V2 Chapter 46

Woooosh. Cian slowly descended into the ground, which was now covered by dust and smoke.

As expected of the soul realm though, despite the explosion that was greater than two nuclear weapons exploding occurred, the Snowy World seemed to be unaffected and didn’t even showed any signs of breaking—though, it would probably be another problem if that really happened.

On a large crater on the snowy ground, looking like the surface of the moon, laid a disgruntled and breathing raggedly, large black bird. The dark flames on its body were slowly swaying, seemingly dying like small tinder that can be put out by the passing wind. When it noticed Cian slowly walking towards it, the [Abyssal Hawk] immediately struggled to get up, its eyes blazing in flames of fury and hatred. However, it was clear to see that it was already on its last stand, in fact, it was even a miracle for it to still be able to put up a fight against Cian when it was already weak originally. After all, it had already long died and even though it was sustaining itself with the Chimaera’s life-force causing it to be alive even now and gaining hope of rebirth through fire, the Chimaera had long been dead as well…!

It’s power that it absorbed and stole from the Chimaera should have been almost used up by it just to sustain its life force up until now…!

Despite all this, to be able to endure the onslaught of Gungnir, the [Abyssal Hawk]’s power is clear to see and worthy of admiration—too bad… no matter how much it struggles, it would not be able to turn the table around. Thud! The [Abyssal Hawk] who was able to stand up fell down on the ground again. Starting from its feet and tail, it slowly burned, seemingly turning into ashes. Despair and unwillingness flashed across its human-like eyes. It seems like it was able to regain its sentient on its last tinder of life—!

Cian watched the [Abyssal Hawk] with pity. He stopped just a meter away from it. “I can save you if you want,” Cian suddenly muttered. Cian’s words caused the [Abyssal Hawk]’s piercing gaze to narrow. “I know you can understand me…so how about it?”

“… …” A sneering flashed across on the [Abyssal Hawk]’s eyes. Despite it dying, its pride was still blazing stronger as ever. Cian chuckled in amusement, “Don’t look at me like that. Although I wanted your wings indeed, but only if you are present, I can use most power and abilities of the true [Abyssal Hawk]. Of course, I won’t give you my body or give you a chance to control me, but I at least can make you live and make my magic power nourished your soul so that you can recover till your peak.” Cian feels like he, himself, knows how absurd and stupid were the words he had spoken. Live...? Live for what if Cian would be the one to take in charge? Won't it still be a prisoner...? A slave?

“… …” The [Abyssal Hawk] snorted and averted its eyes from Cian, seemingly expressing that it doesn’t want to listen to Cian’s words. It rather dies than submit. However, Cian noticed its body somewhat stiffened a while ago, seemingly moved by his proposition. There is a chance…! Cian grinned inwardly. “…don’t be hard-headed, although if you agreed to my words, I can honestly tell you, we will surely have a master-servant relationship, while me as the master. However, I won’t take it for granted, that I can assure you. If you become mine, you will have a chance of resurrection; don’t you think so, [Abyssal Hawk]? I don’t think I’m that bad of an employer—as long as you help me and stand by my side, I would surely not treat you bad…it’s not a bad deal, don’t you think?”...of course, you will only have a chance... Cian directed it with a harmless smile.

“… …” Resurrection—this words greatly shook the [Abyssal Hawk]’s mind and its eyes slowly opened. "You are willing to help me?" Oh? Cian was startled by the [Abyssal Hawk]’s sudden voice. However, he was suddenly reminded about he had read before—Sacred Beasts that had reached 7th rank and above would have formed its sentience and the higher its intelligence the chances of it speaking fluently is also higher. And before it’s death it was a monster with 7th or probably even higher level ranking so it speaking was not a surprise. Much less an [Abyssal Hawk] whose existence is just below the mythological Phoenix or a Netherworld Bird. Its bloodline is not something any ordinary sacred beasts could compare!

Cian immediately calmed his expression and faintly smiled, "That is a choice you can make. If you agree to my conditions, then, of course, I will help you."

"What conditions, spit it out!" the [Abyssal Hawk] eyes were more than excited. To it, nothing was more important than staying alive.

Of course, except freedom.

If freedom were the monster’s priority, it wouldn’t have exploded its own soul in order to get away from the Chimaera. It was unwilling to live another day being trapped by such a monster. However, it continued to bids its time and endured up until now.

"You need to enter into an agreement with me and be my beast," Cian’s face was calm as he spoke of his intentions directly.

"What?!" The [Abyssal Hawk] felt crossfire of rage and shock. As an [Abyssal Hawk], divine blood ran deep in its veins. How could willingly be a beast that humans sit on? On top of that, what it cared about the most was being free. Why would it ever agree to be Cian’s pet beast that has to follow his orders at all times? No way! No freaking way!!

"There is no way, give it up! My Clan breed is born royal. How can I be a pet? You are dreaming!" the [Abyssal Hawk] rejected right away. Its tone stern and strong. Its arrogance was obvious.

However, Cian was not least bit down-hearted as he continued to stare at the [Abyssal Hawk] "Correction. Nobody is born royal, and nobody is poor. Royalty lies within one’s soul, one’s mentality, never within one’s body," Cian claimed softly. He had anticipated the [Abyssal Hawk] to decline, therefore he was not at all disappointed. He continued, "Since you don’t want to, then it’s okay. After all, this is not a request but merely telling you what is there to come…you can only steel yourself and be prepared," his lips curled into a mean grin.

"Hmmph, even if I die, I will not be a pet of yours that does whatever you want," the [Abyssal Hawk] snickered and continued to swing its wings around. It was getting ready to leave. However, it couldn’t move, not even an inch. All it could do was struggle in midair by throwing its wings around, its behavior was extremely funny looking.

Cian shook his head and look above. The [Abyssal Hawk] frowned, not knowing what is the accursed demon before it was doing. It also looks above and its eyes widened in fear—There was a golden cage, much bigger than what it had seen a while ago. Large fist-sized chains dangling at each corner of the golden cage, as it slowly descended just above the [Abyssal Hawk]. Seeing this, the [Abyssal Hawk] felt terrified as bad premonition appeared inside its mind. It turned towards Cian with terrified eyes. “Stop! What are you planning! What the hell are you planning demoooon!!!” the [Abyssal Hawk] cried out in anxiety but its body, which was slowly disintegrating and turning into light couldn’t do anything much less assault Cian and could only cry out at him.

“[Abyssal Hawk] I never like being rejected. What I want, is always been given to me…” Cian grinned coldly. “…you’re not an exception." Cian's eyes narrowed dangerously and his mismatched eyes glowered with menacing light. "... You don’t need to worry about anything since you are not going to perish, you will still be able to hold on a single thread of life. But I’m also not considered a good man; [Abyssal Hawk] you will rot in a Cage unless I change my mind…!”

“…?!!”

Cian turned one last glance at it and then turned around and started walking away. “…you will surely realized that submitting to me is much, much better than rotting in that Cage. See ya, my adorable pet~”

“DAMN YOU DEEEEEEMONNNN!!” The [Abyssal Hawk] cried in intense anger and hatred. However, on its integrating body, serpent-like golden chains suddenly appeared, coiling around it and its body stopped disintegrating into shards of light. However, the [Abyssal Hawk] still couldn’t move as the golden chains entwined around its body, restricting all of its movements. Then, Baaaang! a loud explosion occurred, a sound akin to something that had fallen heavily into the ground.

Cian’s eyes narrowed but he never turned back—the [Abyssal Hawk] can never break free from it, now that the Soul Chains of Submission has wrapped like a spring roll on its body. I give you chance but you didn’t cherish it… then, let’s do it in a hard way—! Screams and cries reverberated in the entire space but Cian only snorted as his figure slowly faded in the snowy land as if being embraced by shadows—then, he disappeared. In the winter world, only the cries and screams of the [Abyssal Hawk] lingered but it was soon covered by the sounds of the snow falling.

[First Soul Battle—8th Rank Abyssal Hawk (Soul—Wakened state)—Victory! Evaluation: ★★★]

[Winning Reward: Soul World Eye Acquired]

… …

Cian’s consciousness returned to his body. Then, he looks down and saw the [Abyssal Hawk Wings] had come undone from the Chimaera’s back and fell on the ground. Its light was already dim—however, using [Night’s Eye] Cian could see a faint connection between him and the [Abyssal Hawk Wings]—this should be because the soul of the [Abyssal Hawk] is now within him, sealed.

Cian took a deep breath—he bit his lips in excitement as he tried connecting his mind to the Bone Wings. Rattle! Rattle! The Bone Wings suddenly started moving, no it should be--it trembled. It was a slight movement but Cian was ecstatic. It means he could really control the Bone Wings with his mind. Rattle! Rattle! Cian bit his lips, as his pair of heterochromatic eyes gleamed dimly; blood started sipping from his right eye. However, he ignored the pain that was like something was tearing his soul—the [Abyssal Hawk] although sealed but staling control on its wings using it was still extremely difficult—as expected of a Sacred Beast!

Its stubbornness is praiseworthy.

Clenching his fists tightly, Cian gnashed his teeth. Woosh! Finally, when Cian heard a deafening bird’s cry full of anger and hatred from within his mind, the Bone Wings trembled violently and then suddenly shot towards Cian’s back, where it attached itself fittingly. Cian felt his spinal cord being pulled and he almost let out a cry of agony—fortunately, his willpower was nothing to scoff at as he bit his tongue, causing blood to seep through it, covering his lips. If someone heard his scream, 10 out of 10 chances, some people, most likely Ruka or Oriel would come bursting within. It would be fine if it was Ruka but if it was Oriel or other people that would a big problem for him…!

"Aaarrrghhh!!" he groaned. Cian was feeling as if there were a thousand ants biting his spinal cord and someone uprooting his shoulder blades. It was a pain, someone like him who had undergone training of torture could not almost endure—just by this one can see how agonizing it felt. Cian groaned and like a beast, raised his head towards the ceiling, in his pair of heterochromatic eyes, seemed to have become similar to that of a Hawk. However, it was only momentarily as it immediately reverted back to the original when the pain assaulting him subsided and he slumps into the floor. The pair of bone wings shook every now and then as it spread widely on the large room.

However, if one look within the [Night’s Eye] one would surely see the thread-like mana stream spreading through the bone wings, causing the entire wings to give off a dim light. And as Cian felt his magic power being sucked into the bone wings, a small tiny feather started blooming like a little flower on the Wing Carpus. Cian’s mana flowed through the bone wings and into the feather—however, the rate of the growth of this tiny feather was extremely slow, slower than even a crawling snail. Even still, with this development, the chances of the wings being covered by feathers again is extremely high…!

But Cian didn’t know of it yet as he couldn’t see the changes and transformation of the Bone Wings on his back. He breathes raggedly, his face pale. However, his eyes radiated an excited spark. The Bone Wings finally attached on his back—and with just a thought by him, the bone wings immediately trembled, as if wanting to spread and flap. But…Cian still needed practice to completely control the [Abyssal Hawk Wings]!

“Hooo,” Cian took a deep breath, calming his mind and spirit. And then, the bone wings on his back shook and then started to make cracking noises, like joints being dislocated. It then slowly submerges on his back, and after a while, the wings disappeared, leaving a black tattoo of a pair of wings on his back. It works! Cian was extremely joyful! He had followed what [Night’s Eye] had told him and it really works. Although the pain was there but it was not as strong as the one he had felt just then…! And so, it was never a problem.

Because the Wings were treated as Spiritual Attachment using the [Abyssal Hawk] as the catalyst, Cian can hide it within his body. It was truly convenient but it would be another problem if it couldn’t do even just that as it would be eye-catching nonetheless! Even if he weaves a hundred tales, it would not be enough for him to absolve himself from suspicion and doubt!

Cian grinned as he stared at the dim dark sky just outside the window. Things have become much brighter...don't you think...? Night...?

… …