I was awkward at first, but still, those memories that were purely theoretical started to be deeply etched into my bones.

I kept flying in a circle, I was on cloud nine! Flying at this speed is too good, just like fast car racing in my previous world. Your mind becomes sharp, focused, and alert because changes happen around you every 0.01 second so it's a constant adventure that requires vigilance and quick mental effort to react accordingly.

If a normal human were to come to this place right now, they would not even see a shadow! They would only see the leaves fluttering crazily whenever I fly by a tree and the occasional shadow at the edge of their eyes if they're really quick.

My base Agility is 49 plus Stats boost then it becomes a staggering number of 122 Agility coupled with the Bird of Darkness 25% Passive then it's a huge 136 Agility. I would gain an extra 12 if there are enemies nearby and an extra 14 once I activate Sky Dash!

*Whoosh* *Whoosh* *Whoosh*

This sound isn't the sound of my flight, but merely the sound of the trees I pass by. By the time the leaves make this sound, I've already reached the opposite side of my training field.

Even though it looks like I'm careless now and just playing around without a care in the world, I'm still very self-aware of my situation and the fact that death is always around the corner in these places.

After gliding around for a couple of minutes and getting used to my speed, I stopped.

I wanted to fly high in the sky but I don't have the confidence. My speed scared me.

The moment I get spotted by some predator bird in the sky, I will be toasted with a speed x10 than mine. They'd be able to catch me very easily!

I flew to the place in which I left some Mandrill corpses yesterday, I found only three remaining. The others must have been eaten by some other monster.

I carried two, each one in a single claw. I was pretty strong, it was easy. I brought two to the nest only to find Kali looking at me with star-struck eyes! Like a fangirl seeing her idol. I understand why, after being traumatized and always being helped these past couple of days there is nothing she'd like than to grow strong fast!

I gave her one of the bodies and she started to devour it immediately. Meanwhile, I returned to get the last one.

After bringing it back, I took my time and ate both easily. While Kali barely finished one. My appetite was crazy, but it's good I still have room to grow.

I wanted to fly out of the nest and go explore the forest. I still need to have a general idea about where I am in the grand scheme of the world, so to speak.

Plus, I need to mark down in my mind all of the dangerous places that I should avoid. My definition of dangerous for now is a place with the possibility of Foundation Establishment monsters living.

I already knew that around the southwest there is the big Alpha Mandrill, there is a chance that he died after fighting a brutal battle with the Mama bird last time but I wouldn't take any chances.

I will first go east then south. Heading north somehow gives me a very dangerous feeling, it's not rational maybe instincts.

However, I still need to wait for the Mama bird to come back, I can't just leave Kali here on her own.

I sat down, closed my eyes, and started cultivating. I noticed another good thing, my [Dao Field] doesn't only work for me, but everyone around 10 meters from me.

Because, it's not that Mana becomes more attracted to me specifically, but more like the Mana in the field becomes more docile, friendly, and most of all abundant. Thus, benefiting everyone, me included.

*Cheep*

I opened my eyes to see Kali pecking me in my wings as if asking to play.

Good to finally see her regaining a bit of her usual vigor back. She's now a Fledgling. She still needs to become a Juvenile then once she reaches adulthood she'll be able to fly. Maybe it isn't necessary, my growth was abnormal due to several variables the system, older soul, and early awakening.

So, I can't judge her based on my own experience.

I suddenly had an evil idea! I stood up and looked at her grinning.

*Screech?*

She made a higher pitch sound than last time as if alarmed by my sudden change.

Oh boy, you have no idea!

I directly flapped my wings and grabbed her wing with my claws, gently of course. I know how to position them, either for harmless grabs or vicious shredding.

Then, I brought her down to the ground below. There were no monsters around I already checked with my senses, if there are monsters that I can't sense then it's pointless either way. They could just climb to the nest and butcher us both.

After I put her down, I flew and landed on a branch just right above her.

She was shocked, this turn of events was not something she expected to happen not in a thousand years.

*Cheep..*

She made a very low sound as if begging me to bring her back to the nest.

Hey, what's with that face? Why are you looking at me like I've murdered your family? I just wanted to play!

I went down to console her a bit, then I flew back to the branch above.

What am I trying to do? Simple.

No clue.

I just thought of showing her a different environment. I liked it very much and I got out of the nest so I thought this would cheer her up.

But, I suppose it's with good reason she's this scared. When I flew down, I already had a way up and was already gaining confidence in my survival ability. Kali, on the other hand, is very weak. Both physically and mentally.

I thought of finding for her some game to hunt, to gain some confidence. But, I quickly squashed that idea. It just feels morally wrong in a lot of ways, to use lives as a game.

Thinking of the concept of killing, I was conflicted. I've always been pushing it to the back of my mind, but I've still not found a satisfying answer.

Sure, I could tell myself that it's a dog-eat-dog world, law of the jungle, the strong prey on the weak.

However, all of these sound like coping mechanisms to me. I know that all of them have some truths in them but! Just because the game is like this does it justify it. There is the saying don't hate the player, hate the game. But, the game only existed to satisfy the player.

I'm not talking about self-defense here, that is a very obvious one.

Anyhow, if there is one thing I'm certain of, truth requires patience. I will keep doing my best to get stronger in this world, even though I have no idea how to answer that simple yet complex question. Emotionally, it's very easy to answer it for me, kill every single damn thing otherwise I’d be killed than get stronger, help people, and maybe there will be a law of equal exchange there, to even out the guilt. Ultimately, I have no clue. This question to me is the same as whether God exists and other elusive questions like those.

I played with Kali on the ground for a bit until she calmed down and started enjoying the environment.

Then, I carried her back to the nest and continued cultivating.

…

[+4 Strength, +3 Stamina, +3 Vitality]

The pitch-black darkness is slowly but surely spreading, covering the forest in stillness and a strange sense of peace.

Opening my eyes, I felt sharper! Today's cultivation was a first, [Dao Field] was simply a godsend.

10 Stats in total, it was simply unimaginable!

My Spirit attribute was my biggest and most powerful when I was just born, but now it's slowly becoming my weakest.

It wasn't a good call on my part to neglect it. Other than how powerful Spiritual attacks can be, it helps with sense. It can help me detect danger for god's sake! I will prioritize from now on.

On second thought, it wasn't helping that much to be honest! I was a wingless bird, I was stationary it was worthless to discover enemies if you're just gonna wait for them to murder you. I patted myself on the back for having such foresight.

However, I definitely need to prioritize it from now on.

*Thudd*

Good timing!

The Mama eagle came back. Strangely, her eye is still closed. She isn't injured but she couldn't heal back. There are still remnants of a strange energy lingering in her eye preventing any form of healing.

Looking at the darkness beyond our little nest, I felt a little apprehensive. This would be the first time that I'd leave the nest, so it only makes sense that I'm anxious a bit.

But, I do want to see what lies beyond these trees! I want to see this new world, I've always loved traveling. However, due to my previous poor economical situation I couldn't. Now, I can fly and I don't need money. Well, I do need it. It's just that this world has a different currency: strength.

Just the more reason I need to get my shit together, be cautious, think rationally, do my best and accept whatever lies beyond my control. As long as you do your best there is no failure, then you'd have at least tried. It wasn't something that I did much of or rather none of in my previous life.

Now, it's a completely different story!

I stood up, with a determined gaze.

*Screech!*

I made a high-pitched sound, and looked at the Mama eagle dead in the eye. Then, I directly headed south.