Garuda's Desperate Hunger
"Every word out of your mouth truly shocks me."
As the heat of the gorge intensified, Kasan's face grew sterner, but it wasn't just the sweltering air.
"But I can't take what you just said at face value. Don't try to fool me. You're a child who hasn't even lived twenty years, but I've seen many long years pass. Even as a young one, I witnessed the Dragon Clans' War firsthand."
Kasan said.
"Dragons fought fiercely for the seat of Dragon Lord, and I saw Red Dragon Karsea's head severed in the process."
Kwak— He gripped the shaft of his red halberd tighter.
"The Red Dragon's blood soaked the earth, and our corpses piled atop it. That day is unforgettable."
"That's right. Karsea died."
Unlike Kasan, who recalled that horrific day, Adel spoke calmly.
"Then?"
"I'm talking about the hatchling Karsea left behind."
"……?!!"
Kasan's face twisted at his words.
Whoosh—!! In that instant, the halberd's tip halted at Adel's nose.
"Don't toy with me. The Red Dragon clan is born with dragon blood. That means we can sense dragon aura."
"True."
"If Karsea's child lived, we'd know. Our blood would draw us to it."
Adel chuckled lowly at his words. Then, he slowly grasped the halberd tip aimed at him with his fingers and pushed it down.
"I acknowledge the prowess of Red Dragon blood. But it doesn't pierce all lies. With the right intent, deception is easy enough."
Adel met his gaze.
"Can you be certain your bloodline surpasses the magic of the Heavenly Dragons, Kasan?"
"……What?"
"Can you be certain your bloodline can see through the tricks of the Three Great Magic Conferences?"
Kasan's face hardened at Adel's words.
"Are you saying someone hid Karsea's hatchling?"
"Well…… No matter what you hear, you won't believe without seeing it yourself. If you're interested in my story, come along anytime."
Adel stepped past the red spear.
"Just don't forget one thing, Kasan."
Twitch. Even a veteran warrior like Kasan, who had slain countless beasts over long years, flinched at the sharp killing intent in Adel's eyes.
"Never point your spear at me again."
Gulp— Kasan swallowed dryly without realizing it.
'……What was that?'
He couldn't help but be startled by his instincts' warning. That pressure moments ago hadn't come from an ancient god's power.
"For now……"
Adel looked toward the summit.
"Shall we claim the phoenix egg first?"
"……."
Kasan followed silently behind him.
'How does this one know the shortcut through Gold Death Gorge?'
Kasan thought, staring at Adel's back as he strode ahead without hesitation.
'Have the Ulan tribe hunters already mapped the gorge this perfectly? I was a fool to even consider fighting them.'
Unaware of the regression, he harbored an unintended misunderstanding, which only deepened his awe of Adel.
"From here on, it's Garuda's territory."
Adel scanned the surroundings as they climbed the gorge path and spoke. The bare dirt trail, devoid of grass, occasionally sparked with flames on the red sand surface.
"Just in case, take these."
"This heat is nothing. I'm fine."
"It's not the gorge's heat. It's preparation for meeting Garuda."
"……."
Kasan eyed the ice severance stones Adel offered. There were five in his palm. As he recalled, Hul had received five from him. That meant Adel was giving all of them away.
"It sounds like you're confident you can survive even Garuda…… I admire the confidence, but keep one."
Adel smirked as Kasan took four, then nodded.
"Brother Hul probably didn't know this either. On the new moon's last day—the day Garuda comes to absorb the gorge's heat."
"The new moon……."
"Yes. Today. So it's not 'just in case,' Kasan."
"……!!"
"We'll meet Garuda. That's how we hatch the phoenix egg."
Roooaaar—!!
It was then.
The millennium volcano at Gold Death Gorge's summit suddenly belched ferocious flames.
Boom—!!
Kraka-boom—!!
Simultaneously, the sky turned red as if a meteor had fallen, and fiery masses rained down from above.
[Keeeaaaargh……!!!]
A shrill cry echoed, blackening the clouds overhead as if burned. A massive red bird burst through them.
"G-Garuda……."
Kasan looked up with a trembling voice.
"Let's go."
Adel entered a cave carved between sheer cliffs like folding screens.
'Garuda's nest.'
Gods feed on human resentment. That means the fewer followers a god has, the weaker it becomes.
But Garuda, who devoured humans, rose to high god because as an elemental god, it drew power from nature itself.
Gods crave amusement. For it, eating humans isn't survival—it's mere entertainment.
Thus, it hides its weaknesses.
And that's right now.
On the new moon, Garuda comes here to replenish lost heat. This most vital, vulnerable moment is what it conceals most.
As he stepped into the nest, a voice rang in Adel's mind. It brimmed with malice, more feral beast than god.
"Could this be……."
Kasan felt his legs weaken at the voice. The instinctive terror of facing a superior being nearly buckled his knees.
Step—
Step—
Step—
Defying the warning, Adel advanced into the nest unfazed.
Flames erupted desperately at the nest entrance to block the intruder.
Fwoosh……!!
But Garon's firewall neutralized Garuda's breath.
Garon spoke from behind the firewall.
Kalderet emerged from behind the firewall and stepped slowly into the nest.
Garon grimaced and followed behind him.