Agonizing cries reverberated from all sides as once-proud avians attacked me like mindless beasts. The least I could do now was to grant them a quick death. A group of them surged forward, leaving me with two choices: ascend higher behind the clouds or descend rapidly. Charging the energy in my wings, they momentarily glowed even brighter. When I released all the energy with a single sweep of my wings, I catapulted behind the clouds. The speed was so immense that the clouds split open, and in the absence of natural light, my wings became the sole source of illumination in the sky, making it easy for other avians to locate me. High-pitched screams and the sound of a dozen flapping wings drew nearer and nearer—soon the hollowed avians would arrive.
One after another, they pierced through the clouds, their sole focus was me. Attempting to maintain my distance, I observed their movements to the best of my abilities. Their motions were unnatural, to say the least, their heads violently moving from side to side as if not under their control. Relentlessly, their arms reached out into the air before them, desperately aiming to grasp me, all while emitting continuous screams, as if imploring, „Save me.”
They seemed awkward, as though confined within a stranger's body, and their actions not their own but orchestrated by a master puppeteer.
Once more, they encircled me as they closed in rapidly. In response, I ascended even higher, yet this proved to be a great error. A lone hollow avian awaited me from above, descending swiftly in my direction, its arms seizing and restricting my movement. Simultaneously, a dozen others closed in from behind, ensnaring me until my figure vanished from view. I could feel their long nails tearing the skin from my back, while the one before me emanated a dark smoke from his body, it reminded me of a smoke I used that swallowed the councilor, but this one was thinner and less potent. The smoke did not harm me, but instead, my body absorbed it and with it, all my wounds started to heal. Why did this happen? I doubt he wanted to heal me, so why?
"Agh, no time for thinking!” I muttered to myself, as once again I started charging up the energy in my wings.
With each passing moment, the wounds inflicted upon me would miraculously heal. For whatever reason; I was temporarily invincible. Who knew if this newfound power was only temporary? In truth, I understood very little about my abilities. Due to confinement for most of my life, I hadn't had the opportunity to test them. Yet, one thing was certain—they feared me because of them. They had to be powerful enough to overcome whatever challenges they threw my way.
The wings on my back pulsed with an incredible surge of radiant energy. All I needed to do now was release it, and I did. The radiance was so intense that it briefly blinded me. The unleashed energy resembled an explosion, but a silent one—no sound, only the echoes of fading screams from the hollow avians disappearing into nothingness. As my vision cleared, no hollow remained; they were completely incinerated.
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"Now that's taken care of, I suppose I should pay the others a visit,” I remarked as I hovered beyond the clouds, my golden wings burning brighter than ever, a thin cloak of dark energy enveloping my body.
I understood that my chances of leaving this place alive were slim. The portals that lead into other planes of existence were likely sealed, and even if they weren't, I'd be like a fish out of water without celestial essence, which is crucial for an avian's survival and is found only in Elyria. I could last up to three days, then I would come crawling back home. The only true escape was banishment – to be stripped of my celestial essence and powers, mirroring my mother's fate. To earn the severest punishment, I had to prove myself worthy, and that's exactly what I intended to do.
I descended rapidly into the midst of the enemy lines, sowing chaos and fear. My fists, infused with radiant energy, struck with precision, penetrating avian armors effortlessly. I moved seamlessly from one foe to another, and with each hit, an avian body would plummet from the sky. My speed was so intense that the panic spread like wildfire through the avian ranks. Witnessing their comrades fall, the fear of being next rendered their movements erratic; their once-unified lines shattered, and self-preservation became the priority. Unlike mortals, avians lacked experience in warfare due to the absence of adversaries in their history.
As I leaped from one battalion to the next, my focus shifted to the higher-ranking officers who, until now, had observed their soldiers being decimated without raising a finger themselves. I needed to tread carefully; these leaders held their positions for a reason, and their power surpassed any I had encountered before. Clad in imposing silver armor, most of them wielded weapons infused with divine magic. Among them, a particular figure stood out, the mightiest avian in Elyria: Atlas, also known as the Crimson Blade.
Atlas differed from the rest by wearing red armor, and his blade, devoid of divine magic, emitted a peculiar energy. It had a black handle and a crimson-red blade that mirrored the hue of his wings—a color reminiscent of blood. A foreboding intuition gripped me, suggesting that the blade had claimed the lives of millions since its forging and only hungered for more.
Standing before me, I couldn't ignore how small and insignificant I felt. Despite our similar heights and physiques, Atlas exuded an aura I couldn't grasp. His yellow eyes pierced through me, devoid of anger or particular interest; clearly, he saw me not as a threat but as a mere insect awaiting its demise. His composed demeanor and icy gaze left me breathless. It was then I realized; that if I were to engage in a fight with him; I would die.