Chapter 74: The Claw Edge Mountain Range, Danger from the Sky

The Claw Edge Mountain Range, a region so dangerous that it was famed within this sector of the Grand Alvaria Dynasty, its mountains aligned themselves in a unique posture, angling high at a curved point, making them seem like claws.

There were sights of many powerful beasts here, most within the F Class range, with quite a few E Class amidst their ranks. Each carving out a part of the domain, to rule as would a king in subjugated lands.

Many being of a violent nature, be it snakes, wolves, bears, and others of unfamiliar shapes. Yet, regardless of those many creatures with both power and fame, only one beast here stood at the top of the food chain, one monster that indeed ruled them all.

This creature was the Silverback Mystic Ape, a monster so dreadful that even those of the D Class standard, typically titled as Famed Warriors across Alvaria's lands, wouldn't even dare to face in direct combat.

Whoosh! A warm wind blew across the sky as it was now the hours of the afternoon; Marius and his newly formed party members were currently hiking from the base of these rumored mountains, which was located only a few kilometers from Ivanov.

It was clear that to get here at such a speed; everyone had to utilize a high-speed movement method, but unlike Marius, who climbed no different from a lively child in the early morning. Everyone else was utterly exhausted as they struggled to rise, staring at Marius's back with varying looks on their faces.

Leya seemed to have it hard; she wasn't that good at physical activities to begin with. Using her staff as a cane to balance on, she halted and glared at the quickly growing distant Marius as she cursed, "Uncle, wait up! You... you can't leave us behind like this!"

Quon held his hand on a rock and wiped the sweat from his head as he spoke out at this time, "Team leader, she's right, you have to stop and let us rest? Look, even Illiak is finding it hard to hold on..."

Quon pointed at Illiak that laid down on the ground weakly and helplessly with those words said, his pale skin making him seem no different from the corpse.

Marius halted his steps hearing their words; he turned his head and looked at them and replied with a smirk, "Only this much, huh? Oh well, I guess it can't be helped if you're all like this. Don't worry; I'll complete the mission myself; by then, you can each go find an easier party."

Marius once more turned around and continued, no longer wasting a word, seeming to be filled with endless stamina.

"Damn! What's with this uncle? He's like a horse with no limits! Hmph! Even if tired, I won't fall back like this!" Leya said with rage, her eyes seeming as if they could spout fire as she drew strength from the unknown and charged up at twice her previous speed.

Looking at her movements, one would notice that as her staff touched the ground, it made a ripple of energy which made the path below her feet much more comfortable to walk.

Quon bit his lips in anger as well; he didn't like being looked down on; he spoke, "You better think twice if you believe I'm going to give up, hmph! Illiak!"

With his shout, Quon then glanced at Illiak, but it was unknown when Illiak had already risen to his feet, his face still pale but full of spirit as he trotted onwards without a word. His traveling style was even odder, as it seemed as if rather than walking, something was pulling him upwards as if he defied gravity.

"Heh, this guy... he never disappoints," Quon thought with a competitive smile; he similarly followed behind, utilizing a unique set of movements, as if he was stepping lightly onto the wind.

Marius, though far ahead, was observing their situations; he had a gleam in his eyes as he thought to himself.

'Oh, they're good, these techniques of theirs are pretty special too; I'll have to check out their stats when we've settled down.'

With those thoughts in mind, Marius felt it wasn't so bad to be trailed by talented aspiring teammates; he shook his head, recalling his past as his eyes became a bit distant. Before he met Ria, he was always a lone wolf in the field, battling as one against many in most circumstances, hidden in the dark, never in the light.

While Marius pondered to himself, unaware of him and his party, a bird-like silhouette was circling the sky from a distance. Observing its features, one would notice that it wasn't some simple bird, but a massive two-meter large four-winged crow with sinister eyes.

This creature was also a famous death bringer, the renowned Four Wind Dark Crow, whose every appearance would spark a disaster for many small-time E Class parties.

"Caw!" 

A resonating cry is sounding from the heavens as the Four Wind Dark Crow descended like an arrow shot from a longbow, its screeched through the wind, hissing down towards Leya, who only now looked up in shock and terror.

"Oh no, it's a Four Wind Dark Crow!" Leya called out in horror, but being quick-witted, even if tired from her arduous climb, she still managed to make a reaction.

"Mystic Light!" Leya shouted as she spun her staff and pointed its tip towards the crow; a bright white light shone from its tip, forcing the crow to squint its eyes as it cawed in anger, striking its outstretched claws towards Leya's location.

Bang! The ground covered by bright lights exploded into bits of rubble as the Four Wind Dark Crow swooped out with something its claw, soaring up high into the air once more as it left a trail of dust debris.

"Damn bird, where are you going? Wind Bolt!" 

Quon shouted as he swiftly moved his hands, nocking his bow and firing a dazzling green arrow towards the Four Wind Dark Crow. As if guided by the wind, this arrow moved at a speed many times faster than a common one, as it instantly arrived before the crow.

Not even giving it a chance to dodge, the arrow pierced into one of its wings, leaving a deep wound, causing the crow to make a painful but furious cry.

It flapped its wings, swooshing through the air like a rocket as it made a circle while looking down, glaring at Quon, who aimed another bow at it. 

Feeling angered by this, it clenched its claws with full force, seeking to destroy its prey as a warning, but as it did it, its expression changed to confusion as it only felt soil.

Glancing at its claws, it finally saw that it didn't manage to capture its prey, but had that instant, took up a bundle of rocks and sand.

This fact enraged the Four Wind Dark Crow even further, as its body began to glow in red lights, showing it entered a frenzied state.

"CAWWW!"

Its curious cry sounded again but reached even further as the ripple of red mystical energy exploded from its body, causing an oppressive power to fill the surroundings.

"Not good, it's going berserk! Take my Wind Slash Bolt!" Quon said in alarm, firing another arrow towards it, his arrow moving like a green ray of light that had a blade-like arc condensed around it.

With a flash, it crashed into the body of the enraged Four Wind Dark Crow, but this time, rather than wounding it, the arrow merely broke through the outer layers of its mystic power before fading.

"What? It can block it?" Quon said in shock, never expecting such a scene.

The Four Wind Dark Crow grew even angrier at Quon. It was about to swoop down to annihilate him but suddenly halted as it saw that two persons stood at Quon's side.

"That darn bird, hmph! I'll teach it to sneak up on me; let's take him down together!" Leya said with a fierce look on her face.

"C-count me in," Illiak stutteringly said as he clenched his fist tightly, he stared up at the crow with a set of firm eyes vaguely revealed below his hair.

Quon looked at them feeling a little better; he thought to himself, 'Good, if it's this, then we might stand a chance. That thing is stronger, but if we work together, we might be able to beat it, and at least prove ourselves that man.'

"Caw!" The Four Wind Dark Crow stared at the group fiercely as if gearing up to attack again; it had already assessed the situation and knew that they weren't completely of a threat to it.

Bang! Its mystic power was rippling across the sky as it prepared to dominate them, causing the faces of Leya and the others to turn stern.

Marius only now woke from his daze. He stared at the scene with interest showing no desire to take action, his lips curving into a smile as he muttered in a voice only he could hear.

"Good, let's have a show."