《Overseer》21 - The Last Endeavor
Advertisement
As the lizards closest to the sky, I brought myself to the desolate mountainside. Amidst the now settled rubble, new saplings were starting to spring up through the rocks, a sign of continuing life. The mountainside colony followed the example of the hardy saplings and continued to stay in the cold and sparsely treed climate. I was as proud of their diligence as I was pained for their continued suffering. The only consolation I could provide them as they worked through the aftermath of the calamity was my unwavering confidence in their fortitude.
If I gave them the sky, surely their suffering would decrease. I desperately desired that for them. Over time their primitive feathering had naturally gotten longer, and the slender hairlike bristles were starting to expand and thin, creating more cover with overlapping feathers for insulation.
As soon as I had seen the first young lizards born with feathers I had remembered birds. The only flying creatures here were small insects, along with another small lizard species in the forest obtaining the ability to lightly glide through the trees. Nothing soared overhead but the clouds. I could remember the desire and the envy I felt towards those creatures that flew so beautifully and freely through the sky.
But my memory of birds presented one issue. Their arms had served as their wings. I looked at the fruit of my first labor, their hands. Their hands made them powerful, and allowed them to do much more than the lesser creatures around them. Would I have to sacrifice those hands for them to take the sky? I didn’t want that. Was it too selfish of me to want them to keep their hands while they soar through the sky?
In the first place, perhaps it was too selfish for me to want the sky. They knew not the envy my people had held for that unreachable place. The only flying creatures here were viewed as little more than food, certainly not a thing to be envied. While I debated with myself, I did start the process with what I knew I could do.
Advertisement
The feathered lizards had the advantage of being smaller than their forest and shore siblings due to the harsh environment that didn’t allow for growth. Weight would be a large factor if flight were to be possible. Muscles were heavy, but so were bones. Thick, solid bones were not good for flight for large animals, that much I knew. They did not need to be thinner, that would make them too brittle. They needed to be hollow. Truly hollow bones would still have been too weak, so inside the cavities must be support structures, a system of internal pillars to strengthen them and continue to carry important nutrients throughout the body.
As I began to hollow the bones of developing lizards, I felt something strange. It was almost like a tingling feeling, except I had no body to tingle. What was this strange sensation, I wondered. With my other projects for the lizards complete, I was able to devote more of myself to the task of potential flight, but that feeling always lingered in the background as I worked. Having more of myself to devote to the task, it came much faster than the tending of gills, legs, and other such things when I had spread myself over many projects. Their feathers were already developing in a direction to be longer and more stiff, I merely helped those along.
Time was passing, and it was starting to become apparent I’d have to reach my final decision soon. Their bodies were getting lighter, but what purpose would it serve if it did not eventually lead to flight? I was still in turmoil with myself. Did flight lie upon my selfish whims, upon a bright future for my lizards, or somewhere in between? Did I truly want the sky for them, or did I want it for me? The envy for the sky was mine alone, that much I was aware of.
Advertisement
I sank back into myself. The pivotal point was coming soon. I must not be wavering when the time came. I let myself fall into the memories of my departed lizards, letting myself feel as they felt during life. They had their share of hardships and struggles, but underlying all that was a feeling of being content with their lot in life. They held ambitions for themselves and for their families, some realized, some not. But lofty goals out of their reach were few and far between.
I let myself wander to the lizards I had directly influenced. Bushtender had made a life for herself tending to her namesake, and she had been very happy. Firestarter, though his life had ended prematurely, had little motivation before the discovery of fire, but found his life given purpose after. And Starlight; I had wondered if she was burdened with the knowledge that there was something more out there, but when I let myself be one with her memory I found both burden and happiness in a delicate balance. She had carried the knowledge with her all her life, and at one point that knowledge had left her feeling betrayed. But in the end, she had come back to embrace it, for she had loved it all along, even if she could not understand it fully. Strong Light had been born influenced, and lived her life as she desired; strongly, powerfully, and beautifully.
And then, the Little Leader. He was the first, the origin of all my influence. He was so far departed from the lizards of the present, but his knowledge of sharing had catapulted all his kind into greatness. Had he not shared his knowledge, it is likely the lizards would still be little more than solitary wanderers content to find food and breed and hoping to live to the next day. They did not know they lacked knowledge and were content in it. But the Little Leader had shown them more. He had opened doors that could not be imagined. Because he possessed that knowledge, and because he freely gave that knowledge to his fellows, they had grown into the lizards I so dearly loved today.
I felt my determination solidify. They did not know the joy of the sky and were content in that. But I would show them. I would share with them the knowledge that lied beyond a horizon they could reach on their own. I would give them the wings to reach it.
The tingling sensation that had been remained a quiet buzz in the background became louder as I came to my conclusion. I could feel it in my entire being now. It was a warning. It was not a warning that the sky was out of reach, nor of an impending calamity that would occur. It came to warn me that this would be my last great endeavor. What a worthy endeavor it would be. From the depths of the water, through the dense forests, to the heights of the sky, my lizards would be free to roam as they desired. I would give them that final freedom.
20 - Water Games 22 - Strength from Weakness
-Q&A and Discussion thread-
Advertisement
The Immortal Dungeon
A cultivator signs a deal with a Dungeon for Immortality! He does gains immortality, but no one mentioned anything about becoming a floating rock?!? So how does our poor Floating rock with Memories of Immortal World survive in this dog eat dog world? Where Adventurers, bandits, criminals, thieves are out to earn some shiny coins and Monsters have decided that a pet dungeon is THE sign of ALPHA!! And did I mention Dragons? Yes the fire breathing lizards. Nope? Well adding another one to the ever growing collection of Dungeon Crystals owned by Dragons is nothing to mention about. So how does our crystal manage to survive, while dealing with hoardes of enemies who are out for his blood..Do crystals have blood? Follow the adventure of a poor little crystal as he grows strong enough to deal with two Gods, so he can protect his soul from annihilation. While his journey creates ripples both big and small affecting the very fate of that world. You never know the author might end the story with a sweet little apocalypse,s o he doesnt needs to deal with a good ending? Ohhhh...M back after leaving my previous story hanging. Dont worry will be getting to it soon. The story is inspired from The Cultivating Dungeon as i felt author misse dout a great deal by leaving Xianxia elements out. And finally, feel free to criticise. Ciao~
8 269Eyes of Bloodshed
Remdia, a once peaceful country, sends an army towards the unprepared nation of Caledorn. This single action sets off a chain of events that will uproot the lives of everyone involved. A recent graduate suddenly finds himself in enemy territory, struggling to shield his birthplace from angered citizens. A news broadcaster must present a horrifying report while maintaining her perfected poise. A doctor steals an ambulance in an attempt to aid the injured. A student is evacuated from school, while a father tries desperately to escape a prison. Watch the war unfold through the eyes of those most impacted while the bloodshed increases. A relay of short stories where each chapter follows the perspective of one person through a difficult time.A massive shoutout to the brilliant cover artist as well, Snooki.
8 417just another dungeon
[dropped] a 25 year old game developer who is overworked and underpaid get's hit by a truck and dies. however, a benevolent god decides to reincarnate him into a world of fantasy as a dungeon. whether the god did this out of kindness or just for entertainment, no one knows. this new dungeon puts his game design expertise to work and begins to design a dungeon that will challenge all those who enter his dungeon, he dubs them as players, all so he can make the worlds hardest game. p.s this is my first fiction on this site and I appreciate any feedback, enjoy
8 75Final Realms - New World
Earth wasn't the same as the way it was when the Creator of Life decided to bring forth a new cycle of life, cease gods, humans, and demons from its existence. Thus, a NEW WORLD arises after gods and demons have merged into human reality. Twenty years after the catastrophe, neo-human was born. A superhuman who rivaled a godly strength and acclaimed themselves as the only surviving species in this rebooted world. The daughter of both gods and demons, Cynthia was born simultaneously. Her parents left her in this newborn society among with minority of other gods who seclude themselves from neo-human sight. Her power prevailed when her age turned eighteen. A power that could seize everything under her grasp as her ability was destined to become the crowned head of neo-humans and demons.
8 198Astral Battle Summoner Academy
After having an unexpected wake-up call, Lui Wing finds himself not in the last place he excepted to be but in another body from another world. The universe he was reincarnated to was a world full of powerful Evolutionary Beast, and Cultivators known as Battle Summoners. Join Lui Wing on his cultivation journey to be a legend that rises above all ranks with the help of his newly acquired "Golden Finger" or the System. Turning his previous host's shelter into an extraordinary Battle Academy with him as a headmaster. What could go wrong with stealing eggs and crystals from beasts while trying not to die? Cover made by me
8 73Stiles Pairings {BoyxBoy}
This book is about multiple boyxboy pairings with Stiles Stilinski in them.Stiles is always the 'girl' in the relationship and I do take requests,they just have to have Stiles and be boyxboy.I WRITE SMUT AND FLUFF,you can request either one,it doesn't really matter.
8 167