stellis rode in the front while Ace clung to her back.
It only made sense for the person with two arms to be in front. While it wasn't the kind of situation in which one could afford to be flustered, there was some uncomfortable shuffling before the pair managed to settle onto Volcan's back.
With each second, they climbed higher and higher towards the clouds, eventually breaking through the fluffy barrier. Once above them, they were greeted by a blue tapestry painted with the different colors of all sorts of Sever Beasts.
Now up close, the pair could see various bird species that had been mutated. Some looked like bigger versions of their original counterparts while others looked... otherworldly. It seemed that Sever energy mutation wasn't kind to every species.
Before they could marvel at the sight for much longer, a large part of the horde broke off and flew away in a straight line. Just like Ace suspected, the splintered group was full of exclusively Ravens.
Staying low, he pointed out the flock to Volcan. He didn't need to be told what to do next.
Ace thought about his plan. It was simple.
'If Sever Beast leave their natural habitats to attack our city, then that means we just have to follow them. I haven't even seen the edge of the forest yet, so trying to follow a land animal out of this place is no good. The sky is the only way.
We'll just have to be ready for whatever other beast territories we pass through. The flock that brought me here was much smaller than it's nest indicated. A lot of them probably didn't survive the return trip... we'll have to be on the lookout.'
He didn't need to say anything to Stellis. They had been over every facet of the plan, preparing themselves for what was to come. In the back of his mind, he had some concerns. The memory of the writhing shadow he had seen in the clouds a month prior was at the forefront of them.
He could only hope that their journey would be uneventful. Even though he knew it was foolish, he believed that they could follow the birds all the way back to GQC-1, land in his slum district and fight their way to his home. Maybe for once in the past month things would go his way?
*** 16 Hours Later ***
The flock had flown without rest through most of the day and deep into the night. Above the clouds, the Raven's coasted on the air currents, rarely flapping their wings. Volcan was no exception. Even with his payload, he seemed unperturbed.
Now that Volcan's body was horizontal, Ace no longer needed to hold onto Stellis and instead sat back to back with her, grasping Volcan's plumage with a hand.
Unexpectedly, Stellis spoke up.
"The stars... They're beautiful."
Ace arched an eyebrow.
"Where's this coming from? I didn't take you for the sentimental stargazing type. We see them every night. Even a Slumdog knows as much."
Stellis lightly elbowed him in the ribs.
"Not in the city. While it may be an incomparably different place than the slums... it also has its downsides. One of which is the lack of a starry night sky. Because of the light pollution we can't see them at all..."
Rolling his eyes, Ace spoke in a lighthearted tone.
"Ohhhh wow, you can't see the stars. Have you ever eaten a nutrient biscuit? I mean seriously. It looks like gray mud and I've probably eaten thousands..."
Stellis sighed before continuing.
"I don't mean to diminish your experience, I'm just saying that there are some unsavory characteristics of the city, many of which you will experience when I introduce you to House Steel..."
Ace frowned.
"What? I think there's been some misunderstanding. I'm helping you get back because I need to get back too. But once we return, we're done. I have to go see my family. I have to know they're okay. "
"And then what?" Stellis said, her tone laced with annoyance. "You're going to stay outside The Wall? I'm sure I don't have to explain how stupid that is. Ace, you have a lot of potential, we can't let it be wasted. I'm sure we can do something for your family too! If you have doubts... I'll have you know I am the dau-"
'Why did she pause?'
When she spoke again her tone was completely different.
"Turn around... NOW! We have a problem!"
As soon as he complied, he saw what she was looking at.
'Yea... that's definitely going to be a problem.'