I waved to my companions as they rode off in the wagon. For now, we parted ways to gather our materials for our gears.
Dahlia and Claude were heading to a river location to collect materials from water-type monsters, while Theai went into a wooded area to find her own materials.
I waved at a few wagons so I could catch a ride and head toward my location.
A wagon was coming in my direction, but it was interrupted.
"Wait!" someone called out.
Two players ran up to it. I walked over to them and stepped closer.
"Hey, I was the one who waved first," I said, raising my eyebrows.
"We ride it first, darling," the young lady replied, my eyebrows met each other.
I stepped forward, but she pushed me back. I stumbled a bit, yet still managed to climb aboard.
"No!" she shouted, her voice sharp with frustration.
"The wagon will take me to my place first," I said, crossing my arms.
"It's okay, and I'm sorry for how my comrade acted," the guy beside her said calmly, bowing slightly.
"Taking him from his location first is fine, but the part about apologizing? That's not acceptable," she said, crossing her arms tightly and glaring at her companion.
"Where are you heading?" the wagoner asked, looking confused.
"The Aeralith Forest, sir," I replied.
"What a coincidence! We're heading there too," the guy said, smiling at me.
At least he was nice… unlike her.
"Hmmmph! It's not a coincidence—it's unfortunate," the young lady muttered, turning her gaze away from me.
I studied them carefully. I remembered them—they were Theai's first opponents yesterday. What a coincidence.
The wagon traveled along the road in silence; no one spoke during the trip.
When we arrived at the location, I stepped down and stretched my arms.
The wagon drove off down the road, leaving us behind.
"Finally… we made it," I said, rubbing the back of my neck and letting out a small sigh.
"Yeah, we can finally separate here," the young lady said, side-eyeing me and crossing her arms.
Her companion held the small book at his side, flipping through the pages before saying, "No, the forest here is dangerous, unlike the other forbidden forests in the kingdom. I read all about it when I bought this book from a merchant."
"Wait… are you suggesting we invite him to fight alongside us?" the young lady asked, raising her eyebrows as she glanced at her companion.
"Oh, no, it's fine. I have to look for materials for my gear anyway," I said, giving them a small, reassuring smile.
He vanished the book from his hand. "So you're looking for materials for your gear too? Well, it seems we're after the same thing," he said, shrugging slightly and giving me a small smile.
"I'm Julian, by the way," he extended his hand. "My magical creature is an owl, and this is Emilia—hers is a swan," he added, gesturing toward her.
"I'm Malachi, and my magical creature is a phoenix." We shook hands together.
"Okay, enough. If he wants to join us, then he better keep up," Emilia said, walking toward the forest.
[System Notice!]
(Current Location: Edge of Aeralith Forest)
We entered the forest, and the moment we stepped inside, the sounds of creatures filled the surroundings. Birds and flying monsters swooped overhead, their wings flapping loudly, echoing through the trees.
The clouds above were dark and heavy, casting a dim, gloomy light over the forest.
"Did you know there is a Sky Island in this forest?" Julian asked, a proud smile on his face.
"Woah, there is?" I said, eyes widening.
"Yeah, dude!" he replied, nudging me playfully.
We roamed deeper into the forest, keeping our eyes steady for any monsters that might approach. The trees here were scattered, not crowded together like in other forests, giving the area an eerie openness.
When we arrived at an open clearing, the sky above shrieked with noises. Suddenly, flying monsters appeared out of nowhere, crashing into the ground in an instant, their wings sending dust and debris flying.
[!] Monster Classification [!]
[Monster: Harpy]
[Rank: C-Class]
Harpies are flying predators with sharp talons and keen eyesight. Agile and fast, they attack in groups from the air, swooping down on intruders with precision. Their wings allow them to glide silently, and their sharp cries can disorient prey before they strike.
‹ Harpy ›
HP: 100/100
Five Harpies appeared in front of us, their beaks sharp and their claws glinting.
"Summon your Arcane Weapons!" Julian's voice rang out with a commanding tone.
"Solaris!"
My phoenix burst out of nowhere, flames igniting along its feathers as it dove toward me. Its body twisted and condensed, then fused into a blazing spear that hummed with searing heat in my hands.
"Talon!"
An owl appeared out of nowhere, its eyes glowing with mysterious energy. It flew towards Julian, landing briefly on his outstretched hand. In the next moment, its body burst into swirling violet particles. The particles spun rapidly, forming a small violet vortex before condensing into a crystal ball that settled into his palm, glowing softly.
"Seraphim!"
A graceful swan emerged in a soft glow of white light, its wings spreading wide as it glided forward, leaving behind a gentle, misty trail in the air. Feathers drifted down, then gathered and aligned, weaving together until they formed a large white feather that connected to a slender rod. The weapon released a faint mist as the rod settled firmly into Emilia's grasp.
"I'll strike first!" Emilia darted forward, her body spinning in an elegant twist as she swung her Feathered Rod.
"Swan Dance: Feathered Waltz!"
Three Harpies hovered midair, their claws aiming straight for her. Emilia twisted her body and dodged with effortless grace, weaving through their attacks as her rod glowed.
Sharp white feathers, infused with mist, erupted from her weapon. She spun, sending them slicing through the air, leaving a trailing veil of mist behind.
The Harpies screamed in pain as Emilia continued her fluid dance, releasing sharp feathers with every twist of her body.
They lunged again, claws outstretched, aiming for Emilia, but she leapt and spun through the air, evading them. Each dodge left a swirl of mist and drifting feathers in her wake, until the three Harpies were finally slain.
Two more Harpies surged forward, claws stretching wide.
"Psionic Maelstrom!"
Julian released a medium-sized violet orbital sphere, positioning it directly in front of Emilia. It hovered and pulsed with energy, then erupted outward in circular, razor-sharp waves of psionic force.
The Harpies were struck, unable to escape as the swirling waves of energy pulled them toward the orb, slashing anything in their path.
I froze in place, watching them. No wonder Thea lost in that 3v3 match—I mean, just look at them.