Transcendent Gene
Chapter 64: Mock Subjugation [2]

Chapter 64: Mock Subjugation [2]

As expected from flying monsters, that battle made its way into the sky almost immediately.

Yhien and its sibling, who Gio named Yhima for the sake of convenience, flew up, spiraling around each other. To the outside world, it may have looked like a beautiful show of power created by the two of them together, but that was the furthest thing from the truth.

They were already ripping through each other’s feathers and fur the moment they started moving.

BANG!

The two birds pushed away from each other and glared at each other in the air.

Yhien stayed still, hovering in place as if to taunt Yhima into attacking it. Yhima wasn’t so calm. It flew in circles around its foe, preparing itself for attack.

CAW!

It opened its mouth, shooting a blue ray of light into the sky. It separated into several tens of shooting stars that swirled around each other as they forced themselves towards Yhien.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

They exploded all through the air around the bird, filling the sky with smoke and sound. It was a direct hit, yet, Yhima didn’t look satisfied at all.

CAAAAW!

It flapped its wings powerfully, summoning an array of feathers made of Aether and sending them flying just like the projectiles before them.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the sky was lit in the color red, Yhima rapidly gained altitude and tucked its wings into its body. It spun, gathering a halo of light around it as it aimed itself towards its enemy.

In Gio’s eyes, it really did turn into a streak of light.

BANG!

The atmosphere ripped apart beneath its speed as it pushed towards Yhien. Its body disappeared within the storm of red, and almost immediately–

BOOOOOOOOOM!

"Direct hit," Gio said.

"But it won’t do much."

Gio’s eyes narrowed as he watched the exchange. His view was through a camera, making it even harder for him to make out what was within the red cloud, but he had an inkling of the situation after seeing how Yhima was acting.

"It knows its projectiles aren’t doing damage, so it’s looking for a more direct method."

The power difference between them was too high. This challenge was a stupid idea if one thought about it properly.

However, Yhima believed that since it had properly established itself in the 5th Order, or Grade 5, it could take on the successor whose shadow always loomed over its head.

Yhima was wrong.

Yhima understood that the moment it let off its first attack, but it was too late to run. If it turned its back for even a moment, it would be killed without mercy.

"The current situation is like this," Gio said, bringing the entire operation’s attention to himself.

"Yhima is going to lose without putting up much of a fight, and Yhien is only going to be mildly exhausted. This won’t be of any benefit to us but could instead harm us if Yhien’s guard stays high."

"Are you suggesting we change that?" Raymond asked.

"Correct," Gio responded.

"Watch that battle carefully. As long as all of you are onboard, we’re going to join this battle right now."

"First, tell us your plan."

Gio nodded. As he and the rest watched Yhima continue to attack the same spot in the sky, desperately moving back and forth to do damage, he explained everything to them.

And just as they finally saw a pair of wings spreading from within that cloud...

"Fine."

Raymond finally agreed.

"Let’s do it, but if you plan to abandon that plan at some point, we’re abandoning the mission. Are you willing to risk it?"

"Are you still going to abort the mission if the new plan is better?"

"Stop asking stupid questions."

"Then get moving. All of you are aware of your roles, correct?"

An array of responses came through, but all of them meant the same thing.

The ground team was already on the move.

***

’This kid is really crazy.’

Jax moved through the jungle like a dart. His body was a blur of neutral colors that moved like a light spring breeze until he reached his destination.

’Seriously, who would think of an idea like this on the spot? It’s not like he was expecting this to happen.’

He scratched his head.

"Hey, Natalia, you started yet?"

"Starting now."

"Ugh. Why am I always the one that gets the hard jobs?"

"You should stop telling people your only skill is being fast and quiet. That’s what leads to these things."

Jason was the one who responded. The seven of them weren’t transmitting their words back to the zephyr at the moment, but they could still communicate among themselves clearly.

"Still, I don’t just have to be bait, right?! How is it that he just got here and he’s also using me as bait? It just doesn’t make sense."

"Well, what else can you do, though?"

"I–"

Jax rolled his eyes.

"Fine, you got me."

"See, this is why I’m telling you it’s your fault."

Jason shook his head as he watched Jax disappear into the distance.

"That guy is a real piece of work."

He glanced around. Ulver was still with him, and they had joined Natalia to protect her and be ready when she finished setting up what Gio requested from her.

Raymond was with Mirei in the distance. Naturally, he couldn’t leave her alone unless he wanted something dangerous to happen, but at that distance, he was still more than ready for combat.

Amaya was tasked with something further away like Jax, so she wasn’t present at the moment.

The first move would be here. They were preparing for what came after.

Natalia concentrated her power of shadow to create a large portal of darkness around her.

The movement of energy definitely alerted the two monsters in the sky, but they could not care less. They didn’t believe the happenings of the ground had anything to do with them.

’He only saw me fight a single time.’

She was a little confused about how he was able to figure out how to use her abilities after that.

As a matter of fact, he didn’t even see what she’d done outside the cave until he was in the zephyr. She was certain she didn’t do anything like this at that time.

’He knows that I can use darkness as a tangible force and even create traps using it. I’ve only mildly explored it, so even I’m not completely sure of how to use it properly. And yet...’

Regardless, his call was a good one. If she found herself in command of the same situation, she likely would have chosen to do something similar.

Natalia looked into the sky.

The sound of explosions was deafening, but it happened so often that it was easy to get used to.

The two birds were well into their fight by now. Naturally, Yhien already showed its form to the world. It was already attacking and pushing Yhima into a corner.

They were so focused on their own actions that they didn’t notice the identity of the beings below them.

They didn’t realize those were humans.

But they would find out soon enough.

Before Natalia’s eyes, a shadow appeared in front of the sun, postured directly above the two birds as if it was intentionally trying to gain style points.

’Yeah.’

There was only one person that could ever be.

Their "bait" had made his first move.