The Mama bird returned to the nest, surprisingly there is still some leftover meat from the Alpha. It's not that the body was too huge, the meat was too dense and rich which makes one satiated very easily.

*Screech!*

I stood in front of the two sleeping cubs, looked at her dead in the eye, and made a high-pitched sound.

Be careful you oversized chicken, if you touch them I'll fight it out with you.

Surprisingly, she didn't even glance at them, I know that she could tell they were alive. Maybe she got the message.

Even Kali stopped looking at them so menacingly.

Ouf, I could finally rest, this day was definitely very eventful. I closed my eyes to cultivate and opened my Status Window...

[~Status Window~

Host: Zed - Umbra Storm Eagle.

Titles: {Blazing Heart}, {Truth Seeker}, {Dauntless Spirit}

Level: 19

Experience Points(Exp): 14250/29000

Rank: Body Refinement(Mid)

Health Points(HP): 171/171

Magic Power(MP/Mana): 188/245

Spiritual Power(SP): 174/254

Magical Resistance: 21(10)

Physical Resistance: 16(8)

Spiritual Resistance: 25(25)

Vitality: 33(48)

Strength: 31(46)

Stamina: 36(49)

Intelligence: 44(63)

Agility: 49(73), Dark: +14, Nearby Enemy: +12, Sky Dash: +14.

Spirit: 57(114)

Available Stat Points: 5

Available Skill Points: 5

Karma Points: 150

[Skills]

[Quests]

[Shop]

[Map(Locked)]

[Party(Locked)]

]

Looking at my Status Window, my face couldn't help but form the biggest grin. Haah, I'm really doing a good job so far. I patted myself on the back for a job well done and started analyzing everything.

The biggest surprise so far is definitely how efficient and powerful my spiritual attacks were.

The Predator's WarCry at maximum output I did earlier is a game-changer, It is simply unrivaled in the Body Refinement realm and Low Foundation Establishment. I have to only use it at the best possible time, otherwise, it's just a temporary stun in the face of a powerful enemy.

I'm level 19 now, last time I leveled up to level 10 I unlocked the Quest function I can't help but wonder if I would unlock a new system function?

We'll find out tomorrow.

Seeing my undistributed points, I originally wanted to put them all on Spirit, but seeing the damage of the simple rock that was thrown by the Alpha I dropped it. Then, I put them on Vitality.

I could feel my body changing slowly but surely, a warm liquid-like matter was spreading all over me, I like this feeling.

My health points rose by a small margin.

Now the real kicker is the 5 free Skill points. There are just so many things I can do with them...

After thinking long and hard, I decided to focus on defense. I have decent speed and damage both magical and spiritual, but my defense is really poor. I can fight way over my rank but my defense is still that of a Mid-Body Refinement, the moment I get hit in a fight I would be completely crippled and I can only wait for death.

Sigh... I was really lucky to survive to this moment, to begin with, my species focus on the biggest amount of damage in the shortest possible time coupled with my stealth skills and high agility I completely neglected it.

I spent 3 skill points raising [Firm Stand] from Beginner to Advanced, directly raising my resistances from 50% to 70%, coupled with my +50% Spiritual from {Dauntless Spirit}, my resistances now are as follows:

Magical Resistance: 22(15)

Physical Resistance: 19(13)

Spiritual Resistance: 27(32)

Definitely a big improvement, compared to a while ago.

I still had 2 Skill points, I put one in Dark Shield raising to Intermediate, and the other on Piercing Gaze also raising it to Intermediate.

[Firm Stand(Passive): All Resistances +70%. |Advanced|]

[Dark Shield(Active): The user can quickly condense a shield made of Dark elements. The shield's durability depends on the amount of Mana spent creating it. |Intermediate|]

[Piercing Gaze(Active): The user can launch a spiritual attack that affects the mental state of the target. Cost(75SP/Max) |Intermediate|]

With this, I have a bit of confidence in my ability to receive attacks from anyone below Foundation Establishment.

My legs wouldn't have broke while I attacked that Peak Mandrill if I had these resistances.

I moved around a bit of my mana and started forming a dark shield, I've never tried so I needed to get accustomed to it.

Thick and black smoke started to form as if from nowhere, but in fact, it's the result of me consciously affecting the neutral mana and changing it to the dark element, this process requires energy hence the mana spent.

I only put around 30 mana, and a thick dark shield was formed in front of me. Look-wise, it looked fragile to its somewhat gaseous nature, but only I know how strong and durable this thing is.

After deciding the position and shape I found out that I can't actually move it, which isn't ideal. It's static so I need to be able to tell the trajectory of the attack for it to be really useful.

I can create to adopt any shape but oval, circle and square seem to be the ideal shapes for a shield, for now.

*Groan*

As I was practicing my shield, the two cubs began to wake up. At first, only one of them began to wake up, but the other seemed to be affected by the former's movements and also started to open its eyes.

The moment they opened their eyes, they stood up growling.

*Roar*

Lightning flickering all over their bodies, they looked ferocious but they kept retreating.

[Umbra Hands]

I created eight Umbra Hands and held each of them with four hands and brought them back into the ground.

*Thudd* *Thudd*

*Grrrrr*

I looked at them in the eye one by one and activated Piercing Gaze, I didn't use the full output otherwise I'd damage them even more, I just scared them to death.

My two golden eyes looked at their dark green eyes, I could feel strange power being transmitted affecting their mental states negatively.

At first, there was anger in their look, but it quickly turned into fear.

Sorry Kids.

In the absence of any way of communication, I can only use the language we both understand.

I hurriedly went to the Alpha's body or what was left from it at least, brought some of it, and dropped it in front of them.

To make them understand a bit that I'm not interested in killing them.

Fortunately, after seeing the precious strong meat I gave them, they began to relax a bit, though still apprehensive I think they got the general idea that I'm not interested in killing them.

The Mama bird and Kali also witnessed this strange interaction between us, which is good they also need to understand this strange relationship dynamic all of us share.

After settling this matter, I cultivated for a bit and I fell asleep.

...

[+2 Stamina, +1 Intelligence, +1 Agility]

*Chirp!!*

I woke up to the sound of a black sparrow singing.

It's the morning, but it looks like the dusk of a rainy evening but darker somehow.

I became a bit stronger again. The ability to see exactly how much stronger you've become is great because emotionally I wake up feeling invincible. If I didn't have the system waking up like that I'd think that I've gained an extra ten-point in each attribute, which is definitely false.

A great reality check, if you could call it that.

I opened my Status Window to see my recent changes...

[~Status Window~

Host: Zed - Umbra Storm Eagle.

Titles: {Blazing Heart}, {Truth Seeker}, {Dauntless Spirit}

Level: 19

Experience Points(Exp): 14250/29000

Rank: Body Refinement(Mid)

Health Points(HP): 216/216

Magic Power(MP/Mana): 245/245

Spiritual Power(SP): 254/254

Magical Resistance: 22(15)

Physical Resistance: 19(13)

Spiritual Resistance: 27(32)

Vitality: 38(57)

Strength: 31(46)

Stamina: 38(57)

Intelligence: 45(67)

Agility: 50(75), Dark: +14, Nearby Enemy: +12, Sky Dash: +14.

Spirit: 57(114)

Available Stat Points: 0

Available Skill Points: 0

Karma Points: 150

[Skills]

[Quests]

[Shop]

[Map(Locked)]

[Party(Locked)]

]

Looking good!

I already know what I'm planning to do for the day.

Hunt the rest of the Mandrills!

Their Alpha is dead, so this is the best time to level up as they would be like headless flies. Uncoordinated and messy all over, due to the fights that are inevitably going to happen to select the next Alpha.

But first, I need to figure out what I'm gonna do with the two cubs. They have become a pain in my ass, to be honest. Can't I just save you, feel good about myself, score some Karma Points, and be done with it?

Jokes aside, I had an idea but I didn't want to fall that low.

Sigh... I guess it's the only way now.

I stood up! *Screeh!*, I made a high-pitched sound waiting for the Mama bird to open her eyes and look at me.

She didn't leave me hanging for long, soon enough she looked at me with a puzzled look on her face.

Then, I started explaining the story of what I wanted to happen.

*Cheep Cheep!* You see those cubs?

I pointed with my wings towards the cubs who were sleeping close to each other.

*Cheep*, Then I pointed towards her stomach and made a cross shape with my wings signifying a No-No.

*Cheep!*, Then I pointed towards myself, and started acting out flight, signaling I will leave.

*Screech?*

This should do it!

Everyone looked at me as if I was flying a pig, Fuck! All of the prestige and adoration I've accumulated in the hearts of these four guys have evaporated.

What's up with those looks? Never mind, there is a very low chance that something bad would happen. After all, these guys are intelligent. I don't know how much, but I'm certain the Mother bird won't do anything crazy, I made my stance very clear.

The two cubs are very afraid of me now, and after I gave them food yesterday plus the food I will be bringing for them now, they would at least get a general idea of our little situation here.

There's one scenario that I'm a bit afraid of, Kali! She might pick trouble with the tigers and because she's weak they might retaliate, and if they do the Mama bird will move.

The only consolation here is, the fact that maybe the Mama bird is really intelligent, she'd be able to tell that it's just stupid kids playing and would then just stop their quarrels and nothing more. I can only hope at this point!

*Whoosh*

I flew towards the west at a fast speed, I'm not as apprehensive about flying in these forests as I used to, I could tell that this region especially is sort of like our territory. So technically, I'm in my parents' backyard now.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

I kept flying Amid the branches nimble, I like the challenge of finding the perfect spot to pass through. It strangely feels like Parkour, but even more extreme and fun. Because you need to be on your toes, changes are happening every fraction of a second.

Close wings, fly higher, dive down and open, open right and left wings to a different degree... The Art of Flying is simply Wonderful!

It was even more exaggerated than when I was human and I used to imagine what flying would feel like.

*Rustle*

I heard the sound of branches rustling, I've been observing my surroundings with my spiritual sense this whole time, so I've already sensed the culprit before he made any sound.

It was my nemesis! The Dark Vunamian Mandrill, moreover there were three of them. Perfect!

I was just looking for something to eat and something to bring back.

*Screeeeeech!*

I directly launched my best move, while not reducing the speed at which I was flying towards them in the slightest.

*Thudd* *Thudd*

Two fell, which means the last one who's still standing up is a Peak monster.

I locked into him with my senses, I could tell he was in some sort of a daze.

I was behind him but slowly closing in on him, once there were only some weak branches on the way, I formed two wind blades and aimed them at his nape.

*Whoosh* *Whoosh*

So, a strange scene came into being. I was flying at a crazy speed, while there were two wind blades by my side. Almost as if we were in a race.

*Baang!*

The two wind blades hit the back of his neck, and I pierced below the wound with my claws.

*BOOM!*

I wasn't able to grab hold of him, because as gruesome as it was the piece of meat I grabbed was completely removed, blood gushing out like a tap.

Due to the force that hit him in the back, the Peak mandrill fell from the tree into the ground directly smashing his face into the ground below.

*Roaaaar*

He made an almost dying roar, scaring me out of my wits.

It might seem like I'm very powerful against these fellas, but I'm an assassin, kind of.

I can't fight them head-on if they're already aware of my presence, my defense is still too poor and I don't have that much mana, at best I could take on 2 Peak Mandrill.

As I was already following him after him when I couldn't grab him earlier.

I launched 3 wind blades aiming in the same direction, his face.

The moment he stood up to look in my direction after his roar, what met him were three dark two-meter-long wind blades. To call them wind blade is an understatement. Because they are formed by both Dark and Wind magic, the wind is the main component but the darkness element gives it a different kind of flavor.

A flavor that this Mandrill would taste before becoming unalive.

[You have Killed a Body Refinement(Peak) Monster |Experience Points +6000|]

Alright, no time to waste. I have no more than four seconds before I get out of here, I could sense three Peak Mandrill running in our direction. Only the strongest would come if an already strong monster made a roar of death so it makes sense.

I quickly killed the other two knocked-out monsters.

[You have Killed a Body Refinement(Mid) Monster |Experience Points +2000|]

[You have Killed a Body Refinement(High) Monster |Experience Points +4000|]

*ROOAARR*

Oops, they've already discovered me.

I hurriedly carried the Peak monster body with one claw and went to carry one other for the tigers.

*Clang!!*

Hehe, you didn't see that coming did ya now?

Just as I was going to grab the other Mandrill, one of the monsters rushing here threw a large rock in my direction. Despite its size, the speed was simply scary.

I formed a Dark Shield with an oval shape in front of me which blocked the attack, seeing the durability of the dark shield for the very first time I was happy. Though to be fair I did spend 50 Mana to create that one, but it seemed like overkill. 20 would have done it, but I didn't know any better, better safe than sorry.

*Whoosh*

I directly carried the other body with my claw and ran away. They chased after me with rocks, which I dodged nimbly another perk of having a high Spirit attribute, is I could sense the trajectory of the rock and dodge accordingly. Of course, this was only for a short while, after all my speed isn't something the likes of these monkeys could compare to.

*Roaaaarr*

That Roar was especially furious, I don't think it's just about this time's incident. Could they have some intelligence gathering network and they're aware of my existence?

In no more than a couple of seconds, I'd already lost them and returned to the nest.

...

Somewhere in the Still Hollow Forest...