Pawn

Taf then sprinted off within the forest with the red feathered eagle at the eighth stage in full pursuit.

Seeing Taf's attempts at fleeing it had a look of mocking on its face. Even a small mouse would have to forgo such thoughts much less this child.

Its eyes were a blessing bestowed by the Gods' themselves, how could such a prey escape its grasp. It flew hovering slightly above the gigantic trees as it saw the dot like figure nimbly moving from one to the next.

While charging through the trees, Taf gauged his distance from May and the other three eagles.

"Hmmm, This should be far enough I think. There won't be any interference from the others."

He then looked above in the red-lit skies that nearly acted as camouflage for the red feathered eagle. Though he could not quite see its reaction, he had a feeling the look that was on display by the eagle.

" I'll have to do this quickly but in order to succeed, I'll have to expend a large amount of Qi. Since I don't know how long May will be able to last against the others, it's best this way "

Taf assessed his strategy while at the same time being vigilant of his surroundings. This was after all a land filled with hundreds of demon beasts. To let down one's guard is to seek death itself.

" I'm not quite confident in this combination of techniques but in theory, It should be possible, but how will I land....?"

He had a bit of hesitancy in his thinking as what he was about to try had never been practised in his previous training. However there was a chance for success and this was the quickest way to achieve the desired result, which was to go and assist May.

" Since you like the skies so much. I'll take the fight to you in your own backyard."

A cry was then heard within his head...

☆Elemental Art ( Earth) Embodiment of the lands☆

Soon the earth itself began to ascend slowly within the air. However, oddly it was only a firm portion spanning three feet in width below Taf's feet. It continued to stretch forth In the air.

" I think that's enough...."

Crrrk!!!!!

It slowly broke apart from the land below slightly hovering a few feet above. It then levitated within the air as Taf's mount.

The red feathered eagle seemed quite amused by the child's antics as if it was indeed watching a show. In its mind, it thought that this human was sure interesting.

"To dare to take the fight to the skies when facing a demon beast eagle. Was this youth an idiot or just a suicidal maniac...?"

Taf, however, couldn't care less about its thoughts as he continued to ascend within the skies. As he arrived further in the air it became a bit stifling as demon/beast qi became abundant.

Its influence on Taf was negligible in comparison to May, however. In a sense, this was like a slice of paradise to him.

" Wouldn't it be a dream to cultivate here..."

He thought as he ascended further in the air while he felt the excitement exuding from his blood.

" So it's indeed slow to use the small landmass alone to fly. Then there is no other way"

The red feathered Eagle witness something it that caught it off-guard as it watched taf. The land mass below Taf's feet began to slowly crumble piece by piece.

" Yeah....this human is definitely a suicidal idiot"

It thought after seeing what was taking place before its eyes. It knew for a fact unless a land being was at the Lord realm, a flight was nearly an impossible feat.

Taf then slowly exhaled a bit as the land mass crumbled to bits. A cry then went off within his head.

☆ Elemental Art (Fire) Embodiment☆

Soon his hands and feet became scorching hot, as the parts of his garments that were close to his ankles became ashes that blew away with the wind.

His hands were surrounded by yellow flames as too were his feet. After the activation of the art, Taf could now be seen hovering within the skies.

"So this is what it's like to fly, huh. This is seriously zapping away at my qi. Therefore, though this is indeed exhilarating, it must be short-lived."

Booom!!!!!!

He then shot off through the skies toward the red feather eagle that was a bit stunned before coming to terms with the events.

" You like flames little one I see. Then I'll give you a gift and roast you alive"

The Eagle thought as it sought to melee with the charging youth. Its beak slowly opened as a small spark could be seen.

Similar to fire meeting gasoline an inferno of flames ignited aiming to scorch Taf as he flew.

Taf swiftly tried to dodge but half of his shirt was burnt by the flames as they barely missed his body.

" There is no way I can content with its speed while in the air, even with the assistance of my flames. Guess that only means one thing you overgrown chicken....."

Soon a grey crossbow was summoned within his hands. In truth, he was not as skilled with the traditional bow and arrow as May currently was. Due to the fact it is quite technical and needs the element art of air or wind to be effective.

The crossbow is slightly less technical and suits his needs perfectly being significantly more predictable in its aim.

He then uttered internally...

☆ Elemental Art ( Light) Illumination☆

Swish the tip of the arrow glowed with white light as Taf silently covered his eyes with a bit of darkness. Seeing his attack, though the large eagle did not see him as much of a threat, it was still wary.

After all, eight of its kind were killed in a single attack by this fellow and the girl that accompanied him. When it saw the arrow coming closer, its beak once more opened unleashing scorching flames.

" Explode....."

Taf uttered as the tip of the arrow glowed in blinding white light that seemingly contrasted against the red flames that tried to counter.

" Now's my chance...."

He once again shouted internally taking advantage of this perfect opportunity while he eyed the crimson red clouds.

☆ Elemental Art ( Darkness) Quintessence of the Shadows☆

Unlike the previous 5th stage red feathered eagle, this current beast was not as blinded by the attack due to its counter attack.

As its eye once again became used to the natural light, it saw Taf floating in mid-air. There was something odd though, no longer was he using the flames on his hands or feet to keep flight.

" Did this child have a breakthrough? No, he was definitely at the 6th qi condensation stage. "

The Demon Beast thought as it vigilantly assessed this youth it now saw as an equal foe. It no longer thought and decided only a scorch corpse would verify its query. At the moment its qi was being depleted while this child seemed to have an endless amount.

Its beak once again opened as flaming fireballs were launched as another attack at Taf. Just as he expected him to dodge, there were no attempts of any kind.

Flames washed over Taf seemingly burning him to crisp as not one bit of him could be seen. As the gigantic red feathered eagle was about to marvel in its success, there was a sudden pause within its tracks.

" Surely there should have been a bit of him remaining. "

Now the eagle felt fear as for the first time in the battle it no longer felt like the king of this game. A better term to describe it at this moment was ....., a pawn.

It was flustered, as it hurriedly assesses the skies, but this fiend was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly it heard a voice...

" Aaaww, did you miss me? Look up big fellow"

As it looks up there was Taf seemingly camouflage in the red clouds with a hammer 3 feet in the length descending at rapid speed.

It tried its best to counter-attack but its qi had nearly depleted from the previous attack.

" I'll call you Hammerhead. ..."

Booom!!!! the hammer descended knocking the gigantic beast on its head.

" At first I wanted your core but Maybe you're worth more to me alive than dead...."

As the red feathered eagle was hit it by the hammer, it slowly drifted in and out of consciousness. If one were to look in the skies at this very moment., they would witness a gigantic red feathered eagle plummeting to the ground.

☆ Elemental Art ( Darkness) Chains of subjugation☆

Black chains suddenly wrapped around the eagle's neck as it descended. Its pupil flickered between its previous yellow to black. After a few moments, there were no longer shades of yellow, only charcoal black.

" From this point, you are mine, Hammerhead. Heed your master's call and ascend"

Suddenly the once plummeting red feathered eagle made a bellowing squeak. Then regained its bearings before it soared into the air on his back was Taf with black chains in hand and his dreads blowing in the wind.