A Gorgeous White

The malibreed's jaw is locked tight around the end of the bird's tail, puncturing through the skin. A bit of blood spurted out from the deep holes, dug by the grotesque creature's razor-sharp teeth. The eagle lets out a piercing cry, agonizing from the pain. It shook violently, almost shaking Moulin off his seat, if it weren't for the restraints fastening the maeruthan to the saddle.

Moulin gasped as one of the metal dug into his knees and calves, ruthlessly scratching his skin, tearing through the clothing as the eagle's movements grew wilder and desperate. Moulin hurriedly analyzed the situation, facing the back where the eyeless monster began to chew. Black liquid oozed from its mouth, and with its massiveness, it began to tug the bird back, climbing towards a more delectable creature riding on its back.

Its large mouth released the bird's tail, A long snake-like tongue stroking the bloodstains on its teeth. Starvation drove every muscle in its body. It dragged its claws to scratch the end of the bird's back as it advanced.

Beads of sweat formed on Moulin's forehead as he faced the gaping jaws of massive malibreed. The eagle was evidently weaker and smaller than it. Moulin's hands searched the compartments of saddle hastily. Hope flashed within his eyes as he unsheathed a dagger from the pocket at his side. Swiftly, he turned and hurled the blade behind him.

The pointed metal cut through the air and mercilessly lodged itself deep past the vulnerable flesh above the roaring creature's mouth.

An ear-piercing cry split the air, and Moulin winced, feeling the world spin.

The malibreed beat its wings, loosening its hold from the eagle and drawing back. It screamed, burning from the metal buried on the front of its head.

Moulin panted heavily. His fingers trembled as he watched the malibreed fly lower, growing weaker, and he knew its own species would tear it into pieces from the show of its weakness. The eagle's wings stuttered as it was barely released from the excruciating torture. However, the darkness of the swarm had already swallowed them.

"Moulin, come! Hurry!" Emlen's voice echoed in the air, but it was drowned within the roaring noise of the swarm.

And suddenly, a giant shadow enshrouds Moulin. The youth froze as he slowly lifted his gaze. His silver pupils are ridden with fear, and they trembled.

Blood-red eyes, glowing ominously, stared down at him. This creature overwhelms them with its enormous size, five times bigger than the rest of the swarm. It is like a bird but featherless. Its body is layered with a scaly sheath, burning red. Web-like wings stretched out as it hovered in midair. One could see the strength from the muscles of the wings and the blade-like talons. Its beak gleamed like a sharpened black gem.

Unlike the rest of the swarm... it had eyes.

What is it?

The men on the landing platform shuddered in fear, taking a glimpse at the massive unusual being while they fought for their lives.

Suddenly, the creature narrowed its eyes. They glowed brightly as though death was staring through its prey's soul. It drew back, raising its wings.

Moulin felt the blood drain from his face.

WHOOOSHH!!

A remorseless gust sent Moulin and the eagle spinning down the air. The terrible force felt as if they were being dragged down the depths of the ocean. Moulin felt incredibly weightless. His mind is shaken panicked while he struggles to assess his surroundings and circumstance. However, the fall and the eagle's desperate attempt to stay in the air pushed Moulin away from thinking clearly. Everything is spinning and shaking. He could not determine anything.

Moulin's heart drummed as they dropped. He slapped himself and strengthened his grip on the handles. When his vision finally clears, he is faced with the approaching sight of a huge tree branch, awaiting an alarming calamity.

Moulin held his breath. His heart pounded in his ears. Before he realized it, he was moving. His fingers reached for the steel rod of his fastened saddle, and he pulled without restraint. The buckles loosened, and his legs were free.

Unfortunately, he could not avoid the disastrous crash.

"Aah!"

Pain bursts at his side. He heard a loud snap and a crushing sound like charcoal ground together. His head collided against the rough surface as he rolled down the tremendous length of it. There was blood on his tongue. Agonizing pain everywhere.

When he realized he was about to roll off the gigantic branch, Moulin steeled his left arm, achingly holding on a slight depression on the wooden surface. The rest of his body hung in the air, above several thousands of feet from the bottom of Gala'En.

The cry of an eagle brought Moulin back from his senses. His gaze lowered, and he stretched out his hand at the falling injured bird, beating its wings and fortunately slowing its fall. A relieved sigh escaped Moulin's lips. What in the world is happening?

RAAAAAGHHHH!

Moulin's eyes snapped open, witnessing an open-mouthed malibreed swooping down to bite him off his hanging state. The youth gritted his teeth and struggled to climb on the tree branch. He clenched his jaw, kneeling on the rough floor and holding on to his broken arm. He could not help but spit out the blood filling his mouth. Moisture pricked at his eyes as the agony burned within his bones.

Out of the blue, a black blur flashed in the sky and swept the nearing malibreed within its massive beak-like birds plucking out fish from the lake.

Moulin stilled, cautiously crawling back. Another weight pressed on the tremendous tree branch causing it to shake. Once again, Moulin sits underneath the shadow of the monster. Fear was tight around his heart, and it was hard to breathe. However, he watched fearlessly.

The dark creature perched on the branch before Moulin's limp form. It snapped the body in its mouth into two, causing a rain of slimy viscera and black liquid to fall on the wood ground.

Sounds of limbs gliding and soaring within the air filled the aphrodite's ears. Malibreeds circled the branch. However, not a single one dared to come close. They could only watch and search for other creatures to prey on.

Under the pressure of those deathly crimson eyes, Moulin dauntlessly met the dark creature's gaze. A familiar feeling arose inside of him. Somehow, he felt like he's seen this gaze before...

The creature only stared at him, observing his injured form. The little thing was clearly thinking of a way to avoid provoking it and searching for a chance to escape and fight back.

'Little... Vessel...'

Moulin froze. Hoarse, deep words spoke within his mind. The more he gazed at those blood-red eyes, the clearer the words were in his brain.

"You... talk?" Moulin spoke hesitantly. Alarm rang in his heart.

The creature tilted its head slightly. 'Only... A few can hear me...'

Silver eyes narrowed. Panic and confusion etched his face. "What do you want?"

'Ah... How brave.' The creature's eyes deepened in color. 'However, you cannot win... against us... More pain will come... if you... continue to fight...'

"I fight," Moulin spoke between gnashed teeth. His hand curled into fists. "To protect and survive. Something monsters, such as yourself, cannot understand."

'But... isn't it you... who brought danger... upon yourselves?'

Moulin does not answer. He doesn't relent. His eyes are like a cut of moonlight, mesmerizing. But there was no softness within them. The talking thing in front of him aimed to fan the flames of his ferocity. Suppose he is too weak to resist it; he could only lead himself to his own downfall.

Frost sparkled on the ends of his rosy fingertips, and he kept his gaze on the dark monster.

'How... Stubborn,' The voice rasped, laced with threat.

It was as if the calm, mysterious mask broke, and what replaced it was a horrifying cackle, pounding against Moulin's resolve. A spine-chilling feeling crept up Moulin's spine.

Red eyes gleamed brightly. With a shift, a talon steps forward towards the small silver-eyes maeruthan. Massive wings spread as if to swallow the pure being before it. It towered over the Moulin, looming closer. Nevertheless, the youth doesn't give in.

Moulin hardened his gaze. He staggered on his feet and carefully drew back.

'You are... Fortunate! I am... too far away to reach you.' The hoarse shrill voice cackled once more as though everything in the world amused him.

Behind those crimson red-eyes, a rakish grin stretched grotesquely. Rows of sharp teeth gleamed under the red light from the blood pool, reflecting two red pupils and a wriggling third eye. The image from the pool exposed the beauteous Aphrodite bearing fierce silver eyes.

Moulin, unaware of the person behind the creature's eyes, paused briefly. The hand, hidden behind his back, crackled with a blood-freezing aura. Biting cold surrounded his slender fingers.

"Who are you?" Asked Moulin, slowly stepping back. His stance looked as if he would pounce in the next second.

'I..." The dark creature opened its beak. Dark fluid began to accumulate within its mouth.

'I... am Uldehr.'

Suddenly, a sizzling noise sounded—a blur of golden light shot between Moulin and the Black monster. Electricity crackled and burned the air. Sparks of ruthless energy devoured the surrounding area, swallowing it within a painfully biting field.

The bird-like creature drew back, burned by the golden light. It appeared as if it was splashed with a bucket of acid. Moulin staggered backward, shielding his eyes with his arm as the familiar mana seeped into his body. It was a gentle caress, cradling him with security.

In the youth's chest, there was a burst of warmth and hope. For a moment, he had forgotten his injuries.

A tall figure landed heavily on the wooden ground and an oppressive aura cleaved through the air.

A man, clad in black, wielded a black spear within his hand. Moulin could only see his broad back, shielding him from anything that would do him harm. The man's deep golden eyes are like the smoldering golden flames of ancient dragon fire. Brutality surged through his veins, and one could not mistake the murderous air he was emitting.

"Hadrian..." Moulin muttered lowly.

He watched as the man cared less of the swarming malibreeds, stimulated by his oozing mana.

The bird-like monster spread its wings and screeched. Blinded by fury, it charged towards Lord Hercullio, bringing with it the full force of its malevolent mana. The ground shook violently.

Golden eyes narrowed. Hadrian raised his black spear and effortlessly slammed the blunt end of his weapon on the helpless wooden ground. A forceful burst of energy spreads, crackling with ferocious electricity. It scorched the nearby malibreeds and lashed the bird-like monster with its brutal electric strikes. The powerful stench of burning flesh permeated the air. The lightning devoured everything within its path. It was only Moulin who was spared by the onslaught of power.

Uldehr used its wings to shield itself. Unfortunately, the lightning devoured the thick skin bit by bit.

However, Hadrian wasn't finished. With a vice-like grip around the body of the spear, the weapon spun in his hand, releasing heavy vibrations. The air thrummed with the pressure of its strength. Web-like cracks appeared on the dark wood beneath his feet. In the next instance, the blades sliced the air, and a ruthless wave of relentless concentrated energy sliced through the screeching bird creature and cleaved off the thick end of the tremendous branch of the Great Tree.

CRACK!

The massive part of the branch snapped off and dropped from the great height. Moulin's knees went weak as he witnessed the scene. When he caught sight of the now clear view of the atmosphere before him, his breath was stuck within his throat. The attack split the dense swarm behind it, creating a clear light path towards the horizon. A rain of burning creatures fell from the vast sky.

Black blood spewed out, and Uldehr's distorted body split in half, sliding off the bloody thickness of its belly. Then it fell limp on the wooden ground. Its wings twitched as it remained unmoved.

'Haah... Tied souls...' Uldehr's plain fading voice echoed in Moulin's mind.

'How delectable....'