Chapter 680 Flying Menace (5)
From his hidden vantage point, Erik watched in awe as the Galewing descended onto the sand, its talons sinking into the ground with a fierce, predatory grip.
As the creature drew closer, Erik recognized the lifeless body of the driver, a man he had relied on throughout their dangerous expedition to the White Desert.
They had shared meals, laughter, and stories around campfires, forming a camaraderie that was now severed.
Erik watched in horror as the Galewing descended upon the severed head. With a grace that belied its massive size, the Galewing extended its razor-sharp talons, grasping the grizzly prize.
Its movements were precise, almost ritualistic, as if performing a sacred rite of the wild. The Galewing tilted its head, examining the head with an intensity that seemed almost contemplative.
Then, with a swift motion, it opened its massive beak, revealing a cavernous maw lined with rows of needle-like teeth.
A wave of sorrow washed over him, gripping his heart. Erik knew well that he couldn't afford to grieve, no matter how much he mourned the loss, as he had a cunning predator to outmaneuver.
With the gruesome meal now consumed, the Galewing directed its attention towards the wreckage of the armored vehicle.
The keen eyes of the creature had noticed the remaining part of the driver's body, which was still secured in the seat.
A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of Erik's lips, forming into a cunning smirk. All the elements of the scenario were playing out under his plan.
By employing the dust cloud as a diversion, he created a smokescreen to mask his actions and secure for himself a significant amount of time. Once the cloud of dust emerged, he activated his Chameleon Veil to conceal himself.
The Galewing was positioned at such a distance that it was impossible to discern the faint ripples created by its movement.
Recognizing the opening, Erik concealed himself in proximity to the protected vehicle, planning to execute a swift decapitation of the ferocious beast upon its arrival for sustenance.
If he didn't seize this opportunity, he would have no other chance to eliminate the Galewing.
As the Galewing reached the vehicle and prepared to feast on the remaining human remains, Erik knew this wasn't yet his moment.
With his muscles tensed, his senses heightened, and every fiber of his being concentrated, he was focused on the task at hand.
The Galewing, with a swift and dismissive gesture, flicked its talons, extracting the headless body from the vehicle's wreckage. It then cast the lifeless form onto the sandy terrain with a powerful and careless motion, as if discarding an unwanted item.
As the body landed, it produced a dull, heavy thud, a sound that seemed to disturb the quiet of the desert. The body came to rest a short distance from the twisted metal of the car.
Then the Galewing paused, surveying its surroundings with an air of regal caution. Its eyes scanned the horizon, its head moving in measured motions.
The creature seemed to assess the safety of its environment, ensuring that no threats loomed nearby before it continued.
This pause was a display of its primal instinct for survival, a moment of vigilance in a world where danger could lurk behind any dune or shadow.
In a measured, almost deliberate manner, the Galewing lowered its beak toward the motionless figure on the ground.
With ease, it tore through the armored suit that had once served as a protective shell for the driver.
The suit, designed to withstand significant force, was no match for the Galewing's powerful beak and sharp talons.
Like paper in the grip of a shredder, the armor yielded to the creature's relentless strength, revealing the tender meat that lay beneath.
As Erik experienced a pang of both sorrow and hate, his emotions were overwhelming. The driver had played a role that extended beyond being just a member of the convoy.
On this dangerous trek through the White Desert, he had stood by as a companion. And so, he was left as nothing more than a small bite-sized portion of this terrifying predator.
However, a mischievous smirk spread across his face as Erik observed the Galewing engrossed in its gruesome feast. He was already savoring the creature's blood. He was going to act, to kill the beast that dared kill one of his men.
He had been longing for this specific moment to arrive, and now it had. As the creature's undivided attention was focused on its meal, it presented him with the ideal chance to make his move. At long last, the time we had been waiting for had come.
He started channeling mana for both Nathaniel's and the Xeridon Anteris's brain crystal pow's brain crystal powers. There was only one thought in the young man's mind: to kill.
The Galewing, so absorbed in its forthcoming feast, had become careless, thus giving Erik the perfect chance to strike.
Erik channeled almost all his mana to his legs and arms and supercharged Nathaniel's power.
If he were to miss, it would have dire consequences, as that would cause the creature's survival. He felt the need to go above and beyond by playing it with excessive force.
In a sudden surge of velocity, Erik burst forth from his place of concealment, his unwavering focus directed toward his target.
In a moment of swift motion, the Galewing's head jolted upwards, its eyes widening in astonishment and the slow dawn of realization. Unfortunately, by the time the monster realized what was happening, it was already too late.
With the intensity of a wound spring, Erik's muscles coiled, his entire being consumed by the singular aim that lay ahead of him.
His strength reached unimaginable heights as his mana surged in rhythm with his heartbeat, each pulse amplifying his power.
With an incredible burst of speed, he propelled himself into the air, ascending to great heights and leaving the desert floor far below.
As he ascended, time appeared to slow down, and his gaze remained fixed on the head of the Galewing.
To avoid the imminent danger, the creature, filled with a sense of fear, attempted to fly away.
However, their realization came after the opportune moment had passed. Erik's fist, gleaming as it harnessed the immense power of his channeled brain crystal powers, descended toward its target with the unstoppable force of a falling meteor.
Erik's fist connected with the Galewing's skull with devastating impact. The force was so immense that it triggered a shocking, instantaneous reaction.
Almost instantly, the creature's head shattered, disintegrating in a gruesome display. A ghastly spray of blood and brain matter erupted outward, forming a macabre halo around the now headless creature.
Amidst this violent spectacle, Erik's focus zeroed in on the brain crystal. He watched as the crystal, once housed within the Galewing's skull, now tumbled through the air before landing on the ground with a muted thud.
[GALEWING KILLED: MANA ABSORBING PROCESS STARTING.]
[0%...1%....5%...30%...70%...100%]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY ABSORBED, STARTING CONVERTING PROCEDURE.]
[3...2...1...0]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY CONVERTED INTO EXPERIENCE. 4908 EXPERIENCE POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]
[QUEST COMPLETE. REWARD ISSUED.]
The force of Erik's strike unleashed a potent shockwave that rippled through the air with palpable intensity.
This wave of energy radiated outward from the point of impact, creating visible disturbances in the air.
As it traveled, it sent ripples cascading across the sandy terrain, distorting the smooth surface of the desert like stones skipped across a calm pond.
Erik landed and his feet sank into the soft desert floor, leaving an imprint. As he gazed upon the headless corpse of the Galewing, he witnessed its once-majestic wings, now devoid of life, hanging as it slumped to the ground.
A wave of dark and unsettling satisfaction washed over him, leaving him with a peculiar sense of contentment.
The creature that had instilled terror in their hearts and ended the life of his comrade had been extinguished.
His state of mind remained unchanged as he stood there. The driver, his fallen companion, could not be brought back. He was dead and there was nothing he could do about it.
Though he acknowledged he was not all-powerful and could not rescue everyone, he carried a sense of remorse for his perceived inadequacy.
Erik clenched his fists that his knuckles turned white. His motivation for fighting and risking his own safety was to ensure the protection of his guild members.
Everyone understood just how dangerous this mission was, and those who partook embraced the associated risks.
Even though they had reservations, they placed their trust in him to ensure that no lives were lost, aware that he could fail. If it weren't for that, they wouldn't have agreed to be a part of the mission.
As he glanced toward the convoy's direction, which was visible only as a distant speck, he came to the understanding that the journey was still long and far from being finished.
There would be more threats and more life-or-death struggles.
However, for the time being, at least, there was one less monster wandering around the White Desert, and that was at least something.
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