Clipped Wings
Contrary to my worries, I adapted to flying through the sky far more quickly than expected.
It wasn't quite on Seong Jae-myeong's level, but it was more than enough to carry me wherever I wanted to go.
Sure, there were a few bumps along the way—crashing into things here and there, or nearly plummeting into the endless abyss below—but those were minor issues.
While practicing flight, I gathered some intel on this Sky Zone.
While I was busy getting the hang of it, my other partners—who'd had some downtime—had been diligently collecting information in their own ways.
It was too risky to scout a place teeming with unknown dangers, so I held off on skills like Body Separation.
That limited the info a bit, but once I pieced it together, there was plenty of useful stuff.
First off, the countless floating islands drifting through the air were held aloft by a special mineral.
I snagged a few chunks during my collisions, and since they were completely unfamiliar, I dubbed them Floating Stones.
Even a small piece could buoy something several times its size.
A fist-sized one was enough to levitate a house-sized boulder midair—a truly mystical find.
I stashed a few away for later.
Suli or the kids would surely love them as gifts.
Another key discovery: the types of monsters living here.
Excluding ground-dwellers, flying monsters fell into three broad categories.
Bird-like avian types, wyvern varieties, and a mishmash of bizarre oddballs that didn't fit neatly anywhere.
I hadn't tangled with them directly yet, so details were fuzzy, but on a high level, those were the buckets.
And the most welcome sight? Wyverns, of course.
They seemed unrelated to the Lava Zone breeds lineage-wise, but a wyvern was a wyvern.
As fellow reptiles, we could probably get along.
Though their blistering speed made approaching them first a non-starter.
After passing several large and small floating islands, I reached a massive one smack in the layer's center.
It was easily the size of several others combined.
A modest mountain rose in the middle, flanked by a lake.
Naturally, it hosted plenty of flightless monsters too.
From bottom-tier slimes to high-rankers above B-rank.
A diverse ecosystem, all told.
Makes sense—the island's sprawl rivaled an entire Forest Zone floor.
Hard to measure precisely, but it felt about the size of my hometown on the 18th floor.
Maybe even bigger.
The vast forest blanketing the island evoked the Forest Zone's serene vibe.
Though in reality, it was several times deadlier.
Basking in sunlight filtering through the leaves, I strolled leisurely—until a thud-thud shook the underbrush violently.
"Sniff-sniff—"
Emerging with heavy snorts was a brute slotted midway between troll and ogre.
B-rank, by the looks of it.
In the Forest Zone, this would've been prime time for a cute spider to drop webs overhead.
But a straight-up B-rank ambush? Yeah, definitely deadlier than the Forest Zone.
"Snuuuff—huff—snuuuff—huff—"
Spotting me, it flared its nostrils and bared its teeth.
Yellow, grease-slicked fangs gleamed disgustingly.
I half-ignored the racket in my head, standing idly—until it lunged, extending a grimy black hand slowly toward me.
What was it planning?
Some Sky Zone-specific greeting?
Should I play along?
...Who’s eating who? No way that thing thinks it can take me?
Left Head's prickly snap clued me in.
The hand's intent was nothing like I'd assumed.
I'd figured it wanted a rock-paper-scissors throwdown or something.
Never dreamed a mere B-rank would try to chow down on me.
Unthinkable.
Our rank gap was massive—sure, I was suppressing my aura to avoid hassle, but still.
Does it lack the brains to sense my presence? Or does it just not give a damn?
Either way, now that I knew its game, standing idle was off the table.
I snatched its hand—slow by my standards, quick by its—as it reached out.
A slimy, nauseating stickiness coated my fingertips.
Those yellow teeth had screamed "bad hygiene," but confirmed.
Maybe just a light scolding and release... nah, changed my mind.
"Guuuh—?"
It tilted its head dumbly, processing—then I hurled it skyward.
It traced a long arc before vanishing into the horizon.
Stuff like that would just give you indigestion.
I soothed Right Head's smacking regret and resumed walking.
That filthy intruder had ruined my rare good mood.
To shake off the funk, I'd enjoy a longer stroll.
And scout some proper snacks for Right Head.
My leisurely hike, predictably, didn't last.
As mentioned, the forest here was far too vicious for casual saunters.
Worlds apart from Forest Zone woods.
"Uwooo—"
Blocking my path: an ent.
Rare in the Seoul Great Labyrinth, but occasional in Gangwon Province labyrinths—a plant monster mimicking a tree.
A-rank, no less.
Usually capped at C-rank, so this was an evolved specimen.
Fitting for the zone.
"Uwooo—!!!"
I slipped past lashing branches effortlessly.
Right Head sighed softly, then unleashed fire magic.
BOOM—WHOOSH!
Flames erupted spectacularly; the ent howled in agony.
Wind magic might edge out fire on live trees—but raw power overrides.
My flames turned even green wood to tinder.
I watched it blaze fiercely for a moment.
Right Head's sighs echoed relentlessly.
Its whining sparked chatter from the others, Left Head included.
I tuned them out as usual, glancing skyward.
Something approached from the horizon.
Far deadlier than ground pests.
The true rulers: sky lords.
Flying monsters swarmed at the commotion.
Birds?
Raptor-like, they circled overhead, eyes sharp as they scanned.
Two S-ranks. One SA.
I'd stirred noise to feed Right Head's bird craving, but heavy hitters arrived.
Even from afar, their massive frames were clear.
Powerful wingbeats stood out.
Top-tier for the layer, at a glance.
That rank means intelligence, surely.
Hunting smart foes outright felt iffy.
Should've drawn mid-tiers for a snack.
Slurp.
I projected to the circling SA-rank.
Its gaze flicked my way.
Four eyes—like its wing pairs.
One pair fixed on me; the other scanned ceaselessly.
I waved affirmatively.
It twitched one eye pair.
"Screeeee—"
A long cry rang out—to the others, it seemed.
The circlers exchanged glances briefly.
They descended slowly.
SA led; the S-ranks followed, huge.
Wingflaps uprooted trees, clearing a wide glade instantly.
Thud.
SA landed first, double wings flapping; S-ranks after.
I crossed arms casually under its haughty, downcast four eyes.
I nodded; the S-ranks behind snorted softly.
Whispers meant for me—overheard clearly.
SA was their dad, apparently.
I ignored the kids, eyeing the leader.
It showed no reaction—same arrogant poise.
Spoke volumes about local culture.
Monsters were "pure," I'd thought. Not these snobs.
Discriminating by flight? Pathetic.
Tsk.
Chicken-duck squawks from raptor mouths drew a sigh.
More galling: Dad nodding along like it was natural.
Obvious where they learned it.
...So petty.
I shook my head.
Would've nodded along otherwise—but this mindset was vile.
Spitting shit instead of words.
Prolonged exposure would numb my tongue with the stench.
Time to end it.
Their racket cut short.
Killing intent flared; the pair recoiled.
Even Arrogant Dad flinched.
Amid the din, I released Inhwa's Art.
My bulk ballooned, dwarfing the once-imposing trio.
The floating island groaned under a serpent vast enough to claim one side.
They freaked.
Flap-flap—no letting them escape.
Not offended by their drivel. Heart's not that soft.
Just the stench was unbearable.
Plus, Right Head craved chicken.
That was it.
"Hiiiisss—"
First things first: rip those wings to ground them.
See if they spout the same after losing prized plumage.
Become the crawling scum they despise.
If they still yap, maybe spare one.
Wonder if it could even survive wingless.