PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)

★CHAPTER 27★

“Now, where are you?”

I pushed my senses to their limits, my telepathic senses tingling with anticipation.  I felt the creature's energy, an incredible moving, pulsing force, soaring high up in the sky.

Finally, I saw it, a blur of feathers and fury, a creature unlike anything I had ever encountered.  It was a bird, but its head was deformed, its beak replaced by a jagged maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth.  Its tail shimmered, made of a reflective substance that reminded me of shattered glass, a three-meter-long weapon that could slice through steel.

So, that was how it had cut me.

I looked at its information:

Name: Crazed-Harpy
Type: Avian
Level: 100 (E-Rank)
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
Strength: 80
Attack: -50
Agility: 100
Defense: 50
Skill: Eye of the Sky (Rare)
Drops: 1 Harpy’s Talon , 1 Healing Elixir, 10 Gold Bars, 5 Platinum Bars, 100 Mana Crystals, 1 Tail of the Harpy, +100 Exp
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“A level 100 monster!!!” I exclaimed, my heart pounding. “What the hell!!! And it’s not even a Goblin!!!”

"And are those its loots!!!" I continued, my mind reeling. “Oh my God!!! They’re rich!!!"

I never thought my first monster would be a three digits monster. That explained why the Quest rewards looked so great.  But it worked for me.  The more the merrier.  Its Strength was not up to mine, which meant I was obviously stronger.  I couldn't fight it head-on due to it's attack though.  The only advantage I had was my skills.  I didn't need to fight it head-on.  I had a greater advantage.

This monster didn't seem to have any long-range attack also but it was fast.

I needed to think…

It was airborne, which meant I had to get it to land somewhere, else I might lose this fight.

I needed a plan.  I needed to use my skills to my advantage.

I glanced at the Quest notification again, the countdown ticking away.  Ten minutes.  That wasn’t a lot of time. It's been over 3 minutes already and I had received 9 PP

I had to act fast.

“King's Command!” I thought, focusing my will on the Crazed-Harpy, as it soared high above me.

My mind strained, my energy channeling towards the Harpy. it struggled for a bit and after sometime,  I was able to take control of it.

But then I was instantly pushed out of it mind, the force sent me flying back.

“It must be too high level for me to control,” I realized, my heart sinking.

“But I can still use it to my advantage,” I thought, a spark of determination igniting within me.

I focused my mind, channeling my black flames.  “Black Flame Control!” I thought, visualizing the flames erupting from my fingertips, aiming at the Harpy’s tail.

A wave of heat washed over me as black flames erupted from my hands, dancing and swirling, as it flowed into my sword.

I aimed the flames at the Harpy’s tail, a three-meter-long weapon made of shattered glass. If I killed the Harpy, it will be harder to find it's nest, so I had a more better plan, even if it's not safe.

I swung my sword and released a flame imbued strike towards it.

The flames engulfed the tail, causing a screech of pain to rip through the air.  The Harpy flapped its wings, struggling to regain control of its descent toward the ground.

‘Yes!’ I thought, my heart pounding with excitement.  ‘It’s working.’

The Harpy landed with a thud, its wings flapping in a frenzy.

I immediately drank from the Karamat’s potion, and I felt energized. The monster's eyes were filled with rage and confusion.  It was a magnificent creature, even in its weakened state.

It was time to strike.

I had to act quickly.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the Harpy, my telepathic senses tingling.

“King's command,” I chanted, pushing my mind out, reaching for the creature’s consciousness.

It was a struggle, a mental battle.  The Harpy fought back, its mind a fortress of primal rage and instinct.

But I was determined.  I would find a way.

I needed to know what it was thinking.  I needed to understand its motivations.

I pushed through the barriers, my mind straining, my senses stretched to their limits.

And then, I saw it, a flicker of fear in the Harpy's consciousness, a primal terror that resonated in my mind.

It was afraid.

This was my opportunity.

A wave of relief washed over me.  The Harpy's fear was my key.  I could exploit its fear, turn it against itself.

"Telepathic Domination!" I thought, focusing my will, my telepathic power surging through my mind.

The Harpy's consciousness flickered, its fear intensifying.  I could feel its resistance, its primal rage struggling against my control.

But I pushed harder, my mind an unyielding force, my will bending the creature's will.

And then, I broke through.

The Harpy's consciousness shuddered, a wave of primal terror sweeping over it.  It was mine.  I controlled it.

“Fly,” I commanded, my thoughts echoing in its mind.  “Fly to the sky.”

The Harpy obeyed, its wings beating in a frenzy, its body lifting into the air.  It soared high above the grassland, a magnificent creature, a creature of both beauty and terror.

I felt a surge of exhilaration.  I had done it.  I had taken control of a creature far more powerful than me.

“Go! Go!” I commanded, my thoughts urging it forward.  “Fly away! Lead me to your flock.”

The Harpy obeyed, its wings carrying it higher and higher, until it was a speck in the vast expanse of the green sky.

The Quest notification chimed, signaling the end of the challenge.

[QUEST: Survive the attack for 10 minutes. For every minute an additional 3 PP is added to your status.  Completed]
[REWARDS]:  1 Soul Weapon (unbound), 1 permanent HP boost potion, 1 Permanent Mana Boost Potion, and additional 50 points to all attributes.
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I felt a surge of energy as my stats were boosted to above 600.  I had survived.  And I had earned some incredible rewards.

The items materialized on the dungeon floor but I just packed all and threw them into my spatial box and glanced at the Hidden Quest.  It was still active.  The Harpy's nest was still in the dungeon.

[HIDDEN QUEST]: destroy the Harpy nest and receive an additional reward.
[REWARDS]: A Golden chest box.

It was a dangerous quest, but the reward was worth the risk.  A Golden chest.  It sounded like it held incredible treasures.

I turned my attention to the flying Harpy  “Harpy nest, how did it appear here in the first place?” I thought, my mind filled with anticipation. 

I couldn't wait to find out.

I could feel the exhilaration of the hunt coursing through me.  The thrill of the challenge, the rush of victory.

This was the life of a hunter.  This was what I was meant for.

I would go after that Harpy, and I would earn that Golden chest.
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