"What the hell?"Azad said, looking around, confused at what he was seeing. a sky as far as the eye can see, pristine white clouds, trees, and grass so green it looked unrealistic.
His eyes leave the work of mother nature,looking at lager array of bird some big , some small and others massive. but they all carry something similar to them.
They were magical. Some looked to be fading in and out of existence, while others carried majesty to them as if holding power that could make you strong just by being near them.
[To complete the awakening trial, subject Azad Frank has to bond with the birds that match his bloodline:
Harpy eagle
Eurasian owl
Golden eagle
Great horned owl] a screen popped up.
Azad stopped admiring the sanctuary, looking at what the screen showed him
. 'I should bond to those birds, but how do I even bond to them.' he said to himself. As if hearing my thoughts the voice says to him.
"to bond with the chosen Aves species one must prove him or herself to the chosen Aves, by walking into the sanctuary until the chosen Aves find you worth.
"Azad Frank you have already proved yourself by killing the rank 0 beast, now you must walk, walk into a trial, not of the body but of something else"
'something else' he repeats making him apprehensive, but still, if I want to escape this place I must step forward.
So he moved and as he moved gazes fell on him some mocking as if notching his hesitation, some indifferent, others evaluative.
He walked through the forest walking and walking as pressure built up both mentally and physically, but he noticed something from mockery and indifference the gaze turned to respect and acknowledgement.
Suddenly a gaze fell on me making my knees hit the ground hard, bam! Looking up I see a behemoth of a bird flying over me, its eyes polished sliver, beak-like the finest obsidian stone, feathers of mercury and darkness and an aura of majesty.
My eyes meet its gaze and I freeze, it shows a look of disappointment as if expecting more, which for some unknown reason put me in a rage.
I look at the bird in all its majesty, thinking how can only a gaze make me kneel, how can only a look make me freeze, am I that weak?
Looking up as I push my body to stand, causing my gums to bleed and my bones to break, still I push. Looking down at me it lets out a sound from its chest as if daring me to stand, and so I did.
'Even if I die, I am not going out like this kneeling like a pusssss!' I scream internally going for the final push.
Standing I hear ' To be unbound one must have the will to be unbroken'
Then Azad saw a blue screen in front of him
[Azad Frank has passed the test of harpy Egal: Bridget the exalted one
The system congratulates you on now becoming a rank one bearer'
NM: Azad frank
AGE: 13
Rank: bearer
LV: 1
ESSENCE points: 0/ 200
Title:
STR: 17
AGI: 16
END:20
STA: 20
SPD: 17
Essence: 400/400
Bonded:
Harpy egal
NM: Bridget
Rank: 1
Essence points: 0/200
Title: THE EXALTED ONE
STR: 45
AGI: 40
END: 50
STA: 50
SPD:55
Essence: 450/500
Abilities: the aura of suppression, weight increase, size increase, metal body, attack absorption, fast flight, the wail of the exalted one.
Elements: Metal, Darkness
The user has to go through syncing and bloodline awakening to be able to use bonded abilities]
[Sync now: yes/no]
'Yes,' I pick, as I start to feel pain all over my body, AAAAhhhr screams like I am dying. This goes on for God knows how long.
[Syncing process 15% ]
[Bloodline awakening: 10%]
Standing up barely I see the blue screen again. My eyes widened to see that this was only 15% of the process, making me shiver at what would be left. Then thinking about the effects of this syncing process I wonder what happened.
Responding to my thought the system pops up
[NM: Azad frank
AGE: 13
Rank: bearer
LV: 2
Essence point: 0/400
ST:22
AG:20
DR:24
STA: 23
SPD: 19
Essence:500
Bloodline abilities: the body of the strong.
Shared abilities: metal body, aura of suppression.]
' Are you done yet' I heard a deep voice in my head, looking left to right and finally up. I see the me bird that made me kneel.
Instantly back away "What the hell!" I say looking up, my body wobbling remembering what just happened.
' what with that, have you never had a conversation before' I hear the same deep voice again, "Well not one in my head, and how the hell is getting to my head".
'understandable and didn't you just see on that blue thing me and you are bonded, that's how'
" wait wait me and you are boned?"
'yes' staring at me as if I am dumb?
"okay that good, that good, can I ask you something"
'yes go ahead'
"why in THE WORLD WILL YOU ALMOST KILL SOMEONE YOU WANT TO BOND TO!!" I say with anger and confusion forgetting what just happened 2 minutes ago.
'to hold power and strength one must have the will' he said calmly.
"damn bird," I said with an annoyed expression.
'my name is Bridget' he said while releasing pressure which caused Azad's knees to shake.
Recalling what happened
"that damn bird on the tree pooping on the ground, are you seeing this Bridget that bird made me step on his disgusting poop," Azad said sheepishly while avoiding eye contact.
Sometime later, a bird and a boy can be seen walking around looking left to right. " yo Bridget where the hell is this exist you talked about"
'the exist should be not far from where we are, If we continue on this path we should see the exist' Bridget said fly above me.
'I see the exist, it is 10 meters from here' he says making Azad increase in speed, soon they see what looks like a door. Approaching the door Azad and Bridget see a blue screen pop up.
[SYSTEM congratulates you can successfully awakening and receiving an evaluation of S rank .Now user must choose rewards
1. Life essence orb and arcane grade circulation technique
2. Arcane-grade gauntlets and arcane-grade martial art
User Azad Frank must choose one.]
'go for the first option' Azad heard Bridget say. " why the first" Azad asked in confusion, why go for option one when option 2 can help me fight, he said in his mind.
' my instincts' Bridget said while with a proud look.
"instincts" questioning what she heard 'yes they are never wrong'
" hmm, all right" Azad said, why wish bad on your partner he thought.
After confirming what he wanted "I chose option 1"
[ option 1 chosen life orb and circulation technique will be sent to user storage]
As Azad finished with that a soothing voice could be heard "Subject 1001 Azad Frank has completed the trial, an opening exist"
"finally" Azad muttered with relief as he saw the door open, looking back to see Bridget and seeing that that bird wasn't there.
He panics shouting Bridget ' I'm here' Azad hears in his head.
"Where" Azad says looking around 'in my personal sanctuary and If you are worried don't be because my sanctuary is connected to you'
"Mmm," Azad said not really worried anymore but still confused, like how can a whole place be connected to me?
Walking towards the exit, as the door opened and Azad stepped through he was mesmerized by the sight of what was front of him.