Chapter 1183 Incompetent Goddess of Monsters
As the griffin swooped in, a majestic and formidable creature, Michael readied himself. His plan was clear: to observe and analyze the beast's reactions to Gaya's presence, rather than killing it outright.
Each of Michael's movements was a calculated dance of agility. He ducked and weaved through the forest, the griffin's sharp talons slashing through the air where he had been moments before. His evasion was almost an art form, predicting and sidestepping the griffin's powerful dives and lunges with an acrobat's grace.
From her vantage point, Gaya watched intently, understanding Michael's strategy. "He's testing my effect on the beast," she whispered to herself, her eyes tracking every movement below.
"Look at him go, dodging like it's a game!" Ayag exclaimed with a mixture of admiration and impatience.
"Yeah, but notice how the griffin's getting stronger every time it swoops near Gaya," Sarba observed, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Indeed, as the griffin made another pass near the tree where Gaya was concealed, Michael noted a subtle surge in its strength. Its wings beat harder, its screeches grew louder, and its attacks became more vigorous. It was as if Gaya's proximity was fueling its ferocity.
Michael continued his ballet of evasion, carefully noting these changes. "It's getting stronger," he muttered under his breath, confirming his suspicion. "Gaya's presence is affecting it."
The griffin, sensing its prey's reluctance to attack, grew bolder. It launched itself with increased vigor, its icy breath creating a chilling mist in the night air. In the thick of the night, the darkness cloaked the griffin's form, rendering it nearly invisible. Ayag, perched high, strained her eyes to catch a glimpse. "I can't see a fucking thing in this darkness," she hissed, frustration evident in her voice.
As the battle ensued, Michael's torch tumbled to the ground. For a brief moment, the griffin descended, landing heavily on the forest floor. The dim light of the fallen torch flickered across its formidable body, casting eerie shadows and revealing its terrifying form.
The griffin was a nightmarish fusion of a lion and an eagle. Its body, legs, and tail were those of a mighty lion, covered in dark, matted fur that seemed to absorb the faint light. The head was that of a colossal eagle, with a bloody beak that dripped with the remnants of its recent prey. Its vast and powerful wings were spread wide, casting an ominous shadow over the forest floor. The sharp and deadly talons dug into the earth with each movement.
The most disturbing detail was the smell it emitted — a reek of blood and death that permeated the air. The scent spoke of countless hunts and kills, a testament to the beast's brutal nature.
In a swift, almost deliberate motion, the griffin swung its massive head towards the torch. With a single puff of its icy breath, it extinguished the light, plunging the area back into darkness. The sudden return to darkness was accompanied by a bone-chilling peal, a sound that echoed through the forest, sending shivers down the spines of those present.
The extinguished torch left them in near-complete darkness, with only the faintest moonlight filtering through the dense canopy. As the griffin's screeching echoed in the darkness, Michael prepared himself, his senses heightened. "Just keep dodging its attacks," Gaya's voice rang out from her hidden perch in the trees.
She continued, her voice tinged with intrigue, "I'm feeling a strange connection with this griffin."
The battle unfolded with Michael skillfully avoiding the griffin's relentless assaults. The griffin, a massive creature with a lion's body and an eagle's head, swooped down repeatedly, its talons aiming for Michael. But each time, he deftly sidestepped or rolled away, his movements fluid and precise.
Despite the lack of light, Michael's training as an assassin allowed him to predict the griffin's moves. His instincts, honed from countless battles, guided him through the perilous dance.
At one point, the griffin lunged with unexpected speed, its beak snapping close to Michael's head. Reacting with astonishing quickness, Michael pushed off the ground with incredible force, propelling himself backward. His strength was evident in the way the earth seemed to compress beneath his feet as he launched away.
Frustrated by its inability to land a blow, the griffin let out a furious screech and increased its ferocity. It began to attack more wildly, its wings creating gusts of wind that rustled the leaves and branches around them.
Michael continued to evade, each move a testament to his brute strength and agility. He was a blur in the darkness, a shadow dancing just out of reach of the deadly creature.
Gaya watched intently, noticing the subtle changes in the griffin's behavior whenever it flew near her. The connection she felt seemed to be influencing the beast, though she couldn't fully understand how.
As the battle between Michael and the griffin intensified, Gaya's focus shifted inward, tuning into the brutish voice echoing in her head. With each peel of the griffin's screech, words like "Kill," "Blood," "Hungry," and "Revenge" reverberated through her mind, each spoken as if by the griffin itself.
Each utterance was distinct, its intent clear, and Gaya felt an odd connection to the beast. It was as if the griffin's thoughts and desires were being transmitted directly to her, a goddess of monsters.
Observing her frown and distant look, Ayag perched on her shoulder and asked with concern, "What is it?"
"I think... I might be hearing the griffin," Gaya responded, her voice tinged with uncertainty and awe.
Ayag, somewhat skeptical, rolled her eyes. "No shit, we're all hearing it."
Gaya shook her head, her expression serious. "No, you don't understand. I can hear the griffin speak. It's not just screeches. It's words, feelings. It's like it's talking to me."
Gaya's voice cut through the night, urgent and clear. "Don't hurt it, Ghost," she pleaded, her connection with the griffin growing stronger.
Ayag snickered from her perch, "Tell that to the griffin!"
Ignoring Ayag, Sarba asked gently, "Can you talk to it, Gaya?"
"I'm trying," Gaya replied, her concentration evident.
Michael, understanding the situation, nodded at Gaya. He quickly formulated a plan to subdue the griffin, intending to use the environment and his tools rather than his godly powers. His mind raced, mapping out the forest and pinpointing the best areas to execute his plan.
He moved with purpose, luring the griffin towards a dense thicket. With each step, he calculated the creature's movements, predicting its next attack. The griffin, powerful and fierce, followed, its eyes fixed on Michael.
Michael reached into his palm, activating the potion dispenser. He released a cloud of thick, blinding smoke, obscuring the griffin's vision. The creature screeched in confusion, its senses overwhelmed.
Seizing the moment, Michael darted behind a large tree. He quickly concocted a potion, mixing ingredients with precision. The result was a sticky, net-like substance that he flung towards the griffin. The creature, still disoriented, became entangled in the net, its movements hindered.
Michael didn't stop there. He used the forest to his advantage, leading the griffin into areas where low-hanging branches and thick underbrush further impeded its movement. Each step was calculated, each action designed to exhaust and confuse the beast without causing it harm.
As the griffin struggled, Michael observed its behavior, looking for signs of Gaya's influence. The creature's aggression seemed to wane slightly, its eyes less fierce, as if Gaya's attempts at communication were having an effect.
With the griffin now significantly slowed down, Michael approached cautiously. He extended a hand, exuding a calming energy, a skill he'd honed over countless battles. The griffin, its wildness tempered, hesitated, its breaths heavy and labored.
Michael spoke softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "We're not here to hurt you. Calm down. We can help."
The griffin's eyes locked with Michael's, a silent understanding passing between them. Slowly, the majestic creature's muscles relaxed, and its wings folded back. The transformation was remarkable – from a fierce, uncontrollable beast to a subdued, almost gentle creature.
In the background, Gaya watched in awe, her connection with the griffin strengthening. She whispered words of comfort, her voice carrying through the night, reaching the griffin's ears. The beast responded, its peals turning into soft, almost melodic sounds.
Michael stepped back, giving Gaya space to approach. She walked towards the griffin, her presence radiating a soothing aura. The griffin, recognizing her as the Goddess of Monsters, lowered its head in a sign of respect and acknowledgment.
The griffin's demeanor shifted abruptly, its earlier respect replaced by a surge of anger and frustration. It glared at Gaya, its words scathing. "You must be the most incompetent goddess I have ever seen," it sneered, its voice filled with contempt. "How have you failed so miserably as the Goddess of Monsters?"
Gaya, taken aback by the griffin's harsh words, stumbled over her response. "I didn't..." she began, her voice trailing off in uncertainty.
Michael, observing the change in Gaya, felt a pang of concern. Never had he seen her so disoriented, her usually unshakeable confidence shattered by the griffin's accusations.
"You let us be enslaved!" the griffin continued, its voice rising with each word. "You were supposed to protect us, yet here we are, captives and playthings for these tamers!"
Gaya struggled to formulate a response, her usual bravado nowhere in sight. The accusations struck her deeply, the weight of her newfound responsibilities as a goddess pressing down on her.
Michael watched helplessly, unable to hear the griffin's words but clearly seeing their impact on Gaya. Her eyes, usually so bright and fierce, now held a glimmer of self-doubt and hurt.
The griffin's anger didn't wane. "You are a failure as a goddess," it growled, its eyes locked onto Gaya's. "How could you ever hope to be a mother to his child?" it added, nodding towards Michael with a mixture of disdain and challenge.
Gaya's face fell, the griffin's words cutting through her like a knife. The accusation of failing not only as a goddess but also as a potential mother left her speechless, her usual quick retorts silenced by the gravity of the griffin's words.
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