Deep in the clouds above the city, the giant bird hovered.
Its enormous wings flapped slowly, each movement heavy with pain. Dark feathers rippled through the mist, and near its chest the wound from the gunshot still glistened faintly with fresh blood.
But something strange was happening.
The torn flesh around the wound was slowly knitting itself together.
Not quickly.
Not perfectly.
But undeniably… healing.
The creature tilted its head slightly, its massive golden eyes scanning the city below. The same city where it had once descended like a storm. The same place where the tiny creatures—humans—had dared to fight back.
Its eyes suddenly flashed with a deep golden glow.
It had sensed something.
A disturbance.
Something had entered its awareness range again.
The bird's pupils narrowed.
Through the thin veil of clouds, it saw them.
Humans.
Standing among the buildings like ants.
But among them was a familiar presence.
The one who injured it.
Officer Chibueze.
The bird released a low, rumbling screech that vibrated through the clouds.
For a moment, its wings tensed as if it was about to dive.
But then it stopped.
The creature turned its head away slowly.
Ignoring them.
To the bird, they were nothing more than insects. The wound still pained it, and although it was healing, it needed time.
Time to recover.
Time to grow stronger.
Below, on the ground, the humans looked very small.
Back on the street, David, Officer Chibueze, and the rest of the squad stood in position.
The air felt heavy with tension.
Officer Chibueze looked toward David.
"It's finally time," he said calmly.
"Go and bait it. We'll protect you no matter what."
David swallowed nervously.
"Alright."
In his hands was a compact submachine gun. The metal felt cold against his palms.
He stepped forward slowly.
Behind him, the squad members were already preparing their weapons. One man checked the belt of a heavy machine gun. Another adjusted a launcher on his shoulder. The woman with the sniper rifle climbed onto the roof of a nearby truck to gain a clearer view of the sky.
Everyone was ready.
Everyone except David.
He walked a little farther away from the group.
Then he stopped.
The street around him was eerily quiet. Broken glass glittered on the road, and a few damaged vehicles sat abandoned where people had fled earlier.
David took a deep breath.
Then he closed his eyes.
Slowly, he began releasing his awareness.
At first, it spread gently.
Then faster.
His mind stretched outward like invisible waves, expanding across the empty streets.
Buildings.
Cars.
People behind barricades.
Everything entered his perception.
But he didn't stop there.
He pushed harder.
His awareness shot upward.
Climbing.
Rising.
Reaching toward the sky itself.
Higher.
Higher.
Through the clouds.
Through the cold air.
Until—
CRACK.
Like glass shattering, something broke.
High above the city—
SCREEEEEEEECH!!!
The giant bird screamed violently.
Its golden eyes flared with rage.
Someone had broken into its awareness range again.
The creature's wings snapped open, scattering clouds in every direction.
This time it didn't ignore it.
This time it was furious.
The bird locked onto the source of the disturbance instantly.
The human.
David.
Far below.
The creature folded its wings and dived.
The sky roared as its massive body cut through the clouds like a falling meteor.
Back on the ground—
"IT'S COMING!" one of the squad members shouted.
David opened his eyes.
For a moment, he saw nothing.
Then—
BOOOOM!
The clouds above exploded outward as a massive shadow tore through them.
The giant bird descended like a living missile.
"OPEN FIRE!" Officer Chibueze roared.
Instantly the street erupted with gunfire.
RATATATATATAT!
Machine guns spat blazing streams of bullets into the sky.
The sniper fired.
BOOM!
Her shot struck the creature's wing, causing feathers to burst into the air.
But the bird didn't slow down.
Its golden eyes burned with fury.
WHOOSH!
Its wings spread wide at the last moment, creating a massive shockwave that slammed into the buildings.
Windows shattered instantly.
Cars rolled across the street like toys.
David was thrown backward several meters before crashing against the pavement.
"David!" Ada's voice echoed faintly from far away.
The giant bird landed heavily in the middle of the street.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground cracked beneath its talons.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Up close, the creature looked even more terrifying.
Its body towered nearly three stories high.
Each feather was as long as a sword.
And those golden eyes…
They stared directly at David.
The creature remembered him now.
Another low screech escaped its throat.
Officer Chibueze raised his rifle.
"Focus fire on the wound!"
The squad instantly adjusted their aim.
RATATATATAT!
Bullets slammed into the injured area of the bird's chest.
This time the creature reacted violently.
SCREEEEEEECH!!!
It lashed out with one massive wing.
WHOOM!
The air pressure alone sent two squad members flying across the street.
One crashed into a parked truck with a sickening thud.
"Hold your ground!" Chibueze shouted.
He stepped forward, firing continuously.
His bullets struck the healing wound again and again.
The flesh tore open.
Dark blood splattered across the pavement.
But something horrifying happened.
The wound… began healing again.
Right in front of them.
The torn skin slowly pulled itself back together.
David's eyes widened.
"It's regenerating…"
The squad members looked shocked.
"If we don't kill it fast," the sniper shouted from the rooftop, "it will fully recover!"
The bird suddenly lunged toward David.
Its enormous beak snapped down like a guillotine.
David barely rolled away in time.
CRASH!
The creature's beak smashed through the asphalt, leaving a deep crater.
David scrambled to his feet, heart pounding wildly.
He raised his submachine gun and fired.
RATATATAT!
The bullets struck the bird's face and neck, but they barely slowed it down.
The creature roared angrily.
Its golden eyes glowed brighter.
Then suddenly—
David felt something strange.
Inside his mind.
A notification.
A faint blue light flickered in front of his vision.
SYSTEM MESSAGE:
Awareness Level Increased.
New Skill Unlocked.
Threat Response Activated.
David froze for a moment.
"What…?"
But the giant bird was already attacking again.
Its claws slashed downward toward him.
Without thinking, David moved.
Faster than before.
Much faster.
He slid beneath the creature's leg and rolled across the pavement.
Even he looked surprised.
"What just happened…?"
Behind him, Officer Chibueze grinned.
"Well now… this fight just got interesting."
The giant bird spread its wings again, preparing another devastating attack.
Gunfire roared.
The city shook.
And in the middle of it all—
David realized something.
This battle had only just begun.