Beast Bind

Erix waved his hand and used the <Iron Flower> skill while the eagles were still sizing their prey.

***

——> [ Iron Flower (1st Tier active skill) ]: Create an iron flower of six petals with two modes:-Flower Barrier (1m-10m big) and Flower Barrage.

-Consumes 2 petals to use Flower Barrier and 1 petal to use Flower Barrage. The power of the skill depends on the user's magic, strength, and agility stats.

-Cost: 30 mana.

***

A watermelon-sized flower floated beside Erix after he used the skill.

First, he consumed 2 flower petals to create a barrier that surrounded Rin, Isabella, and Aaron. The faint gray barrier was semi-transparent, wholly made of magical energy.

Afterward, he took out his newly acquired weapon!

[ Fiend Frost Hammer (Uncommon-grade): A hammer imbued with the power of ice! When equipped, increase ice damage by 5% and give a stack of Frost Tomb to the target hit. When an enemy gets 4 stacks of frost tomb, they are frozen for 1 second ]

The hammer was a meter long with a fifty-centimeter hammerhead carved with icy patterns on its gray metal body.

*Chii!*

The eagles released a sharp cry as they saw a hammer flying toward them!

Like his dagger, Erix could manipulate the hammer with his Metal Control skill!

However, those eagles also swooped down towards Erix to attack!

Erix narrowed his eyes, entirely focused.

Those two eagles used some skill as their talons glinted with a red glow!

'Hit one with the hammer and the other…' Erix thought as he tried something new. But, since he could feel mana in his body, he tried to control it and infuse it into his fist.

At first, he felt a bit of pain, but he quickly concluded that his fist was empowered as he clearly felt it!

*Smack!*

When both eagles entered Metal Control's range, he hit one with his hammer and smacked it away while punching the other eagle's talon since it was directed at him for a deadly attack.

*Puchi…*

*Chiinnn!*

Eric's fist bled, but the eagle's talons were smashed into blood pulp before the punch's force continued and spread through its body, causing the creature to cry in pain as it almost died!

-188

The power of Erix's punch was devastating because of his passive skill, Punch Force, which increases punch damage by 50%!

The punched eagle went into a temporary shock because of the lethal damage it suffered and fell to the ground.

Erix quickly stomped on it and killed it.

[You have killed… +3 Agility, +3 Strength].

But right after that, he saw the second eagle swooping at him with red, angry eyes.

Erix snorted and grabbed its talons despite them tearing his hands.

*Screeeee!*

Seeing the eagle screeching since its attack failed, Erix grinned and kicked on its stomach before pulling its talons as he forced it from one side to the other and smashed it on the ground.

Afterward, he sat down on its stomach while pressing on its wings with his feet and slapped its head a few times, making it dizzy.

"What are you doing?" Rin asked with confusion.

"I suddenly got an idea, so I am trying it out," Erix smiled as he looked at the eagle and slapped it again.

The eagle constantly tried to break out of Erix's grasp, but he pinned it down, making its struggles futile.

Erix's overall physical capabilities were higher than this mutated eagle, making it helpless against him as it couldn't do anything to break free.

"Do you understand me? I want you to become my pet," Erix said as he slapped its head again, making the eagle cry in pain.

Rin and Isabella became speechless while Aaron just curiously looked on.

The eagle released cries and continued trying to break free from Erix. Alas…

*Slap!*

"Become my pet."

*Slap!*

"I'll continue slapping until you submit to me."

*Slap!*

After five minutes, the eagle was not moving and just stared at Erix with red and...watery eyes.

It was crying!

Erix grinned. He didn't slap it for the entire thirty seconds.

The eagle became hopeful and glad. It didn't have to feel the pain again.

But just as the eagle was feeling a bit better, Erix suddenly slapped it again!

*Chiii!….*

The eagle burst out crying!

"Do you submit to me?" Erix asked as he raised his palm again, intending to slap it.

However, the eagle quickly nodded its head fearfully and was already seeing stars and feeling dizzy along with pain because of all those slaps!

"Heh, I knew it. The creatures mutated, so some also became intelligent," Erix said as he loudly laughed after seeing the notifications.

[Congratulations! You have successfully made a mutated creature higher level than you submit to you. You have acquired a title: Beast Subjugator]

[Congratulations! You have acquired a Title skill, Beast Bind, upon acquiring the Beast Subjugator title].

[ Beast Bind: You can bind one beast to you that you have successfully subjugated. After using the skill on a subjugated beast, the beast is also completely healed and becomes 100% loyal to you until you release it. ]

After reading everything, Erix used the new skill on the eagle and also shared it with the ladies.

Rin, Isabella, and Aaron saw the eagle shining with golden light for a second as all of its wounds healed.

*Chii!*

The eagle stood beside Erix afterward and nudged him after releasing a sharp whistle.

Erix sat on the eagle's broad back and turned to the ladies with a smile, "Our new ride is ready."

"The big eagle became big brother's pet?" Aaron asked with wide eyes.

Rin and Isabella were impressed and slightly speechless.

"Who would've known it was possible to tame these mutated beasts?" Rin sighed.

"I don't think it's possible to tame all mutated beasts," Erix rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression as he looked at his eagle.

"I felt this one was a bit different...like it had sanity and intelligence, but as you have seen, not all mutated creatures are sane and tamable."

"Alright, get on. We'll fly from now on."