Beast-Tamer: Limitless Evolution
Chapter 73: Operation SkyFall VI

Chapter 73: Operation SkyFall VI

Operation SkyFall VII

The word anomaly can simply be defined as something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

After Mana descended on Azure Star, what could be defined as standard or normal became a bit more skewed due to the number of things that changed with its appearance, but in the end, labels were still created and things still followed certain rules. A few examples of this are Core Natures and how one cannot simply make use of another element due to the similarity it has to their already existing affinities, there’s also how Mana is an integral part of pretty much everything, and even with its appearance, the law of equivalent exchange still applies.

Something must be given for something to be received.

The Skyblight Harbinger was an anomaly in every sense of the word.

From the moment it appeared, almost nothing about it made sense. Its abilities, its intelligence, its strength, its vitality, everything about it just screamed ’Not Normal’.

All except one thing.

The Harbinger still had to follow the law of equivalent exchange.

As uncanny as its existence was, it still had to give something to achieve something. It still needed to use its mana, no matter how corrupted, to make use of its skills. It needed to burn its stamina if it wanted to regenerate as liberally as it normally did, and it needed to take damage if it wanted to adapt to something.

It was powerful, but not everything was handed on a silver platter for it. If it wanted to perform its anomalous actions, it needed to give up something of equal value to continue to do so.

So that’s what it did.

From its creation till now, Gale has been the biggest threat to it. No other creature could suppress it to the point of being unable to fight back in any way, shape, or form.

It wasn’t entirely bothered by the remaining Expert Beast Tamers. Yes, they were a bit annoying, but nothing a bit of exertion couldn’t handle.

But as long as Gale was around, it wouldn’t be able to act freely, and its life being threatened was a real possibility.

As such, it decided to give something to ensure that its bloodline would no longer be suppressed.

It gave up its regeneration.

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

The Harbinger raised its beak and unleashed a powerful screech that tore through the air.

Everyone was pushed back by the force, yet the screech wasn’t even aimed at them as it traveled upwards to the peak of the barrier.

At the same time, purple lightning once again began pouring down on the barrier from the outside with unbelievable power. Almost immediately, the barrier started cracking.

"STOP IT!" The Citadel Lord shouted as his beetle stomped its feet at the edge of the hole and a powerful kinetic force erupted towards the Harbinger. At the same time, Simon’s Rhino unleashed a barrage of rock projectiles, Mrs Jane’s Salamander and Armadillo sent out torrents of fire and metal projectiles, and Haggai’s beast caused vines to sprout from the ground to trap the Harbinger.

Unfortunately, they were a step too slow.

CRACK CRACK

SHATTER

The barrier shattered just as the attacks reached it, and its body blurred and vanished just as the attacks all reached the bottom of the barrier and caused a violent explosion.

’Crap!’ Osho cursed inwardly. He hated being right.

"The Harbinger has left the trap! I repeat! The Harbinger has left the trap! Initiate Plan C!" Major Thompson shouted through the comms.

Other than suppressing it, the point of the barrier was to limit the Harbinger’s scope of movement. As unfortunate as it was, none of the Expert ranks here could fly, so its aerial capabilities would give it a massive advantage in a direct confrontation.

At least while on the ground, they could attack it effectively, but if it was airborne...

Lightning crackled in the sky and Osho felt the hairs on his body stand.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

He felt himself get blown away by a gust of wind, and a moment later, the tree he was on got obliterated by a lightning strike, the remaining concussion force hitting him like a punch in the gut as he crashed through a few branches before smacking into the side of a tree hard and sliding down onto a branch

His vision swam as he tasted something warm and metallic before he spat out some blood.

"Fuck..." He cursed as he tried to catch his breath. The attack hadn’t even hit him directly, but he’d almost lost consciousness just from the remnant energy.

As for the gust of wind that saved him, it was naturally Gale who had sensed the attack incoming and blew him out of the way before he got hit.

As for the others who got attacked.

Osho gritted his teeth and looked up to see the rest getting utterly bombarded by lightning.

He could faintly make out some barriers that were being assaulted by the intense rain of lightning that seemed to decimate everything in its path.

There was a barrier of rock and vines, then there was a barrier of what looked like aura and metal. He couldn’t see the rest of the E.E.S. teams, though, so either they managed to get under the barriers in time, or...

’Gale...’ Osho spoke to the bird through their bond, his voice tight.

The bird responded immediately. He felt a wave of concern, anger, and determination.

Osho didn’t even care anymore and looked straight at the Harbinger. The thing was high in the sky with its wings spread. Above it, the dark clouds started to converge and spin, looking like the eye of a tornado.

It wasn’t the only one as numerous funnels started to appear all across the dark sky for miles, lightning striking constantly as widespread destruction ensued.

At this moment, the only thing the Harbinger could be described as was a natural disaster.

One that Osho wanted to take down.

’Get its attention. Don’t attack it, just distract it and buy time for those planes to get here.’ He ordered Gale, and if anyone else heard him, they’d think him insane.

He was near the center of the chaos wrought by the Harbinger, meaning he was seeing it in all its destructive glory, but he had the audacity to send Gale, a newly promoted Apprentice rank Beast, to face off with the Harbinger.

It was insane, yet not only did Osho give out the order, but Gale also gleefully carried it out.

As for the planes Osho was referring to, that would be the plan C Major Thompson spoke of.

Gale stopped manifesting his bloodline, already knowing that it wasn’t going to help him anymore. Instead, he flapped his wings, and his small yet agile body shot forward at incredible speeds.

It just a moment, he was a few hundred meters away from the Harbinger and immediately caught its attention.

Gale let out a screech, its sound barely audible through the constant thunderous explosions caused by the lightning, yet the Harbinger heard it, and whatever Gale said seemed to infuriate it as it also let out a screech that was followed by a powerful soundwave that aimed to obliterate Gale.

Just like before, it moved so quickly that the very air ignited wherever it passed, and yet, it all looked slow in Gale’s eyes.

The bird easily avoided the attack by darting to the side. As he did so, several lightning bolts descended on him, but just before they struck him, his already fast-moving body blurred and nearly vanished out of sight as he avoided the lightning bolts as well.

Gale let out mocking screeches and flapped his wings tauntingly which only served to enrage the Harbinger even more.

With a flap of its wings, it shot towards Gale like a bullet, its now smaller size causing its agility to increase significantly, and yet, Gale was still faster.

The bird moved deeper to the side, not going deeper into the wilderness but also not closer to the Citadel, and chasing it was an angry Harbinger that moved like a literal natural disaster as black wind, lightning, bladed feathers, and all sorts of attacks chased Gale who continued to avoid all the attacks with what almost looked like ease.

In the command room, everyone watched with surprise as the Harbinger suddenly started to move away, and were even more surprised when it started to attack something.

The handler controlling the viewing device zoomed in so they could see what was happening, and everyone was stunned.

"That’s... the Asset?!" He shouted with surprise and everyone was thrown for a loop.

Why was the bird engaging the Harbinger when its boodline was clearly no longer effective? Moreover, how was it dodging everything the Harbinger threw at it?

Major Thompson brought his hand to his mouth as he realized what was happening.

’Osho, that boy. Are you trying to buy time for the fighters to arrive?’ He thought as Gale continued to lead the Harbinger away from the group that had been assaulting it.