“Not enough time! It’s moving too fast. We can’t make it back to the village,” yelled Little Rascal, his teeth bared and lips peeled back in a grimace. A piece of flying rock had grazed his arm moments before, tearing off a sizable chunk of skin and causing blood to flow freely.
“There’s a deep stone cave over here; let’s take shelter!” shouted Little Rascal, Shi Hao, as they ran frantically through the hills. Skirting around massive boulders, they dashed into an area with thick vines. In one swift movement, Little Rascal slipped inside followed swiftly by all the other children. The cave was damp, concealed by trailing vines, and vaguely filled with splashing water sounds. Its inner parts were dimly lit with a gloomy darkness.
The cavern plunged profoundly underground, and after diving in, the group did not dare to stop and ran dozens of meters in before halting. Gasping for breath filled the dark silence—the group having run miles. Exhausted and shaken from the terrifying encounter, these teenagers feared greatly from earlier: nearly becoming a pile of blood-soaked pulp and broken bones beneath the talon of that vicious Azure-Scaled Eagle.
“Phew, what a narrow escape—only a hair away from our doom!” After surviving such peril, everyone collapsed onto the ground.
“This opening isn’t wide, so that monstrous bird should be unable to enter,” said the kids although still cautiously watchful despite the momentary relaxation. This experience had been deadly dangerous indeed—they narrowly escaped death among the woods under the sharp claws of an heir to an ancient demonic avian species. Even now, their spines chilled from sweat as the danger momentarily subsided. Farther within the cave connected silently with an underground river channel, the icy wind blowing fiercely past them.
Glancing at each other anxiously, some children pondered how to return home to Stone Village, fearful of stepping outside.
“Huh? Right! Little Rascal, how come you knew about this cave?” When they gathered their wits again, realizing he was the one who guided their survival during a crucial juncture.
“Iya!” responded Little Rascal shyly, awkwardly tugging at his shirt sleeve while muttering softly, “Last time I chased after a crimson-feathered bird beyond the village borders nearly lost my way home—it’s how I stumbled upon here by accident.”
Everyone remained speechless—the child excelled at everything else except for being excessively curious and restless since young days, even following the leader’s giant yellow dog out of village countless times in youth.
His curiosity intensified with age, leading him to chase anything odd for clarity.
“Hehe… three years old never weans yet follows birds—that’s little Hao!” mocked the elder ones playfully.
Flustered, Little Rascal puffed up his cheeks indignantly, saying defiantly, “You shouldn’t laugh; this bird wasn’t ordinary—it gleamed entirely blood red matching records about the Ancient Divine Bird Zh Que inscribed on bone scrolls.”
“Pah, don’t start rambling about whether mythical beings really exist; merely offspring from Firecloud Hawks can wipe entire mighty clans out themselves—if truly Zh Que emerged, do you suppose it’d permit YOU chasing her around? Merely one yawn could shatter a king’s territory!”
“But believe me, its appearance matched word-for-word descriptions on bonescripts! Crimson and stunning!”
As he defended with growing excitement tightening his little fists while glowing brightly with flushed cheeks amid darkness—suddenly a heavy thud echoed through the cave silencing everyone. All turned toward the mouth of the cave, observing a glint like metallic coldness flashing, the head of the Azure-Scaled Eagle emerging. It stared in menacing silence through chilling eagle eyes directly inside.
“Oh god, it’s coming in!” faces drained rapidly from most watching youths startled by impending reality.
“Don’t worry, the entrance isn’t large enough for such a brute to penetrate!” Er Meng proved bold as ever snatching up a fist-sized slab hurling it straight forward.
Bang erupted loudly, stone striking speed rivaling thunderbolts amidst colossal strength. Yet, only fierce sparking ensued as the hardened scaled creature sustained no damage but fragmented incoming missiles alike dust crushed between steel nails effortlessly.
Everyone drew deep cold breaths—this beast armored like brass plating flesh tougher than iron itself!
Crackling erupted anew, sending shock waves across listeners. With violent slashes, feathers became blade extensions cutting through surrounding barriers like knives slicing clay blocks apart. Huge rocks thunderously rolled as if collapsing walls made way for invasion inward.
“Can this creature actually split open an entire mountain?” worried voices speculated further chaos possibly resulting eventually reducing refuge caves into rubble plains.
Drawing another bow carved specifically using ivory from dragon-horn elephant stock, usually adult fare alone managing taut draws—Skin Monkey aimed carefully. Whoosh released a bolt piercing air powerfully streaking forth akin falling meteors accelerating impact velocity!
Dang resonated loud, disheartening revelation—arrow failed piercing outer scales erupting sparks harmlessly against hide reinforced like shields. Their very best weapons proved futile leaving anxious hearts palpitating desperately wondering alternatives besides facing certain doom trapped without defenses.
“Iyaa, try allowing me attempt,” piped Little Rascal requesting assistance taking up an iron lance weighing close 40~50 Jin (lbs.) carried by elder boy nearby racing backwards suddenly lunged releasing with full-force thrust—a blazing streak lightning cleaved atmosphere creating vacuum gust behind radiant chill speeding unimpeded towards the exit.
Indeed capable lifting thousands via copper cauldron tosses, Little Rascal unleashed formidable force pushing limits of projectile devastation directed straight at predator vision sensors ahead!
Air trembled alongside roaring spearflight echoing percussively across chamber chambers reverberating ominously!
Ever condescending thus far, Azure Eagle flickered brief surprise altering defensive posture avoiding eye penetration attempts entirely. Screeching metal collision sound reverberated painfully emitting brilliant flares when contact finally struck side-on though failing severe injury beyond removing one lustrous scaly fragment dripping conspicuous stream bright-red liquid indicating slight vulnerability unveiled momentarily.
Then came ear-piercing cries shaking mortal soul essence—an expanding thunderclap transformed into shrieking high notes akin dragons chanting terrorized several backward collapse stunned helplessness gripping heads hands clasped ears bleeding drum membranes likely ruptured.
Furious wounded arrogance drove beast frenzy claw strikes relentless expansion effort toward interior space devouring stony fortifications with reckless fury.
Huge boulders flew indiscriminately under single slash equivalent force, crumbling defenses previously impenetrable. Kids questioned choices—wishing adults arrived sooner regret setting foot challenging beast legends elders always avoided. Nearby villagers would hear soon!
“This vicinity borders Stone Hamlet; Grand Elder must already discern commotion—rescue en route surely imminent,” assured younger version of Xiao Shi optimistically urging action rallying hope provoking enemy louder disruptions alert patrols quicker approach.
Meanwhile in distant hamlet…
“What’s happening today? Why’s that azure-fowler attacking localities near our settlement,” questioned puzzled villagers sensing something ominous immediately dispatching messages urgent concerning senior patriarch council members gathering above hillside platform assessing unfolding calamity afar.
“Our chieftain! Recall seeing Amanda conversing clandestinely with larger children—seems missing smaller kids ventured outdoors,” added teen observer approximating dozen smaller forms gone untraceable temporarily.
“Naughty rascals!!” growled veteran hunter Shi Lin Hu remembering previous whispers eavesdropped earlier conversations where younger ones schematically planning ventures near avian domain territories restricted strictly beforehand. Immediate orders sprang forth decisively:
“Quick retrieve ancestral sacred artifacts—protection paramount!” summoned strongest Stone Villagers unified front assembling battle-ready forces fueled righteous parental protective instinct regardless mythological lineage opponent.
Various warriors wielded massive maul clubs exceeding 100 kilos each swung with might beside archers equipped colossal oversized bows capable launching missile arrows surpassing average javelin length and mass—all tipped solid-iron enhancing lethality multi-fold combined furious volleys ensuring battlefield dominance prepared sacrificing lifeblood for progenies’ safety assurances offered womenfolk:
“Fear none mothers—we’ll reduce that bare-plumed terror into bits feeding wild swine meat scraps!” cheered hearty roars raising morale charging full-throttle forestward momentum unstoppable crashing tumultuously through vegetation forming wall-like stampede animalistic raw energy palpably intimidating landscape itself preceding combat.
Already exited cave confines airborne once more, the eagle watched with detached iciness scanning advancing threats confident in sovereign hierarchy dominating region uncontested save deeper heart mountain forbidden depths untouched by its presence.
Wings spread wide whipping cyclonic gusts aside incoming metallic salvos deflected harmlessly clattering noise spreading showered spark emissions reflecting undeterred readiness unleashing fearsome counter-cry announcing aggressive aerial charge closing range swiftly imposing form looming seventeen feet broad with elongated body span measuring eight yards terrifying spectacle annihilating foliage debris trails mere prelude shocking physical winds slicing exposed skin painfully even at considerable standoff distances.
Alliance rallied tightly ordered formation maintaining cohesive defensive posture under command issued instructions:
“All assemble defensive line protectively—deploy heritage relics, Lin Hu now!” commanded Patriarch Yun Feng foreseeing inevitable brutal conflict demanding utilization ancestral legacy instruments imbued generations past securing deterrence potential disrupting monster threat balance.
“Bald wing comes seeking—direct focus fire towards me!” bravely shouted warrior chief standing point-blank shield front facing dive angle descending wrath. Unsheathed from satchel ancient beast-bone appendage artifact—perhaps relic carnivore upper limb remains potent magical source.
Eagle recoiled perceptibly reacting instantly recognizing hidden latent arcane aura sealed within bone artifact shifting wary attention fixation locking sights calculating risk involved while extending blackish six-foot dagger-like hooked beak projecting glowing script glyphs manifesting suffocating malevolent oppressive pressure filling immediate airspace threateningly powerful essence awakened.
“Ahaa! Definitely possesses extraordinary traits indeed—clear inheritance rune markings passed generationally symbolizing vast inherited might,” exclaimed elder admiring tactical significance realization confirming suspicion verifying legend truthfulness.
Correspondingly, Lin Hu unleashed primal guttural cry expending utmost willpower channeled through his left arm igniting glowing primitive tribal runes etched within flesh merging resonance with artifact bone seamlessly integrating into living extension anatomical part biologically transfiguring symbiotically intertwined unity flesh fused magically with enchanted object radiating mystical energies intensifying exponentially converging luminosity consolidating condensed into ancient hieroglyph seal swirling volatile power suggesting dormant beast coiled inside glyphic structure preparing imminent emergence eruption unleashed fury divine savagery incarnate!!!
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