Chapter 1: I'm a Bird?

He woke up half-dead, and he didn't even know his name. His eyes were painful. The only thing he could hear was the sound of the passing train, as his head ached from being hanged upside down.

The loud machine monsters were closing fast and zooming out, leaving sharp wind slashes on the man's torn-down body. 

The man was hanging on a wall with nothing to say or see. His harsh breathing was the only music in the lull.

"Huu. Huu. Huu." The man constantly panted as he felt the pain all over him. Sweat and blood seemed to merge on his lips as he tasted a salty liquid inside his gums that made the cuts inside his toothless mouth prick.

"Mi Amigo, are you ready?"

The man heard a harsh voice from a distance. However, it didn't wait for his response as a succeeding bang woke him up. Although the man was conscious, he could not open his eyes due to an unbearable pain.

"Bang!" Another shot echoed as sharp stones flew from his right side, and he could feel the danger on the horizon closing in.

'I want to die—just kill me.' The man thought as he felt pain from all over him. He was dizzy from the blood loss and was having a severe headache to top it off. Nonetheless, his hands were tied with metal chains, as well as his feet. He can feel the rough surface on his back as its sharp edges jab on his wounds.

The sun was also shining overhead as he felt its hot gaze. The humid air breathed a dry aura that seemed to drain him of any energy to move or think right. He was on the edge of passing out, and he could not even remember what happened before his impending demise.

Suddenly, the second shot sounded. 

However, this one didn't miss him. It went through his body by his breast, and he felt it exit on his back as rock splinters made contact with his wound-filled back. Nevertheless, these senses left him one by one as he felt blood draining from the bore on his body.

On this day, his 'mi amigo' ended his misery as he passed away.

***

The next thing he felt was numbness. It was total silence. He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't see anything. It was dark—never-ending darkness. He also couldn't feel his limbs as he stared at the void.

It was a constant dredging feeling as he didn't know the flow of time inside the space. He wished to sleep and dream, but he couldn't do it. He was just awake and conscious. This status quo went on for some time.

However, after a long time, for who knows how long, he felt a sudden dread coming from the darkness before him. It was as if the abyss was looking back at him. Then he felt rapid movements as he experienced extreme vibrations inside the nothingness. After a few moments, he felt the desire to move his hands. But, his limbs were not hands anymore. He felt like they changed into something different. His legs were curled towards his face as he felt them getting rough. 

He also moved his mouth, but they were extended, and it was different from the lips he used to have. He can also touch a hard surface on its edges. After coming into contact with it once, a sudden urge overwhelmed him to break the surface, so he pushed his new lips on the hard surface. 

***

Day 1.

An egg surrounded by shells moved. It moved one, then moved again. A constant 'prick' sounded inside the nest in a tree as splinters of eggshells fell onto the grass floor.

'What am I?'

The man thought as his strength left his body. Breaking the surface was hard for him and took all of his strength. He has been pushing the surface to open for hours and can't even remember how long it was exactly. After making a hole in the surface, he breathed his first breath of air after being stuck inside the nothingness for who knows how long.

Then, it dawned on him. He observed the massive domineering tree trunk and the night. He also felt the fluffy limbs he had and the hard protruding mouth he used to pip through the hard surface.

'I'm a bird?'

However, before he could move, he felt a sudden warm energy flowing inside the nest as he slept well and regained his energy.

***

Western Beaches of Weathered Forest.

"Lord Bow, we need to destroy those demon knights first."

A mature man in his sixties clad in gold and white armor said as he stretched back his hand and groped the air. His palm cracked as sparks appeared until they turned into a spear made of lightning. Sparks flew from his body occasionally as well while his eyes turned gold. 

"Yes. We need to do that."

Another man wearing a red and gold robe replied as he loosed an arrow from his gold bow. His arrows were made of energy that generated tornados. Every arrow he loosened was a tornado going to the target. These whirlwinds were fast enough to cause severe cuts to anyone cursed to get near them. He was a 'one-man catastrophe'.

The two men were constantly running and attacking the flying enemies. They were against thousands of birds and bird-like creatures surrounded with hazy mist that decayed anything surrounding them. These monsters were half dead and half alive as their innards poured into the sea below them.

They've been pursuing the horde of demonic beings for a while now. Then suddenly, a group of massive birds with a height of 2 meters dove towards the two.

"Careful! Corrupted rocs are coming close."

The archer said as he loosened an arrow towards the flock of corrupted rocs. The gigantic tornado sucked the tens of birds. However, one roc was able to leave the whirlwind and flew straight to the elder knight, flinging lightning bolts to other flyers. Nonetheless, the archer stopped the corrupted roc by summoning an intense wind towards it.

They've been fighting these demonic creatures for three days already, and they were fighting it on land as they cannot do anything with the harsh waters of the Nulem Ocean.

"Are you okay, Master Kilron?"

The archer said to the spear knight as they stood behind each other. The endless avians were pouring into them. However, they were not alone in these monster waves. 

The Demon Lord, called by Saint Tarion's prophesy as Amun, was a massive beast that spanned 200 or so meters. It commanded and corrupted avian creatures as it flapped its wings. It had the head of an owl, with the body of a bear, three pairs of bat-like wings, and five serpent tails. It was an abomination like no other.

"Yes, Lord Bow. Although we are enough for the knights and the commanders, we need more power. Where are the other legendaries?"

The old spear knight said as he summoned spears made of lightning, brandished them, and flung them to the demoniacs. He made a spear-throwing position as he gathered energy in his right hand and immediately threw it to a gathering of monsters.

"Lord Anchor said he might need more time to forge the void bomb."

The archer replied as he pulled three arrows and loosened them together. One of the arrows even went beyond two kilometers and hit a group of corrupted hawks going to their position.

However, as they were busy fighting the winged monsters, a massive aura suddenly erupted behind them, sending a tidal wave of presence to the entire forest.

'What the?'

The two simultaneously thought as the atmosphere suddenly changed. The demonic birds coming to them seemed to feel the undulation as they immediately shushed back to the sky.

"Someone broke through the legendary barrier. Do you know a Mythical Being near here?"

The archer said as he looked at the fleeing birds and the dark skies ahead made of a clump of demonic beings.

"I know one near, but it's the Master Yuldar."

Master Kilron said with dread. For many years, the Holt Empire and the Gurt'ak Northern Dominions were in constant war as the Northern Dominions always thought of the Empire as their underlings. That was also why the Gurt'ak (This word means "The Powerful Leader" in their language.) didn't join this fight against the Demon Lord, as they were fighting inside the Imperial territories.

"I think not. The Northern Dominions are far from here. The touch earlier came from somewhere inside the forest."

Lorb Bow said as he looked through the Weathered Forest.

"Let's go and check where this brother of mine broke through."

He added as he jumped fast to the dying forest. Master Kilron followed suit and asked:

"Are you sure we have a legendary being inside the forest?"

"We felt it. That's the usual effect when one person touches the Legendary Stage."

Lorb Bow said as his robe fluttered in the air. 

The two warriors ran into the woods to check the location of the originator of the force from earlier. Nevertheless, Master Kilron was already thinking of ways to deal with this new powerhouse inside the Weathered Forest, as the forest was under his duchy's jurisdiction. He was the Duke of Napsaki, the Northern Great General of the Holt Empire.

***

Compared to usual people, the two warriors traverse the whole place quickly. They were breezing through the bushes and the massive trees of the brown forest. The hazel canopy didn't hinder their eyes as they moved left and right without regard for beasts or monsters inside the woods.

Suddenly, Lord Bow signaled Duke Kilron to stop. They also saw the wolf packs walking under the shade of the trees.

"I think this is a wolven territory."

Lord Bow said as Duke Kilron nodded. They also saw the corrupted dead hatchlings scattered on the ground. Some of the wolves and slithering snakes were quick to eat these young snacks. It looked like they were having a feast.

"These hatchlings were not able to hold the corruption. Hence, they died an untimely death."

Lord Bow said, and Duke Kilron nodded again. But Lord Bow didn't stay on the spot and walked on branches and into a hole in a tree. The hole was big enough for a man to duck and hide inside. As the archer looked inside the hole, he saw a bird lying on the nest. It was filled with corruption, but the body fought the demonic corruption and found a balance.

"I think this hatchling is a legendary material. It was a false alarm, but we should keep this bird safe."

Lord Bow said as he looked at the relieved face of Duke Kilron.

"If you allow this bird to grow and help it expand, you might have a powerful being under your wings in years to come."

He added as he summoned a dagger made of wind.

"I will leave this dagger here to keep this nest safe from predators."

Lord Bow said as he struck the tree with a transparent dagger that immediately disappeared.

"Shouldn't I keep it as a pet?"

Duke Kilron asked as he looked at the newborn.

"You can't do that right now, right?"

Lord Bow interjected.

"Remember, Duke Kilron, we are still fighting this Demon King. Also, if you pamper this bird as a pet, you might keep him from growing. So, I advise that you allow it to explore its ways. However, mark its soul."

Lord Bow said as he nudged the old spear knight to put a seal on the bird. However, a massive harpy with red eyes came and attacked them.

"Careful! That's a Demon General!"

Lord Bow said as he picked up Duke Kilron to flee. The Duke didn't leave a soul mark and had his hand scraped by the monster.

"Ouch!"

Duke Kilron wailed as he was pulled by Lord Bow.

***

Day 2.

The next day came. The hatchling woke up, but it couldn't see anything. Instead, it munched the membranes felt by its beak. Then, slept again.

***

Day 3.

The hatchling did the same thing and slept more. It tried opening its eyes, but it still couldn't see anything. Although the bird can now gauge the position of some things, it was still not enough. So the hatchling slept again.

***

Day 12.

For the first five days, the hatchling woke and slept. From days six to eleven, it also didn't do anything noteworthy. It was barely moving inside the nest. However, the bird felt something was wrong and thought of something. 

'Where is my mother?'

The bird started to move around the nest and checked for its mother, but still couldn't find another avian nearby.

***

Day 13.

The fledgling woke up with a dreadful dream.

The bird remembered the pain of its death as a man. However, it couldn't remember the events before its death. It can only recall its death from the hands of a certain 'mi amigo.'

Nonetheless, the bird started to eat the dried membranes from its siblings' cracked eggs. It tried to recollect some of its memories. But the memories the bird could recover were memories about the world it previously lived in. It couldn't remember the names or the faces from its past life. The only vivid memory it had was its horrible death and 'mi amigo.'

"However, that's not the problem! The problem right now is: "Where is Mother?!"

The bird shouted as it woke up. Its sweet chirps were loud enough for the nest. Nevertheless, ever since it cracked the egg, it was always alone. It can see other cracked eggs around its shell, but as the last egg, it got abandoned.

"Why? Oh, why, Mother?!"

The bird unceasingly chirped as it could now stand on its two twig legs. It also frequently jumped on the grass-made nest perched inside a hole in a tree.

Before this, the bird tried walking outside the nest, but the ground was too far. And it didn't like the thought of jumping and dying again.

That's why it just jumped and practiced flapping inside the nest. Maybe one day, the bird can fly for good and leave its nest.

After its routine of practice flight, it would rest and recuperate. Although no one taught the bird how to sleep as a bird, it learned to bend its knees, turn its head sideways, and begin to sleep.

"I hope I won't see the vision of me dying again. Hooo."

The bird murmured as it started to sleep. For days now, the bird was a prisoner of these visions. 

Hanged. Trains. Shot. Dead.

The bird experienced these memories many times. Every time the bird woke up, it would stare for a few minutes before going through its routine. 

***

Day 14.

On the fourteenth day of being alive, the bird accidentally jumped higher, went outside the nest, and fell to the grass.

"Ouch!"

The bird chirped hard as it felt the pain on his right wing. However, this time, the fledgling was afraid of being outside. The tall trees were dark, and the noise of the other animals was reverberating from far off.

Since it was dusk, the bird could hear the sound of wolves in the distance while it saw a snake perched on a tree beyond the shrubs. The bird was afraid.

Nonetheless, the bird then noticed the peculiarity of the forest. The forest was dark and had many brown trees. It was as if the whole forest was withering.

Having said that, the young bird didn't stay on the grass. Instead, the bird started to find ways back to the nest.

But then, a sudden realization dawned on the bird. Its nest tree was humongous. It would take at least ten men to surround the tree shoulder to shoulder.

So, the bird took a tour of its birth tree—eagerly trying to find a chance to climb back, but the tree was steep. 

Suddenly, the bird heard a slither behind it, which scared it big time. Out of curiosity or explicit courage, the bird looked behind and saw a snake coming to where it was. 

"What? No!"

The bird chirped as it tried to jump and flapped its wings. The pain from falling earlier was gone as the bird committed to fly fast.

Within a few tries, the bird did it!

The fledgling went up once and twice but missed the third one and smashed its face again on the tender grass. But, thinking back on the sound of slithering in the distance and the eyes of the predator it saw earlier. The bird flapped again.

This time, the bird was chirping loud and fast.

"Help! Help! Help!"

The bird tried asking for help, but the only thing that other animals could hear was the sound of a beautiful chirping from the fledgling.

Then the bird saw it again, deep from the shrubs, the eye of the serpent. The diamond eyes of the snake were watching this young bird as it tried its best to fly and leave danger to no avail.

Again, the fledgling tried jumping and flapping, and it worked!

Once, twice, thrice, and so on, the bird's wings flapped as the green grass of the ground left its eyes. But then, again!

The fledgling fell with a thud!

The bird's body bounced on the soft grass as the snake slithered closer. 

The snake that was closing in looked eager to have a meal and was preparing its fangs to deliver the poison of a package.

But the young bird wouldn't give up. The bird jumped, flapped, and chirped faster and harder. It was now a race of time for death and dinner.

Then it happened again! The bird was able to lift off from the ground as the snake drew closer each second.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

The consistent flapping is turned into flight by the bird who doesn't want to die again—not this early.

Then suddenly, the snake stood up and aimed its fangs towards the leaving dinner. It jumped!

The bird felt danger drawing closer and breathed into the ground. However, this was to no avail.

It was not a dragon but only a fledgling bird without its mother.

Nonetheless, the bird evaded the snake's strike with a few inches and flew higher to safety. 

But suddenly, it felt its body falling.

The bird tried to flap and flap, but it was falling indeed.

The next thing the bird knew was that it fell on the head of the snake, who was confused.

Then, the bird quickly moved. 

The bird flapped its wings fast and flew behind the snake.

The shocked snake can only hope to catch the fledgling who was fast to fly away.

The bird tried to fly beyond the snake's range—through the shrubs and back into the nest.

It flew so fast and far and was able to see its nest. Nevertheless, since this was its first time flying, it couldn't gauge the speed properly and banged its head on the trunk. 

This is the bird's fourteenth day of existence—the day it will never forget.