"It didn't work, did it...?" Arlyne's voice trembled as she observed Eli's unchanged appearance, not a single bulge or alteration to his body, unlike hers..... He seemed utterly normal on the outside.
"Mm, interesting..." Eli muttered, his gaze fixed on his own form. Externally, there was no discernible difference, but internally, he sensed a remarkable transformation: every muscle seemed to pulse with triple the usual energy, and his lungs felt capable of drawing in three times the usual amount of mana.
"THUNDER!!!"
A massive thunderclap crashed down upon Eli's body, eliciting a grunt from him. Yet, there was a faint tingling sensation that accompanied the impact.
"Hmm..." Eli grunted again, stretching his body slightly, feeling the peculiar sensation coursing through him.
"You've had your fun; let's bring this to an end," Eli declared, his eyes flashing with yellowish sparks as he grasped the intestine he had been clutching.
"BOOM!!!"
In an instant, Eli reappeared before the monster, delivering a powerful punch to its skull.
The eagle, caught off guard by Eli's sudden burst of power, soared upward by the impact, but not before emitting a desperate cry,
"KKKIIIII!!!"
However, it flinched as it felt a sensation of its insides being tugged at, a jolt running through its spine.
Eli, gripping the intestine tightly, swiftly yanked it, propelling himself forward like a ball struck by a bat.
"BOOM!!"
Infused with an immense surge of mana, Eli felt rejuvenated, as if he were experiencing a rebirth. He struck the eagle again with a great amount of force.
The eagle, unable to react, was propelled once more into the sky. Yet again, Eli pulled on the intestine, repeating the process until...
"KIKKKIIIIII!!" == [PLEASE!!!]
The Eagle's desperate plea echoed, its confusion palpable. Arlyne struggled to keep pace with Eli's sudden surge of power, witnessing only a blur darting up and down with lightning speed, a testament to his newfound strength.
"Thank you," Arlyne murmured softly, she wasn't sure whom her gratitude was directed towards but she knew it was bloodling ability that finally acted upon hearing her wise. With determined steps, she made her way over to Pearl to offer her assistance.
Meanwhile, Eli stood poised at the Eagle's side, its skull already significantly fractured. Determined to end the battle, Eli prepared to deliver the final blow. Despite the Eagle channelling its lightning energy through the intestine, Eli's body now effortlessly absorbed the surge, devouring it like a ravenous beast
Each feather, vibrant and radiant, danced in the currents of energy that pulsed through the realm, imbuing it with an aura of indomitable strength.
"Yes," replied a serene and ethereal voice that seemed to emanate from the very essence of the creature.
"...Well, whatever," Eli muttered dismissively. He had no intention of indulging in any lengthy discourse that might allow the creature to escape. If not for Arlyne's intervention, the situation could have ended far differently.
/Sou--/
Before Eli could take further action, the Golden Eagle spoke again.
"Wait, I know what you are," it stated.
Eli flinched slightly, but maintained his composure. "So?" he retorted, eyeing his surroundings warily.
The soul realm appeared different from the norm, suffused with darkness and punctuated by eruptions of bluish lightning in the sky that covered the dark clouds.... Looking down, Eli observed countless figures, he saw a familiar bluish-sparking figure lurking on the ground.
Yes, those were the figures that invaded Pearl and Arlyne's soul crystal.
"So, it controls them..?" Eli pondered silently.
"Hehe..." The Eagle chuckled softly, flapping its wings as it approached Eli.
Eli tensed, ready for any potential threat.
"These are the souls of those who have entered the dungeon," the Eagle explained, its voice tinged with sadness.
Eli raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"You se---"
"Let's get to the point," Eli interjected, his patience waning. He was eager to resolve the situation and reunite with Pearl as soon as possible.
The Eagle sighed a hint of melancholy in its tone. "I apologize. It has been a long time since I have had the opportunity to converse with another being."
Eli sighed heavily, indicating his impatience. "My name is Asher Eli. What's yours?"
"Name?... Me" The eagle tilted its head as it showed its golden slit eyes that radiated a virtue and calmness.
"My name is.... Garuda, A simple mount!!!"