With a resolute expression, he stared unwaveringly at the gyrfalcon’s jade-white talons, which it hadn’t yet had time to retract. Ignoring the deadly Wind Blade, he lunged with one hand to grab them.
Whether by coincidence or by his design, less than half a second after Lex Cross seized the gyrfalcon’s jade-white talons, the startled bird shot into the sky. In doing so, it naturally pulled Lex Cross out of the path of the Wind Blade it had just created.
But Lex Cross’s plan didn’t end there.
Just as the gyrfalcon tried to beat its wings to fly higher, frantically shaking its talons to break free from Lex Cross’s grip, a net of lightning materialized in the air above, sealing off all its escape routes. The only path left was down.
But flying down meant leading the human clutching its talons to safety. It was unwilling, yet it had no other choice.
Lex Cross was now holding two of the gyrfalcon’s eggs in one hand while gripping its talons with the other. The dozen or so people on the giant crab’s shell couldn’t help but applaud in amazement at the sight.
’Damned human. He not only took my eggs, but I’m helpless against him. Above, a dense net of lightning blocks my path. Below, he’ll escape, and I can’t stand that.’
So, as the gyrfalcon descended, it switched its target to the other people on the crab’s back.
Lex Cross sneered inwardly, a smirk suddenly playing on his lips, as if he had anticipated the gyrfalcon’s every move.
"Flora, Water Element, get ready to take it."
When the gyrfalcon was less than three meters from the surface, Lex Cross suddenly released its jade-white talons. He plunged into the water, kicking up a massive splash.
The water splashed up, drenching the gyrfalcon’s plumage. While any bird’s feathers have a degree of water resistance, there was a powerful Water Ability User among them.
And although this Water Ability User hadn’t fought alongside Lex Cross many times, their synergy was perfect.
It was just like when she first entered Morhaven and was surrounded by a group of superpower users. She and a Thunder-user companion had worked together to turn the tables on their assailants.
Water conducts electricity.
’Falcon feathers are waterproof? That’s only because the water isn’t powerful enough.’
The splashes of water suddenly intensified, striking the bird like they were shot from a pressure washer. The force instantly drove the water past the gyrfalcon’s outer plumage to soak the soft, delicate down beneath.
By this point, the gyrfalcon was already diving straight for Flora Bloom and the others.
A visible bolt of lightning erupted across the gyrfalcon’s body. It didn’t stop there; the electricity arced between the water droplets trapped in its feathers, and the smell of scorched meat instantly filled the air.
Lex Cross’s Thunder Ability was undeniably powerful. That single strike was enough to cook the gyrfalcon through and through, sending it plummeting straight down from the sky.
The gyrfalcon, which was half the size of Flora Bloom, smashed onto the giant crab’s shell with a hollow SMACK, sending ripples across the water’s surface.
Most of its charred body was paralyzed. It lay at Flora Bloom’s feet, yet its eyes remained fixed in Lex Cross’s direction as it let out a miserable whimper.
Lex Cross climbed out of the water, swiftly scrambling onto the crab’s shell.
"Put these away." He handed the two flawless, jade-like eggs to Flora Bloom, intending for her to store them in her space.
"Hooo..."
As it lay dying, still smelling of roast meat, the gyrfalcon saw the eggs in Flora Bloom’s hands, and tears welled up in its eyes.
Flora Bloom, who had been about to store both the eggs and the gyrfalcon in her space, suddenly froze.
’It hasn’t done anything wrong,’ she thought. ’It was just protecting its young. But we injured it, and now I’m about to take it and its children into my space, forcing it to accept me as its master.’
’All living things have feelings.’ The hand Flora Bloom was about to use to take them hesitated.
"Oh, forget it," she sighed. "Following me, you’d only run into all sorts of danger. With your power as a King of the sky, you’d probably be much safer on your own." As she spoke, she poured a handful of spiritual water into its beak and sprinkled another handful over its charred body.
The moment the spiritual water entered its beak, the gyrfalcon’s eyes suddenly brightened. A glimmer of light returned to its once-mournful gaze.
Seeing the gyrfalcon’s injuries begin to heal, Flora Bloom held out the two jade-like eggs in the palm of her hand, offering them to the bird.
"Take your children and go. You were lucky to run into me. Someone else wouldn’t have let you go so easily!"
But the revitalized gyrfalcon stood up, flapped its enormous wings, and then stretched out its head, pushing Flora Bloom’s hand with the two eggs back toward her.
"SKRAW!"
"Huh?" Flora Bloom was stunned. ’Is this thing giving away its own children?’
Flora Bloom wanted to reach out and stroke the gyrfalcon’s feathers, but remembering its ferocious diving attack from moments before, she hesitated and pulled her hand back.
But the gyrfalcon hopped a step closer to Flora Bloom and, as everyone watched in disbelief, nuzzled its head against her hand. Then, in a strikingly human-like gesture, it spread one of its long, broad wings, wrapped it around her hand, and gently curled her fingers shut.
As her fingers closed, they naturally wrapped around the two gyrfalcon eggs, which were about the size of chicken eggs.
"You mean... you want me to take your eggs?"