Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Chapter 34 Mind Attack
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From the loftiest peak that soared dizzyingly high, the golden eagle unfurled its wings majestically and declared to all.
"Listen well, everyone. From this moment, I will follow Claude here."
The eagles all sighed in unison and cried out.
"Good heavens!"
"No way!"
"That's impossible!"
"Kreeek! Kreeeek!"
"Kyaaak! You just came back—why leave us now!"
"Eagle Spirit! You are the very essence of our Ancient Eagles! Please lead our flock from Arrowtip Peak for a thousand, nay, ten thousand years! You must not go!"
The last wail came from Retep, the chieftain. It was only natural for them to react this way after he dropped a bombshell right upon returning home.
"...You still don't know, do you."
The golden eagle narrowed its eyes and slowly scanned the eagles surrounding it.
"Ten years ago on that day, there was a reason I rampaged and flew away from here."
"...Eagle Spirit?"
"Step aside, Retep. I have business with the one behind you. Yes, you there."
The golden eagle pointed with the tip of its wing at an eagle in the back. The one hiding in the flock flinched and trembled.
"Peep...."
"Come out. You chick-like fool."
Mana flowed from the golden eagle's body, drawn straight into the young eagle's head. The young one shook in convulsions and stepped forward immediately.
"Eagle Spirit, I...."
"Ten years have passed since then, and you still haven't revealed the truth?"
"F-Forgive me! Peep! Pweeek!"
The young eagle let out a scream-like cry and bowed its head low.
"I was too afraid to speak! I feared being exiled from the flock!"
"Teus? What in the world is going on?"
The chieftain scolded the young eagle. Teus, as he was called, shed tears unbefitting an eagle and confessed the truth.
"Ten years ago, the reason the Eagle Spirit rampaged was because of me."
"What?"
"At the time, I was... suffering because my mate had fallen for the Eagle Spirit and wouldn't even glance at me."
"What? Wait, you don't mean...."
"Yes. In my jealousy, I... when no one was watching, climbed this peak and unleashed all my power in a spell to shatter the Eagle Spirit, who stood frozen like a statue!"
At that moment, the entire gathered eagle society erupted in shock.
"Forgive me, Eagle Spirit. My jealousy drove me mad...."
"You mad fool! How dare you call yourself one of this great Ancient Eagle flock!"
The excited chieftain began thrashing Teus's back with his massive wings. The golden eagle stepped forward to block him.
"Stop, Retep."
"But Eagle Spirit, this one caused you such prolonged humiliation...."
"It was humiliation, true. The emotions in his spell were so intense that I lost my reason briefly while absorbing it."
The golden eagle glared at Teus, sprawled on the ground. Then another young eagle flew up beside him and bowed its head as well.
"It's my fault! Eagle Spirit! At the time, I was so enamored with your form that I neglected my mate...."
Whoa, is this that rumored love triangle?
Watching from the side, it's total popcorn material. Got anything to snack on? Might as well crack open a sugar bar for now.
"You two! Do you know where you are, stirring up this mess now of all times! No, this won't do! In the chieftain's name, I hereby...."
"I said wait."
The golden eagle raised its head with a solemn expression.
"There's no need to blame them. It was simply because my existence is too magnificent."
Whoa, that sounds obnoxious.
But as it struck a dashing pose with its wings, half the surrounding eagles (probably the females) swooned, chirping like chicks.
"Peep...."
"Eagle Spirit!"
"Ahh, I'm dying...."
"Peep, peep, peep...."
Well, whatever. Honestly, even I can see it's pretty cool.
That gleaming massive wingspan. And the voice—deep and resonant, utterly captivating.
"I trust you all understand now. My presence here isn't good for the flock's prosperity either. Thus, I will leave this place with Claude."
"Claude. Is this true?"
The eagle chieftain whipped his head around to glare at me. I shook my head lightly with a smile.
"Nope?"
"Nope?"
"I just heard about it now too."
"What do you mean, Claude! Didn't we discuss this the whole way here!"
The golden eagle hopped in outrage and yelled. I sighed, recalling what had just happened.
"How was that a discussion? I didn't hear a thing. You were rambling nonstop about something super seriously, so I tuned you out."
"That's... I appealed so earnestly, and you call that too much?"
"You're the one who's too much. My ears were ringing—I thought they were bleeding. Anyway, nothing's decided."
"Ugh! Claude! I even carried you on my back!"
"You forced me on there, remember? Talking about repaying favors and all that. The ride was comfy, though."
"Of course. I put a lot of effort into a smooth, stable flight. And yet you'll cast me aside?"
"Why should I be responsible for you in the first place...."
"Didn't you save me? If you save someone, you take responsibility."
What is this? Save a drowning guy, and he dumps his baggage on you?
"And if I leave here, I have nowhere else to go. Besides, I've become a body that can't survive without your mana. That rich, abundant, sweet sensation...."
"Stop. I get it, so stop."
If I let it go on, who knows what horrifying description might spill out. Anyway... I already brought Regal along, so no reason not to take this one too.
"Fine, then do exactly as I say. No unnecessary side antics."
"Understood. Just supply me with mana regularly, and I'll obey your commands. Hear me, all of you! I now depart Arrowtip Peak! You all stay here, breed, and prosper for generations!"
"Eagle Spirit!"
The eagles wailed in chorus and bowed their heads. Amid it all, I approached the chieftain and whispered my demand.
"Give me the core."
"What?"
"I kept my promise, right? Hand over the core as per our deal. And don't forget to gather and fight together with us before war breaks out with the otherworld."
"...Kweeeak!"
The chieftain promptly regurgitated the core and gazed at me with misty eyes.
"Here it is. And please take care of our Ancient Eagles' essence, the Eagle Spirit."
"I'll make sure it eats regularly, at least."
I picked up the core from the peak's floor. It sparkled with a brilliant golden light, just like the Eagle Spirit.
Great. Acquired the Ancient Eagle core.
That makes four cores in total. Wonder what new ability this one adds?
* * *
The eagle core's effects were immediate.
No need to worry about hidden powers. Sprawled out spread-eagled on the Eagle Spirit's back, I savored the comfortable flight and said,
"This beats the core. No more slogging through flight magic from now on."
"You were so cold earlier, and now you're raving about it?"
"That was just the return trip being hilarious... Ah, veer a bit south from here. Then straight ahead."
"Got it. The small forest east of Emperoad, right?"
"You know Emperoad?"
"An Ancient Eagle knows it, so I do too. Isn't it the capital of the Payud Empire?"
"Sharp eyes. Must've spent your days sightseeing from afar. Incredible eyesight."
"More than that, I never dreamed such events were unfolding in the world while I was imprisoned. Less than ten months until the world's end...."
"It's apocalypse-adjacent, not quite the end."
I'll make damn sure it doesn't come to that, no matter what. The Eagle Spirit nodded and banked in midair.
"Ah? Not that way, I said."
"Don't worry. Circling a bit to catch the airflow will get us there faster."
"Yeah?"
"Leave it to me comfortably. You've shouldered too many burdens for far too long."
"You can tell?"
"Of course. You know my specialty, don't you?"
"Telepathy?"
"Exactly. Even without direct telepathy, I can send thought waves for all sorts of tasks. Mind attacks are possible, and I can read lingering memories from objects touched by thought waves."
"Reading memories from objects? That's kinda creepy."
"Any seasoned Ancient Eagle can do it. The chieftain's still too young to reach that level. But haven't you absorbed my core?"
"Yeah. Ate it earlier."
"If you want, I can tell you the effects in advance. That way, you won't be surprised when they kick in later."
"Nah, I'll go first."
I shook my head and described the immediate changes.
"For starters, my mana increased. Right?"
"Hoo, so it did. You feel it that directly?"
"I'm a wizard by trade. I can sense a bit more leeway in concentration and calculation power right away."
"Concentration and calculation.... I see. Humans channel magic solely through the brain, so that makes sense."
"Eagles use something besides the brain for magic?"
"Naturally. Do you think spirits use brains for magic?"
Uh... come to think of it, yeah? What do spirits even use?
"What humans do with their brains boils down to creating flows. Spirits create those flows with their entire bodies. Same for me."
"You're made of a core, so you're almost like a spirit."
"Similar, but different. I'm bound to this world. I can't freely traverse the spirit realm like a true spirit."
The golden eagle's expression held a hint of regret. Come to think of it, calling it Eagle Spirit or golden eagle this and that feels off....
"What's your name?"
"Hm? Eagle Spirit, naturally."
"That's a title. Your pure, personal name."
"Pure name.... Then call me Teus."
"Teus? That's the jealous eagle from earlier."
"Indeed. When I absorbed that spell he poured his heart into, I took part of him in too. So Teus is closest to me now."
"Uh.... Okay?"
Whatever, doesn't matter. Kinda weird, but fine.
"Then, Teus."
"Yes, Claude."
"By that logic, if you keep eating my magic, will your name become Claude?"
"Unlikely. Unless you harbor intense emotions and blast me with world-shattering wind magic."
"Emotions are key, huh. But can you absorb Tempest? You know what that is?"
"That's far too powerful for me. Please refrain."
Teus shuddered. I chuckled quietly and steered the topic back.
"Second ability from the core: faster flight speed. Before boarding you earlier, I used flight magic, and it sped up big time."
"That's because you've gained the sense for riding air currents."
"Air currents?"
"Ancient Eagles instinctively read air flows—not with eyes, but the body. You felt your flight speed boost automatically from that."
Oh, so that's it? I thought it was just better flight magic proficiency.
"Now that I think about it, it's a bit disappointing. This core would've been perfect for Tolari."
"Tolari?"
"An Arch Wizard like me. Wind attribute. Better at wind than I am."
"Sounds like a human I'd like. I can give you my core if you want."
"Really?"
"My body's made of cores, isn't it? Wait—no fantasies about dismantling me into hundreds, please. Most are fused inseparably."
Tch. Busted?
"But the last one I absorbed, I can extract again. Introduce me to that Tolari later. If I like him, I'll hand it over on the spot."
"That'd be awesome. Ah, third one's improved eyesight. Can see far now after eating the core."
Not Ancient Eagle levels—like spotting things hundreds of kilometers away. But massively better by human standards. Probably around 5.0 vision if tested.
"Eyesight's an Ancient Eagle trait too. You're experiencing it in real time, then."
"Yeah. Even from this height, the ground looks pretty clear. That's all I've noticed so far. Any other abilities? Like your telepathy?"
"That's unlikely."
Teus found another current and ascended higher, turning south.
"Telepathy is our specialty, sure, but it's possible because we're spirit-adjacent. Especially me."
"Humans are too far from spirits?"
"I doubt it'd be easy. Even absorbing cores, surpassing innate racial limits is tough."
"What about possession?"
"Hm?"
"Spirit possession. I'm a spiritist too."
"...Really?"
Teus craned his neck mid-flight, face shocked.
"Just who are you, anyway? Strongest mage who can cast Tempest, holy magic user, and now spirit magic? Universal as long as 'magic' is tacked on?"
"Pretty much?"
"And you've absorbed four ancient beast cores.... Unbelievable. Even if otherworldly armies invade in ten months, you'll crush them easily and save our world."
"No. It won't be that simple."
I shook my head seriously.
One thing I can guarantee: the otherworld invasion and waves won't be a cakewalk.
Sure, going all out might block the fifth wave like last time...
But no one knows yet, right?
What if a sixth wave exists?
And a seventh follows?