Bella descended like a falling comet of ice.
The temperature plummeted instantly. As her feet touched the branch frost exploded outward, freezing bark, blood, and broken weapons alike.
With a wave of her hand, Ice spears formed above her, spreading in octagonal formation as sharp as blades.
Swoosh..
The Blood Eagle's talon came crashing down.
Clang.
Bella, at the last second, formed a wall of ice in front, shattering under the impact.
But it bought her enough time to retreat.
She slid backward, her boots carving deep grooves into the frozen pathway she built.
She looked coldly at the Leader.
"SKREEECH!"
The Blood Eagle Leader screeched, enraged. Its wings flapped so violently that they send shockwaves through the air.
As if moved by the leader's command,dozens of Blood Eagles regrouped and encircled Bella in a tightening radius.
She may be strong.
But she was alone.
Even her followers were too far behind to help in time.
"Whoosh.."
At that exact time, another Blood Eagle attacked.
Bella raised her hand, summoning a dozen Ice Spears and launching them forward.
"Schhlk, Crack!"
Three Eagles were pierced and frozen mid-air, thencrashed down like shattered statues.
But the rest did not stop.
The leader moved.
In a single instant, it crossed the distance and slammed into her defenses. "Bang!"
Ice shattered. Bella was thrown backward, crashing through branches before barely regaining her balance.
Blood leaked from the corner of her lips, which she quickly wiped them away.
Her white eyelashes fluttered as dizziness hit her body.
So this was the price of stepping in late.
But suddenly, the sky changed.
The wind stopped.
The screams stopped.
The Blood Eagles froze mid-motion, their instincts screaming danger.
Water condensed unnaturally fast. Moisture was dragged from the air, the bark, the blood-soaked ground, forming swirling currents above the battlefield.
Bella felt it. It was familiar.
Her pupils shrank.
That pressure.
Before anyone could react, the familiar calm voice rang through the chaos.
"Move aside."
The words were quiet, but felt very imposing.
As everyone turned to see who the speaker was, they saw Aegis.
Calm and Measured.
With the water propelling him upward, the gravity no longer applied for him.
His expression was cold, detached, as though he were merely passing through.
Bella turned abruptly.
Noticing his presence, her heart trembled for just a fraction of a second.
It was him.
"Screeeee!" The Blood Eagle Leader screeched and attacked.
But Aegis did not even look at it.
"Snap!" He only snapped his fingers.
And the world turned white.
Massive Ice Blades, numbering in dozens formed behind his head, rotating around him in perfect synchronization.
They did not emit wild energy. They were silent. Controlled. Absolute.
Whoosh!
With a single wave of his hand, they launched.
The Blood Eagles did not have time to scream.
Their bodies disintegrated mid-air, reduced into fine icy mist that scattered like snow. No freezing. No remains. No chance of regeneration.
One breath after, another wave struck them mercilessly.
In matter of seconds, entire clusters were vanished from existence.
"SCREEEE—KRAAAH!" The leader roared and charged while its wings flapped in desperation.
In counter, Aegis raised his hand.
Water Manipulation Ultimate activated.
This time, his control over water reached deep. It touchef the threshold to Blood Manipulation.
The very blood inside the Blood Eagle's own body betrayed it.
Its blood veins froze from within, then shattered.
"Pufff!"
Its massive form collapsed in on itself before bursting into countless fractions..
All the witnesses almost forgot to breathe. They watched a battle. But it seemed so easy for Aegis.
They were speechless. For a while they just stared at the spot where the leader exploded.
So much so they didn't notice the dozens of unguarded eggs, resting quietly in the nest.
Aegis smoothly landed on the nest.
Around him lay nothing but frost and drifting mist.
Bella stood like a staue, staring at his face. He felt very familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time.
She went over to hin instinctively.
"Aegis, wait. I need to ask you something."
However, Aegis did not even look at her.
He walked past her as if she were nothing.
He stopped only at the center of the nest, where two unusually large eggs emitted dense life energy.
Without hesitation, he lifted them using water currents and secured them beside him.
Bella arrived before him again.
"Who exactly are you? How are you this strong? Tell me."
Aegis glanced at her for the first time.
The same flawless face once he loved. The long eyebrows he adored when he was a lovestruck fool.
But now... there's nothing. Only coldness.
"Why Should I? There is nothing between us. And there will be nothing in the future."
Those words echoed in Bella's ears.
As Aegis walked away without even sparing her another look, Bella stood motionless in place.
Her lips moved slightly, but no words came out.
For reasons she could not understand, his indifference hurt far more than any insult ever could.
She pressed her fingers tightly together.
Why did it hurt so much?
She had chosen this path herself. She had chosen strength over attachment, distance over bonds.
So why did being dismissed by a complete stranger shaken her so much?
She forced herself to breathe evenly.
This was not the time to dwell on meaningless emotions.
After Aegis's intervention, the remaining battles ended quickly.
Without the Blood Eagle Leader and the dense swarms, the rest of the hostile Blood Eagles were hunted down with pure ease.
United, they took down the remaining eagles left by Aegis.
Some adventurers were fortunate enough to seize intact eggs during the chaos.
Naturally, conflict ensued.
Shouting. Threats. Blades were drawn.
Several small skirmishes broke out as groups fought each other over the remaining eggs.
Once survival was no longer the priority, trust shattered almost instantly.
In the end, strength decided ownership.
Amid the aftermath, a familiar notification appeared before Aegis's eyes.
[ Congratulations! You have completed the quest. ]
[ You have received: 10x Sky Crystals ]
[ You have received: 1x Divine Crystal ]
Aegis acknowledged it quietly.
Without another word, he moved away from the nest, carrying the two Blood Eagle eggs with him using controlled pathway of water.
The eggs were potent and strong.
But who would dare to stop him now?
He chose a secluded corner in of the upper branches to sit down.
There, away from noise, ambition, and bloodshed, he decided to consume the Divine Crystal.
He wouldn't wait claiming the power within reach, lest he regret it later.
First, he placed the eggs down carefully.
They occasionally throbbed with life, warm and innocent.
Next, he claimed the Divine Crystal.
It was in spherical in shape and radiated warm golden light, just like a miniature sun.
The real reward was not the eggs. It was the Divine Crystal.