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Each of his footsteps made an exaggerated thud! as if the ground itself trembled beneath his strength. His arms were pumping, his muscles flexing, his face twisted in an overly dramatic expression of determination.
"Prepare yourself, young cultivator!" he bellowed, voice shaking the very stalls around him.
Nima stood completely still, watching him approach. She waited until he was close—so close that people were holding their breath, expecting an earth-shattering clash.
Then, just as Raka raised his fist, ready to unleash a mighty blow…!!!
Nima lifted her hand and gently tapped him on the forehead with her finger.
TAP!!!
Raka’s eyes widened in exaggerated shock. His entire body seemed to freeze for a split second. Then, in the most over-the-top display of defeat imaginable, he flailed his arms and stumbled backwards.
"Noooo! She’s too powerful!" he shouted as he spun through the air, as if he had been hit by a divine force. The acting was so convincing that everyone believed it.
He crashed straight into a pile of cabbage carts. The sound of vegetables scattering in all directions filled the air, followed by the horrified scream of a vendor.
"My cabbages!"
Silence fell over the market. Every single person stared at the aftermath. The dust settled around the fallen warrior, who lay dramatically sprawled over the ruined cabbages.
Then, suddenly, the crowd erupted into cheers.
"She did it!"
"The perverted warrior has fallen!"
"Nima is a true hero!"
People clapped and shouted, some even lifting their arms in triumph. The energy was contagious, and soon the entire market was celebrating.
Kent ran a hand over his face, barely able to contain himself. He hadn’t expected the act to go this far, but now that it had, he wasn’t about to ruin the moment. But his heart was bleeding because he needed to pay for cabbages.
Meanwhile, Nima adjusted her sleeves, looking completely unbothered. "Hmph. All too easy."
She walked over to Raka, who groaned dramatically as he shifted among the cabbages. "As promised," she said, standing over him, "you must now honour your word."
Raka let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes.
"If… if that is what the people demand… then I shall comply."
A hush fell over the market. Then, in a sudden burst of magical energy, a pair of pants materialized onto Raka’s legs. After that Raka jumps on a rooftop. Then he says, I will leave this city. I can’t take this humiliation. A proud warrior like me was defeated by a kid!!
For a single moment, time seemed to stand still. And then—, The crowd exploded into celebration.
"Justice has been served!"
"The market is safe once more!"
"All hail Nima!"
People cheered and clapped, some even wiping tears from their eyes as if they had just witnessed the birth of a true legend. A stall owner says, Kent your little sister is a true hero. She is so strong. I hope my kids can learn something from her.
Nima, basking in the attention, placed her hands on her hips. "I expect free snacks for life," she muttered to Kent.
Kent shook his head. "Let’s just go home, Nima." You have your hero moment. Auri is alone at home.
Later that night, Auri was talking to himself. He was saying what happened to him this afternoon. He describes his achievements like a tale in his thoughts.
Once upon a time, in a quiet backyard, lived a small, Emberling sparrow named Auri. He had survived flying shoes from a mean girl named Nima, the dreaded Vacuum of Devastation, and Kent’s weird training sessions. But despite his struggles, Auri had no respect in the bird world. Other birds bullied him because of his colour, his family had shoved him aside, and even the squirrels of Ruin looked down on him. But one day, everything changed.
It all started with Nima, the human girl Auri has to obey. Auri looks up to her as family. But she had eaten a creamy and chocolatey piece of bread. An entire packet of chips and juice bottle alone instead of sharing it with him. The betrayal cut deep.
He asked her to share some with him. But she replied, you need to lose weight. You are becoming more and more fat. If you eat more you won’t be able to fly. From now on I will only feed you vegetables.
Auri chirped in outrage, this is wrong. I want to eat yummy food, give me a bite. But the heartless Nima didn’t care about AURI’s feelings. She ate everything alone. Auri in anger flapped his wings, and flew away, vowing to find a place where he could earn that money thing and buy his own food.
After flying for what felt like forever (but was actually five minutes, fat body problem), Auri found himself in Kent’s backyard field, where a gang of crows gathered. They were big, loud, and obviously important. Their leader, a massive crow named Brutus, strutted forward.
Brutus squinted at Auri. "Oi. You’re small. What are you?"
Auri puffed up his chest. "I’m Auri. The strongest bird in this land." I am also the owner of this field. This field belongs to my family.
The crows cackled. "You!! Strong!! Owner!!! You’re just a tiny feather ball."
Auri smirked. "I have seen things. I have survived things. I have fought battles you wouldn’t believe."
Brutus flapped his wings. "Oh yeah? Prove it." He picked up a shiny coin. "If you can move this without touching it, we’ll acknowledge your strength."
Auri looked at the coin. He is an evolved bird but his level is very low. He doesn’t have enough power to move the coin without touching it. He can break the coin or throw it hundreds of meters away. But moving it without touching it is impossible for him right now. If there was one thing Auri had mastered watching TV, it was acting tough.
He dramatically walked over to the coin, pretended to use spiritual energy to move it, flexed his little wings, and screamed.
"SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
The crows jumped in shock. Then—Auri kicked the coin when no one was looking, making it roll away. He immediately chased after it, flapping like a maniac.
"LOOK! I AM MOVING IT WITH MY POWER!!"
The crows lost their minds.
"HE’S SO STRONG!"
"NO WAY, HE MOVED IT WITH JUST HIS AURA!"
Brutus, utterly convinced, nodded. "You are… indeed powerful."
Just as Auri was about to claim his victory, a massive evolved seagull landed nearby. Seagulls were the true gangsters of the sky—loud, fearless, and willing to steal from anyone.
The seagull flapped its wings. "This farm field is mine now. Get lost." I can feel the spiritual energy from olants.
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The crows panicked. "BOSS! WHAT DO WE DO?!"
Auri’s survival instincts screamed RUN, YOU IDIOT!!! I will go and call Kent. He will beat the shit out of him.
But then, he saw a baby crow trip, trying to escape. The seagull’s eyes locked onto the little one.
And Auri felt something snap inside him. No, I can’t rely on Kent. I have become stronger. I came out of the house with one purpose, that is to become an independent bird. I have to solve my own problems. I am also an evolved bird. I survived living with many powerful monsters inside the Ruin.
Auri flapped onto the fence and yelled in his most intimidating chirp:
"HEY, FEATHER FACE! YOU THINK YOU’RE TOUGH? TRY ME!"
The seagull paused mid-air. Did a tiny fat crow just challenge me?!
The crows gasped. What is he doing? That seagull is ten times bigger than him. He will get beaten very badly. What should we do?
The seagull snarled and dove at Auri, talons ready.
Auri’s heart pounded. His brain screamed WHAT THE HELL AM I WAITING FOR?! I have to attack. I can beat this white feather with one punch.
But his feet slipped, and he accidentally launched himself straight at the seagull butthole.
To everyone watching, looking at Auri like they were seeing the fight of a legend, how Auri fearlessly charged the enemy head-on.
The seagull panicked but it was too late. Auri’s punch landed on the seagull butthole. It screams in pain. Then the seagull runs away crying, his butthole swollen.
The crows erupted in cheers.
"WOW! YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE!!" Why don’t you become our new leader?
"THE BLACK-WINGED BOSS!!"
Brutus, bowed before Auri. "I see now. You are not just strong… you are terrifying." I am willing to give you the leader position. Please become our leader.
From that day forward, Auri became the leader of crows in the area around Kent’s House. First time in his life Auri felt this much respect from other bird’s. He didn’t feel so useless anymore. A sensation of happiness jolt’s all over his body. Now he has his own underling’s.
A few moments later, Auri returned home as a king.
Nima was surprised to see him so happy, but Auri ignored her and simply perched on his favourite spot near the kitchen, acting as if he had never left.
But things had changed. Outside, in Kent’s backyard, his army of crows stood guard. Auri ordered every crows under him to inform him immediately if anything happens or some other bird or animal comes looking for a beating.
The crows were building their nests near Kent house, in the farm’s backyard, and other nearby places watching over their leader’s kingdom.
Auri was no longer a nobody. He is now Auri, the Black-Winged Boss. And his legend was just beginning.
Suddenly Auri’s thoughts were interrupted by Kent’s voice. He snapped out of it. He sees Kent is calling him for dinner.
Auri, what are you doing on the tree? Come home. Dinner time!! Hurry up!! I have to sleep early today.
"Kent murmurs to himself," Tomorrow, I have to meet a princess. I want to look fresh. Who knows if I could make a deal with her and sell her my spiritual vegetables at a high price.
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Note: This bird group is important in the future story. I didn’t want to publish this chapter. But, In some arc’s they will be Kent biggest helpers. That’s why I add the story.