Dawn's Farewell (4): Leana Was Right—It's Actually Vibrating
I rummaged through my inner pocket and pulled out Dawn's Farewell. But the thing that had been buzzing away just moments ago went completely silent the instant I took it out.
"What is that?"
Bibian the captain's eyes lit up as she admired its beautiful facets reflecting the afternoon sunlight from every angle.
"It's a gem cursed by a mage."
"Gasp!"
Bibian the captain recoiled in shock. Despite her looks, she seemed surprisingly skittish about little things. It wasn't actually cursed by a mage, of course, but you know what they say—seeing treasure stirs the heart. Better not to give her any funny ideas.
But why the hell had it stopped vibrating all of a sudden? It had definitely been shaking just now. I shook it this way and that, held it up to the sunlight, but nothing changed.
Orlean, you bastard—what the fuck did you do to this thing?
I was starting to regret taking it. Felt kinda iffy now. What if that son of a bitch had stashed his soul in here to resurrect later? If he did come back, I'd chop him to pieces on the spot. Back in Elodi Village, I'd gotten one-sidedly wrecked because I thought it was a demon and didn't wear my magic-resistant Qurlatus armor. But this time, I'd beat the ever-loving shit out of him.
"What are you muttering about?"
"Nothing. It's nothing. Let's go."
I shoved Dawn's Farewell back into my pocket and climbed the ridge. The steep incline gradually leveled out—looked like we'd reached the summit. I could see the sky peeking through the trees ahead. Time to get ready.
"Captain Bibian, I'm going on alone from here."
"We haven't even gotten near the nest yet."
"Griffins have incredibly sharp senses. We'll get spotted if we go much farther."
At that, Captain Bibian rolled her green-gold eyes and peered beyond the trees.
"Then how will you—?"
"I've got my ways. Stay here. No matter what you hear, don't come out."
I said that, but looking at her expression, I still felt uneasy. Captain Bibian was up for major this year. She'd come all the way out here, risking her life, just to rack up achievements for promotion. Telling her to sit tight probably wouldn't stick.
Might be better to keep her in my control range after all.
"Actually, scratch that. Let's go together."
Her face lit up at once.
"But first, spray this on yourself."
I pulled a vial from my tactical belt and handed it over. She sniffed it and immediately grimaced.
"What is this...?!"
"Diluted orc diarrhea. Spray it on, and the griffin won't smell you. It won't irritate your skin, so hurry up."
"How could it not smell this stench?!"
"It's way more natural than human scent."
"Haa..."
Her major insignia practically twitched as she pinched her nose and dumped it over her head.
"Urk... Bleeech... But..."
She dry-heaved while asking,
"Aren't you spraying it, Leonar?"
"I've got a skill that erases my scent. Sorry."
Demon hunters aren't just specialized against demons—they excel at hunting magical beasts too. One of those skills is Owl Behind. Owls fly without making a sound. Just like that, the skill temporarily eliminates both your body odor and noise. And if there's a level gap, it's undetectable even by Blind Vision—a total cheat skill. That's one reason Demon Hunters become broken characters once you hit a certain level: the skills are tough to level, but god-tier payoff.
Erase traces, sneak up to the nest, then strike all at once. I'd handle the adult guarding the nest, and Captain Bibian would slaughter the chicks during the opening. Chicks or not, they were big as large dogs, a real pain in group fights against adults. But probably just one or two, so she could manage solo.
"I can do it. Sure, I'm desk-bound now, but I came from the legion vanguard."
"Vanguard? Impressive."
But how does someone that grizzled end up so jumpy? Then again, maybe not entirely. Last time, hadn't she charged at mage Orlean with just a single sword, no fear? Probably the type who shies from small stuff but dives in headfirst when it counts. Strong against the weak, weak against the strong, or something like that.
"Plan's roughly this. Ready to start?"
"The sooner the better. This smell's got me dying to jump in the lake right now."
"Let's move."
We crouched low, pushed through the underbrush, and advanced. How far had we gone when suddenly the bushes and trees thinned out, revealing a wide clearing? At the far edge sat a massive nest built of rocks and branches. Curled up inside was a single adult mountain griffin, its rocky camouflage blending perfectly.
"Gasp...!"
Seeing a griffin for the first time, Captain Bibian inhaled sharply and froze stiff. No wonder—this one was way bigger than average. Already ferocious-looking, and with that size? Overwhelming at first sight.
"Chicks are there too. Just one."
A wolf-sized chick slumbered in the adult's embrace.
"It's huge... You expect me to kill that with a sword?"
"I'll soften it up first. No worries."
I yanked a glass bottle from my belt and hurled it. It shattered against the nest rocks, igniting an instant blaze. A mix of pitch and reagents, sealed until exposed to shock and air—like a Molotov. The flames engulfed the sleeping adult and chick.
As fire licked its feathers, the adult griffin reared up with a roar, unfurling massive wings.
"Hngh...!"
The blood-chilling bellow made Captain Bibian stagger and grab my arm. As the griffin flapped wildly to extinguish the flames on itself and the chick, I lobbed a second bottle. This one was nastier—maximized pain on burned areas. Salt and whatnot; hit a wound, and you'd pass out from agony. Demon hunters live by potions and oils, after all.
The bottle burst right over the adult griffin's head, raining liquid like biblical fire. Smoke wisped from its burns as it thrashed and screamed, rolling in torment. No flying off now.
"I'm going in first!"
I drew Nightrend and charged. Spotting me, the mountain griffin rose despite the pain, ready for battle. It was so goddamn huge that even limping upright, it loomed over me. Cliff edge—no reckless blinks, or I'd be fucked. Straight-up frontal assault it was.
Nightrend clashed with the griffin's foreclaws.
"KRAAAAAH!!"
The blade's unreal sharpness sheared off several talons, sending them flying. As the adult faltered, I lunged for its wing joint. But in that instant, the chick zipped right up to me, beak aimed at my gut.
I stomped its head flat and leaped toward the adult's wing. Captain Bibian followed, thrusting her arming sword upward into the chick's jaw. But griffin beaks are tough—the blade sparked and glanced off. Undeterred, she spun the sword reverse-grip. It plunged into the chick's back just as its beak grazed her side. Ignoring it, she roared and hammered down relentlessly.
Meanwhile, at the leap's peak, I flipped in midair and mounted the adult's back. It bucked like mad to shake me, but I clamped my legs tight and swung Nightrend like an axe. Repeated strikes shredded the thick, leathery wing joint into tatters. Adult griffin done.
Griffins suck because they fly. Mountain griffins suck more because they live on cliffs.
By then, Captain Bibian—drenched in blood—was stabbing the downed chick's flank over and over. Good, chick's handled, this one's flightless—now butcher it easy...
"Wha—?!"
Suddenly, the adult lost balance and tumbled off the cliff. I blinked fast, but its drop speed was insane—barely caught a protruding rock halfway down, dangling there.
"Leonar! You okay?!"
"Yeah! Down here!"
Hanging mid-cliff, looking up at her, something new entered my view. High above, another mountain griffin was diving toward the nest at breakneck speed. The hunter returning? Fucked.
Nest had only the slaughtered chick and Captain Bibian. Seeing that? The new adult would tear her to unrecognizable shreds...!
"Captain! Jump!"
She looked up and leaped off the cliff instantly. Too late. The griffin was already overhead, blotting the sun with grim shadow.
Too fast! Fucking griffins... This is why we need mages!
I yanked a potion, bit off the cap, and screamed internally. Then my armor chest glowed blue and vibrated like crazy. So intense the rock crumbled from my grip, sending me plummeting. As I fell, the leather burst open, firing a brilliant blue beam skyward. The vertical ray grazed Captain Bibian's shoulder and pierced the griffin's body clean through.