Atop a high mountain in the Thunderbird Sanctuary.
"Are you ready?"
Lucien patted the Thunderbird's neck beside him.
This was the Thunderbird Lucien had selected during this period. It was about ten years old, past its infancy but not yet fully mature.
To choose a suitable target, Lucien had compared many Thunderbirds, and the results matched his earlier predictions.
Thunderbirds that were too young could not fly a hundred kilometers. Moreover, younger ones were mischievous and easily distracted mid-flight, often causing the attempt to be interrupted entirely.
As for Thunderbirds that were too mature, their speed was simply too fast. When they flew at full power, Lucien could not keep up, which also failed to meet the system's requirements.
In the end, Lucien chose the Thunderbird before him.
It stood over two meters tall, and the feathers along its back were almost entirely golden.
"Chirp."
The Thunderbird let out a cry, stretched its neck to look up at the sky, and slightly spread its wings, clearly indicating that it was ready.
"Good. Once this is done, you won't be shorted on the agreed-upon food."
"Chirp!"
Lucien turned and gave Newt an OK gesture from not far away.
"Mr. Newt, we'll see each other at the finish line."
Newt returned an OK as well.
To be honest, when Newt first heard Lucien say he wanted to fly alongside a Thunderbird, he thought he had misheard.
But after seeing Lucien put it into practice, Newt could only sigh at how young people truly had ideas of their own.
Lucien nodded. With the witness in place, they could begin.
According to the system's explanation, this "Dance Above the Clouds" also required a witness.
Lucien could only be thankful that the witness did not need to fly the entire journey, only to guard the starting and ending points.
With Newt present, the choice of witness was unquestionable.
As for Stanley, it was rather unfortunate. He had been staying here without issue just a few days ago, only to be suddenly summoned away by the Magical Congress.
The reason was that a large quantity of hallucinogenic plants and psychedelic Potions had recently flowed from the wizarding world into local Muggle society, requiring him, as a Potions Master, to take part in the relevant rescue and treatment efforts.
It was said that the amount involved was enormous, nearly mobilizing all the Potions Masters in the United States. Lucien wondered whether it would have any lasting impact on Muggle society.
Lucien still remembered the reluctant look in Stanley's eyes before he left, along with the contact information he pressed into Lucien's hands, urging him to visit the United States again if he ever had the chance, and preferably to tour Ilvermorny in person.
Lucien naturally agreed. Unfortunately, he already had other plans for the summer and could not spare the time for now.
He looked up at the lead-gray storm clouds, rolling endlessly beneath the fierce wind.
Lucien took a step forward and plunged straight off the cliff.
Not far away, Newt was already used to the sight. Though he had been startled the first time he witnessed it, nearly releasing a Swooping Evil to save him, he then saw an ordinary owl burst up from beneath the cliff, soaring straight into the sky.
"Animagus…"
"But then again, nothing Lucien does is surprising…"
Lucien, transformed into an owl, rode the wind and swiftly vanished into the clouds.
Of course, relying solely on an owl's physique was not enough to dance with a Thunderbird.
Not even the fastest raptor could compare; it simply would not be sufficient against a Thunderbird.
So changes were necessary.
Starting from the most fundamental units, transforming, reshaping, and compounding, much like a chimera's transformation.
Only this time, the subject of transformation was himself.
Under the concealment of the dark clouds, Lucien began a transformation that surpassed an ordinary Animagus form.
His shape started to fluctuate and distort as he flew at high speed. This was not a simple switch, but a deeper, more fundamental reconstruction of flesh and bone.
The owl's head elongated, its wings broadened and strengthened as they extended, and the feather structure reorganized at a microscopic level to provide greater lift and wind-breaking capability.
Within a few breaths, he transformed into a bird that had never existed in the world.
Derived from Loki's formlessness, Lucien's Animagus form had no fixed limitations.
After countless attempts, he finally fused the chimera-style transformation with his Animagus.
This was something unique, achievable by no one but Lucien.
"Screech!"
The Thunderbird also burst through the clouds, hovering beside him.
Tiny sparks of electricity danced across its golden feathers. It was already accustomed to the "monster bird" Lucien had transformed into and simply waited for his signal to begin.
The bird Lucien had become let out a clear, lingering cry. This was the signal.
Both of them flapped their wings and shot forward.
Lucien used the airflow generated by the Thunderbird's wings to fine-tune his posture, at times flying alongside it like parallel bolts of lightning, at others rolling and sweeping past its flank with exquisite precision, displaying unparalleled control.
As if it had found a playmate, the Thunderbird flew with growing enthusiasm. The electric currents coursing through its feathers became increasingly active, producing a constant crackle in the roaring wind.
With the surge of electricity, the Thunderbird's speed rose sharply, showing signs of pulling ahead of Lucien.
But Lucien did not panic. Instead, he employed another method.
This was a recent discovery, one that had genuinely surprised him.
Lucien sensed the wand that had merged into his skin and feathers along with his clothing, magic flowing within it and following a specific circuit.
With a single thought, an invisible ring of wind formed instantly beneath his wings, greatly reducing air resistance.
Then, by adjusting the direction of his magic, Lucien had another thought. His body suddenly felt as though it had lost most of its weight, as if the sky itself were holding him aloft.
Yes. As his Animagus abilities continued to deepen, Lucien discovered yet another special aspect.
He could still use magic while in his animal form.
Although it was not as effortless as casting spells in human form, Lucien had no trouble with relatively simple magic.
The only drawback was that he had to rely on silent casting.
Even if he used chimera-style transformation techniques to give his animal form a human tongue and throat, it was useless; spoken incantations simply would not resonate with his magic.
Did incantations truly require a human form?
Lucien decided to investigate that question later. For now, he needed to complete the Thunderbird dance.
Acceleration charms, gust charms, propulsion charms… Lucien layered them all onto himself.
He had ample magic to spare, and his transformed body was sturdy enough to endure it. This was the perfect chance to test just how far the combination of extreme physical transformation and magical enhancement could go.
The Thunderbird was flying freely when it suddenly caught sight of a shadow sweeping past it, rapidly overtaking its position.
With its exceptional eyesight, the Thunderbird clearly recognized the shadow. It was the bird Lucien had transformed into.
"Screech!"
The race ignited the Thunderbird's competitive spirit. Its three pairs of wings beat violently, unleashing a tremendous roar of wind and thunder.
The hundred-kilometer journey became a display of both power and beauty.
Relying on his flawless control over Animagus transformation and rule-defying magical assistance, Lucien managed to fly alongside this storm-born bird, completing a dance across the sky.
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