I think that could have gone a little bit better, I'm still dizzy.

Next time I try swooping something, especially large and solid somethings, like say... a Shaggy Fluff, I shouldn't undershoot my attack and slam my face directly into it, like I just did... that was a real ouchies. It did cause the Shaggy Fluff some damage as well, but unfortunately for me, its coat of thick fluff didn't cushion the collision for me at all! For all I could tell, I had crashed into a solid tree!

A very angry tree, with big teeth, sharp claws, and a recently acquired grudge against a particular red bird that just happened to bump into it.

I know it wasn't the smartest way to attack my foe, but it sure was the most thrilling and exciting! The intense speed! The wind whistling in my ears! The colors of the world mish-mashing into green and blue! It felt awesome... right up until it didn't, then it felt painful and stupid. Especially when I missed nearly every Bellows I shot at the Shaggy Fluff afterwards because I was so disorientated, that made me feel pretty stupid. The forest was lucky to come out unscathed!

So despite my stomach getting relocated to my neck, and my neck relocated to my tail, I would totally do it again, and hopefully perform it right next time. I cannot stop imagining how amazing it would feel to swoop down while flourishing my talons of death! Only to do it again! and again! I would be unstoppable! Unbeatable! Yes! Death from above! Their eyes will be mine!

Oh golly, I really shouldn't get lost in these fantasies so often. This poor Fluff is still suffering from severe burns after I Bellow'ed the fluff out of it, and not only that, I have some serious tummy rumbles that only fresh meat can satisfy. I haven't eaten since last night! And there's no way I can be expected to save Bartlon on an empty stomach! Fire flapping is tiring work, and since Bartlon isn't here, I must keep searching.

"Sorry my fluffy friend" I halfheartedly apologize as I carefully hop around to the Shaggy Fluff's defenseless back, giving a wide berth to its powerful legs and terrifying snout as I make my way.

"Bellows" I chirp at the Shaggy Fluff's already scorched flank.

37 Fire Damage Bellows is Level 2 + 4 Affinity

Whaa!

Timber Wolf Slain, 141 exp gained Level Up!

Whaa!

You've reached Level 5, enhancement available + 1 Strength, + 1 Endurance, + 1 Dexterity, + 1 Intelligence, + 1 Affinity

Whaaaat?!

Oh my golliest of the goshes! I wasn't expecting so many squiggles! The sensation also! So uplifting and invigorating! Bellows leveled up! I leveled up! More affinity! More of everything! And along with the regular feeling of leveling up, I feel something new too! A warm, fulfilling breeze flooding through my mind like I've never felt before! What is it? Is it something better than a normal level up?! It must be! I must find out!

Because of the way I don't like the way it blocks my vision, I don't often look at my status, but this new level up leaves me no choice! I absolutely need to learn all about this special level up!! The sensation isn't quite as potent as the Haroune's Fruit I ate, but it's a close second. The secrets must be mine!

"Status" I chirp happily, humming a chipper tune as my talons absentmindedly bring fresh, albeit slightly charred, meat to my waiting beak.

Name: -----, ------

Health: 78/114 Mana: 46/192 Level 5 (114/800) Strength: 15 Endurance: 23 Species: Pheonix Dexterity: 14 Intelligence: 43 Class: Pheonix, Level 2 Affinity: 35 Status Haroune's Fruit *Enhancement* Skills Traits Cinders, Level 4 Mythical Bellows, Level 2 Fire to Fire Profound Fire Affinity Soul Affinity Lesser Light Affinity Dungeon Bound

Aha! As expected! Aside from my attributes and skills increasing, an extra squiggle has managed to magically wiggle it's way into my status!

*Enhancement*.

Normally, with most new squiggles that I've never seen, I have zero clue as to their meaning and purpose, but not this one. I feel an indescribable tugging in my brain whenever I concentrate on it, an instinct urging me to act, a voice motivating me to do! A sensation I've never felt before. The more I look at the 'Enchancement' squiggle, the stronger the pull becomes, the louder the voice beckons. What could it mean? The squiggles want... they need... they demand something... more?

Huh... No! Please not more squigglies!

Enhancements Fire to Fire -> Ashes to Ashes

Ashes are more durable, a complete rebirth requires less ash. Rebirth time is shortened to 4 hours.

Requirements: Fire to Fire, 100 Mana, 15 Endurance, 25 Affinity. Cinders -> Fleeting Cinders

Cinders allows finer aerial control.

Requirements: 10 Strength, 10 Dexterity, 20 Intelligence, 30 Affinity. + Sparks

Volatile feathers charged with explosive energy are launched from the wings.

Requirements: Level 3 Cinders, 10 Dexterity, 25 Affinity. + Healing Flame

A flame that restores health.

Requirements: Fire Affinity, Lesser Light Affinity, 20 Affinity. + Soul Flame

A flame that consumes magic.

Requirements: Fire Affinity, Lesser Soul Affinity, 25 Affinity. + Dungeon Experience

Experience will gradually accrue in proportion to Dungeon's strength

Requirements: Dungeon Bound. + Dungeon Influence

Dungeon creatures of lesser strength will obey.

Requirements: Dungeon Bound, 40 Intelligence.

Errrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhurg no no no no! I'm going to be sick! Make it go away! Please Mr. Squiggle. I've seen enough, it's too much! I need more time to prepare my eyes, my poor burning eyes! How do I make it go away again? Bartlon said to just think about something else right?

Okie dokie. Blanket, blanket, blan-ket, blanky blanket, blanky blank. blank, blank like my mind, no squiggles here, only blankets. Oh gosh it's not working, even when I squeeze my eyes tight, the squiggles won't go away! It's impossible for me to force my thinking away from the squiggles! The urging in my brain is too strong to mentally challenge it! It's demanding a choice. I must choose one of these squiggles right this instant before I go blind!

A single choice.

But it seems so unfair! I have no understanding as to what any of these choices will entail! Will they be good or useless? I'm so confused! Well... except for the very first one I guess. 'Rebirth time' and '4 hours' must mean that when I die, it won't take as long for me to return to my birdy body, which is pretty neat! But, the other choices might be even better! Or worse? And what about the last two choices, why are they different to the rest? I want answers Mr. Squig--

"COME BACK!" a desperate shout echos all throughout the morning forest, silencing every critter in the vicinity and causing a flock of terrified birds to retreat into the sky.

Oh... that worked.

Thank you mysterious scream! That really spooked the tail feathers off me, but at least my vision is back to normal now! I can see the trees again! Lovely green trees! The day is saved! Although the nudging in my head still remains... it's so nudgy, so persistent. I don't like it anymore.

With a chunk of bloody meat in my talons frozen midway between the dead Shaggy Fluff on the ground and my agape beak, I curiously swivel my head to the location of the mystery yeller, hoping to catch a glimpse of my savior.

I already found him... that was almost too easy. Let's see here, he has short yellow hair and not a single wrinkle on his worried, smooth face, so it's definitely not Bartlon. Though I do wonder, why is he staring at me with half of his body poking out from behind that tree? Is he trying to hide from me? He looks very silly like that.

Ah! He must be a friend of Barlton's! I understand now! I feel like such a silly goose now! He must be searching for him as well! That would be why he helped me escape from Mr. Squiggle's choices! What a nice person!

Oh there's actually one more person too, staring at me from the same tree, I didn't see him until now because he blends with the trunk a lot better than the yellow haired person, but unfortunately, he also isn't Bartlon. This new person's hair is multicolored, grey and white, and his skin is much darker than Bartlon's too, a light brown, but they do share a similar amount of wrinkles! Not as much as Bartlon of course, but still quite a few! There's no doubt he's one of Bartlon's friends!

If we all search together, we should find Bartlon far more quickly than if I were to keep circling all by myself! They might even know exactly where he is! That would be fantastic! I would save so much time! Precious time to save Bartlon with!

I will go say hello... after I clean my beak.