The chill froze the sand and fallen leaves, and simultaneously, it froze the ancient tree’s branches that were wrapped around the Giant Eagle.
An immense Physical Strength erupted, directly snapping the branches coiled around the Giant Eagle.
In the Giant Eagle’s eyes, the madness intensified, and the black crystal on its forehead flickered rapidly.
A pale blue stream of air shot towards the ancient tree!
This was the essence of the chill from within the Giant Eagle!
This was the Giant Eagle’s most powerful move!
Space itself seemed to freeze from the intense cold.
Any creature below Level 4, if struck, would have absolutely no chance of survival!
And the ancient tree was only Third-level, a critically damaged Third-level at that!
The chill struck the ancient tree with visible speed.
There weren’t any significant Energy Fluctuations!
Nor was there a violent surge of frigid air.
All that remained was a strikingly lifelike ice sculpture of the ancient tree!
Like a colossal diamond tree, the ancient tree stood frozen solid in this mountain forest!
Its life force gradually dwindled; the ancient tree had reached the end of its existence!
A flicker of triumph flashed through the Giant Eagle’s eyes.
This was all the ancient tree’s scheme, I knew it well!
So, even if it cost me a tremendous amount of power, as long as I could kill the ancient tree, it was all worth it!
Meanwhile, the nearby pack of mutant beasts went into a frenzy the moment they witnessed the ancient tree’s demise!
To the surrounding mutant beasts, the ancient tree was like a mother. Without its presence, none of the mutant beasts in the vicinity could have evaded the Giant Eagle’s detection.
Therefore, the mutant beasts, ignoring the disparity in strength, surged forward, intending to tear the Giant Eagle to shreds!
The black crystal on the Giant Eagle’s forehead pulsed continuously, and then, a black light erupted from its body!
Pitch-dark Resurrection (S-class, Active Ability): The power of darkness shields the host, instantly healing all injuries and negative effects! As long as the host possesses sufficient stamina, under this ability’s blessing, it is an undying existence!
In an instant, truly just an instant!
All wounds on the Giant Eagle healed instantaneously, and even the curse afflicting its body completely vanished.
Then, the Giant Eagle spread its wings and soared!
Hawks are the rulers of the sky. Once the Giant Eagle recovered, the terrestrial creatures below could never be its match!
After all, as the overlord of this mountain forest, the Giant Eagle’s strength far surpassed that of the Third-level creatures on the ground!
The Giant Eagle, soaring high above, had an obvious mocking look in its eyes.
"Come on, try and catch me!"
"If you can’t, then you are the ones who will die!"
The Giant Eagle would not relinquish its territory, nor would it spare these weaklings who dared to defy it!
Its sharp beak targeted the Third-level bear that had injured it. With a powerful flap of its wings, it dove fiercely!
If the attack landed, the bear would undoubtedly be annihilated!
But at that very moment, the situation changed!
The origin of this change was from within the frozen ancient tree—or more precisely, from its interior!
A boundless consciousness surged forth. This consciousness, originating from within the ancient tree’s body, connected to the minds of all the mutant beasts present!
This immense consciousness carried an innate, superior authority, rendering all mutant beasts present—except for the Giant Eagle—incapable of resistance, nor did they wish to resist!
Over a hundred mutant beasts immediately formed a protective circle around the ancient tree’s remains.
Simultaneously, the Giant Eagle also sensed this fluctuation and instantly halted its attack on the bear!
However, as it watched the aura within the ancient tree grow increasingly potent, the Giant Eagle could do nothing!
For the Giant Eagle, breaking through the defense of over a hundred fiercely protective mutant beasts was too difficult!
Circling in the sky, the Giant Eagle sensed the situation was exceeding its estimations. However, its pride as a king would not allow it to compromise!
Moreover, there was no need to compromise!
All creatures are mortal, the Giant Eagle believed. But I will never be the one to die!
This was its absolute confidence in its own strength!
Amidst the Giant Eagle’s powerful cries, a series of CRACKING sounds echoed from within the ancient tree!
It was as if something was about to burst out from inside!
The first thing to emerge from within the ancient tree was a delicate little claw.
The deep black scales seemed to glint with a cold light, but in reality, an ordinary person with a fruit knife could probably tear through this protective layer with ease!
Then, a small head with closed eyes poked out from within the tree.
Though its appearance was peculiar, it was clearly a reptilian creature.
Like a newborn puppy, this entirely black, unknown creature awkwardly crawled out from the ancient tree’s body and promptly fell to the ground.
After struggling weakly a few times, the fragile little creature barely managed to stand.
It was too small, far too small!
Its palm-sized body length made all the surrounding mutant beasts feel disappointed.
This is the ace up the ancient tree’s sleeve?
Such a thought arose in the hearts of the mutant beasts protecting the little thing!
In the eyes of the mutant beasts, larger size meant greater power!
This wasn’t a jest; it was a fact!
"SCREECH... SCREECH..."
The Giant Eagle’s cries echoed from the sky as it circled, as if mocking the deceased ancient tree and the hundred-odd mutant beasts that dared to resist it.
Just as the Giant Eagle was reveling, ready to end this farce, the small creature nurtured by the ancient tree underwent a change!
"WHIMPER... WHIMPER..."
First, a series of faint whimpers emerged, then CRACKLING sounds began to emanate from the little creature’s body!
It was as if its bones were being forcibly stretched.
Its palm-sized body continuously grew longer and larger!
At the same time, the sounds from its mouth grew louder and more resonant!
"WHINE... WHINE... WHINE..."
"HOWL... HOWL... HOWL..."
"ROAR... ROAR... ROAR..."
Before the astonished eyes of all the mutant beasts, the little creature grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, and simultaneously, its aura grew increasingly powerful!
Level 1, Level 2, Third-level...
A pair of pale yellow, vertical pupils coldly stared at the Giant Eagle circling in the sky. Under the Giant Eagle’s dumbfounded gaze, two hideously robust, fleshy wings slowly unfurled from the little creature’s back!
An unfamiliar aura spread far and wide!
Within it, there was sorrow, killing intent, and above all, an ancient, time-worn aura.
This wasn’t the creature’s own essence; it was more like a form of willpower.
It originated from the ancient tree’s willpower!
It originated from this forest’s willpower!
It originated from this land’s willpower!
This creature: born of heaven, nurtured by heaven!