Chapter 198: Dominion of the Skies

Kellar waited patiently for the eagle to finish slaking the worst of its thirst. Seeing that the animal no longer attempted to attack him, he drew his hunting knife and moved toward its sides to cut the heavy bindings securing its wings. Then, he placed his hands firmly near the main wounds, where the thick iron harpoon tips were still tearing through the creature’s flesh.

"This is going to hurt, but if you want to fly again, I have to pull them out now," warned Kellar.

With a firm pull, he extracted the harpoons one by one. The bird let out a sharp cry of pain, but Kellar lost no time and invoked [Healing]. He refrained from channeling the totem’s power so as not to restore it completely; he used only his own energy to seal the primary wounds and stop the bleeding, leaving the bird weak enough not to pose a threat.

"I didn’t save your life to keep you as a pet," said Kellar. "I exterminated your sisters and your king in the mountains."

The eagle shook its head, glaring at him with disdain.

"That is impossible! The eagle king is invulnerable to land dwellers," squawked the eagle.

The guards surrounding the enclosure widened their eyes in shock, confused to hear the beast release a series of screeching sounds while Kellar answered back fluidly as if holding a real conversation.

"Bring the head of the eagle king," ordered Kellar to the men outside.

After a few minutes, two guards rushed back carrying the shattered head of the former eagle king. Recognizing the bone structure and the lingering aura of its former ruler, the captive eagle froze on the spot, staring at the remains with dread and awe.

"Human... do you know that there can only be one eagle king at a time?" articulated the eagle after a long silence. "His presence restricted our growth; as soon as any of us displayed more power than he tolerated, he would slaughter them."

"Then are you interested in becoming the new eagle queen?" asked Kellar with a calm smile.

"I am interested... but you have lost the king’s core. Without it, it will take me a thousand years to ascend to the next level," screeched the eagle.

"Are you referring to this?" countered Kellar, pulling the glowing emerald gem from his robes.

Upon seeing the former king’s core, all the eagle’s feathers bristled, and it let out a high-pitched screech of excitement. However, Ignis mistook the screech for an attack; he let out a roar and lunged forward to crush it.

"Stop, Ignis!" shouted Kellar, extending his arm.

Ignis skidded to a halt inches from the cage and backed away reluctantly, letting out a low growl as he had intended to protect his master. Kellar stepped closer to the eagle and held the core before its golden eyes.

"What do you say? Are you willing to swear loyalty to me?" asked Kellar.

The eagle locked its golden eyes on the core with a desperation and longing that Kellar couldn’t even begin to imagine.

That glowing sphere represented the ultimate key to becoming the new leader of its species, a chance for ascension that would never come again. The temptation was impossible to resist. After a moment of internal struggle, the eagle slowly lowered its head before the Shaman, resting its beak against the dirt in a gesture of total submission.

"I offer you my absolute loyalty, human," the eagle’s voice echoed in Kellar’s ears.

A translucent panel flashed before the Shaman’s vision:

[New familiar detected]

[The Green Eagle is offering to become your Familiar]

[Accept / Decline]

Kellar didn’t hesitate for a second and pressed [Accept] on the mental interface while extending his hand with the elemental core. The eagle lunged forward and devoured the green gem in a single gulp.

The transformation was staggering. Its four-meter frame began to multiply right before their eyes as a torrent of green aura wrapped around it like a cocoon of energy. Its talons thickened, taking on the sheen and hardness of tempered steel, its beak grew massive and curved, and its wing feathers bristled with metallic density. The wooden beams of the cage shattered to pieces against the expansion of its anatomy.

In seconds, the creature reached a forty-meter wingspan as it spread its wings. With a violent beat that kicked up a cloud of dust and knocked over nearby torches, it launched itself into the night sky and released a piercing screech that echoed through the mountains.

Although smaller than the former king, the beast’s presence carving through the heights caused everyone in the camp to tremble in fear, leaving the guards clutching their weapons with pale faces at the sight of the winged nightmare.

The giant winged beast descended from the heavens and landed softly before its new master, pressing the tip of its massive beak against Kellar’s chest to nuzzle him with gentle force.

Its beak alone was larger than Kellar’s entire body. The Shaman could feel the crushing power radiating from every feather and the dense energy surging through its muscles. Unable to contain the thrill surging through his veins, Kellar leapt onto the beast’s broad back.

"Fly!" Kellar ordered.

At that moment, a silver streak shot through the air and landed gracefully on his shoulder. It was Freyja, the white cat, who adjusted her stance and spoke directly to Kellar through their mental link.

Let’s go, I want to fly through the air too, Freyja transmitted with excitement, digging her claws lightly into Kellar’s clothes to secure her grip.

The great eagle took off with power. A single stroke of its forty-meter wings created a gust that shook the trees below, launching them toward the firmament at breathtaking speed.

"Higher!" Kellar called out, feeling the biting wind rush against his face.

The bird obeyed, slicing through the clouds until it reached a dizzying altitude. From this height, Kellar could take in the entire territory at a single glance: the towering mountain where the eagles’ former nest once stood, the deep crimson patch of the Red Forest, the desolate borders of the Ash Valley, and barely visible in the distance, the faint outline of his mountain fortress.

From up in the sky, everything below looked small and insignificant, giving Kellar the true perspective of the power he now wielded over the heavens.