The Beast Tamer Clan's Monster Overlord

Axelius looked around at the crushed bodies of the three orcs on the ground, his eyes calm but sharp.

"Let's go," he said simply.

At his command, Crow let out a loud caw as his body shimmered with light. His small form grew larger and larger, wings spreading wide with a gust of wind as he transformed into a massive white bird, strong enough to carry a man.

Without hesitation, Axelius climbed onto Crow's back. He sat near the base of Crow's neck, with Nyx curled up behind him and Gob sitting cross-legged at the end, holding onto feathers for balance.

With one powerful flap, Crow lifted off, soaring into the sky. The wind rushed past them, and the ground below quickly grew smaller.

Just then, a squad of knights arrived at the scene. They came running with swords and spears in hand, expecting a dangerous fight. But all they saw were the broken bodies of three dead orcs, lying in a circle like they had been thrown down by giants.

One of the knights, wearing a silver helm, rushed forward and stopped dead in his tracks.

"H-How is this possible?!" he shouted in shock. "They're all… beaten to death?!"

He knelt beside one of the bodies, his hand trembling as he reached to touch the orc's thick skin. "Even high-ranked knights can barely cut these monsters!"

Another knight, who had seen Millie earlier, spoke with wide eyes, "I saw a woman earlier—her mana was incredible. She saved some civilians."

"But even then," the first knight said, standing slowly, "to kill orcs this cleanly, and so fast…"

They looked around, but there was no one left. Only blood, dust, and silence.

"No one's here… "

"Clean up the mess," the captain finally said, . "And inform the guild."

Back in the sky, Axelius and his group pierced the clouds, where the mist was cool and thick. The world below disappeared under the white layer, giving them cover from anyone watching from the ground.

Axelius relaxed a little, stroking Nyx who had rested his chin on his lap. "Now that's more like it," he muttered. "Peace and quiet."

But suddenly he felt it.

His body tensed.

From both his left and right sides, Two dark shadows burst through the mist wyverns. Each had a saddle, and riding them were armored orcs, their eyes wild with rage, and their clubs already raised high in the air.

SCREEEAAAAHH!

The wyverns screamed, wings cutting through the sky. The orcs roared back, raising their clubs and swinging them through the air like they could knock Axelius right off the bird.

"Seriously?" Axelius said, frowning as the air rushed around him.

Gob turned around, clinging tighter to the feathers. "Master! Incoming enemies!"

"I see them," Axelius replied, eyes narrowing as he stood slightly, balancing on Crow's back.

Nyx growled lowly, and even Crow let out a sharp screech.

One wyvern swung its tail toward them.

"Crow, spin!" Axelius ordered.

With a sharp twist, Crow spun to the side, the tail just barely missing them. The second wyvern came from the other side, the orc on its back hurling a sharp javelin.

Axelius ducked, the javelin slicing through the wind, missing by a few inches and disappearing into the clouds.

"This is going to be annoying," he muttered, already feeling the adrenaline rise.

The cold wind whipped around them as Crow flew higher, wings slicing the air like blades. Axelius narrowed his eyes as the two wyverns circled them, their heavy wings flapping loudly. The orcs riding them growled, clubs in hand, but they didn't strike.

Instead… they circled.

"Crow, land—now!" Axelius barked, gripping the feathered back tightly.

Crow gave a sharp caw and began diving downward, tucking his wings slightly to gain speed.

But before they could break through the clouds, two more shadows burst from below. Another pair of wyverns, rising from under the fog, screeched in unison. Their fangs bared, wings wide, and the orcs riding them snarled with bloodlust.

"They're below us now," Gob said, tightening her grip. "We're surrounded!"

Axelius looked up another wyvern came from above, diving fast like a hunter going for the kill.

Now they were trapped.

Three above. Two below. A trap in the sky.

Axelius narrowed his eyes as he leaned slightly forward, and a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"They're not trying to kill us," he muttered, "They're trying to lead us somewhere."

Gob clung behind him, eyes wide. "Master?"

"They're herding us," he said with a chuckle, lifting his head to look around. "They think they're being clever, trapping us in the air, guiding us into their little ambush."

Crow gave a low caw, sensing Axelius's amusement.

"They think I'm a lost lamb," Axelius continued, leaning back now, completely at ease. "But they don't know…"

He raised one hand and waved lazily at the circling wyverns. "Go on then. Lead me."

Gob blinked. "M-Master? You're letting them take us?"

Axelius grinned wider, eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "Let them bring us to their nest."

His fingers tapped Crow's feathers. "Let's fly calmly, Crow. Don't fight back. Let them think they're in control."

Gob gulped. "You have a plan?"

Axelius crossed his arms, relaxed despite the growing number of wyverns. "No plan yet. I just want to see what kind of joke they've prepared."

As the group flew lower, through the edges of thick clouds, the fog began to thin, revealing shapes on the ground and dozens of orcs marching below, carrying weapons, snarling, and waiting like a hunting party that smelled blood.

Axelius's eyes lit up. "So this is their nest."

More wyverns circled them as they closed in. Gob looked nervous, gripping the edge of Crow's feathers. Crow flapped slowly, obeying Axelius's will, gliding down in a controlled descent.

"They want us to land," Axelius said.

He glanced down and saw at least twenty orcs gathering in a wide open field, some riding beasts, others on foot, forming a large circle.

"They want me scared," he chuckled.

Gob looked like she was holding her breath But Axelius only tilted his head and smiled calmly.

"Good," he whispered. "Let's see what kind of welcome they've prepared."