Hank flapped his wings, his breath coming in ragged bursts. The gash across his chest burned, but he refused to back down.
The falcon, though injured, was still fast. Too fast.
It shot toward him again, talons extended like daggers aimed for his throat.
Arthur's eyes gleamed.
Hank screeched as he activated his skill: Claw Grab, tilting his body just before impact.
The falcon's talons nearly pierced his neck—but Hank twisted and caught the falcon's leg mid-attack.
Hank's claws locked around the falcon's leg, squeezing with terrifying strength.
The falcon let out a panicked shriek.
Arthur smirked. 'He got you.'
But the falcon wasn't finished yet.
It twisted its body violently, using its free talon to rake at Hank's face.
A fresh wound opened near Hank's left eye, blood dripping down his feathers.
Arthur's fingers twitched.
Hank's golden eyes flared with a predatory glow. As he used his rare skill, Predator's Mark.
A dark aura surged around the falcon, sinking into its body.
Predator's Mark allowd Hank to not lose sight of his opponent, avoiding them being able to escape using some other means. But the reason Hank used it was for the second effect, the 10% damage increase to opponents marked.
Arthur's lips curled into a grin. "Now end it."
Hank let out a deafening screech, his grip tightening mercilessly.
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The falcon's leg snapped.
Its cry of agony echoed through the skies as Hank flung it downward.
The falcon spun uncontrollably, its one remaining good wing struggling to stabilize its descent.
But Hank wasn't done.
He dove after it, wind howling against his feathers as he folded his wings—turning into a blur of deadly speed.
The falcon managed to barely level itself out, panting and desperate.
Then it saw the shadow looming above it.
Hank was already there.
Arthur's voice was cold. "Finish him."
Hank's claws slammed into the falcon's chest.
The impact was monstrous.
The falcon plummeted like a meteor, smashing into the earth with a violent crash.
Arthur watched in silence.
[You have killed Level 15 Blue-Feathered Falcon.]
[You have dropped Very Rare item]
Arthur exhaled, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
He walked over to Hank, who perched proudly, his feathers stained with blood.
"Good job," Arthur muttered, patting Hank's side.
Hank let out a victorious cry, flaring his wings in triumph.
Arthur turned his gaze to the now-motionless falcon.
Arthur then pulled out a rare healing potion and fed it to Hank.
The liquid shimmered as it trickled down the hawk's beak, its effects almost immediate. The wounds across Hank's body began to close, bruises fading as vitality surged through his frame.
Arthur could have simply used an uncommon healing potion or none at all, and Hank would still heal. But he didn't.
The hawk had fought to the death for him and his loyalty was unquestionable, so he would not let the hawk suffer from its injuries to save a few gold coins.
Arthur ruffled Hank's feathers. "You did well."
Hank let out a proud shriek, flapping his wings lightly.
Arthur heard the hawk's thoughts through their link.
"Master is happy with me… Hehe!"
Arthur shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"You're too easy to please."
Hank fluffed his feathers, standing taller.
Arthur glanced at the defeated falcon lying lifeless nearby. It had been a fierce fight—far more challenging than anything Hank had faced before.
'That's exactly what he needed,' Arthur thought.
Crouching beside the falcon's corpse, Arthur placed a hand on it and activated Primordial Summoner talent.
Dark mist swirled, consuming the falcon's body.
The newly summoned Blue-Feathered Falcon spread its wings, its keen eyes scanning the surroundings. Arthur didn't bother giving it a name.
'On the path that i'm walking, there is no way i will remember every name. Hank is the og, anyway.'
The falcon landed gracefully on his left shoulder.
Not to be outdone, Hank swooped down and perched on Arthur's right shoulder, letting out a low screech as if to assert dominance.
Arthur smirked. "You're getting competitive now?"
Hank ruffled his feathers, his thoughts reaching Arthur through their bond.
"I was first! The new guy better know his place!"
Arthur chuckled but didn't entertain Hank's antics. Instead, he checked the Blue-Feathered Falcon's details.
The falcon didn't have a scouting ability but had a B-rank talent called Sharp talons.
The talent provided him passive skills that helped him increase his talon's durability, strength and sharpeness.
"A simple yet effective ability," Arthur muttered. It wasn't flashy, but in aerial combat, having talons that could tear through defenses was invaluable.
He looked at the falcon and gave it its first order.
"Lead us to every aerial beast and nest you know of."
The falcon let out a piercing cry and took off into the sky.
Arthur watched as it soared ahead, its instincts as a hunter kicking in immediately.
He turned to Hank. "Let's move."
Hank flapped his wings and followed after the falcon.
Arthur smirked, stepping forward.
He still had a long way to go before Hank's evolution was complete. But with two aerial predators at his command, it would be much easier.
An hour passed by, and Arthur, Hank, and the Blue-Feathered Falcon had successfully hunted down more than ten aerial beasts.
Arthur had even taken the opportunity to summon one of the slain aerial beasts, further increasing his airborne force. Now, alongside Hank and the Blue-Feathered Falcon, a Pseudo-Elite Hawk had joined his ranks.
What made this even more interesting was that the newly summoned hawk was female.
Arthur hadn't let Hank kill her outright. Instead, he had orchestrated the fight in a way that Hank dealt the majority of the damage, but Arthur himself had delivered the final blow. This meant the kill was credited to Hank in terms of evolution requirements.
Hank flapped his wings with excitement, his shrieks full of pride. Meanwhile, the Female Hawk remained perched nearby, her sharp eyes studying Hank with intrigue.
Arthur smirked as he watched the two hawks interact.
'This might be an interesting development.'