*Drip*

"Ugh…"

*Drip*

*Rustling*

A faint voice came from somewhere above. A thick fog enveloped the world, making it impossible to see beyond five meters ahead.

Yet something soared through the fog as though it did not exist.

It rapidly approached the origin of the groan as great wingbeats caused a hidden canopy to rustle.

*Chirp* *Chirp*

"… Chirp?" The voice spoke again. It came from the middle of a giant bird's nest made of iron-wood logs.

Giant, black feathered birds with heads containing a dozen eyes pecked at the black mound in the center of their nest.

Their great beaks were like axes, and they easily bit into the log. However, when they knocked on another chick's head, it left only behind a small mark, like the hefty strike was but a playful peck.

The beaks eventually knocked on something harder than the wood, creating a dull thud that caused them to flap energetically in their half-hatched shells.

*Chirp* *Chirp* *Chirp*

*Chirp* *Chirp* *Chirp*

That black, feathery mound rustled before a pair of white arms reached out towards a small bulge where a person's head would be.

"Gaaaaah. Who the– Cer, just because you're Awakened now doesn't mean you can abuse it and start hitting me like that. That fucking hurt."

Frost's figure emerged from the giant black mound. Her voice was a little different, and the Coat of Sanguine Prejudice felt much larger than usual, but she did not have time to process this.

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Chirp…? O-Ow– Hey!? Birds!?"

One, two, three birds swung their beaks down to peck her head one after the other, each one causing her to sink further into the mound. The pain was fresh, and she was surprised that the attack had caused her this much pain given these creatures were just birds.

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

They came swinging down again, and Frost stumbled backwards to avoid them.

Indeed, she stumbled because she, for whatever reason, moved much slower than usual. Her body did not feel right at all, and the oversized Coat of Sanguine Prejudice hid much of what was happening down there.

Bark exploded from where she was standing a second ago.

The playful pecks would have bored through the skull of any ordinary person. She couldn't tell if they were intentionally trying to kill her, or, if they thought she was one of them since they were also pecking each other.

Additionally, she couldn't tell if these birds were animals or monsters. The term was interchangeable to an extent in Elysia, and would determine whether she'd mince them or give them a playful peck back.

"[Analyze Target]."

< Analyze Target Cannot Be Used Here >

It can't be used here? I've never seen this message before.

"We are in the presence of a Gift of a Star. Their Corrupted Zones may have a stronger influence than regular Corrupted if they can cancel Skills."

Nav was quick to reply.

A stumped Frost was barely able to comprehend her thoughts as massive wingbeats blasted air from nearby. The birds chirped ever louder, and their mouths gaped wide as they stared up with hungry expectation.

I was barely under the influence of Mort Toll back in the Bellum Empire. I don't think this is the Corrupted Zone of just a Gift. Aren't we right under an Advent?

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"Pending. I don't have any clear conditions at the moment."

A fifteen-meter bird decorated with black and golden feathers descended into the nest. Its wingspan exceeded the size of the giant nest, and in its beak was made of a light-absorbing material that camouflaged it along its fur.

A pair of powerful talons snapped the logs with terrifying ease. They were but twigs to this creature. Yet despite its immense strength, it excersized restraint as it tenderly brushed its beak along the sides of its chicks.

These chicks are five meters large. What kind of birds are these in the first place?

If [Analyze Target] could not function correctly here, then her trusted Status could.

Status.

Hatchling Black Bird

LEVEL : 90 ORIGIN : Animalia

HP : 8,300

ATT : 500 MAG ATT : 10 ATT DEF : 600 MAG DEF : 200

MP : 50

RESIST : 50 AGI : 20

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Level 90 for a Hatchling. What do you eat to get that big?"

As Frost said this, the mother bird opened her maw, revealing gums lined with hooked teeth.

Mother Black Bird Phenom of Contempt

< The 834th Phenom >

LEVEL : 145 ORIGIN : Animalia

HP : 62,500

ATT : 1,200 MAG ATT : 300 ATT DEF : 800 MAG DEF : 400

MP : 500

RESIST : 100 AGI : 42

Housed within Act X was the nest of one of the 999 Phenoms of Contempt, and it was the first normal creature she had ever seen surpassing the level 140 limit. It was by no means powerful, but to regular people, it would be no different from encountering a mythical creature.

"Caw!" The Black Bird cried through the churned meat held within its beak. Fragments of white chitin, and the rich crimson slurry dribbled from the side.

Frost's fists clenched as she prepared to take its head off.

That smell is human. I recognize that slurry. Is Joy ok?

"The others are fine but are separated. Rest assured. The Mother Black Bird does not prey on humans. But they are territorial creatures."

But I'm somehow fine?

Frost had no idea why it wasn't afraid of her. When she looked down, she didn't find anything amiss except for her oversized coat and oddly loose apparel. Were Phenoms of Contempt immune to her presence?

Or…

"Chirp! *Swallow*"

"Chirp! *Munch*"

"Chirp! *Gulp*"

"Caw!"

The Mother Black Bird dumped the slurry into the stretching mouths of her hatchlings, bloating them until they ballooned to twice their size. The stench was worse than rotting corpses, and it was coated in a membranous slime like what one would find on meat that was left to sit outside.

It turned to her, pecked the ground beside her foot, before an array of two hundred golden eyes emerged from beneath its feathers.

No way. It thinks I'm one of its own…?

"Safe to assume that is the case. You are the Black Dove. But should I call you a cuckoo bird?"

Not like I'm doing this on purpose. But the meat there has pieces of white chitin. Probably from an Anid. Quick question. You think I can still gain stats from a regurgitated Anid?

There was an abrupt sound from the other side. It was Nav physically recoiling and setting her cup of tea aside, as if she couldn't bring herself to continue drinking.

"Feeling adventurous today?"

Let's not skip out on a potential opportunity. I'm hungry anyway. Do you know how long I was out for?

"Not even a minute."

Well, my stomach says otherwise.

It wasn't like Frost was losing anything from this. Besides, she had eaten much worse. And it'd be nice to learn a bit about this creature. Seeing a level 145 was fascinating, and those golden eyes were heavily reminiscent of the One Thousand Eyed Bird.

She didn't notice any tension or suspicion from the bird's side. The only abnormality she noticed was that the light the Mother Black Bird contained was on the brighter side.

There was a reason for this. Levels were a measure of one's amassed Light, hence why it also dictated a person's Soul Rank/Quality. The higher it was, the Lighter a creature would naturally have. Though this wasn't absolute, of course.

That said, she did wonder what allowed this creature to surpass the 140 limit. No one knew why this limit was in place, but they knew it was tied to whether a vessel was capable of acquiring additional Light.

Frost opened her mouth as she pondered on this.

"Caw!?" The Mother Black Bird screeched, tilting her head with sudden alarm.

It made Frost open her mouth wider, and the bird immediately calmed before depositing the slurry into her mouth.

< Unique Ability Gained >

< ABILITY : Scouting Party >

< EFFECT : The denizens of your nest may travel up to 1,000 meters from you. They travel faster along the strings of your nest. They will relay what they see. Each denizen uses 1% of your total mana capacity to maintain >

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