The Bird

Po Eldu almost arrived at the river but he looked back. He saw a skinny youth run like an old man, slowly but full of sweats, and a grin adorned this old man's face.

Eldu immediately ran toward Majo and pull his arm, assisting him to move; he couldn't bear to lose more.

Ten people were enough to make him, who survived, felt like a demon. He should save whoever he could.

Danny Dun and Gu Banma rolled their sleeves and prepared to jump. They looked back and saw two young adults helping each other, then they nodded slightly.

"Srrcch!!"

A loud scream blew the surrounding trees. Danny and Gu Banma who almost jumped suddenly stopped after a giant boulder rolled towards the river.

They hesitated.

"Jump!"

Two wide palms pushed them. It was Po Eldu. He put utmost mighty push of helplessness.

Ah.. this was how it goes.

Two palms of Eldu pushed both Dun and Banma's back as Majo jumped. The push made them turn their gaze to Eldu who looking at them with concern. A blurry shadow decorated the dazzling sky, they had no idea what that was.

Sounds of the river vividly rang, calmly sounded along with chattering insects. And as they focused on the stream sound, the surface touched their back, and they slowly drowned, went where the river flowed. This moment felt like a thousand times slower.

Gu Banma suddenly reminisced his adventurer day that was envied by others. People thought adventurer was great, they could go anywhere they want because the freedom was within their palm. Who did not like freedom?

Moreover, the story told by bards was always wonderful. The brave adventurer, the gentlemen adventurer, and many types of adventurer were told.

In fact, Adventurer was just a term that represented various types. Let's say, Gu Banma and Po Eldu had a different types of adventurers.

Although both of them were veteran adventurers, Po Eldu was more all-rounded. He followed almost wherever his grandpa went, all his life was spent as an adventurer. But Gu Banma was an adventurer who received requests like accompanying goods, became a bodyguard, and so on.

An adventurer like Gu Banma needed a qualification to guarantee their skill to clients. They had to go through some tests with certain requirements based on region or demand.

Sometimes the requirements could be really low, but it didn't mean a good sign. Mostly such adventurer, called a mercenary, was only in a time such as war. Simply put, they were cannon fodders.

It was harsh but reality never really good. If they could survive, at most they could get a promotion. Even the promotion would never reach a high-rank one.

Put mercenary aside, they were called as Adventurer because they were far from a beautiful place called home.

However, they pursued their dreams. Some even couldn't stay in one area too long so they decided to keep moving.

This silly reason actually hid the fact that they hung their life in it, facing dangers which each step taken might be the last steps of their journey, and they engraved it in their mind.

This similar reminiscing happened to all of them. Thinking of the tales told by bards and poets, they secretly sighed to themselves.

A great adventurer?

A mountain of gold bars?

Trapped in this forest for a year, all they need now was a roof that covered the rain and food that kept them warm.

---

A few moments ago, in the forest.

The snake slithered relentlessly. Its two meters size was not outstanding but its durability was incomparable. With its body full of wounds, it still moved with a constant speed.

Behind it was the fiery rabbit. Its body was wounded, and its speed was slowed down due to the injury on its legs.

The fire on its body was dimmed, and blood dropped bit by bit. There was no oppressive aura anymore.

In the sky, there was a four-legged bird that locked the two beasts. Its wing was around twenty meters, and its claws were sharp like a dagger. This was the beast who shriek!

Floating in mid-air, a bloodshot, killing intent flashed through its eyes. After a few seconds, it took a deep breath and dived down at an extreme speed!

The wind seemed moved under its order, cutting some trees then throwing them at the two beasts.

The bird noticed four weak creatures running between trees but it gave a one-side eye, instantly ignoring them. Soon, it let out screams that carried a mystical power, capable of slicing leaves into pieces.

Invisible screams gushed out, reached the ground, shaking trees and roots. However, the bird did not care about these four humans for its eyes were still locked onto the beasts, aiming the screams toward the snake and the rabbit.

Hearing the incoming scream, red, blazing flame dwelled up under the rabbit's feet as it kicked a small tree, using its explosive power to make a distance from the bird. The kick threw the tree far away then fell right in front of the humans.

On the other head, although the snake movement was aloof, it took advantage of the scream, whipped its tail then somehow flew farther from the bird.

Seeing all of his screams were successfully avoided, the bird grew angry. Now it was beyond furious!

Still in the diving state, its twenty-meters wings seemed to light up, full of unknown power. Brilliance lights started to form from its feathers, then transformed into a needle-like beam, and immediately after it formed numerous needles, a silent barrage of feathers shot at a frightening speed.

Once these needles touched something, anything was melted at a visible speed. Leaves into ashes, trunk into charcoals. The actual target hid behind trees and mud.

It couldn't hit the rabbit but the snake got hit a few shots. It showed how frightening the rabbit's agility was even in an injured state!

"Chi! Chi! Chi!"

The rabbit made sounds as It gathered fire under its foot then hopped on a boulder. A scorching fire!

Boom!

The boulder exploded into pieces. The rabbit flew towards the middle part of the snake where its belly was swollen.

"Hss!"

The snake hissed as its boy glowed darker, thickening the density of its scales.

At the same time, the bird screamed again, kicked a big boulder towards them. The scream restricted the beast's movement, trees fell near it and they could feel the frightening vibrations.

A slight ripple occurred as the rabbit used its remaining power, swiveling fire all over his body, successfully escaping from the predicament into the bushes with its body completely dimmed, no different from the common rabbit. Unfortunately, the snake was too slow to move swiftly. Its body was torn by the diving bird with two sharp claws ripped its belly.

In its belly, there was a bright white stone covered with snake blood. The bird picked it with its beak then throw the snake's body into the river.

The bird looked at one particular corner where the rabbit as a flash of killing intent surged up. Then its body gradually turned into a middle-aged man, instantly removing the killing intent. He put on a black cloak and the white stone disappeared from his hand. The man raised his hand, transformed into a black mist blown by a gentle breeze.

The river became red; painted by blood. Inside the river, the snake's body was getting bigger bit by bit. Gradually, it moved closer towards the four humans.

When it was closed enough, the snake seemed like it wanted to embrace four humans who still reminiscing about the past, wrapped them like a mother who hugged their kids in winter.

The river dipped a melody as if a lullaby prepared for the pitiful humans finally delivered, accompanying them along the way. Insects chatted, bamboos danced, and the sun witnessed all from above.