The cockatrice finally agreed, and Alex grinned, satisfied to have hooked it.
"Alright, then. Let's make a deal."
"Like I said, I'll hand over the orb, and you let me go free."
The cockatrice narrowed its eyes, studying him:
"Even if I help you escape, your chances of getting off this cliff are slim. You'll have other cockatrices on your trail—it's suicide, human. Just accept your fate and hand over the orb."
Alex smirked, unfazed:
"How about you stop flapping your beak and open the cell? I'll handle the rest."
The cockatrice clicked its sharp teeth in annoyance but then moved toward the gate's edge, pressing a claw against a small rune.
Alex heard a hum as the barrier that had shocked and deflected his blows flickered and vanished.
He grinned.
Now he could use his powers… but not yet.
The cockatrice strutted inside the cell, posture tense, eyes fixed on him, clearly expecting a double-cross:
"Alright, human. Hand over the orb."
Alex tilted his head, a playful smirk dancing across his face:
"You know what? I don't feel like it."
A vein pulsed on the cockatrice's head, its feathers ruffling in anger. It turned, about to back out of the cell, but Alex raised a hand, halting it.
"Wait... how about you let me pat you three times on the head, and then I'll consider giving you the orb."
The cockatrice's eyes narrowed, its feathers bristling:
"Do you think I'm a joke?"
"No, not at all," Alex replied with a smirk. "But your king probably does. Why else would he have put you here to guard me? Am I right?"
The cockatrice stiffened, its gaze darkening:
"What do you know, human?"
Alex shrugged, his tone casual. "I've been treated like that too—overlooked, underestimated. I get it."
The cockatrice's face twitched with frustration, and Alex knew he'd struck a nerve.
Keeping his expression calm, he slowly pulled out the orb, letting its glow catch the creature's attention.
He tilted it back and forth, the light reflecting in the cockatrice's hungry eyes.
"This," Alex said, holding the orb out just far enough to tempt the creature, "could change everything for you. With this, you could challenge Murzok and take his place. I genuinely want to help you get what you deserve. But here's the thing… you won't get it unless you grant my request. And if you kill me? This orb disappears, and so does your chance."
The cockatrice's eyes flickered as it considered his words.
Finally, it muttered:
"Human, what makes you so confident? What stops me from killing you once I get the orb?"
"I'm trusting you won't," Alex replied, meeting its gaze, calm but unwavering.
After a long, tense pause, the cockatrice let out a grudging sigh. It seemed Alex had left it with no other option:
"Fine."
Reluctantly, it leaned its head down toward Alex, who flashed a sly, almost wicked grin.
'What an idiot.'
"Just three pats, nothing else," the cockatrice warned.
Alex nodded with a straight face, masking his excitement.
Talvok, the cockatrice, had no idea these weren't just any pats—they were a death trap in disguise.
Alex raised his hand, and Talvok flinched slightly but pushed its head forward, trying to remain still.
Alex reached out, placing his hand gently on the side of its head.
"There, there," he muttered, patting it once.
'First explosion set.'
He patted it again, making sure his touch lingered just long enough.
'Second explosion set.'
And finally, a third pat.
'Done.'
Alex fought the urge to pat it a fourth time just to test his luck, but Talvok jerked its head back and fixed him with a demanding glare:
"Now the orb."
Alex forced a friendly smile:
"Alright. You've earned it."
He took out the orb, holding it out as Talvok grabbed it eagerly with its clawed wing, a greedy gleam in its eyes.
Without wasting a second, the cockatrice began absorbing the orb's power, its feathers glowing as the orb's light swirled around it.
A faint hum filled the air as energy surged into Talvok, enhancing its strength and lifting it to the next rank. It groaned in satisfaction as its body expanded, absorbing every bit of the orb's essence.
Alex, momentarily awed by the display, quickly snapped back to focus.
This was his chance.
He activated [Stealth Walk] and slipped out of the cell, moving past the glowing cockatrice without a sound.
As soon as he was through the gate, he quietly pulled it shut and locked it, trapping Talvok inside.
As the transformation neared its end, the cockatrice's feathers shimmered with new brilliance, each quill now strikingly vibrant. Its talons gleamed sharper, its beak looked deadly, and its eyes burned with a fierce confidence.
It flexed its claws, feeling a surge of power through its body.
"Now...now I can face the king. "
But first, the human.
He could hardly believe what he'd stooped to—letting a mere human touch him for the orb.
The memory filled him with disgust, but the power he now held made it worth the humiliation.
Lifting his head, he prepared to end this farce.
But his gaze fell on the empty cell. He blinked, momentarily confused, scanning the area. Where had the human gone?
Then he spotted Alex just outside the gate, a smug grin on his face as he gave a mocking wave:
"Hey there."
"You… how did you get out?"
The cockatrice's mind raced, baffled by how Alex had escaped without him noticing. But he quickly brushed it off—he'd just finish him from outside.
With a furious shriek, he lunged at the gate, intending to pry it open.
But the moment he made contact, a powerful electric shock blasted through him, sending jolts of pain through his body. He staggered back, his feathers singed and smoking.
"How does it feel to be the one locked up?" Alex taunted, his voice filled with satisfaction.
The cockatrice shook off the lingering pain, glaring at Alex:
"You think a cage like this can hold someone of my rank?" he growled, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice as he was sure the prison most likely could. As it was built to hold powerful prisoners.
The cockatrice's throat rumbled as energy swirled around its body, its eyes flashing with rage.
It was preparing to unleash a devastating attack—its fury was palpable.
Alex wasn't intimidated.
He simply shook his head with a smirk and snapped his fingers.
*Boom!*
An explosion ripped through the air, slamming into the cockatrice with a force that shook the entire cell.
The blast sent shockwaves through the narrow space, and the barrier around the entrance absorbed the impact before repelling it back toward the cockatrice.
The full force of the explosion slammed directly into him, concentrating all the damage on his body.
The cockatrice staggered back, furiously shaking off the effects of the blast. It barely seemed harmed, but the fire in its eyes only grew stronger.
"You bastard!" the cockatrice roared, its voice filled with venom.
It began to summon more energy, ready to strike back.
But Alex wasn't done.
He snapped his fingers again. And again. And again.
*Boom!*
Another explosion tore into the cockatrice, rocking the cage even harder.
Dust and debris filled the air, the walls of the cell groaning under the pressure.
Still, the cockatrice stood tall, its injuries mounting but not enough to bring it down.
*Boom!*
Another explosion went off, sending a shockwave that rattled everything.
But again, the cockatrice only staggered, its body battered but its rage unwavering.
Alex watched the creature carefully, his face unreadable.
The cockatrice was bruised and bloody, its feathers charred and ragged, but it was still alive.
The energy swirling around it wasn't gone—its anger was fueling it, keeping it on its feet.
Alex's voice was calm, almost casual:
"Are you ready to talk now? I've got plenty more explosions where that came from."