Hours Later.
The sun began to set at this point but the black snake still slept calmly.
SCREECHH
The piercing screak came from above the clouds , waking the snake up with a jolt , the snake immediately looked towards the sky. Its pupils narrowing into silts.
SWOOSH
A streak of Brown appeared to descend from the heavens as it dives towards the snake . Its speed so fast , the snake couldnt even react in time.
SWISH
The brown figure picked up the snake by the head with its talons at a high speed. all the black snake saw was a streak of brown before being lifted up into the air
Despite this , however , the snakes weight was proving to be difficult to manage as it struggled to gain much altitude
Breaking out of the shock of the situation , the snake lunged at the eagle , trying to bite it.
GRNK
The snakes eyes widened in terror as its neck bone was slightly cracked under the creatures talons .
The snake hissed , anger and pain in its tone , as it attempted wrapped its long black body around the body of the creature
The creature , seeing this action immediately dove its curved and sharp beak into the side of the snake , sending blood splattering downwards
The snake , screached from the retaliation , as it turned and opens its mouth , seemingly aiming for another bite out of desperation.
Before the creature could further increase its hold on its neck .
SHLIKK
The newly reformed gelatinous layer was ruptured , sending a familiar black horn , towards the belly of the creature
It tore through the muscles beneath the creatures body , tearing its muscles below. causing immense pain.
The eagle though , growling through the pain , released the snake from its grasp
The black snake fell through the air at a considerable height , its eyes darting frantically . trying to find any way of survival , still under the patient gaze of the creature.
Its eyes fell on the towering rock not far away , it seems they had not flown far . with determination in its eyes , it leaned its weight in the direction of the rock
200m
100m
25m
As the distance between the ground and the snake decreased rapidly , so did the distance towards the rock
15m
As the snake was directly above the rock , the still extented horn was position above it and...
The horn struck first.
Stone exploded beneath the impact, fissures racing outward in jagged lines as the black spike punched deep into the rock. The force wrenched violently through her body, snapping her downward like a whip.
For a heartbeat she dangled there—impaled horn buried in stone, body suspended in open air.
Then gravity finished its job.
Her body slammed against the rock's face with a sickening thud. The swollen curve of her stomach hit hardest, and a violent shudder rippled from head to tail. Breath fled her lungs in a silent gasp. The world flashed white..
Cracks spiderwebbed through through the horn,.
Above, the creature circled the snake. Blood darkened the feathers along its underside where the horn had torn through muscle.
The snake's vision blurred.
Her neck throbbed where bone had nearly given way. Each shallow breath sent sharp stabs through her ribs.
Minutes passed before sensation returned in full.
The horn, still embedded in stone, broke releasing a greenish substance . What had been rigid and lethal weapon became a broken stump.
Slowly, it withdrew from the fractured rock and seeped back into her body, leaving behind a deep, circular puncture in the peak.
Freed from suspension, she slid the remaining few meters and collapsed onto the shattered surface.
its mind unfocused , its body unwilling . despite the pain , her gaze was fixed on the figure in the sky .
The creature stared back , thinking and calculating its next move
SREECH
With a furious screech , it dived back to the ground , appearing as a brown streak.
Despite the approach of the creature , she did not despair , simply glancing at it with an unreadable gaze which seemed to anger the creature even more
Just as it was nearing striking distance of the snake...
Thud
The body of the creature fell to the ground , its eyes bloodshot , its mouth foaming with a white precipitate . The creature coughed. a red slogg flew from his mouth
SSRRSSSKKK
The rock behind the snake began to corrode , the green liquid from the broken horn, falling deeper into the rock.
The snake , though , despite being victorious , is only faring slightly better than the incapacitated creature.
The deep wound on her tail bleed continuously , not seeming to cease , Its head nearly snapped with that fall , quite frankly , its survival was a miracle ...
The snakes body convulsed as it retched , spitting out a mouth full of blood , one of its organs seemed to rupture.
if it were any other creature , they would have perished already , thankfully snakes are one of the most resilient species in the world!
She attempted to move her body , pain surged through her once more , iliciting a wince. still undetered it moved , slow and steady , its muscular stomach scales straining from the exceretion.
It approached the incapacitated creature and finally got a good look at it ,
Up close, the creature was peculier—broad wings, hooked beak, powerful talons built to crush and carry. . One wing bent at an unnatural angle. The puncture beneath its torso oozed dark fluid, the surrounding flesh discolored where her horn had struck.
The green secretion from her broken horn still sizzled faintly where it had splashed across stone. The rock itself was pitted and scarred, as if touched by acid.
Venom.
The bird convulsed once, talons scraping weakly against stone. Its breathing turned shallow. Foam gathered at the edge of its beak. Then it went still.
The black snake did not move immediately , cautious of any trickery.
Even dying predators could strike.
She remained coiled , her eyes narrowing into slits as she watched, tongue flicking in measured intervals. The air was thick with the scent of blood, digestive musk, and the sharp mineral tang of rain-soaked stone.
Minutes passed.
No movement.
Only then did she shift.
She moved to the raptor's abdomen where her horn had pierced deepest. Rather than attempt to swallow such a large creature whole, she tore away manageable sections, manage this meal as it would be her last for a while.
The seemingly short battle with the creature felt like eternity , her body strained and her eyes tired still , she perciveared
She wrapped her wounded tail around the creatures body , leaving a trail of blood behind.
The swamp was silent as storm clouds rolling low once more, she dragged herself toward a shallow depression near the rock's base, a hole , barely enough to fit through.
Despite her cautious nature , it was too risky to stay out in the open and so with no delay , she squeezed herself through the hole , dragging the creatures corpse through the whole.
A few Minutes Later
A golden light streaked across the sky , letting out a loud swoosh .
The image of a man came into view atop a sword, he had white hair from root to tip , his age filled with countless wrinkles as his hands were folded impassively behind him
Despite his advanced age , his posture was straight , his clothing was estravigant robe , with hyliphics of dragons on the back , giving him a noble air.
His brown eyes combed the forest , observing every detail .
"Hmm" , his voice raspy and aged
With a thought , he spread out his spirit sense
His eyes flashed blue as the image of the swamp below appeared in his mind in all directions at 100 meters , the scent , the humidity . everything , he could feel as if he was there himself
His sword pulsed slightly as it swooshed away leaving a golden flash behind
The man circled the Outer perimeter of the swamp , daring not to go too deep for fear of the faint pressure he sensed as soon as he arrived.
Where did it go? , he thought
The clouds above released their downpour on the earth below , appearing very timely , as it washed away the blood trail from the eagle
As the old man continued searching for something.
The man circled the outer layer of the swamp a few times , finding no evidence of struggle or a battle.
With a dissappointed gaze it seized its search as he became lost in thought
'As soon as my surbordinates discoved the earth eagle in the city' , ;they alerted me , who knew it would run off so quickly'.....
'despite being only a Body Forging Realm in the first stage beast , it is quite fast , Sigh' , with a degected look , he glanced at the sword he rode on.
The relic of the Kin Family , one of the only flying swords in the city and a low spiritual tool , it couldnt even catch a juvinile bird . cant be helped i suppose.
With a self pitying tone , he continued
'Now what? what will little Bai supposed to do about the the Golden Sky Beast taming sect disciple recruitment trial in a few years?' 'What a pity' , the man lamented , 'judging by its speed it had at least a faint bloodline with hope of awakening it . truly a loss' .
With a sigh , he zoomed of on his sword , heading North towards Zhang gu city.