Chapter 679 Flying Menace (4)
Erik took a deep breath, starting a process similar to that of a conductor calling forth the symphony of an orchestra.
As he tapped into his mana reserves, a vibrant river of light surged through his neural links, flowing through a complex network of canals.
Like the city's lights springing to life at dusk, each strand of mana illuminated the neural links in his body, weaving through them like luminous threads.
The flow of energy, which was both graceful and powerful, created a harmonious dance within him, connecting every part of his being and echoing the rhythm of Erik's will in a cycle of creation and flow.
With a mere thought, he triggered the activation of his brain crystal's power, "Target Lock," securing his focus on the Galewing's unmistakable presence in the heavens above.
The connection between them seemed to be as strong as an invisible tether. The creature's every movement, along with its continuous circling above, was easily detected and sensed by Erik.
In this manner, the young man would never be unaware of the location.
Subsequently, Erik focused his mana towards harnessing the powers that he had obtained from the Xeridon Anteris and Nathaniel.
The initial power he gained greatly enhanced his physical strength, causing his muscles to transform into tightly wound springs of immense explosive energy.
Nathaniel's "Force Fist" power lent that extra to his natural strength, elevating it to a level reminiscent of a human cannon.
The power emitted in each pulse appeared to create a resonance in the air, infusing the atmosphere with a palpable and almost electrifying energy.
After meticulously weaving an energy matrix into his arm, Erik shifted his focus downwards, feeling content.
His gaze settled on the ground, where the slightest vibrations under his feet connected him to the earth.
As he prepared to unleash the pent-up energy, he took a stance, feeling the sand beneath his feet sink slightly as he coiled his muscles.
By using all his strength, he delivered a ferocious punch that contacted the ground. The consequences of the event were cataclysmic. From the point of contact, a powerful shockwave radiated outward, causing the sand and dust to be lifted high into the air.
In a matter of seconds, an enormous cloud of sand and dust erupted from the ground, expanding to cover a vast area of 50 meters in radius and causing the complete obstruction of anything in its trajectory.
The scene was such that it seemed like the desert had been called upon to assist him, with a swirling vortex of particles that obscured the sun and transformed the day into a dim and hazy twilight.
Erik understood that the Galewing's targeting abilities were reliant on its keen eyesight, and by immersing it in this self-created sandstorm, he had deprived it of its vision.
A disoriented screech escaped from the creature, its piercing cry resounding and echoing through the clouded air. Erik's awareness of the beast's confusion led him to observe how it circled hesitantly, its predatory focus disturbed and uncertain.
With his teeth gritted against the swirling sand that surrounded him, he grinned. With its dual purpose, the cloud was able to perform two tasks.
Besides obscuring him from the Galewing's sight, it also concealed his movements, thus enabling him to make preparations for the next stage of his plan.
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As the Galewing flew in circles above, its keen eyes were focused on scanning the cloud of dust and sand that had settled below.
Where had the human gone? The empty expanse of the desert was all that the creature's piercing eyes, renowned for their ability to locate prey from afar, could find.
As if a predator had lost its prey, the creature felt an overwhelming sense of frustration.
Accustomed to the relentless pursuit and unerring focus of a hawk eyeing its quarry, the sudden loss of its targets left it bewildered and agitated, much like a seasoned hunter confounded by the unexpected escape of a cornered animal.
In order to get a more comprehensive view of the landscape, the creature expanded its search radius and soared higher into the sky.
With a whoosh, the wings of the creature sliced through the air, propelling it even farther away from the cloud of vanished dust.
With every passing minute, the sense of time seemed to elongate, amplifying the disappointment as the Galewing's search proved fruitless.
The human was nowhere to be found, even after ten minutes had gone by. With each passing moment, the creature's frustration grew, morphing into a simmering rage.
The disappearance of the human was so perplexing that it appeared they had vanished, a concept that troubled the Galewing's sharp intellect.
The sound of the creature's piercing screech, filled with irritation, echoed across the empty landscape.
The Galewing carefully considered its options before finally making a decision.
The creature had a choice to make - either it could persist in this search, spending even more energy and time, or it could go back to its original hunting grounds, where there was an abundance of prey that was easier to catch.
However, there was a part of it that fought against choosing the latter option. The hesitation it displayed might have been because of its pride, or it could have been its instinct as a predator, which made it reluctant to let its prey slip away.
As the Galewing spotted an unfamiliar object on the ground below, its eyes narrowed in curiosity.
It was an anomaly, something that stood out and didn't seem to belong in its surroundings.
Resting in the barren desert landscape, there was a rectangular object that stood out because of its shape, which was distinct from the natural contours of the surroundings.
The Galewing had never seen a rock or natural formation that resembled it. The Galewing, who knew this world so well, recognized the object as a clear foreign anomaly.
With an ever-increasing curiosity, the Galewing descended in a spiraling motion, circling around and inching closer to the captivating discovery that lay beneath.
As it made its way down, the recognizable form of a lifeless person emerged from the wreckage.
The creature made several chirping sounds, revealing its delight and eagerness. Despite being unexpected, the end of its hunt resulted in a rewarding outcome.
With every descent, the Galewing's stomach emitted a rumbling noise, resembling the distant thunder heard on a stormy horizon, showing its intense hunger.
Its predatory instincts turned into a symphony of anticipation as the prospect of nourishment loomed.
As the creature approached, it recalled that the human it had attempted to eliminate earlier had actually come out of that very metallic structure.
The creature was filled with uncertainty as it tried to comprehend the nature of that peculiar object. Was it a rock? At first glance, it appeared to be the case, but simultaneously, it seemed not to be true. Despite this, the situation remained unchanged: the "non-rock" still contained food inside.
The Galewing hesitated briefly, pausing for just a moment. Despite the potential risks involved, the bird landed and investigate, ultimately prioritizing the meal it was about to have.
The creature's sharp intellect and primal instincts clashed, each competing to determine its next move.
The creature took its time, but finally, it decided. The Galewing, with a forceful flap of its massive wings, started the last part of its descent, its unblinking eyes focused solely on the enigmatic rectangular object beneath. There were no opponents to challenge it.
As it grew closer, it became more perceptive, its senses on high alert, searching for any sign of human activity or looming peril.
The Galewing's descent was marked by grace as it extended its massive wings, causing vast shadows to envelop the sun-baked sand.
With precision, as it approached the ground, the creature manipulated its wings, decelerating its descent in a manner reminiscent of a proficient glider nearing its intended target.
With a final, calculated motion, it made contact with the ground, its sharp talons piercing the soft, sun-kissed sand.
When it landed, the impact was so strong that it created a small cloud of fine grains, which shimmered for a moment in the sunlight before settling back down.
The creature's talons, resembling the roots of an ancient tree, anchored it to the ground as if they were embedded in the earth.
With sharp and unblinking eyes, it shifted its focus to the strange object placed in front of it.
In a display of majestic beauty, the Galewing stood still for a moment, its predator instincts kicking in as it surveyed its surroundings with keen interest, every sense attuned to the nuances of this unexpected find.
As the Galewing prepared to delve deeper into its investigation, its head tilted in a gesture reminiscent of a scholar pondering a complex riddle.
The curiosity in its gaze was as clear as a star in the night sky, shining with the desire for understanding.
At this moment, the creature, usually the epitome of alertness and caution, allowed itself a rare lapse into vulnerability.
It lowered its guard, basking in a sense of security as if it were a king within the walls of his own impregnable fortress.
The thought of danger seemed as distant to the Galewing as the possibility of a mountain being uprooted from the earth.
In its mind, what force in nature could challenge a being of such majesty and power?
However, it was clear the beast wasn't as smart as it believed to be.
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