Just Extra

The thing finally broke through the clouds, its massive shadow swallowing the land beneath them.

At first glance, Naviga thought it was some sort of giant owl—but the longer she looked, the more wrong it became. Its head was indeed that of an owl, white as snow, with piercing blue eyes that glowed coldly in the dim light. But its body was nothing like an owl's. It was enormous, covered in shimmering blue feathers that almost looked like liquid water flowing down its frame. Its wings stretched wide, each flap tearing at the air and kicking up violent gusts like knives cutting across the plain.

Its beak gleamed dangerously, long and hooked, while its talons looked sharp enough to shred boulders apart. The pressure of its presence alone made the ground tremble, as though it could rip through flesh and bone as easily as soft cloth.

The monster let out a screeching cry that rattled through their chests, the sound carrying like thunder. The wind howled in response, surging stronger with every beat of its colossal wings until the entire area turned into a raging airstorm.

"Miss, hold tight!" Naviga shouted, reacting instantly.

Both she and Minerva drew their swords from their storage rings in a flash of light. The storm hit like a hammer, nearly lifting them off their feet. Without hesitation, they stabbed their swords deep into the ground and dropped to their knees, using the blades as anchors to resist being swept away.

Dirt and dust tore across their faces, their hair whipped violently by the gale, but they held on.

Above them, the creature circled, its blue feathers gleaming like a cruel star in the dim sky.

This was no ordinary monster.

It was a Blazelor—a water-based avian beast, feared across regions. Known for its unnatural hatred toward humans, the reason for its fury remained a mystery. But one thing was certain: whenever a Blazelor spotted a human, it would lose all reason and attack without hesitation, driven by a berserk rage.

Its senses were terrifying. With a sense of smell that could detect prey from over a hundred kilometers away, and vision sharp enough to pick out movement from eighty kilometers above the sky, there was no hiding from it.

And right now, its eyes were locked entirely on Minerva and Naviga.

They held their ground as the storm slowly settled, dirt and ice dust still swirling around their knees. The Blazelor circled above, its shrill cry shaking the plain like thunder rolling through a canyon.

But despite the monster's size and terrifying presence, neither Naviga nor Minerva showed fear. They could feel its strength—it was on the same level as them. Dangerous, yes, but not beyond their reach. The real risk came from its advantage in the sky. A flying beast could attack from above, retreat in an instant, or use the height to its advantage. On the ground, the fight was already against them.

Both of them knew this.

They had flying talismans, a poor substitute for true wings. While they didn't grant the freedom and agility of winged beasts, they would be enough to match the monster in the air. That was their only option.

The violent air faded into sharp breezes, and both stabilized themselves, pulling their swords free from the ground.

Naviga's blade shimmered with a cold darkness—the Black Death, its sharp edge swallowing the faint light as if it drank the world's color. She raised it, her grip steady, her aura spilling outward in waves of Universal essence.

Beside her, Minerva drew her weapon, the Scorching Tyrant Sword, its crimson blade burning with faint heat even in this frozen air. Sparks crackled along its surface as if eager to clash with the icy winds.

Naviga exhaled slowly, her voice calm with serious. "Miss, it's not going to give us a chance. We'll have to take it head-on."

Minerva's fiery eyes locked on the monster. "Good. Let's make it regret looking down on us."

Above them, the Blazelor gave another deafening screech, wings flaring wide as its massive body plunged downward like a meteor streaking with blue light.

The Winged beast dived straight at them, its wings spread wide, the gust alone almost enough to lift them off the ground. Its massive claw stretched forward, glowing faint blue, sharp enough that even the air seemed to split before it reached them.

Naviga reacted first. She stepped in front, her sword Black Death flashing upward. Steel met claw with a sharp clang, sparks and icy mist bursting out. The force sent her sliding back a few feet, but she dug her heel into the frozen soil and held firm.

Minerva didn't stay idle. The moment the pressure eased, she slashed with her Scorching Tyrant Sword, a burst of scarlet fire surging out like a whip. The flame cut across the Blazelor's other claw, forcing the beast to pull back with a sharp screech, its wings beating harder to push them away.

The cold wind howled louder, almost biting against their skin. Naviga's eyes narrowed. "Tch… it's fast."

The Blazelor flapped again and swooped low, its claw darting at Minerva this time. She braced, blocking with her sword, but the sheer weight behind the blow made the ground crack beneath her feet. She gritted her teeth, fire erupting around her body just to keep herself steady.

Before the beast could press harder, Naviga stepped in, swinging Black Death in a wide arc. Her Yin essence surged out, coating the blade with a chilling glow. She struck the Blazelor's leg, not deep enough to wound heavily, but enough to make the monster recoil with an angry roar.

The sound shook the plain, rattling their bones.

"Miss, stay close," Naviga called, adjusting her stance.

Minerva's lips curved into a grin, even in the storm. "Hah, don't think I'll let you have all the fun."

The Blazelor rose higher into the sky, wings beating wildly, its claws poised again, ready for another strike. The air pressure grew heavy, almost suffocating, as it prepared to dive a second time.

The Blazelor roared again, its wings spreading wide as it dove down like a falling star. Snow-white feathers scattered in the air, sharp as blades, but Naviga was already moving. She didn't call on her Yin essence—she focused instead, letting her Moon Element flow through her veins.

Her sword, Black Death, gleamed with a soft silver radiance, almost like moonlight cutting through the storm. She slashed upward just as the claw descended, the silvery arc meeting the beast's strike head-on. The impact strikes the massive creature, shaking the plain, but this time the glow of the Moon Element cushioned the force, pushing the Blazelor back mid-dive.

"Good strike," Minerva muttered, her grip tightening on the Scorching Tyrant Sword. She wasn't idle either—her fire roared to life, but instead of recklessly lashing out, she steadied her breath and drew on the Universal Essence within her core. The flames wrapped tighter around her blade, refined,it no longer wild.

As the Blazelor circled above, its sharp blue eyes glaring with hatred, Minerva swung her sword in a horizontal arc. A thin, scorching line of fire shot out,burning straight into the air current around the beast. The strike forced it to tilt mid-flight, its wingbeat faltering for a moment.

Naviga saw the opening immediately. She dashed forward, her steps light and smooth, as though guided by the moonlight itself. She leaped, Black Death shimmering with silver glow, aiming for its wing joint. But the Blazelor wasn't slow either—it screeched and twisted its massive body, its tail feathers whipping around like spears.

Naviga blocked in midair, sparks flashing as her sword clashed with the sharp feathers. The impact knocked her back, but she flipped gracefully, landing with her boots cracking the icy soil.

"Annoying thing," she muttered, tightening her grip again.

The Blazelor didn't give them time to rest. It soared higher, then suddenly tucked its wings and plummeted like a falling comet, both claws extended toward them, the ground shaking under the pressure of its dive.

Minerva's eyes narrowed. "Together Navi!"

"Understood." Naviga raised her sword again, moonlight glowing brighter, while Minerva's refined flame surged with heat. The two stood side by side, waiting for the beast's full dive.

The real clash was about to start.

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