Logan was pleased with his two new beasts. The most exciting part was the possibility that, if Silvia figured out how to recharge electrical crystals with each lightning strike, it could become an excellent method to train both the beasts and Voltar.
However, Logan couldn't help but regret one thing—he didn't have enough maximum mana to elevate one of the two beasts to monarch status. He was reserving that privilege for the thunderbirds, who would benefit far more.
"That's a nice taming method. I guess we should start looking for those mantises next, then…" Raul said, pondering where to lead the group.
They were already close to mantis territory, but the elusive creatures rarely showed themselves unless it was just before an attack. If they were lucky, they might spot one—but Raul was hoping for a whole group to please the hero.
"Could your mantis, you know, lure the others? They're tough creatures to track if you're actively looking for them," Raul asked, wondering if there was a way to speed things up before nightfall, when predators would become even more aggressive.
[You heard him, Voltar. Do you have any idea where your kin might be?] Logan asked the creature, who was scanning the area as if taking in every detail.
[Best hunting spot. Need high ground to see,] Voltar replied, pointing with his scythe to a small hill in the distance. The only problem was that there weren't any lightning towers nearby.
[You'll have to go alone, then. I trust your strength. We'll head off to search for the thunderbirds. Make sure you find at least three—that should be enough, right?] Logan instructed.
Voltar gave a nod of approval. Through rigorous training with humans, he had learned how to respond using the same body language.
"My mantis will go alone. We should focus on finding the thunderbirds—I trust he'll gather enough mantises to form a strong group. Let's move," Logan said decisively.
Raul, however, was skeptical. He had hoped to rely on the strength of the mantis, not a tamer who, in his mind, wouldn't be able to hold his own.
"Are you sure one of the beasts can handle this alone?" Raul pressed, waiting a moment for Logan to confirm. The boy nodded confidently, without hesitation.
"Fine," Raul relented, though his tone remained cold. "Just don't get us killed. If things go south, I won't hesitate to leave—even if it causes problems with your kingdom."
Logan smirked, the reaction reminding him of his time with his class, when he was often underestimated. The difference now was that Raul wasn't entirely wrong; he just didn't know the extent of Logan's capabilities. But soon enough, he would. Logan found himself almost looking forward to proving Raul wrong.
They retraced their steps for a few kilometers before heading north, to where the large birds were known to nest. Logan's gaze lingered on the towering hills ahead. Here, lightning strikes were particularly intense, with points of impact clustering in the same area—as though some unseen force was drawing them.
"You're probably wondering why we don't need to be as cautious as we were before," Raul began, breaking the silence. "It's because of those birds—their eggs somehow attract lightning. According to our legends, it takes a thousand lightning strikes for an egg to hatch. Of course, who knows if the person who started that tale was telling the truth? The creatures kill anything that gets too close to their eggs," he added as they approached the hills. Fortunately, they weren't too high, standing around eight meters tall.
Thankfully, the native group had experience navigating this dangerous terrain. They followed a narrow path, shielded by rocks that hid them from view.
The climb to the summit, which would have taken mere minutes if they could fly, stretched out to more than an hour. The labyrinth-like path demanded patience and careful steps. Logan had to leave his new coyote, Voltfang, behind—he simply couldn't manage the treacherous climb without help.
"There, we're in luck—there's no bird nearby," Logan said, scanning the area. "Set up some traps and catch one before the others return."
His eyes darted across the landscape, noting the large nests scattered around, each containing a few eggs. The eggs were impressive in size, measuring about twenty or thirty centimeters—nearly as big, or even larger, than ostrich eggs back on Earth. They were clustered together in groups of three or more, with lightning repeatedly striking the topmost egg in each pile. This largest egg appeared to be growing, suggesting that the lightning was indeed aiding in its hatching process.
"You see that top one?" Raul asked, gesturing to the growing egg. "It's the only one that will hatch. It's a harsh life for these birds—only the strongest survive. Now, get ready. Once they notice something approaching their eggs, they'll return to protect them. There's usually one bird standing guard. See that shadow over there?"
Raul pointed toward the horizon, where a large silhouette hovered in the sky. Lightning illuminated its form intermittently, revealing a creature so entwined with the storm that at times it appeared to be the one producing it.
"I hope you can tame at least one. It's going to be tough without your best creature—I just hope you can back up your words and handle the battle," Raul said hesitantly. Marco stayed silent, neither of them daring to step out into the open.
Logan, however, knew that hesitation wouldn't get him what he had come for. He retrieved his new whip, ensuring his gear was ready before stepping forward into view of the large bird circling in the sky. Logan made no effort to hide; in fact, he deliberately made himself visible as he infused his whip with a blend of light and darkness elements.
He had learned from past experience that using light alone risked cutting the birds in half. The addition of darkness tempered the energy, allowing the whip to bash and deal damage without severely harming the creature.
To draw attention to himself, Logan conjured fireballs that shot into the sky, their glow creating an unmistakable beacon. He began shouting names as the large bird above took notice.