Chapter 187

There were three flocks of birds in total. One was a flock of pitch-black eagles, another was a type with small heads and long beaks like tropical birds, and the last was a flock of small birds making high-pitched noises as if scratching glass. Though the other birds were abnormally large, even the small ones were about the length of a forearm.

And they were the fastest. Birds that broke away from the flock instantly drew close to the ground.

Pibibik! Piik! Piiiik!

Unlike their cute cries, the small bird flock opened their beaks and accurately aimed for the hunters' heads.

Kaang! The sound of swords clashing with beaks rang out here and there. The faces of hunters who were pecked in the eyes and head by the birds while fighting the remaining quadruped mutants turned pale.

"Uwaaak! Aaak!"

"Each team, rescue the members at the front and fall back!"

The director immediately jumped down from the rooftop. Several birds were trapped in ice.

Kaaak! Kakkakkak kaaak!!!

And another flock, mutants circling in the air, was captured in Soram's eyes. The birds, true to being mutants, had exceptionally developed beaks and talons with great killing power.

Kaak!!!

The flocked eagles circled around before swiftly descending to the ground like snatching prey, grabbing hunters with their talons. This time, Soram and Tae-un, who flew urgently, cut the eagles' ankles and rescued the hunters.

"..."

It was a big mistake to think that equally giant quadrupeds would pour out.

An aerial battle had begun.

***

The first flock, small birds scattered and mixed among the gaps between hunters, were eliminated one by one by Director Park Jae-seon, who was capable of delicate attacks in small areas. He dealt with the birds while simultaneously blocking the quadruped mutants. This was because the ground team hunters had fallen into confusion due to the sudden bird flock attack.

Piaak! Kkigik! Piaaak!!!

The bird flock opened their blood-stained beaks and screeched so loudly it made heads ring. Their numbers were in the hundreds, and still increasing from the crack, seeming like they might reach the thousands. They scattered and gradually infiltrated among the hunters.

"Director-nim, please eliminate them starting from where the kids are!"

And the remaining 1st-grade hunters went towards the crack, prepared to be injured by the birds.

The second flock, a group of giant eagles with huge beaks and talons. They made the greatest contribution to covering the sky pitch-black. Finally, they spread their talons wide and descended in lines.

Kaang!!!!

However, before they could land on the ground, an attack blocked them. Sparks flew between talons and swords. The length of one talon was almost equal to the opposing sword blade.

"Ha, shit, don't call this a bird. Even Archaeopteryx would be smaller than this."

"..."

Soram and Tae-un blocked the densely packed black eagle flock in the sky.

"Han Tae-un, behind!"

"Kkeuk...!"

Talons deeply tore Tae-un's shoulder. Immediately after, he grabbed the thick neck of an approaching bird, went behind its back, and cut its neck with his sword.

Two hunters on the ground had already lost their lives to the eagles' beaks and talons at the start. Just as the flying team had been at an advantage in the fight against the quadrupeds earlier, the battle between those with feet on the ground and the giant birds of prey was overwhelmingly one-sided. And even more so if the mutants were in the absolute majority.

Kaaaak!!!

There was no choice. This was the flying hunters' share. Tae-un pulled eagles trying to descend back up, preventing them from leaving the sky.

The two were surrounded by the eagle flock making threatening sounds. Soram brought out his metal airplanes again and launched them, while Tae-un drew up white light clusters. Despite new wounds increasing, making the bandages they had just applied meaningless, they faced the bird flock without any intention of retreating.

And finally, the third flock.

Kuuuung!!!!!

"Are those bird bastards crazy or what?"

The birds that had been gliding leisurely like water birds until then moved their eyes, which were like black dots on white eyeballs, searching for prey. The small heads on long necks twitched eerily. Finally, the moment the birds' gaze discovered the group of hunters trapped under their shadow.

Hwik―

They flipped their bodies to face the ground. Folding their wings and bringing their feet together, their body shape changed to resemble missiles aimed at the ground. In that state, the birds charged downwards in flocks. Plunging down at a speed that didn't match their huge bodies, they opened their beaks and struck down their targets.

"Uwaaak!"

Kuuuung!!!!!

Of course, some missed and crashed straight into the ground. But they turned their bodies upright without any problem and rose back into the sky. Then they made a U-turn in mid-air and struck the ground again.

"Uwa, ah, ah......"

"Damn it, send the injured into the buildings!"

"Th-they're coming again!"

"Uwaaak!!!"

Watching this horrific scene, Ayoung clenched her fists on Aila's back.

I, I know what those are...

I've seen them on National... that kind of program. They're birds that live in the Atlantic, and to these birds' eyes, this ground looks like a shore, and the hunters look like a school of fish. That strange behavior is their habit of diving vertically into water to hunt prey.

"Don't move! It'll stimulate them more, rather, you should stay still and dodge at the moment they descend!"

But Ayoung's voice was buried in the noise, and her in-ear as a team leader was only connected to Team 7. And Soram and Tae-un were absolutely not in a situation where they could respond currently.

While Ayoung could do nothing, the ground shook several more times from the birds' crashes.

'Even if I tell them how to dodge, if they can't attack...'

Ayoung looked around. The director who could fly, and Soram and Tae-un were already surrounded by mutants. Moreover, Tae-un engaging in close combat had become even more bloodied than before.

"First, help the director and clear that side... then..., no, ah...!"

Continuing screams, thudding sounds. Bloodstains, returning attacks.

"Someone please...!"

The hand she stretched out asking for help soon grasped at empty air. Ayoung's eyes wavered.

Ah.

Now, I have to do it.

Ayoung also came up with a reckless method.

'...It's too dangerous. I really might die...'

But this method would be impossible for Soram or Tae-un. Only Ayoung herself could do it.

"Aila, we can do this."

The adults fighting against the sudden bird attack were all people who had protected Ayoung until now. Even if not on the same team, they were people who had always made Ayoung step back.

"Let's try protecting the adults too."

"Woof!"

Her breath trembled as she exhaled long, steeling her resolve. And as she raised her head, the dog empathizing with its owner rose gently into the air.

Heup.

Red heat haze leaked from Ayoung's body and enveloped Aila. With that, Ayoung rode the dog and went in front of the bird flock. She thought she heard Ga-eul's cry of "Ayoung-ah! It's dangerous!" but she kept going forward.

Kkak― kkagak, kkaak―!

And standing in front of the bird flock swimming through the air.

Peng!

Aila's body size doubled from just before.

The method to divert their attention was simple. Just become more appetizing prey. The black dots on the birds' white eyeballs all turned in this direction at once.

Kkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkakkkak!!!!!

"Uwaa!"

Two birds at the front rushed in quickly. Though she barely dodged, Aila made a 'kking' sound as if some fur had been torn off.

"Sorry! I'll transfer a lot more power. Let's go quickly!"

Ayoung's power flowed abundantly into her summon Aila. The next moment, the birds began to chase rapidly in the direction Ayoung and Aila were fleeing. Leading the bird flock, Ayoung began a breathtaking chase.

I, I can do it. Faster...!

The bird cries that had been heard from a distance gradually drew closer.

Kaak! Kkak! Kkakkkakkkak!!!!!

Along with extremely excited screams, long beaks clacked. The birds folded their wings back like before, minimizing air resistance to produce terrifying speed. Before she knew it, the sound of wind could be heard right beside her.

"Aila, can you go well just looking ahead?"

Aila couldn't even answer. Ayoung felt that there was no room for that either. Ayoung stood up on Aila's back and raised her weapon. There was already a bird that had chased up to Aila's side.

Kaaaak!!!

"Get away! Don't bite Aila!"

Paak!!!

Ayoung's weapon lengthened and struck the bird's body.

Because she had a summon, Ayoung had been trained from the beginning to use a weapon that could adjust its length. The one who had... recommended that was probably Chief Jin Soram.

Ayoung swung her weapon extended to its maximum length to block the birds trying to attack Aila. When she couldn't block them all, she just blocked with her own body and got scratched. Whether it's enhanced Aila's body or her 1st-grade body!

"Ha shit, it hurts like hell..."

Injuries developed to the point where her own blood pooled on the white fur. Ayoung put strength into her arms that felt like they might break to strike away the birds, and looked back.

They were almost there. The largest building here, reflecting the sky itself.

"Aila, now!"

Aila swiftly lowered her altitude. And just before colliding with the window.

Peng!

She became the size of a small dog that could fit in Ayoung's arms. Hugging Aila, the tip of Ayoung's weapon broke the window.

Chaengang!!!

As soon as her feet touched the floor inside the building, Ayoung kicked forward. The moment she made her second leap towards the opposite window, a thunderous sound came from behind.

Dududududu!!!!!!!!

"...!"

The birds Ayoung had led crashed into the building. Huge heads smashed through the ceiling and floor as they rushed in.