The majestic bird, now identified as a clear threat, shifted its weight on the branch, its glowing golden eyes locking onto the group of humans below. The smaller, shimmering creature in its talons gave a feeble, almost musical twitch.
"Don't move," Tang San commanded, his voice low and urgent, all patience gone, replaced by the calm authority of a battlefield tactician. His eyes, sharp and analytical, never left the spirit beast.
"That's a Lumines Hawk," he quickly explained, his mind racing through the bestiary knowledge he had absorbed.
"Its feathers are as hard as low-grade steel, and its beak and talons can shred rock. Judging by the intensity of the energy radiating from it and the size of its spirit signature... I'd estimate its age at around fifteen hundred years. Far beyond what any of us can face head-on."
Ning Rongrong gasped, her face paling. "Fifteen hundred years! We have to run!"
"Running will only make it see us as prey," Tang San countered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"It's focused on its meal right now. That's our only advantage. We need to make it drop the other spirit beast. We fight, but we do not try to kill it. Our goal is to startle and harass it into releasing its grip."
He quickly issued orders, his plan forming in an instant. "Xiao Wu, you're with me. We'll be the main assault. Your flexibility is our best weapon against its aerial advantage. Aim for its eyes and the joints of its wings. Do not get caught in its talons."
Xiao Wu nodded, a fierce grin replacing her earlier irritation. This was a language she understood.
"Mei," Tang San continued, "the moment we engage, use your soul skill. We need that speed and attack boost."
Mei, her heart pounding, gave a determined nod. "Understood."
"Ning Rongrong," Tang San said, turning his gaze to her. "Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Can you boost our speed or power?"
The question snapped her out of her fear. This was her purpose. She stood straighter, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "I can only boost power!"
"It's alright. The moment Mei's skill activates, you layer yours on top of it. Focus on Xiao Wu and me."
"Now!" Tang San barked.
Mei took a deep breath, her Starlight Stage materializing beneath her feet with a soft, ethereal glow.
"Melodic Rhythm!" she sang out, her voice weaving through the clearing. A wave of energizing power washed over Tang San and Xiao Wu, making their spirits feel lighter, their movements sharper.
Almost simultaneously, Ning Rongrong raised her hands. A magnificent, shimmering pagoda made of light appeared above her palm. "Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, one: Strength!" she incanted.
Two beams of brilliant light shot from the pagoda, enveloping Tang San and Xiao Wu. Combined with Mei's boost, their speed became a blur.
The Lumines Hawk, sensing the surge of spirit power, let out a piercing shriek and took to the air, its powerful wings beating the air into a small gale.
"Go!" Tang San shouted.
Xiao Wu was a pink rocket. Using the enhanced speed, she shot towards the nearest tree, kicked off its trunk, and launched herself at the hawk's flank. "Waist Bow!" she cried, her body twisting in mid-air to deliver a powerful kick to the base of the hawk's wing.
The hawk screeched in annoyance, more surprised than hurt. It swiped at her with its free claw, but Xiao Wu had already used the impact to flip backward, landing nimbly on another branch.
Tang San didn't hesitate. Blue Silver Grass erupted from his hands, not to bind the massive bird, but to snag onto high branches, allowing him to swing through the air like a ghost, closing the distance.
He became a phantom, his movements unpredictable. He lashed out with strands of Blue Silver Grass, aiming precisely for the hawk's eyes, forcing it to constantly jerk its head back to protect its most vulnerable spots.
The hawk was enraged. It was being harassed by two tiny, impossibly fast creatures it had considered mere morsels. It dove, its talons outstretched towards Tang San.
Seeing the dive, Tang San didn't retreat. With his strength boosted, he gathered his spirit power. "Entanglement!" Thicker vines of Blue Silver Grass shot up from the ground, coiling around the hawk's legs mid-dive and starting to drain the hawk's vitality.
They couldn't hold it for more than a second, but that second was all Xiao Wu needed.
She launched herself from a different angle, this time aiming a powerful kick at the wrist of the claw holding the captive soul beast. "Let it go!"
The hawk shuddered from the combined impact and the restraining vines. With an infuriated cry, it shook its talons violently. The shimmering, small creature was flung loose, tumbling through the air towards the ground.
But the fight wasn't over. Now free of its burden, the Lumines Hawk turned its full fury on them. Its eyes glowed brighter, and it began to gather energy for a more powerful attack.
"It's charging a spirit ability! Fall back!" Tang San yelled.
They were too spread out. A direct hit from a 1500-year spirit beast's ability could be fatal.
There was no more time for conventional tactics. Tang San's hands blurred within his sleeves. With a flick of his wrists, several small, metallic objects shot through the air with a sharp whistle. They weren't aimed to kill, but to disorient and cause maximum surprise.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Several throwing knives, their force tempered to avoid lethal damage, struck the hawk's hardened feathers with a series of sharp pings.
One knife, perfectly aimed, shot past its head, the sound and wind pressure startling it immensely. Another embedded itself in the branch right beside its foot, and one landed in its eye
The Lumines Hawk, confused and knowing it might die if it stayed, let out a final, frustrated shriek and flew away to find a less troublesome meal. It beat its powerful wings and shot up through the canopy, disappearing into the sky.
Silence returned to the clearing, broken only by the heavy panting of the four children.
On the forest floor, where it had fallen, lay the small, shimmering soul beast. It was even more beautiful up close, its body glowing with a soft, internal light, but it was clearly weak and injured, its delicate, colorful wings torn. It pulsed slowly, its faint, melodic hum a stark contrast to the violent struggle that had just taken place.
They had done it. They had driven off a 1500-year spirit beast. For a long moment, the only sounds in the clearing were their heavy panting and the gentle rustle of leaves disturbed by the hawk's frantic departure.
Tang San looked at his friends—Xiao Wu grinning triumphantly, her hands on her knees as she caught her breath, Ning Rongrong looking stunned but proud, a hand over her racing heart, and Mei, her eyes wide and fixed on the small, shimmering form that lay on the forest floor where it had fallen.
The adrenaline began to ebb, replaced by a wave of collective exhaustion and disbelief. They had actually succeeded.
Xiao Wu was the first to break the silence, her natural curiosity overriding her fatigue. She straightened up and took a cautious step toward the captured creature, her head tilted. "Wow... It's so... shiny," she said, her voice a mix of awe and confusion. "But what is it? I've never seen a spirit beast like that before. Brother San, do you know?"