The flamingo beast stood before them in the shallow water, its twin heads weaving hypnotically as it studied Arthur. Despite the serene setting, something about the creature's posture suggested this peaceful appearance was deeply deceptive.

Arthur's eyes focused on the massive creature, and the familiar system interface materialised as he analysed his opponent.

[Tidal Flamingo]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Level: 26]

[Details: The Tidal Flamingo is an absolute master of water manipulation, capable of creating tsunamis with a flick of their twin heads and drowning opponents in shallow puddles through hydrokinetic control. Their pink feathers are reinforced, which makes them nearly impervious to physical attacks while submerged. Most dangerous is their ability to control the water content within their enemies' bodies, causing internal drowning or explosive dehydration. In their aquatic domains, they become very powerful, moving through water faster than most creatures can fly through air. Their twin heads allow for simultaneous casting of multiple water-based abilities, making them capable of overwhelming other legendary-rank opponents through sheer magical versatility.]

Arthur read the description with growing interest. This was no random mob—this was a true apex predator operating in its preferred environment.

Suddenly, notifications flooded his vision as the domain's effects took hold.

[You are in the Tidal Flamingo's domain. You will suffer from multiple debuffs.]

[Resistance toward Water Damage has been lowered by 22%]

[Your attributes have been lowered by 21%]

[The Tidal Flamingo's Water-based attacks have been increased by 11%]

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he felt the debuffs settling into his system like invisible weights. The Tidal Flamingo's domain was actually stronger than the Winter Beast's had been. Which meant that the debuff percentages weren't fixed values but seemed to scale with the domain user's power level.

"Interesting," Arthur murmured, making a mental note to investigate this phenomenon further. Was this an inherent aspect of domain abilities, or did stronger creatures simply accumulate more potent domain effects? He decided to ask the Winter Beast about domain mechanics later, especially since he hoped to awaken his own domain after killing this flamingo.

Feeling the full weight of the debuffs pressing against his combat effectiveness, Arthur decided he was in no mood for holding back against this creature. The flamingo had made the first aggressive move by activating its domain—now it was time to respond with overwhelming force.

Arthur activated his Primordial Summoner talent. A dark portal tore open in the air above the shallow water, reality bending as his most powerful domain-capable summon prepared to emerge.

The Winter Beast materialised from the portal with massive presence, its form sending ripples through the warm water as it landed with earth-shaking impact. Ice immediately began forming around its feet, though the tropical environment resisted the supernatural cold with surprising effectiveness.

The Winter Beast had previously explained that domains could be layered over each other, with the stronger domain asserting dominance. Arthur hoped his summons' icy domain would provide some relief from the Tidal Flamingo's aquatic advantages.

"Can you override this domain's abilities?" Arthur asked through their telepathic connection, gesturing at the endless sea surrounding them.

The Winter Beast shook its massive head. "Master, this flamingo's domain is stronger than mine. I cannot fully override its effects."

Arthur nodded his head, but he pressed for alternatives. "Can you at least weaken it? Reduce the effectiveness?"

The Winter Beast's eyes gleamed. "Yes, Master. I cannot dominate its domain, but I can contest it. My ice can create interference that will diminish its power."

"Do it," Arthur commanded without hesitation.

The Winter Beast planted its feet firmly in the shallow water and activated its own domain ability.

The ice domain began manifesting as ice slowly spread outward from the creature's position, and ice began growing across the water's surface with growing speed.

The two domains clashed with visible force, reality warping as conflicting environmental effects battled for supremacy. The Winter Beast's ice managed to advance several meters before encountering resistance that stopped its progress entirely. The tropical paradise remained largely intact, but Arthur could feel the debuffs lessening as the competing domains created interference patterns.

New notifications appeared, showing the improved conditions:

[Resistance toward Water Damage has been lowered to 10%]

[Your attributes have been lowered to 10%]

[The Tidal Flamingo's Water-based attacks have been lowered to 5%]

Arthur smiled grimly as he felt his combat effectiveness returning closer to normal levels. The debuffs were still present, but they had been reduced to manageable levels through the Winter Beast's domain interference.

"Much better," Arthur said, drawing his Chaos Katana as he prepared to engage the legendary creature. "Now let's see how well this flamingo fights."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Feeling its strength weakening suddenly after the Winter Beast had appeared and used its domain, the flamingo was furious. This enemy, before it was no weak one, and it knew that from the beginning, hence the reason it had activated its domain almost immediately, but now... things had gotten more dangerous.

SHRIEEEEK!

The flamingo's twin heads released synchronised war cries that sent ripples across the endless water. Without hesitation, it charged forward at incredible speed, its massive talons barely touching the water's surface as it moved. The shallow sea that had hindered Arthur's movement seemed to propel the creature instead, each step creating jets of water that launched it forward with frightening velocity.

Arthur's eyes widened slightly at the speed the flamingo was achieving. It was moving much faster than his normal movement capabilities without using teleportation—the water acting like a highway specifically designed for the creature's anatomy.

In mere moments, the Flamingo had closed the distance between them, its powerful leg raised high as it prepared to deliver a devastating kick. Arthur could see the muscles beneath its coral-pink feathers rippling with power, enhanced further by the domain's beneficial effects.

Arthur didn't dare to take that kick head-on. This was a strong, domain-capable beast operating at level 26, and its attributes were being amplified by its own territorial advantage. He wasn't foolish enough to tank that attack and suffer unnecessary damage when he had other options available.

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