Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night

Three days had passed since Aldrin's venture to the Black Bazaar. He could faintly smell the salty seawater in the air whenever the breeze blew across the grassy plains, signaling their eventual arrival at Ebira. During that time, he had given the gifts to his friends, and readied himself to convert the Terror Birds. He wanted to wait until they got closer in case any more surprise attacks happened. Luckily, there had been no incidents. He figured it was because of being a large group on top of him practicing more with his Vampiric Aura skill to sharpen it.

"Hey, they are ready," Pierre came up, sporting his new short swords. He had taken a liking to them, quickly ditching his iron daggers in favor of the new magical blades.

Aldrin nodded, standing up after being in meditation. His cloak fluttered in its ethereal breeze again as he walked. "The egg hatch yet?" he asked.

Pierre shook his head. "No, not yet. It's moving, though. It shouldn't be long. Jared is hopeful it's gonna be before we arrive, but I think it's going to be right when we get there if not a day after," he smirked.

Aldrin raised an eyebrow with a grin. "Oh? How much do you want to bet then?"

Pierre produced a single gold coin, matching Aldrin's grin. "Just one gold coin."

Aldrin chuckled. "Just one gold coin?" he teased. "Surely you can do better? How about two gold coins?"

Pierre's grin bloomed into a full smile. "You got yourself a bet then." He said and held out his fist.

Aldrin tapped his fist against Pierre's and then continued to walk to the awaiting crowd of Orcs. Among them was Buramog-Kurdan, who stood at the front, and next time stood former chief Tar-Xuk. Aldrin had his potential new commander watch the former chief in case he managed to break the hold Aldrin had over him.

Buramog-Kurdan greeted him by thumping his fist against his armored chest. "Chief, we've gathered all the Terror Birds into the corral," he informed Aldrin as he got closer.

The crowd parted, letting Aldrin see two makeshift corrals, with ten terror birds in one and ‌five in the other. Aldrin walked to the one with five first, noting the trainers calming them as Aldrin approached.

"Are you all ready?" He asked the trainers.

Each Orc nodded, and Aldrin leapt into the corral, scattering the Terror Birds to one corner. They squawked their agitation that soon turned into a squawking roar of challenge. Aldrin let a low grumble from the back of his throat release, locking eyes with the one that was roaring. He unleashed his Vampiric Aura next, cowling the Terror Bird into submission.

Aldrin held out his hand and focused on his skill of Conversion. Same as before, a black blob leaked out from the palm of his hand, landing on the ground with a wet squelch. It quivered and undulated, making the Terror Birds squawking incessantly increase. Their trainers rushed to the other side of the corral to calm them, but they failed as the black blob started inching towards them.

Some Orcs in the crowd watched with both horror and fascination as the black blob launched itself at the first terror bird, burying itself within its large eye. The terror bird's body violently shook once before falling to the ground with a heavy thud, like a puppet with its strings cut. Its eyes rolled into the back of its head before it became enveloped in a black cocoon.

"Oh, this is different," Aldrin muttered as he too watched with bated breath.

The other Terror Birds all scrambled away to the farthest corner, away from the cocoon and Aldrin. He paid them no mind as he felt a new connection blossom within his mind, close to those of Hellix and Drellix. The black cocoon cracked, and a feathered arm with three fingers ending in two feet claws appeared first. The cocoon wobbled once, and a prehistoric raptor's foot with the famous hooking claw came next. Then the cocoon fell away, crumbling like dust and blowing away, revealing a deep crimson Terror Bird except it wasn't. Not anymore.

The new being was taller when it stood on its new powerful legs with its clawed appendages digging into the soft earth beneath it. It flapped and moved its new arms about, trying to get used to them before it angled its jagged beak at Aldrin. Searing red eyes glared at him, and it roared, revealing teeth that could shred through flesh with utmost ease.

Aldrin looked at the new land-based bird and then at the surrounding onlookers. The bird in question didn't like being ignored when it stomped its foot. The nearby Terror Birds squawked their displeasure, which earned the ire of the new bird.

It hunched over on all fours, getting ready to pounce, and Aldrin rushed forward, standing between it and the other Terror Birds with his back facing them. He knew it was stupid, but he would rather not see his newest creation maul the others before they were converted.

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"Stay," Aldrin commanded with a dual voice of the Vampire and him.

The new bird reared its head up and hissed, and its new tail lazily snaked in the air behind it. Aldrin noticed barbs along it that extended outwards before it turned its whole body, whipping its tail, releasing the barbs.

"Time to show me what you two can do!" Aldrin said as his armor grew over him, starting from the middle of his back, and his cape came alive, reaching for the shadows of the surrounding creatures. Thick tentacles shot from the shadows, swiping away four of the six barbs while the other two nailed Aldrin in the chest. The force of the impact forced him to take a step back, but he felt no pain, and he looked down to see the armor had stopped the barbs before they touched the skin beneath. "Ok. That's impressive," he said with a smile, yanking the barbs out of the armor. He felt contentment emanate from both his armor and cloak at his praise through the bond.

His attention was drawn back to the new monster when it roared and charged at Aldrin to get to the other Terror Birds behind him. Surprisingly, the other Terror Birds stepped up beside Aldrin to face the new threat, but he quickly pushed them away.

"Get them out of here!" Aldrin shouted at the trainers, who were stunned at the new beast that was eating up the ground as it charged.

"NOW!" Aldrin commanded in his dual voice again, snapping the Orcs out of the stupor, then ran to meet the charging monster head on.

It surprised Aldrin once again when it leapt high into the air. He leapt as well, meeting it in midair as they clashed. Aldrin wrapped one hand around its neck and another to push its head up and away from him, but that left its arms scratching at the armor he wore as they fell.

They crashed on the ground, and Aldrin was the first to recover, punching it in the beak, but the monster didn't let up as it pushed Aldrin off with its new arms. He flew back, hitting the ground in a tumble before bouncing back up and charging at the recovering bird monster.

Aldrin threw another fist that cracked the monster's beak. He growled and threw another punch, and another, and another.

"Aldrin! Stop!" Jared's voice cut in as he rushed to the corral, pushing his way to the front of the crowd. He jumped over the corral railing, sliding to a stop at the beaten monster and a snarling Aldrin. Jared flinched when he saw Aldrin's vampiric features taking over. His fangs were on full display, baring them at the monster that lay beaten, and growling a low rumble that would put a wolf to shame. His green eyes had turned crimson as he stared down at them both.

"Submit, monster," Aldrin commanded, ignoring the pleading gaze of Jared, who hovered over the monster that was heavily bleeding from its broken beak.

The monster weakly lifted an arm and tried to stand, but the growl from Aldrin stopped it, causing it to lay back down in complete stillness. Jared looked back and forth between the two, and Aldrin felt the monster fully succumb under his control. He nodded and receded his vampiric features, taking two steps back and sitting cross-legged in the grass. The Vampiric Aura that blanketed the area retreated until it traced along Aldrin's sense sphere radius, something he had been practicing.

A slow clap started, and soon others joined in as the Orcs cheered and applauded Aldrin. Jared looked around confused for a moment until he remembered that Orcs enjoyed testaments and trials of strength, and what better showing than making a monster submit with one's bare hands.

Aldrin slowly stood and came over to the monster, which shied away. He tilted his head to the side as he examined it, then made a claw grow from his pointer finger and swiped the palm of his hand, making it bleed.

"What are you-" Jared asked before stopping himself as Aldrin let droplets of his blood into the mouth of the monster bird.

Instantly, the mangled and broken beak of the bird mended itself and all of its strength returned as it nearly jumped up with renewed energy, forcing Jared to scramble out of the way. The monster bird sniffed Aldrin once with its two pinprick slits in its beak and gently cooed as it tried to nudge Aldrin's hand to make him pet it. Aldrin rolled his eyes and complied, but not without trying to suppress a smile.

Jared watched with a thoughtful expression. "It was just trying to figure out the food chain…" he muttered.

"Yeah, it's a new monster, unfortunately," Aldrin said wistfully, stroking the monster along its beak as it purred and cooed more. "One we get to name. More so you will," he added.

Jared flinched like he'd been slapped. "Me? Why me?" He asked as he slowly stood, unsure if the monster would see it as an aggressive move, but it paid him no mind.

"Because Jared, you're my resident Beastmaster among my court. You will be in charge of handling all the monsters, creatures, and animals," Aldrin spoke, but Jared found it odd, as if it wasn't really Aldrin speaking but something else, someone else.

Jared paused until Aldrin peered at him, and then he glimpsed it. There was a coldness forming within Aldrin, one that Jared wasn't sure he was aware of. Then, as quickly as it came, it was gone, and the warmth in his eyes returned as he smiled.

"Besides, I'm pretty sure you have a natural talent for these things anyway," Aldrin teased and backed away, letting Jared handle the monster.

"My fellow tribesmen!" Aldrin called for attention. "Look upon your new mounts! Although I hope that the others won't react as badly as this one!" He teased, which earned a few soft chuckles among the crowd, but many were still looking at the new monster that was now allowing Jared to look over it, albeit it stared at him with scrutiny but still let him do what he needed. "Once Jared here has finished, I need one warrior to come claim it!"

Buramog-Kurdan was the first to step forward. "I will be the first to challenge the beast!" He proclaimed.

Aldrin wanted to protest by saying he didn't need to fight the beast until he looked back and saw the monster judging Buramog-Kurdan, like it understood what the Orc said. "Oh, dear…" Aldrin winced, then he looked at the other Terror Birds who huddled together, eyeing the now docile monster in their corral.

He shook his head and walked over to them. They backed up in fear, realizing that what they felt was indeed a monster in the guise of a man. "It'll be quick! I promise!" Aldrin tried to placate them as he held open his palm, letting another black blob drop to the ground, and this time Aldrin wondered if he could produce more. The simple thought was enough as another three plopped down, joining the first.

Aldrin grinned and watched dispassionately as the blobs launched themselves at the remaining Terror Birds, watching them undergo the process. He would soon have new monsters under his sway, monsters the world had never seen before.