Fury of the Winds
I rode the wind backward, leaping a good distance to assess the situation. Hovering in the air, I stared down at the uninvited guest eyeing my penthouse perch.
"Caw, cawrk?" (What the hell is that? A snake?)
Up close, it wasn't your average giant snake. A grotesquely twisted horn protruded from its house-sized head, and its flickering tongue was framed by six blinking eyeballs.
Six eyes—does that mean six times the vision? Whatever, the size alone is impressive.
Freaky-looking thing or not, in front of my diving attack, it was just a protein lump. As always, I folded my wings tight against my back and plummeted toward its crown like a bullet.
Shwoooosh—!!
Crunch!
"Cawrk?!" (Huh?!)
My talons, which had smashed plenty of magic beasts' heads like watermelons, skidded off its scales on contact. All that came was a horrific metallic clang, like steel on steel.
This bastard's armored like a tank!
As I panicked and tried to pull up, the six-eyed snake whipped its tail with speed that belied its bulky frame. The whip-like lash coiled around my right leg like a noose.
"Hiss—!"
"Caw, caaawrk!" (You psycho! Let go!)
It yanked me in and gaped its jaws mid-air, chomping down on my trapped leg.
Crack—!
"Caaaawrk—!!" (Aaaah!!)
Mad pain exploded through my brain. I felt its venomous fangs pierce my steel-like skin. The agony made my vision spin.
I lost it and battered the thing hanging off my leg with frantic wingbeats.
Won't come off?! Fine, we'll both die!
With a ten-ton anchor on my leg, I dove straight for the ground, slamming its head into the root-tangled earth.
BOOM—!!
The ground quaked like an earthquake, carving out a massive crater. But even with its head smashed and blood gushing, it wouldn't let go.
I pecked and clawed like a maniac to pry it off. Blood and flesh sprayed in a muddy dogfight. Our hides were too tough for fatal blows—it turned into a stamina war.
Then—
Crackle—zzzt—!
"Caw?"
From the horn atop its buried head, a blue glow surged. The next instant—
Flash—!!
BOOM!!
A massive bolt from the horn slammed into me at point-blank range.
A reptile playing Pikachu?!
This wasn't like that static shock from the aerial island. Agony seared my nerves like fire; my body locked up like stone.
Whoosh—
Paralysis. I couldn't twitch a wingtip.
"Hiss..."
It released my leg, slithered up, and crunched into my massive right wing base. Then, with a glorp, icy venom flooded my veins.
"Caw... rk..." (Urgh...)
Vision swirled, breaths came ragged. My steel feathers drooped limp. Its six eyes leered greedily.
Am I... getting eaten?}
First time in this life feeling it. The terror of death.
Always lording from the skies, picking buffets—I was about to become this lizard's snack.
That fear ignited into unstoppable rage.
Dare you... who eats who!!
Wrath boiled over. Then, deep in my mind—not my ears—a crack split the air.
CRASH!
Like a thick eggshell shattering.
Wind stirred faintly around my core, building to a vortex.
Whoooosh—!!
Shrrrr—!!
It exploded into a bladed typhoon, independent of my will. The overwhelming gale wrapped me, shredding dirt, rocks, even giant tree roots.
"Hiss?!"
The snake recoiled in horror, dropping my wing. It spewed blue energy from its horn for a shield, but my blender winds shredded it like paper.
Crunch—grrrrind—!!
"Squeee—!!"
Nothing remained where the wind passed. A pristine forest corner became barren flatland.
"Caw, cawrk... caw..."
The storm died; dust settled. I staggered up. Blood dripped from leg and wing, but the poison was gone—blown away by the surge.
At my gaze's end: the snake, scales flayed, ragged corpse sprawled.
Rage cooled, but I couldn't forgive the terror it planted.
I limped over, stomped its face with my last strength.
As I finished it—
[W-wait! Spare me!]
"......Cawrk?" (Huh?)
An old man's voice boomed in my head, like some mountain spirit. No one around but the snake.
[It's me! Under your foot! P-please, spare my life! I'll give you all this forest's treasures...!!]
Huh? Snake's talking?
Thanks to past-life fantasy tropes, I clocked it as telepathy—mana shoving meaning straight into the brain. Crystal clear, even for a mute bird like me.
I replied, still stomping its face.
"Cawrk! Cawgagak!" (Shut up! You made me bleed out!)
[......Huh?]
The voice cut off.
Right—I understand human speech, but my output? Pure bird noise.
Its remaining eyes bulged in shock. It realized: this overwhelming monster that half-killed it and wielded storms wasn't some intelligent Divine Beast, just instinct-driven wild animal.
[Th-this can't be... me, done in by a mere beast not even worthy of Divine Beast rank...!]
Its body shuddered in humiliation. But no time for pride—with this drooling brute eyeing its throat.
[O-okay! I yield! P-please...!!]
"Cawrk." (Bon appétit.)
I ignored the pleas. Wounded and starving—treasures? Useless. High-nutrient protein now.
[Please......!!]
Crunch—!!
Its desperate last words drowned in the merry crack of my beak pulverizing its skull. The six eyes lost focus. The massive body twitched once, then slumped.
"Caw, cawgak!" (Hah, hah. I win!)
Panting, I raised my bloody talons. Victory. In this insane forest, I'd crushed a magic-blasting monster snake with raw physicals (and a bit of wind)!
Relief and thrill coursed through me.
"Cawrk! Cawgagak!" (I'm the boss! Ruler of the skies!)
Adrenaline pumping, I hopped around the corpse in a light victory tap dance.
Bled a lot, but victory high numbed the pain.
Snapping out of it, I surveyed: my rampage had razed the woods to a clearing, snake blood reeking.
Other scavengers'll smell this.
Docu from past life: hyenas target tired predators post-hunt.
I clawed the snake's nape.
"Cawrk!" (Heave!)
Flap—!
Strained wings hauled skyward. Even I struggled with house-sized deadweight—thighs burned. Tail dragged, snapping branches, but willpower pushed me to my pre-scouted "waterfront branch."
Thud—!
Dumped the corpse on the thick bough, sprawled beside it.
"Caw... rk..." (Oof, wiped...)
Now, gather dry grass and bark for a cozy suite? Nah—tension gone, fatigue and hunger crashed like a tsunami. Poison, blood loss—I needed protein and bed now.
Screw nesting; food first.
I tore its belly with my beak, chomped tenderest-looking meat.
Squelch, gulp.
"......Cawrk?!" (What the—this flavor?!)
Umami exploded; eyes popped. From that thunder horn, I'd guessed—but this meat dwarfed premium wolf. Each bite healed wing/leg pain; feathers gleamed.
Munch, chomp.
Ate like mad, but barely a tenth of its mountain bulk.
Stuffed. Can't fit more.
Too much left—month's worth of XL rations.
I dragged the rest, wedged it between sturdiest forks. Breezy spot = prime jerky.
Patting my belly, about to crash—
Wait—what if birds or bugs steal my jerky while I sleep?
Wild rule: guard food or die. Exposed branch too.
Then I recalled the wind that saved me.
Can I use it now?
Eyes closed, I focused on that crash moment. Imagined air flowing from my core.
Swirl—
"Oh?"
It worked. Not rampage-level tree-shredder, but translucent winds swirled my feathers.
I expanded it.
Whooo—!
Soft barrier domed the branch, me and corpse inside. A leaf bounced off—perfect natural security vs. bugs/beasts.
"Cawrk, cawgagak!" (Nice, solid performance!)
My private wind tent. Already fluffy-feathered and warm; now windproof—perfect.
Full belly. Secure bed. Spoils from forest boss.
"Caaaawrk~" (Ahh, what a full day.)
Blissful satiation and triumph lulled me. Head on its cushy tail hide pillow, I plunged into birdie's sweet deep sleep.